20 Top Pizza Places Across Major U.S. Cities, According To Yelp

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By Amelia Kent

Pizza is one of America’s most beloved foods, and every city has its own take on the classic pie. Yelp has helped millions of hungry people find the best slices around the country, from deep-dish giants to wood-fired gems.

Whether you love thin crust, stuffed pies, or something totally unexpected, these top-rated spots are worth every bite. Get ready to explore some of the most celebrated pizza restaurants the U.S. has to offer.

1. Pequod’s Pizza – Chicago, IL

Pequod's Pizza – Chicago, IL
© Pequod’s Pizza

If you have ever wondered what makes Chicago-style pizza truly legendary, Pequod’s Pizza is your answer. Located on North Clybourn Avenue, this spot is famous for its pan-style pies with a caramelized cheese crust that gets crispy and golden around the edges.

With over 16,000 Yelp reviews and a 4.4-star rating, it is one of the most talked-about pizza spots in the entire country. The crust alone is worth the trip.

2. Smiling with Hope Pizza – Reno, NV

Smiling with Hope Pizza – Reno, NV
© Reno Gazette Journal

There is something truly special about a pizza place that gives back to its community while serving incredible food. Smiling with Hope Pizza in Reno, Nevada, is employee-owned and has earned national recognition for both its quality pies and its heart-warming mission.

Boasting a 4.8-star rating on Yelp with over 600 reviews, this spot proves that good values and great pizza go hand in hand. Prices are budget-friendly too, ranging from just $10 to $20.

3. The Original Mama D’s Italian Kitchen – Newport Beach, CA

The Original Mama D's Italian Kitchen – Newport Beach, CA
© mamadsitalian.com

Mama D’s has been feeding families in Newport Beach with the kind of cooking that feels like a warm hug. This family-owned gem uses 72-hour fermented dough to create authentic Neapolitan pizzas that are chewy, flavorful, and absolutely unforgettable.

Yelp reviewers consistently rave about the garlic rolls alongside the perfectly charred pies. Holding a 4.8-star rating with over 2,200 reviews, Mama D’s is clearly doing something very right in Southern California.

4. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, CA

Tony's Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, CA
© Reddit

World pizza champion Tony Gemignani runs one of the most decorated pizza restaurants in the entire United States right in the heart of San Francisco. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana offers multiple styles of pizza, from classic Neapolitan to Detroit-style, all crafted with obsessive attention to detail.

The restaurant uses different ovens for different pizza styles, which is rare and impressive. Yelp reviewers love the variety and the consistently high quality across every single menu item.

5. Roberta’s Pizza – Brooklyn, NY

Roberta's Pizza – Brooklyn, NY
© Goldbelly

Roberta’s started as a scrappy little spot in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and turned into one of the most iconic pizza destinations in the entire country. Known for its funky atmosphere and creative topping combinations, this place attracts food lovers from all over the world.

The dough is fermented slowly for a complex, slightly tangy flavor that keeps regulars coming back week after week. Yelp fans consistently highlight the lively vibe and the wood-fired perfection on every plate.

6. Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix, AZ

Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix, AZ
© Gil’s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

Chef Chris Bianco is widely regarded as one of the greatest pizza makers in American history, and one bite at Pizzeria Bianco explains why. Located in Heritage Square in Phoenix, this restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients and handmade mozzarella to craft pizzas that taste incredibly pure and fresh.

People have been known to wait hours just to get a table here. Yelp reviewers describe it as a life-changing experience, and that is not an exaggeration by any stretch.

7. Lucali – Brooklyn, NY

Lucali – Brooklyn, NY
© kybeyondthecrust

Reservations at Lucali in Carroll Gardens are so hard to get that fans sometimes line up hours before the restaurant even opens. Owner Mark Iacono rolls out every pizza by hand with a wine bottle, a technique that has become part of the restaurant’s beloved legend.

The menu is simple — pizza and calzones — but every single item is executed flawlessly. Yelp reviewers describe the experience as romantic, intimate, and absolutely worth every bit of effort it takes to get a table.

8. Di Fara Pizza – Brooklyn, NY

Di Fara Pizza – Brooklyn, NY
© jpbrownlowtravel

Since 1965, Dom DeMarco has been hand-crafting every single pizza at Di Fara Pizza in Midwood, Brooklyn. The late pizzaiolo became a legend by never cutting corners — he imported his own cheese from Italy and snipped fresh basil with scissors directly over each pie.

Yelp reviewers treat visiting Di Fara like a pilgrimage, and many call it the best pizza they have ever eaten. The cash-only policy and long waits are part of the experience everyone talks about.

9. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria – Chicago, IL

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria – Chicago, IL
© Write On Rubee

Ask any Chicagoan where to get authentic deep-dish pizza and Lou Malnati’s will almost always be the first name out of their mouth. Founded in 1971, this family-run institution is credited with helping define what Chicago-style pizza means to the rest of the world.

The buttery, flaky crust and layers of sausage and cheese create something closer to a savory pie than a traditional pizza. Yelp reviewers consistently rank it among the top must-eat experiences in the city.

10. Motorino – New York, NY

Motorino – New York, NY
© NYC Tourism + Conventions

Motorino brought serious Neapolitan pizza culture to New York City and never looked back. Using a wood-burning oven imported from Naples, Italy, every pizza is cooked at extremely high temperatures for that signature leopard-spotted char on the crust.

The Brussels sprout pizza with smoked pancetta has become a cult favorite among regulars and food critics alike. Yelp reviewers praise both the quality of the ingredients and the welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere that makes every visit feel special.

11. Pizzeria Delfina – San Francisco, CA

Pizzeria Delfina – San Francisco, CA
© Turntable Kitchen

Pizzeria Delfina in San Francisco’s Mission District has been a neighborhood staple since 2005, beloved for its California-Italian approach to pizza. The dough is cold-fermented for 48 hours, producing a crust that is crisp on the outside and wonderfully chewy on the inside.

Seasonal toppings change regularly, keeping the menu exciting for repeat visitors. Yelp fans love the house-made sausage pizza and regularly mention that the casual, bustling atmosphere makes the whole dining experience feel energetic and fun.

12. Antico Pizza Napoletana – Atlanta, GA

Antico Pizza Napoletana – Atlanta, GA
© Eater Atlanta

Atlanta did not always have a great pizza scene, but Antico Pizza Napoletana changed that conversation entirely when it opened. Chef Giovanni Di Palma brought authentic Neapolitan techniques straight from Naples, using imported San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella on every pie.

The communal tables and bustling open kitchen give the place an electric, lively energy. Yelp reviewers regularly call it a revelation and say it rivals the best pizza they have had anywhere in the world.

13. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria – Brooklyn, NY

Grimaldi's Pizzeria – Brooklyn, NY
© A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours

Sitting in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria has served coal-fired pizza to millions of visitors since the 1990s. The coal oven reaches scorching temperatures that give the thin-crust pies their signature crispy bottom and lightly charred edges.

Fresh mozzarella made daily and tangy tomato sauce keep the menu focused on quality over complexity. Yelp reviewers love the old-school New York atmosphere and often mention the iconic location as part of what makes the experience so memorable.

14. Via 313 – Austin, TX

Via 313 – Austin, TX
© CultureMap Austin

Two brothers from Detroit brought the rectangular, crispy-edged pizza style of their hometown all the way to Austin, Texas, and the city went absolutely wild for it. Via 313 serves Detroit-style pizza with a thick, airy dough, crispy cheese edges, and sauce layered on top instead of beneath the cheese.

The reverse-sauce technique and caramelized crust create a flavor profile unlike anything else in Texas. Yelp reviewers say it is addictive, and most people end up ordering a second pie before they even finish the first.

15. Pizzeria Mozza – Los Angeles, CA

Pizzeria Mozza – Los Angeles, CA
© Anders Husa

Celebrity chef Nancy Silverton co-created Pizzeria Mozza in Hollywood, and it quickly became one of the most influential pizza restaurants in the entire country. The secret weapon here is the crust, which has a blistered, bubbly texture from a long, slow fermentation process that most restaurants do not bother with.

Toppings like burrata, squash blossoms, and house-cured meats elevate each pizza into something almost artistic. Yelp fans describe it as upscale without being pretentious, which is a rare and wonderful combination in Los Angeles dining.

16. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana – New Haven, CT

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana – New Haven, CT
© All Ways Delicious

New Haven-style pizza, known locally as “apizza,” has a devoted following, and Frank Pepe’s is where the whole tradition was born back in 1925. The white clam pizza — made with fresh clams, olive oil, garlic, and grated cheese — is one of the most famous pizzas in American culinary history.

The coal-fired brick oven gives the crust a uniquely smoky, chewy character. Yelp reviewers travel from all over New England just to experience this legendary slice, calling it a must-eat before you die.

17. Pi Pizzeria – St. Louis, MO

Pi Pizzeria – St. Louis, MO
© Student Life Newspaper

Pi Pizzeria in St. Louis became nationally famous almost overnight after President Barack Obama reportedly declared it his favorite pizza during his 2008 campaign visit. The cornmeal-based deep-dish crust gives Pi’s pies a slightly gritty, nutty flavor that sets them apart from every other deep-dish style out there.

Thin-crust options are also available for those who prefer a lighter bite. Yelp reviewers love the fun, casual atmosphere and frequently mention that the crust alone makes Pi worth seeking out on any trip to St. Louis.

18. Homeslice – Austin, TX

Homeslice – Austin, TX
© Tripadvisor

Homeslice on South Congress Avenue has become one of Austin’s most beloved late-night destinations, drawing lines of hungry pizza fans well past midnight on weekends. The menu focuses on New York-style pies with oversized, foldable slices and a perfectly balanced cheese-to-sauce ratio that fans obsess over.

The lively, colorful space feels like a celebration every single night of the week. Yelp reviewers rave about the consistency and say that no matter when you show up, the pizza always hits exactly the right spot.

19. Barboncino – Brooklyn, NY

Barboncino – Brooklyn, NY
© PMQ Pizza

Tucked into the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, Barboncino serves wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza that feels both approachable and genuinely impressive. The dough is made fresh daily and stretched by hand, producing thin, slightly chewy crusts that blister beautifully in the high-heat oven.

Seasonal toppings and a carefully curated wine list make it a favorite for date nights and group dinners alike. Yelp reviewers consistently highlight the warm, neighborhood-pub atmosphere as one of the biggest reasons they keep coming back.

20. Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana – Salt Lake City, UT

Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana – Salt Lake City, UT
© instaHop

Salt Lake City might not be the first place you think of for world-class Neapolitan pizza, but Settebello has been quietly proving everyone wrong for years. This restaurant is one of only a handful in the United States certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, meaning it meets strict Italian standards for authenticity.

San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, and a precisely timed bake in a wood-fired oven create a pizza that transports you straight to Naples. Yelp reviewers call it a genuinely surprising and delightful find in the Mountain West.

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