Delicious pizza brings people together; it’s just a fact. Who else has a memory of having a birthday party at a pizza place as a kid?! You won’t find Chuck E. Cheese on this list, though. We’ve moved on to bigger and better pizza restaurants, thank you very much.

You don’t have to head to New York for incredible authentic Italian pizza! You can even get mouthwatering Detroit-style pizza outside of the Midwest. Chances are, there are great pizza places near you. Your favorite place to grab great pizza might be in Brooklyn, or it could be in El Paso! I

f you don’t necessarily have the budget to go on a pizza tour of the US, we forgive you. Before you wind up on page 26 of Google, searching “the best pizza near me,” let us lend a helping hand — from one pizza superfan to another.

We dive into the best pizza restaurants in America — starting now!

The Best Pizza Places in the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest — sometimes referred to as Cascadia or lovingly abbreviated to PNW — is an area on America’s West Coast, including Oregon, Washington, parts of Northern California, and parts of Idaho. If you think Oregon doesn’t have mouthwatering pizza, you have another thing coming.

Moto

In Seattle, Washington, pizza joint Moto is running on a waitlist. That’s right, a waitlist, and once they open their doors for ordering, this spot typically sells out in a single day. Plan ahead for Moto the next time you visit the Evergreen state, as you’ll need to have your pizza as a takeout order. 

There is no dine-in option — not like that matters too much! The pizza variety at Moto ranges from traditional pepperoni to adobo, clam chowder, and other seafood. 

Yes, you read that right. Order one of these uniquely Seattle-style pies and head to Kerry Park for pizza with a view. Vegan options are a yes, and so is soft serve. So good.

West of Chicago Pizza Company

For some true deep-dish pizza in the heart of Seattle, West of Chicago delivers (pun intended). This spot has a fun family-and-friends environment that we adore. You can get a classic deep dish or customize your own with their classic choice of toppings (their ricotta is a must). 

You can also get a singular option for thin crust pizza, with a build-your-own possibility, but the deep dish is why you go to WCPC. They like to say that “love is in every transaction” at West of Chicago Pizza Company, and one bite of their high-quality pizza will have you nodding in agreement.

Baby Doll Pizza

A long-time mainstay of the pizza scene in Portland, Oregon, is Baby Doll Pizza. They serve up New York-style pizza with all in-house made pies featuring organic ingredients. Hipster PDX meets no-nonsense NYC at Baby Doll Pizza. All of their pizzas are build-your-own, with a vegan option and limited availability deep dish. 

Seating is ample outside, but if Portland gets rainy, it will be better to have it delivered. On one of the rare sunny days in the PNW, get Baby Doll Pizza to-go and have a picnic at Laurelhurst Park.

California’s Best Pizza

California is the third largest state, with 163,696 square miles available for potential pizza perfection. Where do the best pizza places lie within California? Let us spill the deets.

Cheese Board Pizza

Do you happen to be in Northern California? College town Berkeley has one of the best pizzerias. Offering a singular pizza option a day has put Cheese Board Pizza at the top of Yelp — which is high public praise. 

If you take a trip to Cheese Board, try their green sauce and garlic olive oil, but also expect to wait in line. Par-baked pizzas are available as a fun take-home option.

Bronx Pizza

Heading down the Golden State takes us next to Southern California in search of great pizza. San Diego is home to Bronx Pizza which, as the name implies, serves New York style. You can get a whole pie, buy by the slice to mix and match, or get something on the go. 

The dine-in experience has New York memorabilia and references, making Bronx Pizza feel quintessentially New York. This may be controversial, but the calzones here almost make us wish this was a list of the most delectable calzone places.

Amazing Pizza Joints in the Midwest

Now this is where things get interesting. The Midwest has many pizza claims to fame. The state of Michigan is the birthplace of Detroit-style pizza: a rectangular-shaped pizza pie with a thick, appetizing crust. 

A few hundred miles away in Illinois, Chicago won’t let you forget the deep-dish pizza they are known for. If you reside in the Midwest, you have some of the best pizza places to choose from near you.

Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza

Indianapolis is home to Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza. Jockamo’s has a very large menu of specialty pizzas. The Creole includes etouffee sauce, cajun sausage, and your choice of crawfish or shrimp. 

The Reubano is the classic Reuben sandwich in pizza style. As a well-rounded pizza joint, they also offer sandwiches, salads, and starters for groups looking to mix it up.

Zaffiro’s Pizza & Bar 

Zaffiro’s is a Milwaukee staple. It’s that type of pizza place where the tables are covered in plaid tablecloths. 

It’s that familiarity of the pizza joints of your childhood that are no-nonsense and give you exactly what you’d expect. You’ll find a simple selection of toppings with their predetermined menu with the option for add-ons. 

Delicious Pizzerias in the South

Technically speaking, the Southern states of the US include 16 states ranging from Texas to the Virginias, Maryland to the north, and Florida. We had to be a bit choosy on the tastiest pizza joints in the South, with so many states to include! That just means that this list covers only the very best; lucky you.

Antico Italian Pizza

Antico is located in Atlanta. The inside dining is mess hall style with multiple bench-type tables in a large open room. Their kitchen, with its woodfired ovens, are fully exposed, and their menu is short and sweet. 

Italy is well represented with a small selection of reasonably priced pizzas. This is a local favorite spot that will get busy quickly.

Deluca's Pizzeria

Deluca’s is the type of pizzeria where the owner visits each table. It’s a small and busy place located in Atlanta that focuses more on the experience and in-house ingredients rather than the modern decor.

A pizza place proud of its Italian background, offering a few well-made styles.

The Best Pizza in NYC

No trip to New York City is complete without good pizza. New York style pizza is one of the world's most famous kinds of specialty pizza, and for good reason. Compiling the best pizza spots in NYC was tough, but we think we did The Big Apple proud.

Joe's Pizza Broadway

Like any proud restaurant in New York City, Joe’s is decorated with pictures of many well-known celebrity customers. With infamous patrons like that, isn’t it just a given that this pizza place would be good?! 

Joe’s is NYC pizza at its peak with the usual selection of pepperoni, cheese, vegetable-centric, Neapolitan, and prosciutto pies or slices. 

NY Pizza Suprema

NY Pizza Suprema has booth-style seating and brick walls giving an NYC vibe. As it should — this pizza spot is located smack dab near Madison Square Garden. The pizza selection covers the basics (Margherita, anyone?) but also branches out into the BBQ chicken and Hawaiian versions. 

Their inclusive menu also has many vegan options, so no one feels left out when you make a pit stop at this pizza place during your New York City weekend. 

The Final Bite

Great pizza exists in almost any corner of the universe. There is a good chance that the perfect wood-fired pizza is within your reach. Our definition of good pizza involves fresh ingredients, thin crust, a tantalizing pizza menu, brick oven pizza…okay, wait a second. Who are we kidding — our list doesn’t discriminate, only that the pizza in question has to be downright delicious.

Pizza is a great unifier; whether you are gluten-free, vegan, or a diehard pepperoni lover, you’ll find some of the best pizza places near you on this list. 

We know you’re hungry by now, so dine in or pick up at the pizza joint of your choice — you really can’t go wrong.