Who doesn’t love pizza … and discovering new great pizzas?
We’ve got you covered with the best pizza in every state + DC.
Let’s get to them…
Follow The Coconut Mama
• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Carpenetti’s Pizza
Style of Pizza: New York-style
Location: Moody
The Rationale: We’re suckers for pizza places that let the pizza speak for itself (one look at their rudimentary website, and it’s clear they do!). This family-friendly pizzeria is where you go to get your pizza fix without any bells and whistles.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria
Style of Pizza: Hand-Tossed
Location: Anchorage
The Rationale: If the name alone doesn’t get you, how about not only traditional offerings but also innovative selections like the Call of the Wild (features their very Alaska reindeer sausage and two different mushrooms), the Aloha Escape (Canadian bacon and pineapple), and the Avalanche (includes pepperoni, blackened chicken, bacon, and three different cheeses). All on a non-greasy crust. Pair it with a beer from Broken Tooth Brewery!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Pizzeria Bianco
Style of Pizza: Wood-Fired
Location: Phoenix (they also have LA locations, but it started in Arizona)
The Rationale: Chris Bianco has won more than one James Beard award and has been called the best pizza maker in the country. I mean, worth a try, no?
Shutterstock
The Pick: Red’s Pizzeria
Style of Pizza: Thin-Crust
Location: Eureka Springs
The Rationale: The atmosphere is fun and casual (e.g. it features a painted schoolbus on site), which adds to the pizza experience. Its soft, thin crust is great with selections like the Meat Enthusiast, Sassy Sausage, and Very Veggie.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Pitfire Pizza (aka Pitfire Artisan Pizza)
Style of Pizza: Wood-fired
Location: 9 locations in Southern California
The Rationale: “Fancy but fun” is how I’d describe these pies. Zoe’s Pepperoni or Say Cheese for the basic pizza lovers. And choices like The Burrata, Honey Bear, or Epic. BBQ. Chicken. for the more adventurous!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Blue Pan Pizza
Style of Pizza: Detroit-Style
Location: A few Denver locations plus a food truck
The Rationale: A strong Detroit-Style pizza, but also has New York and Tavern style pizza (thin and cut into squares). All kinds of delicious options!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
Style of Pizza: New Haven-Style
Location: New Haven (but locations around Connecticut and elsewhere)
The Rationale: Haters gonna pick less obvious pizzas, but we have a soft spot for the originals. Frank Pepe’s been around since 1925 and invented the New Haven-style of pizza (thin crust, coal-fired)…aka apizza. Of note is the White Clam Pizza as well as the Original Tomato Pie.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Cafe Napoli
Style of Pizza: Neapolitan
Location: Wilmington
The Rationale: Not fancy (it’s in a strip mall), this family affair surprises with beautiful pizzas like the Shrimp White Tomato. There’s also Sicilian Pizza for those who prefer the thick stuff!
Shutterstock
The Pick: 2Amys Neapolitan Pizzeria
Style of Pizza: Neapolitan
Location: Cathedral Heights area
The Rationale: You know you’re good when you can get away with walk-ins and takeouts only for four hours a day on weekdays (5-9) in addition to more normal weekend hours. I can attest that the pizza really is that good!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Duetto Pizza & Gelato
Style of Pizza: Hand-tossed
Location: Key West
The Rationale: Because of all the Northerners retiring in Florida, you can find outposts for many favorites from other states. But that would be cheating. Duetto has beautiful pizza with a “not too thin or thick” semolina crust and house-made sauce. The gelato for dessert doesn’t hurt either!
Follow The Coconut Mama
• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Vinnie Van Go-Go’s
Style of Pizza: New York-Style
Location: Savannah
The Rationale: A fun, casual place (if you couldn’t tell from the name)! You can get four different sauces (marinara red sauce, pesto, white, and garlic olive oil) and plenty to toppings (from pepperoni and hamburger all the way up to the “yuppie” toppings like feta cheese and artichoke hearts).
Shutterstock
The Pick: Big Kahuna Pizza
Style of Pizza: Wood-fired
Location: Honolulu
The Rationale: Yeah, I may be accused of being a tourist with this one based on the name. If you want other options, check out Outrigger Pizza or J. Dolan’s. But if you want a truly Hawaiian experience, get the Kanaka Pizza (oven roasted shreddy kalua pork with Hawaiian BBQ sauce and green onions) or the Portagee Pizza at Big Kahuna’s. You’re welcome in advance!
Shutterstock
The Pick: The Wylder
Style of Pizza: Hand-tossed Sourdough
Location: Boise
The Rationale: A hip, “craft cocktail” kind of place. It’s a little younger than I usually like (around since 2017), but they bring it with pizzas like the Honey Badger (a white pizza with italian sausage, ricotta, caramelized onion, and of course, spicy honey). The sourdough crust makes for a good change of pace vs. others on this list as well.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Giordano’s
Style of Pizza: Deep Dish
Location: Chicago
The Rationale: Let the debate begin! Admittedly, this was one of the hardest ones to pick. Acceptable answers include any of your favorite deep dish places, whether that’s Giordano’s like me or Lou Malnati’s or Geno’s East. Or Pequod’s, which is a deeper tracks favorite of many (it’s darn good!). Honestly, I haven’t found my perfect deep dish. I like Giordano’s the best, but its crust is a bit dry and bland.
Unacceptable answers are any of the Chicago thin crust pizzas or something like Coalfire. It’s gotta be deep dish!
Shutterstock
The Pick: The Rolling Stonebaker
Style of Pizza: Artisan Wood-Fired Pizza
Location: Valparaiso
The Rationale: As so many great pizza places have, The Rolling Stonebaker started as a food truck. They’ve since added a bricks and mortar location. The Purple Pig is probably the showstopper with smoked pork shoulder, BBQ, their mozzarella/provolone blend, and a tangy purple slaw to top it off. Get the Stoner Bites, too (their name for dough balls).
Shutterstock
The Pick: Harris Pizza
Style of Pizza: Quad City-Style
Location: Davenport (and two other locations)
The Rationale: Pizza King in Council Bluffs is strong, but the nod had to go to Harris Pizza to represent the Quad City style of pizza (which has a lot of malt in its thin crust, red chili flakes and cayenne pepper in the spicy sauce, and is cut into strips vs. slices).
Shutterstock
The Pick: Witchita Brewing Company
Style of Pizza: Wood-fired
Location: Witchita
The Rationale: It’s “The ITIS” that puts Witchita Brewing over the top. It’s dough, then cream cheese and American cheese, Italian sausage, and spicy capicola. We’re not done. You add a second pizza dough, red sauce, cubed pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, and a double dose of wood-fired sweet pepper bacon.
Even better, you can add add a second layer onto any pizza by ordering it “ITIS Style.”
Shutterstock
The Pick: Impellizzeri’s Pizza
Style of Pizza: Louisville Style
Location: Louisville
The Rationale: First slinging pizzas in 1979 (originally out of a butcher shop), Impellizzeri’s invented the Louisville style of pizza (two layers of cheese and two layers of toppings). You can get it the original way, thin, or Sicilian Deep.
Shutterstock
The Pick: St. Pizza Pizzeria + Tavern
Style of Pizza: Thin crust
Location: New Orleans (Lower Garden District)
The Rationale: St. Pizza is a classic takeout window at a bar. Its thin-crust pizza is reminiscent of Jersey bar pizzas. Yes, please!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Otto Pizza
Style of Pizza: Artisan Thin Crust
Location: Portland (but it’s a local chain in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire)
The Rationale: Creative-but-still-delicious pies get bonus points, and Otto Pizza fits the bill! It’s famous for its Mashed Potato, Bacon, and Scallion pizza. You can even get it “Double Dough” if you want to double down on the heartiness!
Shutterstock
The Pick: DiPasquale’s Italian Marketplace & Deli
Style of Pizza: Brick Oven
Location: Baltimore (four stores)
The Rationale: This Italian market has been around since 1914, and in addition to wonderful pizzas, you can get the whole gamut of the Italian eating experience, from Carbonara with Bucatini to hot and cold subs (their specialty is The Real Italian). But, yes, the pizzas hold up. Everything else is just a bonus!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Pinocchio’s Pizza & Subs
Style of Pizza: Sicilian or thin-crust
Location: Boston (Cambridge)
The Rationale: Yep, we’re going with a Harvard pizza place, but Noch’s is a hole-in-the-wall slice shop with zero pretensions (except maybe the pictures of Mark Zuckerberg and being name checked on “Suits”). I’d recommend the Sicilian, which is what I get just about every time. The Baked Ziti with meatballs is also a favorite if you have the appetite or can work out a sharing alliance.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Buddy’s
Style of Pizza: Detroit-Style
Location: Detroit and throughout Michigan
The Rationale: Buddy’s literally invented Detroit-style pizza! That’s the rectangular pan-style pizza with Wisconsin brick cheese. It’s gotten quite popular around the country, but you gotta try the original!
Honorable mentions go to the Detroit-style pizzas at Loui’s in Hazel Park and Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, MI. Buddy’s has to win by default, but these are worth a taste test to determine your favorite Detroit-style pizza!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Black Sheep
Style of Pizza: Coal-fired
Location: Minneapolis
The Rationale: A very crispy thin-crust is the star here, even if you pick options with no sauce (the Cheese, Garlic & Dried Chili Pepper and the Oyster Mushroom, Smoked Mozzarella, Rosemary & Garlic) or no cheese (the Tomato & Oregano). Before you start taking off ingredients, try the Fresh Tomato, Green Pepper & Kalamata Olives!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Tony’s Brick Oven Pizzeria
Style of Pizza: Brick Oven
Location: Gulfport
The Rationale: I love when the pizza reflects the place. But it’s gotta be really good or it risks being a novelty. Tony’s nails it with the Gumbo Pizza. Listen to this ingredient list: “Spicy file roux topped with shrimp, crab meat, andouille sausage, rustic tomatoes, and sliced okra topped with four cheese blends and parmesan.”
When do you get okra on a pizza? Such an underrated veggie!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Imo’s Pizza
Style of Pizza: St. Louis-Style
Location: St. Louis (local chain)
The Rationale: When a pizza place invented the local style, it’s almost surely gotta win. St. Louis-Style is a thin crust cut into squares and features Provel cheese (a combo of cheddar, swiss, and provolone).
If you insist on a higher-end, non-St. Louis-style pizza (think: a James Beard-winning chef), try the Neapolitan-style pizzas at Pastaria (also in St. Louis).
Shutterstock
The Pick: Biga Pizza
Style of Pizza: Brick Oven
Location: Missoula
The Rationale: Named after its unsalted starter (biga), this pizza haven uses seasonal ingredients (e.g. its Winter Squash pizza) to make its beautiful pies. Yes, you can get a basic Pepperoni, but why not try the Hungarian Mushroom or the Sweet Potato, Bacon, Maple Chipotle? They do half and half, so try two at a time!
Shutterstock
The Pick: La Casa Pizzaria
Style of Pizza: Rectangle Thin Crust
Location: Omaha
The Rationale: Not everyone loves the thin crust style, but if you do, La Casa is excellent! You can also get it double-crust for a thicker feel. The Classic Hamburger is the local fave, but you can build your own as well.
Shutterstock
The Pick: 00 Pie & Pub (pronounced “Double Zero”)
Style of Pizza: Wood-Fired (aka Neo-Neapolitan style)
Location: Las Vegas
The Rationale: Yeah, it’s a little fancy, but that’s part of the Vegas eating experience! Even the Pepperoni sounds elevated with vodka sauce, fior di latte, chili crunch, dry aged pepperoni, basil, and EVOO. Multiple sauces to choose from including an Italian Flag option for a mix!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Tilton House of Pizza
Style of Pizza: Greek-Style
Location: Tilton
The Rationale: Greek-Style pizza has a medium thick crust that’s just a wonderful “in-between.” The Golden BBQ Chicken is an interesting option (breaded chicken tenders, bacon, caramelized onions, golden honey BBQ sauce on top) but there are so many good choices including the Loaded Potato, the Pastrami Bomb Pizza, and, of course, the Greek.
Shutterstock
The Pick: De Lorenzo’s Pizza
Style of Pizza: Jersey Tomato Pie
Location: Trenton
The Rationale: Founded in 1938, generations have enjoyed this classic, crispy pizza. They recommend the Plan (tomato and cheese) to start. After that, feel free to build your own (toppings include deliciousness like floured eggplant).
Also worth a try…the other DeLorenzo’s in Robbinsville, Yardley (PA), and Levittown (PA). They’re unrelated shops but all run by blood relatives. Talk about a fun pizza tour!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Golden Crown Panaderia
Style of Pizza: New Mexican Style or “Bakery-Style”
Location: Albuquerque
The Rationale: Oh man, the crust options alone are worth the trip. You can get Peasant (wheat-based), Blue Corn, or Green Chili in hand-tossed or thin. The Golden Crown combination is basically the Supreme but there’s also a case for the Guy Fieri Triple D (oven-roasted chicken, artichoke, fresh basil, and red onions on the blue corn crust). Yes, in case you haven’t guessed, it’s been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Bleecker Street Pizza
Style of Pizza: New York (duh!)
Location: Manhattan
The Rationale: I mean, you have to go with a traditional New York slice here, right? Joe’s and others have their fans, but Bleecker Street Pizza is the best.
If you’re looking for something fancier, try Andrew Bellucci’s Pizzeria.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Slice
Style of Pizza: Hand-Tossed Deck-Oven Pizza
Location: Kill Devil Hills
The Rationale: It’s in the Outer Banks, but its following is strong enough that it stays open year ’round (their five-topping pizza deal is called “The Endless Summer”). Bonus: You can get ribeye steak as a topping!
Shutterstock
The Pick: A&B Pizza
Style of Pizza: Thin Crust
Location: Bismarck (three locations)
The Rationale: They’re on the third generation of A&B (started in 1969 by Alvin and Barb) serving up almost cracker-thin pizza with spicy sauce. Their two favorites are probably the House Special (sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, green pepper) and the Taco Pizza. Gotta get a Cinnamon Streusel Dessert Pizza afterwards, too!
Shutterstock
The Pick: DeFelice Bros. Pizza
Style of Pizza: Oven Fried
Location: St. Clairsville and several locations in the Ohio Valley area
The Rationale: DeFelice Bros. tastes like Pizza Hut’s greasier, more delicious cousin. The greasiness comes from baking their dough in a pan with oil. Pair that with a tasty sauce and DeFelice lives up to its old slogan: “The Pizza Worth Going After.” Note: They do deliver now.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Empire Slice House
Style of Pizza: New York-Style
Location: Oklahoma City (but it’s a small chain, so elsewhere in the state as well)
The Rationale: They’ve got your classic cheese or pepperoni for those looking for a true New York slice. But also many fun-named pizzas to try, including Notorious P.I.G. (pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon, Canadian bacon…yes, both!) and the Foghorn Leghorn (roasted chicken, bacon, and jalapeno with sweet marinara and a sriracha drizzle).
Another chain to try out is Hideaway Pizza…a family chain since 1957!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Apizza Scholls
Style of Pizza: Something between the New York and New Haven styles
Location: Portland
The Rationale: You know a pizza place is likely to be awesome when it has specific instructions on how to order and how long the wait might be if you just walk in. Hint, they ain’t checking voicemail! The wait is worth it. Plus, they have classic arcade games for a quarter a pop, so at least for me, waiting is a feature not a bug!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Pizzeria Beddia
Style of Pizza: Thin crust
Location: Philly
The Rationale: To call Pizzeria Beddia a thin-crust pizza place is a disservice. The dough is fermented for 36 hours and the pizzas are lovingly rotated during baking for a crunchier crust. The toppings choices are limited, but even the plain version is worth every bite!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Pizza Marvin
Style of Pizza: Both New Haven-Style and Sicilian-Style
Location: Providence
The Rationale: It’s the crispy slices of Sicilian that win Pizza Marvin supremacy in Rhode Island, although many might prefer the thin, crisp, charred New Haven style (flavors like Chowdah Pie with clams, potato, bacon, and herbs or the Jolly Green Giant with peas, ham, cipollini onion, and mint). The Roni slice of the Sicilian is especially good (gotta love the cup-style pepperoni!).
Shutterstock
The Pick: Sabatino’s
Style of Pizza: New York-Style (Bronx)
Location: Charleston
The Rationale: Sabatino’s is proof that this list is all about the pizza. Competing against much fancier Charleston pizza restaurants, Sabatino’s is a hole in the wall with serious slices. It’s a stop for me just about every time I’m in Charleston.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Charlie’s Pizza House
Style of Pizza: Hand-tossed
Location: Yankton (also in Sioux Falls)
The Rationale: Quality takes time (about 30 minutes) at Charlie’s. They’ve been doing it since 1959, so it’s worth the wait. The Festus is truly a unique pie with pepper-jack covered meatballs, jalapenos, and sauerkraut. If that’s too out there for you, create your own from among Charlie’s many toppings.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Five Points Pizza
Style of Pizza: New York-Style
Location: Nashville
The Rationale: The crisp, foldable slices scream New York. Check out the Habanero Cream Sauce Pie with house-made habanero cream sauce, bacon, oven-roasted tomatoes, red onions, fresh basil, fresh and shredded mozzarella. Too much? Then go with the Meatball Pie!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Via 313
Style of Pizza: Detroit-style
Location: Austin and expanding around Texas
The Rationale: The first time I had Via 313 (from a trailer outside a bar on Rainey Street), I had it three times in a 24-hour period! As the 313 area code reference would suggest, this is Detroit-style pizza at its finest. I actually prefer it to the original Buddy’s Pizza in Detroit.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Pizzeria 712
Style of Pizza: Neapolitan-Style Wood-Fired
Location: Orem
The Rationale: I was tempted to name Texas’s Via 313 the winner in Utah as well since it has come here. But that would be cheating. If, like me, you thought the 712 is a reference to the area code, it’s not. They bake their pizzas at 712 degrees Fahrenheit! If you’re wondering, the area code in Orem is 801.
Pizzeria 712 uses seasonal ingredients from nearby, so you’ll see stuff like the Butternut Squash Pizza or fresh corn as a topping (pro tip: ANYTIME there’s corn offered on a pizza, jump on it!)
Follow The Coconut Mama
• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
• Have feedback? Add a comment below!
Shutterstock
The Pick: The Tillerman
Style of Pizza: Wood-Fired
Location: Bristol
The Rationale: The Tillerman isn’t just a place that’s so good at pizza that the New York Times has lauded it…it’s an experience! The venue is a 1790’s farmhouse where they take care in sourcing their seasonal ingredients, which are reflected in their slim-but-effective pizza menu.
You may only see five choices with a handful of additional topping options. An example is the Verde Pizza (kale pesto, sweet onions, garlic, arugula, house mozzarella) or the Funghi Pizza (oyster mushrooms, pawlet cheese, oregano, house mozzarella).
Shutterstock
The Pick: Pupatella
Style of Pizza: Neapolitan
Location: Arlington (small chain in Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland)
The Rationale: I forget how good it is every time. It started as a food truck before it got its first brick and mortar space (and then more). It’s been awarded the Verace Pizza Association certification (i.e. legit Neapolitan pizza), but all you need is one bite of this soft, delicious pizza!
Apologies to Crozet Pizza down south, which is also a fine contender for the title of Virginia’s best!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Stevie’s Famous
Style of Pizza: New York-Style
Location: Burien and Seattle
The Rationale: Deliciously authentic New York with “naturally leavened dough, Washington flours, organic tomatoes.” Bonus points for naming every option boringly (“Cheese Pizza,” “Sausage Pizza,” “Mushroom Pizza,” etc.) except the Normie MacDonald Pizza (tomato base, aged mozzarella, coppa, burrata, hot honey, grana cheese).
Shutterstock
The Pick: Patsy’s
Style of Pizza: Ohio Valley-style
Location: Elm Grove, WV
The Rationale: Originally named DiCarlo’s (there are several with various owners…this one is the best), it was renamed Patsy’s in recent years. This is a love-it-or-hate-it pick. It’s a square, medium-thickness pizza with a crispy crust and cheese and pepperoni thrown on AFTER it’s cooked. Locals know to eat it straight out of the box in the parking lot. It loses a lot once the cheese melts. Again, you either love it or you hate it. We LOVE it!
Shutterstock
The Pick: Fixture Pizza Pub
Style of Pizza: Milwaukee-Style (aka Tavern-Style)
Location: Milwaukee
The Rationale: Cracker-thin pizza is a calling card of the Milwaukee pizza scene, and Fixture Pizza Pub does it so well (and with a layer of sauce on top!). They have a nice assortment of specialty pizzas, plus you can make any pizza a Deep Dish for a few bucks more.
Shutterstock
The Pick: Yeah Buddy Pizza
Style of Pizza: Neapolitan
Location: Jackson Hole
The Rationale: The headline since we’re talking Wyoming is housemade bison sausage and housemade elk sausage. Each 12-inch pizza is lovingly crafted and absolutely delicious! Bonus points for pizzas named Super Mario, Luigi, and Waluigi.
Shutterstock
There you have it…the best pizza in each of the 50 states (plus DC)!
There were debates for every state…and they were contentious!
Which amazing pizza places have we overlooked? Let us know in the comments section…
Shutterstock
Leave a Comment