Tell someone you live in Chicago and they'll ask about deep dish. Ask a Chicagoan what they ordered last Friday and the answer is probably a thin, square-cut tavern pie. The city has two pizzas, and you should know both.
The short version
| Deep dish | Tavern-style | |
|---|---|---|
| Crust | Tall, buttery and pan-baked | Cracker-thin and crisp |
| Order of layers | Cheese on the bottom, chunky tomato sauce on top | Sauce, then cheese and toppings all the way to the edge |
| Cut | Wedges | Squares (the "party cut") |
| Wait | 45 minutes or more to bake | A normal pizza wait |
| When locals eat it | Visitors in town, special occasions | Friday nights, Little League, any bar |
Deep dish: the famous one
A proper deep dish is closer to a casserole than a slice, and one or two pieces fills most people up. There are variations. "Stuffed" pizza adds a second layer of dough on top, and "pan" pizza has a caramelized cheese crust around the edge.
Where to go:
- Lou Malnati's: the classic buttery crust, and the one locals will defend
- Pequod's: the burnt-cheese pan crust people crave
- Giordano's: the towering stuffed pie, touristy but textbook
- George's Deep Dish: a newer, lighter sourdough take
- The Art of Pizza: sells deep dish by the slice, so you don't have to commit to a whole pie
Tavern-style: the one locals actually eat
Tavern-style started in neighborhood bars as a salty snack to keep people drinking. It's cut into squares so everyone can grab a piece, and the corner pieces are the prize.
Where to go:
- Vito & Nick's: the South Side benchmark every other tavern pie is measured against
- Pat's Pizza: a Lincoln Park classic since 1950
- Pizz'Amici: the thinnest, crackliest newcomer
- Phil's Pizza: cash-only Bridgeport, ideal before a Sox game
- Candlelite: a vintage neon tavern with the full bar-pizza experience
- Zarella: a polished, sit-down version downtown
Our advice
Have deep dish once, with friends, when you're hungry and in no hurry. Then find the tavern-style place nearest your apartment and make it your regular.
For more of the city's essentials, see 20 foods to eat in your first year in Chicago. Still picking a neighborhood? ChicagoApartmentBuildings.com is our guide to apartment buildings across the city.