Top 100 Pizza Spots in the Midwest 2024

From Chicago-style deep-dish pizzato St. Louis thin crust, here are Yelp's picks for the best pizzaspots in the Midwest

Crunchy, chewy, and cheesy, pizza is a crowd-pleaser no matter how you slice it. And the Midwest is the birthplace of some of America's most iconic and beloved types of pies. The region has given us hearty Chicago deep-dish pizza and popular Detroit-style pan pizza (big, bold squares baked in steel pans with a cheesy, caramelized crust). Also trending this year: thin-crust Midwestern pies. Those include Chicago tavern-style pizza (cut into small squares or triangles called party or cocktail slices) as well as classic St. Louis pizza, featuring an even thinner, crispy unleavened crust topped with distinctive Provel cheese instead of mozzarella.

Whichever type of pie melts your cheese-loving heart, you'll find a pizzeria offering a delicious version of it on this year's Top 100 Pizza Spots in the Midwest list. A few trends we spotted across the Midwest pizza scene:

Bringing the heat. Pizza makers are spicing up the menu with fiery toppings-from a secret family barbecue sauce at Loui's Pizza (#1) in Hazel Park, Michigan, to a pie that packs a punch with hot honey and jalapenos at Futuro (#2) in Indianapolis.

Doing us a flavor. Pizza makers are thinking out of the box with creative combos, like the 12 South at Pizzeoli Wood Fired Pizza (#7) in St. Louis, which features smoked gouda, tomato jam, and bacon, or the Schnabel Wobble at Brittany's Brick Oven Pizza (#8) in Madison, Indiana, topped with shrimp, andouille sausage, and etouffee sauce.

Special orders. Many of Yelpers' favorite pizza restaurants now provide options for different dietary preferences, with gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan choices, as well as organic and locally sourced ingredients.

Ready to discover some delicious pies? Save your favorites to the Top 100 Pizza Spots in the Midwest Collection.

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Did your favorite pizza place make it into the Top 100 Pizza Spots in the Midwest? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok by tagging us as @Yelp and #Yelp. Remember, we only know how good a spot is if you take the time to review it. So share your thoughts on Yelp, and maybe your favorites will be on next year's list!

How we did it: This is a list of the best pizzaspots in the Midwest, according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the pizza category with a large concentration of reviews mentioning relevant keywords, and then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning those keywords. We also consulted with our Community Managers to zero in on which spots Yelpers were loving. If a business with multiple locations appeared on the list more than once, we only included the highest-rated location. The list considered businesses in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. We included up to 5 businesses per city, as indicated on Yelp, for geographic diversity. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of June 10, 2024. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of June 10, 2024.

This family-owned favorite has been dishing up superb Detroit-stylepizza for almost 50 years. Founder Louis Tourtois opened the shop in 1977, after honing his skills at other local pizzerias, including Buddy's Pizza (often credited with inventing the Detroit style). He passed his knowledge down to grandson and current owner Nykolas ("Nyk") Sulkiwskyj, who, at 12 years old, stretched pizza dough during summer vacations. "Now I'm building on my grandfather's legacy," Nyk says. "We still make pizzas just like he did-with caramelized cheese walls around the outside, [using] Wisconsin brick cheese, which has a high butterfat content." Fans call it a "rich, cheesy " Motor City classic.

Loui's Meat Lovers Pizza (sausage, pepperoni, beef, ham, bacon, and extra cheese) is a longtime bestseller, but the new BBQ Chicken Pizza, featuring Nyk's grandmother's barbecue sauce recipe, is becoming a local fave. Customers enjoy their pies in an "old-school" setting with red booths and wine bottles festooned with fairy lights. "My grandfather invited customers who ordered Chianti to sign the straw baskets holding the empty bottles, then put them on the walls, so I continued that," says Nyk. "It's a tradition."

Yelpers say:"Hands down the best pizza in Detroit. Many places claim to have the best Detroit-style, [but don't] even come close to Loui's. Start with their antipasto salad and cheese bread…but you came here for the pizza, right? Well, it's truly amazing. I take all my co-workers and clients here when possible, and every time they are blown away." -Lawrence S.

Find more of the best pizzain Hazel Park.

A business started at home during the pandemic has become a beloved spot for Detroit-style and Chicago tavern-style pizzas, with creative topping combos like bacon, basil, and hot honey. Longtime chef Luke Tobias and wife Sarah St. Aubin turned his pizzamaking hobby to good use, crafting pies that people could order online and pick up from their porch. Within a year, they opened this casual, counter-service eatery, serving what Luke calls "super-thin, super-crispy, tavern-style pizzas that pay homage to the places I love in Chicago, and neo-Detroit-style pizzas with a crispy edge and frico [caramelized cheese crust]." Fans call them "buttery, salty, crunchy, and super delicious."

Bestsellers include the "crowd-pleasing" Spotted Pig pizza (with house-made red sauce, applewood-smoked bacon, jalapenos, goat cheese, ricotta, hot honey drizzle, and Pecorino Romano) and the Bacon Basil, which features "amazing< /a>" flavors that "work so well together."

Yelpers say: "This is the best pizza in town! The Detroit-style crust is crunchy, delicious, and buttery goodness. Their tavern-style thin crust is absolutely amazing as well. The flavors, the hot honey on the side, and the freshness of the ingredients are unbeatable. I don't want to eat any other pizza other than Futuro ever again." -Yelp Elite Yvette A.

Find more of the best pizzain Indianapolis.

Often hailed as prime examples of Chicago-style pizza, the legendary pies at Pequod's-which ranked #1 on Yelp Elites' Top 100 Pizza Spots for 2024-aren't traditional deep-dish. The caramelized cheese crust is made by pressing a layer of mozzarella between the dough and a specially designed pan, then baking until it's dark and bubbly. Manager Jay Esper describes it as "almost a mixture of deep-dish and Detroit-style. It's unique because of the soft, fluffy middle combined with the crunchy crust and caramelized cheese edge." Don't miss Pequod's sausage, which is house-made from a secret recipe with a "spicy kick at the end," Jay says.

Pizza legend Burt Katz opened the original Pequod's in Morton Grove in 1971, but Chicagoans flock to this "classic and cozy" location in Lincoln Park, where the crowds are as thick as the pizzas. Reservations are strongly advised. Pequod's pizzas take 30-45 minutes to bake, but "good things come to those who wait," Jay notes.

Yelpers say: "Now that I've been to Pequod's, I can safely say that the rumors are true: This pizza is really awesome! Near perfection, if not perfection itself. A thick, slightly fluffy, slightly chewy crust. Crispy, caramelized crust around the pie. Bright, slightly sweet tomato sauce. Gooey, mild cheese. And crispy pepperoni, full of flavor and not too salty. This place is the real deal." -Yelp Elite Paul J.

Find more of the best pizzain Chicago.

Wood-fired and handcrafted, the sourdough-crust pizzafrom this takeout-only joint is a big success. Bryan Tyler opened the family-run shop 13 years ago, envisioning a bakery for wood-fired breads and pastries. But when getting a permit proved easier with pizza in the picture, "we fell into the pizza business," says employee and family member Kelsey Tyler. "We make everything by hand. We bake our red sauce in a pot in our wood-fired oven to give it a smoky taste."

Columbus-area customers can't get enough of Tyler's pizza crust, which is "charred, crisp, and chewy, [with an] undercarriage to die for." Reviewer favorites include the Autumn Swoon (spicy Italian sausage, banana peppers, red onions, and Monterey jack cheese with jalapeno flakes) and Paupers' Pie (white sauce topped with spinach, red onion, fresh garlic, and bacon). Don't forget to try a "sensational" cinnamon croissant.

Yelpers say: "We smashed that pizza. The crust is perfect-thick enough on the edges to get that full, creamy bread taste, thin and sturdy enough to bind with the other flavors and stand up to the heavy toppings. The owners are pleasant and personable, and seem to enjoy how pleased their customers are with their product. I'm a new fan, and will be at Tyler's every time I come back to Columbus." -Yelp Elite Celina C.N.

Find more of the best pizzain Reynoldsburg.

These thick, fluffy Chicagopan-style pies sell out almost every day. They're the creation of owner Robert Maleski, a lifelong foodie and pizza lover, who found his calling after visiting Burt's Place-which, like #3 Pequod's, was founded by late Chicago pizza great Burt Katz. "I dedicated the next year to learning how to make that style of pizza," Robert recalls. "But mine has evolved. It's not as thick, and we leave an edge of cheese around the perimeter to give it a cheesy-bread feel. It looks heavy, but it's very light." Fans call it the "dream baby of deep-dish and Detroit-style pizza.< /span>"

Milly's (named after Robert's grandmother) doesn't pre-slice its pies, a practice meant to prevent sauce from seeping into the dough-so you get a "perfect crunchy crust. " Each location-the uptown original, with just a few tables and stools, and the Berwyn outpost for takeout and delivery only-makes about 65 pizzas a day, so ordering in advance (or calling ahead for walk-in service) is recommended.

Yelpers say: "All the ingredients were fresh, and you could tell that there was a lot of quality control. Each veggie had a great crunch to it. The sauce is rich and not too sweet. The crust is perfectly crispy and flavorful while maintaining a soft dough on the inside. Do yourself a favor and pick up this much-talked-about pizza." -Yelp Elite Cody L.

At this popular spot, you'll get a taste of the Big Apple without leaving greater Cleveland. When New York-trained chef and pizzaiolo George Goodman moved to the Midwest, he brought his passion for traditional East Coast-style Neapolitan pizzas with him. He started small in 2010-creating pizza on a wood-fired oven in a trailer for family, friends, and his local community-until word spread about his pies, which feature a "thin crust with a thicker edge [and] just the right amount of smoky burn," according to Yelper Jeff T. George opened In Forno (Italian for "in the oven") in 2015, and in 2023 it landed on Yelp's list of top pizza spots in the US and Canada.

Diners now enjoy the "warm family atmospher e" while watching their pizza being made in the wood-fired oven (in 90 seconds!). Options range from the traditional Roni Roni Pepperoni to the complex Celeste (with truffle and artichoke paste, grated and fresh mozzarella, mushrooms, arugula, and olive oil). Save room for dessert: The Tiramisu is "creamy, rich, and fluffy," and the Limoncello Cake is "a little slice of heaven."

Yelpers say:"This hidden gem boasts not only mouthwatering pizzas that redefine deliciousness but also a warm and welcoming ambiance. What truly sets this place apart is the owner and their family, who go above and beyond. Every slice is a flavor-packed delight, making it hands-down the best pizza joint in town." -Yelp Elite Andrey M.

Find more of the best pizzain Avon.

When everyone in town is doing St. Louis-style pizza, how do you stand out?Pizzeoli makes some 40 varieties of "incredibly delicio us" wood-fired, Neapolitan-inspired pies, including plentiful vegan versions. "Our roots are in Old World-style pizza, but we're Midwestern, so our pizzas are richer, heartier, and more decadent," says General Manager Josh Grisa.

It starts with 4-ingredient dough (water, salt, yeast, and flour) that's cold-fermented for several days, he explains. The pies then spend just 1.5-2 minutes in a 900-1,000-degree oven, fired by local hardwood until they get "a little smokiness, and the crust leopards and chars nicely," Josh says. (Leoparding is pizza-speak for blackened bubbles on the crust.) They're topped by owner Kyle Weber's creative combos, which emphasize local, organic ingredients and antibiotic-free proteins. Fans say the pies are "completely spot on with every flavor," from the "terri fic" traditional Margherita to offbeat offerings like the 12 South (with smoked gouda, smoked mozzarella, tomato jam, bacon, chicken, parmesan, arugula, and black pepper).

Seating indoors and out is limited, so reserve ahead through Yelp, especially on weekends.

Yelpers say:"The aroma of wood-fired pizza greets you at the door, along with the wonderfully friendly staff. You can find the owner doing anything and everything around the restaurant, which speaks to the spirit of this fabulous dining spot. The pizza is beyond fabulous-so many different choices for every palate." -Yelp Elite Meredith G.

Find more of the best pizzain St. Louis.

Quirky pies with unique ingredients have put this mom-and-pop shop on the pizza map. Take, for example, the popular Schnabel Wobble, with shrimp, bacon, andouille sausage, onion, and etouffee sauce. "It's shrimp 'n' grits on a pizza, dude. It's perfection," marvels Yelp Elite Justin C.

Husband-and-wife owners Scott and Susan Koerner, along with daughter Brittany (the restaurant's namesake), like to have fun while serving quality food, says Scott, who created and named the Schnabel Wobble for a friend from New Orleans. Scott is also the pizza whisperer behind such hits as the Angry Samoan (Hawaiian pizza with extra-hot ghost pepper flakes) and The Giant Claw (with homemade barbecue sauce, slow-roasted chicken, bacon, andouille sausage, onions, and 6 cheeses), named for the cheesiest movie Scott ever saw. "If I see a bad movie, I've got to name a pizza after it," he says.

Susan's daily-changing homemade desserts, such as Fire and Ice Cake (chocolate chip mint cake with ghost pepper flakes), are equally creative and often sell out early. Scott's tip: "Order dessert beforethe pizza to make sure you don't miss out."

Yelpers say:"I can't say enough about this place. Scott and his entire crew are the best folks you'll ever meet. This is hands-down the bestpizza I've ever had. They even make their own desserts, so save room! I personally drive 45 minutes to eat here without blinking an eye." -Yelp Elite Emily B.

Find more of the best pizzain Madison.

This takeout-only, Chicago tavern-style pizzeriahas caught on fast among Yelpers,who line up for its crunchy, handcrafted thin-crust pies topped with house-made ingredients. Founded less than 2 years ago by longtime buddies Ray Schwitz and Matt Rowley, it's a friends-and-family affair-Matt and his son Patrick run the day-to-day operations, so you're likely to encounter the friendly duo when you pick up your order.

Fans praise the "thick, z esty" tomato sauce, "very fresh" caramelized cheese, and "perfectly crisp" crust. The bestseller is a sweet/spicy combo named The 'Pa, topped with house-made candied jalapenos and sausage that's ground with pork from a local supplier. "We pride ourselves on making as much from scratch as we can," Matt says. "To do something right, you should do it yourself."

Yelpers say:"A wonderful, family-owned pizza shop with amazing, tavern-style pizza. We stopped by in the afternoon for lunch. The owner was there and he was incredibly kind and suggested the jalapeno pizza, which was sooooooooogood. The crust was savory, cheese melty, and there was a lot of flavor." -Yelp Elite Brittany R.

Find more of the best pizzain Westmont.

This casual neighborhood eatery is known for its "legitimately delicious" pizzas, wallet-friendly specials,and a large wheel of grate-it-yourself parmesan on the counter. The pies have a uniquely "chewy, air y crust" that many Yelpers liken to Neapolitan or New York-style-thin, but softer than a "cracker" crust. Elevating the menu are specialty pies like the "in credible" Bacon Gouda, along with Buffalo Chicken and Spinach Feta. Bonus: You can add fresh parm from that wheel "to your heart's content." (Grate it yourself, but wear gloves.)

The restaurant began as Tasty Pastry, but owner Mary Joseph realized she preferred savory to sweet baking-and that meant pizza. What didn't change was the emphasis on that homemade taste. Everything is baked "from scratch and from the heart," as the restaurant puts it.

Yelpers say:"We try to come every week to get the deal of the week. Love the Margherita pizza, as well as the Hawaiian and Meatball. The ingredients are so yummy, [and] the crust is just unbeatable: crispy, chewy, bubbly, almost like it was fried. The garlic bread is buttery and crunchy, with the right amount of garlic." -Hana G.

Find more of the best pizzain Omaha.

Hungry for more of the best restaurants? Check out the rest of Yelp's Top 100 Pizza Spots in the Midwest, and remember to tell us what you thinkby tagging us on social media with @Yelp and #Yelp.

11. Santino's Little Italy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

12. Zazas Pizzeria, Chicago, Illinois

13. Il Rione, Cleveland, Ohio

14. Pie Sci, Detroit, Michigan

15. Iechyd Da Brewing Company, Elkhart, Indiana

16. Providence by the Slice, Kansas City, Missouri

17.Il Gusto Pizza & Pasta, Cincinnati, Ohio

18. Market 22, Maple City, Michigan

19. Pangea Kitchen, Evansville, Indiana

20. Noto, St. Peters, Missouri

21. Orsi's Italian Bakery & Pizzeria, Omaha, Nebraska

22. The Brick Oven Bistro, Sandusky, Ohio

23. Fredi The PizzaMan, Melvindale, Michigan

24. Brimfield Bread Oven, Kent, Ohio

25. Young Joni, Minneapolis, Minnesota

26. Ohio Pie Co., Brunswick, Ohio

27. Mama's Pizza, St. Paul, Minnesota

28. baked, Galesburg, Illinois

29. Fast Eddie's Pizza, Bellville, Ohio

30. Forno Rosso Pizzeria Napoletana, Chicago, Illinois

31. Izzy's Pizza Bus, Omaha, Nebraska

32. Freddy's Pizza, Cicero, Illinois

33. Pomodoro E Mozzarella, St. Charles, Illinois

34. Crafters Pizza and Drafthouse, Carmel, Indiana

35. I Tre Mori, Indianapolis, Indiana

36. Press Pizza & Pasta, St. Louis, Missouri

37. Ozark Mountain Pizza, Branson, Missouri

38. Two Cities Pizza Company, Mason, Ohio

39. Boludo, Minneapolis, Minnesota

40. Gianorio's Pizza, Winfield, Illinois

41. George's Deep Dish, Chicago, Illinois

42. Uncle Leo's Pizza, St. Louis, Missouri

43. The Filling Station Microbrewery, Traverse City, Michigan

44. Salvatore's Tomato Pies, Madison, Wisconsin

45. Jim's Pizza Box, Milan, Ohio

46. Independent Ale House, Rapid City, South Dakota

47. KJ's Pizzeria, De Soto, Kansas

48. Branch + Daughter, Quality Meats and Market, Windsor, Wisconsin

49. Novanta, Madison, Wisconsin

50. Pizzeria DiLauro, Chagrin Falls, Ohio

51. Terita's Pizza Carry Out, Columbus, Ohio

52. Tawas Bay Pizza Co, Tawas City, Michigan

53. Magoo's California Pizza - Avon, Avon, Indiana

54. DeSalvo's Pizza, Evanston, Illinois

55. Major Tomato, Allen Park, Michigan

56. Pizza West, Shawnee, Kansas

57. Patellie's, Three Oaks, Michigan

58. Nature's Best Cafe, Naperville, Illinois

59. Cruizzers, Keystone, South Dakota

60. Passione, Fishers, Indiana

61. Sal's Pizza Company, Algonquin, Illinois

62. Quarantino's, Grand Rapids, Michigan

63. Dough Trader Pizza Company, Spearfish, South Dakota

64. Zoey's Pizzeria, Marion, Iowa

65. Wells Brothers Restaurant, Racine, Wisconsin

66. Anthonino's Taverna, St. Louis, Missouri

67. Pie Life Pizzeria, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

68. Silver Beach Pizza, St. Joseph, Michigan

69. Buddy's Pizza, Detroit, Michigan

70. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Schaumburg, Illinois

71. Il Lazzarone, St. Joseph, Missouri

72. Nonna's Pizza & Pasta, Ankeny, Iowa

73. Elio Pizza on Fire, Addison, Illinois

74. Grandma Bob's, Detroit, Michigan

75. Foggia's Pizzeria, Southgate, Michigan

76. Charles and Reid Detroit Pizza, Traverse City, Michigan

77. Old Scratch Pizza, Dayton, Ohio

78. 112 Pizzeria Bistro, Rochester Hills, Michigan

79. Antoniou's Towne Square Pizza, Rochester Hills, Michigan

80. Pizzeria Lola, Minneapolis, Minnesota

81. Pizzeria Da Gloria, St. Louis, Missouri

82. Brianno's Deli-Italia, Eagan, Minnesota

83. Pals Brewing, North Platte, Nebraska

84. Blackbird Woodfire, Fargo, North Dakota

85. Fireflour Pizza + Coffee Bar, Bismarck, North Dakota

86. San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

87. Element Wood Fire Pizza, Minneapolis, Minnesota

88. Dewey's Pizza, St. Charles, Missouri

89. Tono Pizzeria + Cheesesteaks, Maplewood, Minnesota

90. Sfumato Pizzeria, Alton, Iowa

91. Maggie's Farm Wood-Fired Pizza, Iowa City, Iowa

92. Mangia Italiana, Omaha, Nebraska

93. Basal Pizza, Waterloo, Iowa

94. Dolomiti Pizzeria & Enoteca, Omaha, Nebraska

95. Ang an Eddies, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

96. Smash Pizza, Bettendorf, Iowa

97. Piatto Neapolitan Pizzeria, Wichita, Kansas

98. Need Pizza, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

99. Pauly's Pizzeria & Sub, Rapid City, South Dakota

100. Big Mill, Lawrence, Kansas

Yelp's Top 100 Pizza Spots in the Midwest 2024 was written and reported by Kathy Passero.

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