Pizza might have originated in Italy, but it’s really an American specialty these days. From deep dish to New York-style, there are as many ways to prepare pizza as you can possibly imagine. But where is the best pizza in each US state? Let’s dig in to some slices.
Alabama
Legendary Birmingham restaurant Trattorla Centrale serves a truly one-of-a-kind BLT pizza that features mozzarella, bacon, ricotta, arugula, and tomatoes. As the name suggests, you’re supposed to fold it over and eat it like a sandwich. Look them up next time you’re in Alabama!
Alaska
Alaska is a huge state with a low population density. It’s not exactly known for its vibrant food culture. That being said, if you find yourself in Anchorage, look up Capri Pizza and grab a slice of Alaskan Salmon pizza. It’s a local specialty and no one does it like Alaskans.
Arizona
Take a trip to the desert and visit The Parlor Pizzeria in Phoenix, Arizona to find the best pizza among the sands. The Parlor was once a beauty parlor, hence its odd name, but it now serves only the finest Salsiccia pizza.
Arkansas
With a name like Damgoode Pies, this place better be serving up excellence. Luckily for pizza fans in Little Rock and Fayetteville, the now-famous restaurant serves the very best pizza pies in all of Arkansas. Food critics say to try the Stuffy Underdog from their menu.
California
California is a downright huge state, so it seems tough to narrow down just one pizzeria that serves the best slices. That being said, if you really need to pressure for an answer, it’s Pizzalolo in Oakland, California. They offer up seasonal dishes that are as delicious as they are temporary.
Colorado
You need the right oven to make a good pizza. Pizzeria Locale in Boulder, Colorado took that one step further and made sure to incorporate volcanic material from Mount Vesuvius into the bricks that make up their oven. The results speak for themselves—this pizza is something else.
Connecticut
Frank Pepe Pizzeria has been the premier pizza joint in Connecticut since it was opened in 1925. The store’s specialty is a unique white clam pizza that marries New England cuisine with the classic Italian dish! Look them up if you find yourself in New Haven.
Delaware
The best pizza in Delaware can be found at Pizza by Elizabeths. If that name seems a bit odd, there’s a story here. Each pie on the menu is named after a renowned “Elizabeth” from history, like the Queen or the Saint. No matter which one you choose, you’re in for a treat.
Florida
In the Sunshine State, there’s no finer pizza than the pies that are sometimes found on the menu at Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink in Miami. Frustratingly, this dish comes and goes at the restaurant’s discretion, so you’ll need to call ahead to find out if it’s an option for your visit.
Georgia
You might think the best pizza in Georgia would be somewhere in Atlanta, but you’d be wrong. Journey down to the coastal town of Savannah and you’ll find Vinnie Van Go-Go’s, where a twenty-year-old dough starter is still helping the gang make the best pizza pies in the state.
Hawaii
When you think about Hawaii, you might picture pristine beaches and swaying palm trees. But if you’re looking for pizza, you should check out ʻIli ʻIli Cash and Carry in Oahu. They use local ingredients that help their pizza stand out from the competition!
Idaho
Can the “potato pizza” jokes and get ready to discover one of the best pizza joints in the country. Pizzalchik in Boise uses a unique approach to their dough, “aging” it for 24 hours to add chewiness and stretchiness in addition to a unique flavor character.
Illinois
If you weren’t aware, Chicago is in Illinois, and some of the best pizza in the world is made there. Though if you must pick one place as “the best,” we’ll give the nod to Pequod’s Pizza, a humble-looking sports bar that serves a no-frills deep dish.
Indiana
The best pizza in Indiana actually doesn’t even come from a restaurant, but instead is served from the side of a firetruck. Seriously! The converted food truck Rolling Stonebaker is a fixture of Beverly Shores and renowned by locals and visitors alike.
Iowa
Fong’s Pizza in Des Moines, Iowa opened very recently, but they’ve already made quite a name for themselves. Interestingly, they’re located in the same building as what was Des Moines’ oldest Chinese place, so they made sure to implement fun menu items like crab Rangoon pizza to reference their history.
Kansas
Rambling over the Great Plains in Kansas can be hungry work. If you want the best pizza in the great wide state, head to Wichita and check out the aptly named Wichita Pizza Company. They serve a unique taco-inspired pizza that you absolutely have to try if you pass through the Heartland.
Kentucky
Miguel’s Pizza in Slade, Kentucky is among the most well-known pizza places in the state for good reason. They serve phenomenal build-your-own pizza near the Natural Bridge State Resort Park, making it a perfect place for hikers to stop in.
Louisiana
The best pizza in Louisiana isn’t in New Orleans, despite what you’d expect. Instead, it’s in Bossler City at a little place called Cascio’s Market Bistro. While the bistro usually sells muffuletta sandwiches, they also offer “pizzalettas” that use the same ingredients!
Maine
Go as far north as you can in the Continental US and you’ll find the state of Maine. In Portland, Maine, you’ll find Otto Pizza. And in Otto Pizza, you’ll find mashed potato pizza, topped with bacon and scallions. It’s even better than it sounds, and it already sounds great.
Maryland
In Baltimore, Maryland, you can find the trippy Joe Squared pizzeria. They serve thin-crust pizza in a square form factor among art exhibitions and live music, making for a unique and enthralling experience. It’s a treat for all five senses!
Massachusetts
If you can stand the traffic to make your way into Boston, you can be rewarded with phenomenal pizza. Scampo, a fascinating restaurant, serves a lobster pizza that perfectly marries fine dining with good, old-fashioned trash food. Which one is which? That depends on your palette.
Michigan
When you’re in the US’s northern Midwest, you’re likely to find lots of deep-dish pizza. The best pizza in Michigan, however, bears no real resemblance to this Chicago mainstay. Instead, it’s a thin-crust pizza from Tomatoes Apizza in Farmington Hills!
Minnesota
The Twin Cities have some stellar pizza options, but the very finest has to be Black Sheep Pizza. Interestingly enough, this was the first pizzeria in Minnesota to feature a coal-fired oven! They offer a crisp crust that can handle any toppings.
Mississippi
Head down the river and see where it meets the ocean to reach Gulfport, Mississippi. While you’re there, look up Tony’s Brick Oven Pizzeria and try out their fascinating gumbo pizza. It’s like eating soup on crust, and it’s better than it sounds.
Missouri
It should come as no surprise that the best pizza in Missouri can be found in Kansas City. PizzaBella in KC offers a prosciutto pizza that skips the frills and focuses on fundamentals—and very thin slices of Parma prosciutto.
Montana
If you’re wondering where to find the best pizza in Montana, you can judge a book by its cover for once. When in Rome, a pizzeria in Kallspell, serves a dish they call “Best Pizza Ever”. And, yes, it is pretty dang good.
Nebraska
Nebraska might be known for its seemingly endless cornfields, but hopefully it’ll also be known for its fantastic hamburger pizza soon, too. That’s right, La Casa Pizzeria in Ohama, Nebraska serves a stellar hamburger pizza that will blow your mind.
Nevada
When you get a break from hanging around the casinos and watching awesome stage shows, you can refill at Las Vegas’s Metro Pizza. Their Mulberry Street pizza is essentially an eggplant parm on a pizza crust, and it’s the best pizza in Nevada.
New Hampshire
Sriracha and avocado are popular ingredients in modern cuisine, so why not throw them together on a pizza? That’s exactly what MT’s Local Kitchen and Wine Bar in Nashua, New Hampshire did with their Spicy Guacamole dish, and it pays off in a big way.
New Jersey
If New York is the capital of pizza, New Jersey is the dish’s second home. If you’re looking for the finest slices in the state, head to the old-school De Lorenzo’s in Hamilton. They don’t accept credit cards, they only serve pizza, and their food will consistently impress you.
New Mexico
It should come as no surprise that the best pizza in New Mexico features green chiles and grilled chicken. The “number three” from Rooftop Pizzeria in Santa Fe features these classic New Mexican ingredients, all served on a rooftop patio that gives a breathtaking view of the city.
New York
You want to know where you can find the best pizza in New York? Here’s our advice: walk into the street and ask a passerby where to get a good slice. If they don’t tell you to get lost, they’ll likely direct you to some unparalleled food.
North Carolina
What Charlotte might lack in personal identity or charm it more than makes up for in the ways it borrows from other cities. Case in point: the phenomenal buffalo chicken pizza from Wingzza, a food truck that often parks outside the stadium during Panthers games.
North Dakota
Yes, a few people live in North Dakota. And yes, some of them make excellent pizza. Check out A&B Pizza in Bismarck and find the genuinely wonderful House Special. The House Special features pork sausage and a spicy flavor that is an unmistakable local trademark.
Ohio
The next time you’re in Cleveland, Ohio, you should check out Bar Cento for the best pizza in the state. They serve some unique pizzas, like the unusual breakfast-themed Sunnyside. It’s got over-easy eggs and provolone—but it’s only served in the evening!
Oklahoma
It might feel strange to pick a chain as the location of the best pizza in a state but trust the students at Oklahoma State University on this one. Stillwater’s local Hideaway Pizza chain serves some of the best pizza around, including their trademark “Big Country” pie.
Oregon
Portland, Oregon is probably the first place you’d look for unique, modern spins on old-school foods. And you’d be right to do so, at least when it comes to pizza. Dove Vivi in Portland offers a pesto pizza that will reconfigure what you look for in a good slice.
Pennsylvania
You might not think of Philadelphia when you think of pizza, but maybe you should change that. The next time you’re in the City of Brotherly Love, look up Osteria and treat yourself to a Parma pizza. It features a simple set of ingredients and is topped with prosciutto.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island might not be a big state, but Al Forno Restaurant in Providence knows how to pack big flavor into a small slice. Their grill-marked slices are cooked in a woodfire grill, as the owners didn’t have access to a brick oven when they opened the place in 1980!
South Carolina
Anyone from South Carolina will tell you that the state’s best gourmet dishes can be found in Charleston. Case in point: check out EVO in North Charleston and their trademark pistachio pesto pizza. It’s a foodie’s dream pizza, and you have to taste it to understand why.
South Dakota
Believe it or not, there are a handful of pizzerias in South Dakota. And, it just so happens, some of them are downright excellent. Check out Charlie’s Pizza House in Yankton, South Dakota, which sells the best slice in the remote region!
Tennessee
Tennessee is home to more than just country music and big hats. If you’re looking for some phenomenal ham pizza, check out the Belly Ham from City House in Nashville. While you dine, you might spot some local musicians chowing down, too!
Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas, right? The West Crust Artisan Pizza Pies dish “Hill Country” looks to keep that larger-than-life tradition alive. This massive, delicious pizza isn’t just the best pie in Lubbock, it’s the best in all of Texas.
Utah
You don’t need to go to Salt Lake City to get the best pizza in Utah. Instead, it’s found at Pizzeria 712 in Orem! Their roasted corn pizza is cooked at exactly 712 degrees and topped with fresh chiles and traditional herbs.
Vermont
The next time you head through Vermont, take a stop in West Glover and try out The Green Mountain Special from Parker Pie Company. The cheekily named pie features apples, bacon, maple syrup, and sharp cheddar that all blends together into a flavor that can be replicated anywhere else.
Virginia
If you want the best pizza in Virginia, you need to check out the simply-named Crozet Pizza in Crozet, Virginia. Students from the University of Virginia will tell you that this is the best pizza place in the state, with unique dishes like the white mushroom pizza offering up one-of-a-kind flavors.
Washington
You might think the best pizza in Washington would be in Seattle. While there’s plenty of great food there, the best pizza in the state is actually found in Spokane. The Flying Goat serves unmatched pizzas that pair with the craft beers on tap!
West Virginia
West Virginia’s best pizza came about by accident one day at Pies and Pints in Charleston. The menu once had a raisin pizza, but the owners ran out of raisins one day and threw red grapes on the dish in a pinch. It turned out to be excellent and has been the restaurant’s signature ever since!
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Wisconsin
Some dishes are so obvious that it’s a wonder no one thought of them sooner. For instance, it makes perfect sense that the best pizza in Wisconsin is a mac and cheese pizza. It’s from Ian’s in Milwaukee, and… of course it’s mac and cheese. That Wisconsin cheddar is unmistakable.
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Wyoming
You might not expect Wyoming’s best slice of pizza to be a Thai-inspired fusion dish, but here we are. The excellent Thai pizza from Grand Avenue Pizza in Laramie, Wyoming is as surprising as it is delicious. It’s a favorite of students at the University of Wyoming!
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