Rankings: Best Pizza in Illinois

1111SouthFirst

All-American
Oct 7, 2006
17,694
9,579
113
The BEST deep dish pizza in the state is Papa Del's in Champaign. I've had the others and I know it is south of Chi town, but, with the college town atmosphere and the hole in the wall feel, that only adds to the deliciousness of the Super Stuffed Deep Dish at Papa Del's.

You stole my thunder.

Its Pop's for pizza, or no place at all.

After stuffing yourself at the restaurant, you can bring a couple of frozens home too.
 
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May 18, 2015
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On the "Chicago style" side, I find Lou Malnati's Chicago Classic is in a class all it's own.

The sweet tomatoes on top are possibly my favorite taste in the entire food kingdom
 
May 18, 2015
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Lou Malnatis may not be absolute first in either thin or deep, but they rank up there for both.

I certainly lack the depth of experience to be anywhere near an expert in this region. After this thread, I know where I will hitting over the next few wekends
 

Bowie50

All-Conference
Aug 3, 2013
2,806
2,657
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But the original Pequod's in Morton Grove though, back when Burt Katz owned it. It was our go to spot on Friday nights after our football games.
May be more of a Fremd bar but Oak Alley is pretty darn good. I hate Fremd.
 

MTC Diaspora

Redshirt
Sep 10, 2013
103
4
0
For thin crust, I vote Fox's.

Question for old timers. Decades ago when I was in college, I would frequent "My π" in Evanston. Since no one has mentioned it, and it was great pizza, I assume it's gone. Anyone know what became of it?
 

ignazio

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2007
3,837
2,878
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For thin crust, I vote Fox's.

Question for old timers. Decades ago when I was in college, I would frequent "My π" in Evanston. Since no one has mentioned it, and it was great pizza, I assume it's gone. Anyone know what became of it?

There's a place of that name in Bucktown now.
 

GMAN81

Junior
Aug 21, 2013
1,686
243
63
If you are talking thin crust, I have found Al's in Warrenville to be the best. Small joint with an adjoining bar Towne Tap. You can eat it in the seating area or bring it into the bar.

I don't like chain pizza places. I think the out-of-the way little places are often the best.
 
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kpjasion

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
1,182
916
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Surprisingly no real battles have broken out over the best pizza. I will bet that you guys will be more passionate over who has the best hot dogs.

Far and away Superdawg ! Not because of the ambience or the fact all my aunts and uncles lived blocks from it when I was a kid and we went there all the time; I honestly love their thick, heavy, beefy, garlicy dogs...the best!
 

Wild_Mustang

Sophomore
Jul 30, 2010
828
123
0
Armands (Thin Crust)
Pizano's (Thin Crust)
Lou Malanatis (Deep Dish)
La Gondola (Thin Crust)
Nancy's (Deep Dish)

These are all in Chicago, don't eat pizza in the burbs since I don't live there so I have no idea what's out there.
 

Wild_Mustang

Sophomore
Jul 30, 2010
828
123
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N side I like Pequods and Art of Pizza

Art of Pizza is great, the deep dish that is. Great call.

I am not a fan of Pequods. It's too much bread, the crust is awesome but the rest of the pizza I don't love. I'll still eat it but I won't go out of my way to get it.
 

ClownBaby

Heisman
Oct 26, 2006
21,548
74,659
113
If you are talking thin crust, I have found Al's in Warrenville to be the best. Small joint with an adjoining bar Towne Tap. You can eat it in the seating area or bring it into the bar.

I don't like chain pizza places. I think the out-of-the way little places are often the best.

After reading this thread last week I ordered a pizza from Al's since it is great and had been a while.
 

CoachHansen05

Redshirt
Nov 18, 2014
62
28
0
1. Falco's

I have a wheat allergy, so my next three choices are based on gluten-free crust.
2. Malnati's
3. Giordano's
4. Aurelio's

5. Home Run Inn
 
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kpjasion

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
1,182
916
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May be more of a Fremd bar but Oak Alley is pretty darn good. I hate Fremd.

I'm not a Fremd fan either :) . In Palatine, I thought the best was a place that's now gone..Chicago Pizza Authority. On "the other side of the tracks", I've had Vini's over at Palatine Rd & Quentin; it was decent.

Like I said though..I still long for Burt's original Peqoud's in Morton Grove circa 1980.. Haven't found anything I liked better. The original place was so cool too; it was the first floor of a house basically turned into a restaurant. There were like, maybe eight or nine tables with the red/white checkerboard tableclothes. He eventually moved to a more conventional storefront a couple of doors down, but the original place was great! About 10-20 of us from the team would go there after Friday night games and basically pack the place.
 

DeanOfSelection

All-Conference
Sep 24, 2002
118,578
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I'm not a Fremd fan either :) . In Palatine, I thought the best was a place that's now gone..Chicago Pizza Authority. On "the other side of the tracks", I've had Vini's over at Palatine Rd & Quentin; it was decent.

Like I said though..I still long for Burt's original Peqoud's in Morton Grove circa 1980.. Haven't found anything I liked better. The original place was so cool too; it was the first floor of a house basically turned into a restaurant. There were like, maybe eight or nine tables with the red/white checkerboard tableclothes. He eventually moved to a more conventional storefront a couple of doors down, but the original place was great! About 10-20 of us from the team would go there after Friday night games and basically pack the place.
I picked up 2pizza's there maybe 5 years ago. the ingredients were straight from the garden. Felt like I was in a house. Was kind of hidden at end of a street.
 
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Bowie50

All-Conference
Aug 3, 2013
2,806
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I'm not a Fremd fan either :) . In Palatine, I thought the best was a place that's now gone..Chicago Pizza Authority. On "the other side of the tracks", I've had Vini's over at Palatine Rd & Quentin; it was decent.

Like I said though..I still long for Burt's original Peqoud's in Morton Grove circa 1980.. Haven't found anything I liked better. The original place was so cool too; it was the first floor of a house basically turned into a restaurant. There were like, maybe eight or nine tables with the red/white checkerboard tableclothes. He eventually moved to a more conventional storefront a couple of doors down, but the original place was great! About 10-20 of us from the team would go there after Friday night games and basically pack the place.
CPA!!! Yes, it was the best. I remember going there every year at the end of the palatine boys park dist. baseball season. My folks use to live in Reseda off Hicks and would get Marie's pizza..I was pretty young, but that was pretty darn good too. It was located where the new police station is. Good luck to the Pirates this year. They will have one incredible squad. I do feel for Lou Sponsel (Fremd's head coach). He's a really good dude. I played PAFA with him...I was in 8th grade and he was in 6th and was our starting fullback on heavyweight. He was a really tough kid and a great football player. I wonder what the issue is over there. He's a lot more likable than Donatucci.
 
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DeanOfSelection

All-Conference
Sep 24, 2002
118,578
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a good pizza in that area-I believe elk grove or schaum is Mario's. id usually hit that Lous next to Easy street though aka Sleazy Street
 
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crusader_of_90

All-American
Nov 1, 2003
11,196
9,148
113
I'm not a Fremd fan either :) . In Palatine, I thought the best was a place that's now gone..Chicago Pizza Authority. On "the other side of the tracks", I've had Vini's over at Palatine Rd & Quentin; it was decent.

Like I said though..I still long for Burt's original Peqoud's in Morton Grove circa 1980.. Haven't found anything I liked better. The original place was so cool too; it was the first floor of a house basically turned into a restaurant. There were like, maybe eight or nine tables with the red/white checkerboard tableclothes. He eventually moved to a more conventional storefront a couple of doors down, but the original place was great! About 10-20 of us from the team would go there after Friday night games and basically pack the place.

What's this Oak Alley place? I'm missing out on something?

The Slice was decent ... not great. I remember stopping in and the Northrop Gruman software engineers would be drinking their lunches. (Anytime a Middle East wedding party is hit with a smart bomb by accident, I think of one particular guy who went there for lunch each day.)

Lou's in Palatine is good - not as good as the sit down parlors. Giordano's in Rosemont is my go-to now. Get it half baked and finish at home so it's fresh and the crust is crunchy.
 

catsattackfor3

Freshman
Mar 2, 2011
2,629
53
0
5 best thin crust:
1) Piece
2) Vito and Nick's
3) Palermo's (Oak Lawn and Chicago)
4) D'Agastino's
5) Chesdans

5 best deep dish
1) Pequods
2) Lou Malnati's
3) Pizano's
4) Art of Pizza
5) Gino's

Pizza I never understood the hype: Giordano's, Aurilio's, and my favorite card board slop Connies
 

UlbKA91

Junior
Sep 22, 2015
1,037
309
0
5 best thin crust:
1) Piece
2) Vito and Nick's
3) Palermo's (Oak Lawn and Chicago)
4) D'Agastino's
5) Chesdans

5 best deep dish
1) Pequods
2) Lou Malnati's
3) Pizano's
4) Art of Pizza
5) Gino's

Pizza I never understood the hype: Giordano's, Aurilio's, and my favorite card board slop Connies
I hear you on Aurelios. Giordanos is serviceable and Connies survives on having been a "safe and close to the park" option for White Sox fandom.
 

Raider PA man

Redshirt
Sep 22, 2015
30
19
0
Try Bianchi's in Ottawa...great sauce ties it all together. If you don't have a great sauce, all you have is cheese and toppings on dough.
 

emdee91

Redshirt
May 26, 2015
143
45
0
Don't any of you live south of 80? Damn.

In my area, good pizza is pretty limited, not for lack of pizzerias. When I lived in Joliet, Linda's used to be the way to go, not sure if they are still any good though. I haven't been there for ages.

When my daughter was going to Bishop Mac, Chicago Dough was definitely another good place to buy.

So now I'm left with what I have here in my area. Rachetti's in Coal City is real good, minus the chunks of cooked tomatoes on the top of their deep dish, and for a thin crust pepperoni, (which is damn near impossible to screw up), I tend to stick with Rosati's. There is a Giordanos in Minooka, and all there pizzerias are pretty much identical to each other, so I like to go there as well.

I'm sure some or all of you are puking at my choices. Keep in mind you're a product of your environment, and I pay for private school tuition.

So that being said, don't rip my choices too bad!! Lol.
 

ramblinman_rivals165935

All-Conference
Jul 18, 2001
9,102
2,802
0
Should we do a separate thin and stuff catagory?

Post em here.

Up north, I'm a big fan of Lou Malnati's. Consistently great deep dish. Get the tasty sausage pattie topping which means you never have a non-crust bite without sausage. Crust is outstanding.

Surprised nobody has mentioned Beggar's. They're my fave primarily south side chain. Love the thick cheese and somewhat al dente veggies.
 

jeepruslb

Redshirt
Oct 18, 2010
4
0
0
Chicago Pizza Boss, its a food truck owned by a buddy. Award winning pizza, been on Chicago's Best.
I like Lou's ButterCrust Deep Dish, and Barrone's Stuffed.
In Aurora, Mike and Denise's.
 

USD24

All-American
May 29, 2001
5,459
5,249
113
Don't any of you live south of 80? Damn.

In my area, good pizza is pretty limited, not for lack of pizzerias. When I lived in Joliet, Linda's used to be the way to go, not sure if they are still any good though. I haven't been there for ages.

When my daughter was going to Bishop Mac, Chicago Dough was definitely another good place to buy.

So now I'm left with what I have here in my area. Rachetti's in Coal City is real good, minus the chunks of cooked tomatoes on the top of their deep dish, and for a thin crust pepperoni, (which is damn near impossible to screw up), I tend to stick with Rosati's. There is a Giordanos in Minooka, and all there pizzerias are pretty much identical to each other, so I like to go there as well.

I'm sure some or all of you are puking at my choices. Keep in mind you're a product of your environment, and I pay for private school tuition.

So that being said, don't rip my choices too bad!! Lol.

Linda's still has pretty good pizza. Right in the neighborhood, so we get it often. Giovanne's in Joliet is also good, used to be a Salarnos.