Yelp released its list of the 100 best pizza places in the Midwest on Wednesday, highlighting the region’s “most popular” pizza joints, and Michiganders who have been to Louis before won’t be surprised by who won.
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Yelp has made the search for the perfect slice of pizza a little easier and compiled a list of the 100 best pizza places in the Midwest. Surprise: Chicago didn’t make the number 1 spot.
This year’s rankings, released Tuesday, include all types of pizza, from Detroit-style square pizza to Chicago’s famous deep-dish pie. Also included, according to Kathy Passero, who helped research and compile Yelp’s top 100, are reinterpretations of Chicago tavern pizza and the classic St. Louis pizza, which has a thin crust that looks almost like a cracker.
“The Midwest has long been an integral part of pizza tradition in the United States and has produced many iconic styles of the popular dish,” said Tara Lewis, Yelp trend expert, in a statement. “No matter what your preference, there’s something for every pizza lover on this list.”
To create the rankings, Yelp considered pizzerias from across the region, including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Yelp then narrowed down the list based on a large number of reviews containing relevant keywords and scored them on a number of factors, including the total number and ratings of reviews that mentioned those keywords.
So who overtook Chicago? Which state had the most restaurants on the list? Find out below.
Yelp’s Top 10 Pizzerias in the Midwest
1. Louis’s Pizza in Hazel Park, Michigan
- Address: 23141 Dequindre Road
- Fun fact: According to Yelp, the family-owned restaurant has been serving Detroit-style pizza for nearly 50 years.
- With a rating of 4.4, customers especially love the barbecue pizza. One recent reviewer raved about the large portions (“I’m a big guy and I only managed half”) and emphasized that he “really liked the corners with the crispy texture.”
2. Futuro in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Address: 19 Cruse St.
- Fun fact: Chef Luke Tobias and his wife Sarah St. Aubin turned their pizza-making hobby into a full-time job during COVID-19, opening Futuro a year after they started making pizza that customers could order online and pick up on their porch.
3. Pequod’s Pizza in Chicago, Illinois
- Address: 2207 N. Clybourn Ave.
- Fun fact: Jay Esper, manager at Pequod’s Pizza, describes the pizza made at the restaurant as a mix of “deep-dish and Detroit style.” And what makes it unique is its “soft, fluffy center combined with the crispy crust and caramelized cheese crust,” Esper told Yelp.
4. Tyler’s Pizzeria & Bakery in Reynoldsburg, Ohio
- Address: 7516 E. Main St.
- Kelsey Tyler, an employee at Tyler’s Pizzeria & Bakery, told Yelp that her family got into the pizza business by accident after a permit issue. The family-run shop has been open for 13 years and works every day to make the wood-fired, handmade sourdough-crust pizza it’s known for, according to Yelp.
5. Milly’s Pizza In The Pan in Chicago, Illinois
- Address: 1005 W. Argyle St.
- Fun fact: The reason why customers always choose the “perfectly crispy crust” at Milly’s is because they never pre-cut their pies, which, according to Yelp, prevents sauce from dripping into the batter.
6. At Forno Pizza in Avon, Ohio
- Address: 35840 Chester Road
- Fun fact: The traditional East Coast-style Neapolitan pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven in about 90 seconds, according to Yelp.
7. Pizzeoli Wood-Fired Pizza in St. Louis, Missouri
- Address: 1928 S. 12th St.
- There are always plenty of pizza options at Pizzeoli, with over 40 flavor combinations to choose from, according to Yelp. Although their pizzas are inspired by “Old World style pizza,” they are “richer, heartier and more decadent” because they’re a Midwestern business, general manager Josh Grisa told Yelp.
8. Brittany’s Brick Oven Pizza in Madison, Indiana
- Address: 2034 Lanier Drive
- Fun fact: According to Yelp, Brittany’s makes “unusual pizzas” with unique ingredients like shrimp or spicy bhut jolokia flakes that result in one-of-a-kind slices. The flavor combinations have put the “mom and pop shop” on the pizza map, Yelp says.
9. Dough Daddy’s Pizza in Westmont, Illinois
- Address: 649 N. Cass Ave.
- Fun fact: According to Yelp, best friends Ray Schwitz and Matt Rowley run Dough Daddy’s, making handmade thin-crust pizzas with house-made ingredients.
10. Delicious pizza in Omaha, Nebraska
- Address: 1418 S. 60th St.
- Fun fact: According to Yelp, owner Mary Joseph originally sold pastries before realizing she preferred savory pastries over sweet. What hasn’t changed, according to Yelp, is the emphasis on homemade flavor.
See how the other 90 Midwest locations rank below
11. Santino’s little Italy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
12. Zaza’s Pizzeria in Chicago, Illinois
13. The Rione in Cleveland, Ohio
14. Pie Sci in Detroit, Michigan
15. Iechyd Da Brewing CompanyElkhart, Indiana
16. Providence in slicesKansas City, Missouri
17. Pizza ExpressCincinnati, Ohio
18. Market 22 in Maple City, Michigan
19. Pangea Kitchen in Evansville, Indiana
20. Noto in St. Peters, Missouri
21. Orsis Italian Bakery and Pizzeria in Omaha, Nebraska
22. The Brick Oven Bistro in Sandusky, Ohio
23. Fredi, the pizza man in Melvindale, Michigan
24. Brimfield Bread Oven in Kent, Ohio
25. Young Joni in Minneapolis, Minnesota
26. Ohio Pie Co. in Brunswick, Ohio
27. Mom’s Pizza in St. Paul, Minnesota
28. baked in Galesburg, Illinois
29. Fast Eddie’s Pizza in Bellville, Ohio
30. Forno Rosso Pizzeria NapoletanaChicago, Illinois
31. Izzy’s Pizza Bus in Omaha, Nebraska
32. Freddy’s Pizza in Cicero, Illinois
33. Pomodoro and mozzarella in St. Charles, Illinois
34. Crafters Pizza and Drafthouse in Carmel, Indiana
35. The Three MoriIndianapolis, Indiana
36. Press Pizza & Pasta in St. Louis, Missouri
37. Ozark Mountain Pizza in Branson, Missouri
38. Pizza Hut in Mason, Ohio
39. Boludo in Minneapolis, Minnesota
40. Gianorio’s Pizza in Winfield, Illinois
41. George’s deep bowl in Chicago, Illinois
42. Uncle Leo‘s Pizza in St. Louis, Missouri
43. The Filling Station Microbrewery in Traverse City, Michigan
44. Salvatore’s tomato cake in Madison, Wisconsin
45. Jim’s Pizza BoxMilan, Ohio
46. Independent Beer HouseRapid City, South Dakota
47. KJ’s PizzeriaDeSoto, Kansas
48. Branch + subsidiary, quality meat and market in Windsor, Wisconsin
49. Novanta in Madison, Wisconsin
50. Pizzeria DiLauro in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
51. Terita’s Pizza Takeaway in Columbus, Ohio
52. Tawas Bay Pizza Co in Tawas City, Michigan
53. Magoo’s California Pizza – Avon in Avon, Indiana
54. DeSalvo’s Pizza in Evanston, Illinois
55. Large tomato in Allen Park, Michigan
56. Pizza West in Shawnee, Kansas
57. Patellies in Three Oaks, Michigan
58. Cafe-restaurant “Nature’s Best” in Naperville, Illinois
59. cruiser in Keystone, South Dakota
60. Passionate in Fishers, Indiana
61. Sal’s Pizza Company in Algonquin, Illinois
62. Quarantine in Grand Rapids, Michigan
63. Pizza Hut in Spearfish, South Dakota
64. Zoey’s Pizzeria in Marion, Iowa
65. Wells Brothers Restaurant in Racine, Wisconsin
66. Anthoninos Tavern in St. Louis, Missouri
67. Pie Life Pizzeria in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
68. Silver Beach Pizza in St. Joseph, Michigan
69. Buddy’s Pizza in Detroit, Michigan
70. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in Schaumburg, Illinois
71. The Lazzarone in St. Joseph, Missouri
72. Nonna’s Pizza & Pasta in Ankeny, Iowa
73. Elio Pizza in Flames in Addison, Illinois
74. Grandma Bobs in Detroit, Michigan
75. Foggia’s Pizzeria in Southgate, Michigan
76. Charles and Reid Detroit Pizza in Traverse City, Michigan
77. Pizza Hut in Dayton, Ohio
78. 112 Pizzeria Bistro in Rochester Hills, Michigan
79. Antoniou’s Towne Square Pizza in Rochester Hills, Michigan
80. Pizzeria Lola in Minneapolis, Minnesota
81. Pizzeria Da Gloria in St. Louis, Missouri
82. Brianno’s Deli Italia in Eagan, Minnesota
83. Pals Brewery in North Platte, Nebraska
84. Amsel wood fire in Fargo, North Dakota
85. Fireflour Pizza + Coffee Bar in Bismarck, North Dakota
86. San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
87. Element wood-fired pizza in Minneapolis, Minnesota
88. Dewey’s Pizza in St. Charles, Missouri
89. Tono Pizzeria + Cheesesteaks in Maplewood, Minnesota
90. Sfumato Pizzeria in Alton, Iowa
91. Maggie’s Farm Wood-fired Pizza in Iowa City, Iowa
92. Italian Mangia in Omaha, Nebraska
93. Basic Pizza in Waterloo, Iowa
94. Dolomiti Pizzeria & Enoteca in Omaha, Nebraska
95. Ang to Eddies in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
96. Smash Pizza in Bettendorf, Iowa
97. Pizzeria Piatto Neapolitan in Wichita, Kansas
98. Need pizza in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
99. Pauly’s Pizzeria & Sub in Rapid City, South Dakota
100. Big Mill in Lawrence, Kansas
