in

15 U.S. States With The Best Pizzas In The Country 

Katerina Holmes/Pexels

Pizza is a unifying food that speaks to people across many cultures. The United States is home to some of the most delicious ranges of pizzas in the world. Each state in America has its own pizzas and cooking styles. Here are the top 15 states in the U.S. that have mastered the art of baking pizzas. 

New York

Transpoman/Wikipedia

Una Pizza Napoletana in New York was named the best pizzeria in America on the Italian 50 Top Pizza rankings. The famed wood-fired 12-inch Neapolitan pie is the brainchild of self-taught pizzaiolo Anthony Mangieri. The menu at Una reflects Mangieri’s Italian-American roots and features marinated olives and lupini beans, burrata with ‘nduja, olive oil, sea salt, and lemon zest.

New Jersey

Angelo B/Yelp

Located in New Jersey City, Razza is a hallmark of innovative pizza craftsmanship with locally sourced ingredients and artisanal techniques. Their menu features creative toppings of white ricotta, prosciutto-style Iowa ham, and cracked pepper. This pizzeria’s commitment to quality has earned it a well-deserved spot in the New York Times’ list of the 22 best pizzerias in the United States. 

Oregon 

E E/Yelp

Ken’s Artisan Pizza in Portland, Oregon, sells the best thin crust pies with outlandish seasonal toppings. Hand-stretched mozzarella, Italian tomatoes, and premium toppings are all baked to perfection with a charred crust by the pizza makers at this fantastic pizzeria. In 2023, Ken’s Artisan Pizza was ranked the third best on the Italian 50 Top Pizza rankings. 

California

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana/Yelp

Tony’s Pizza Naopletana, located on the famous Stockton Street in San Francisco, is known for its diverse offerings of Neapolitan pizza. The pizza Napoletana is commonly topped with either San Marzano tomatoes or pomodorini del Piennolo del Vesuvio, harvested from the volcanic plains of Mount Vesuvius. The Napoletana is one of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritages.

Connecticut

Krista/Wikipedia

Home to the OG coal-fired pizzas, Frank Pepe Pizza Napoletana is situated in New Haven, Connecticut. Pepe’s restaurant invented the now famous ‘white clam pie,’ a pizza of crust, olive oil, oregano, grated cheese, chopped garlic, and fresh littleneck clams. This food chain has been a driving force in making New Haven-style pizzas a mainstream dish in the U.S. 

Massachusetts

DickClarkMises/Wikipedia

Originally established in the 1900s as a bakery, Santarpio’s Pizza in East Boston is now a landmark for locals and a top destination for tourists hoping to taste the traditional Boston-style pizza. The thin-crust pizzas are offered with various unconventional toppings like provolone, cheddar, and romano, but the classic mozzarella cheese remains particularly popular. 

Michigan

Dwight Burdette/Wikipedia

Buddy’s Pizza in Michigan serves Detroit-style pizzas baked in blue steel pans. The dough is typically hydrated to 70 percent or higher. This is done to create a chewy crust with a crispy exterior. Then, the pizza is traditionally served with mozzarella or Wisconsin brick cheese. In 2019, Esquire termed Detroit-style pizzas as one of the hottest food trends across America. 

Arizona

Marine 69-71 /Wikipedia

Pizzeria Bianco is recognized for its simple magic and top-notch quality. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, and is run by Chef Chris, who crafts wonders using basic ingredients such as hand-crushed tomatoes and fresh basil. When he opened the pizzeria in 1988, never in his wildest dreams did Chris imagine that he would go on to become a key figure in artisanal pizza. 

Arkansas

igorovsyannykov/Pixabay

Iriana’s Pizza in Little Rock, Arkansas, is acclaimed for its ‘sweep the floor’ pizza. The pizza is packed with pepperoni, ham, hamburger, sausage, onions, mushrooms, black olives, bell peppers, jalapenos, anchovies, and thick mozzarella cheese. Locals in Arkansas can’t stop raving about the outlet’s generous servings made with garden-fresh ingredients. 

Florida

Jen R./Yelp

In the heart of Miami, Steve’s Pizza has been on a mission to serve classic New York-style pizzas since 1978. In a laid-back ambiance, each bite is a satisfying experience of greasy, cheesy goodness. Staff at the outlet prepare their own dough and sauce fresh at the restaurant. This makes it a go-to for locals craving freshly minted pizzas.

Georgia

Thomson200/Wikipedia

Antico Pizza Napoletana, located in Atlanta, has a dedicated following for its authentic Naples pizzas—a style of pizza topped with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. The San Gennaro pizza, a combination of variegated cheese and sweet sausage, is a crowd favorite in Georgia. The Antico Pizza Napoletana was the 7th highest rated pizzeria in the United States on TripAdvisor. 

Hawaii

Janine/Wikipedia

Sophie’s Hawaiian Pizzeria in Oahu presents customizable gourmet pizzas. A red sauce base is used for traditional Hawaiian pizza, which is then topped with mozzarella, pineapple, and Canadian bacon. Variations may include added jalapenos, sliced chicken, caramelized onions, or mushrooms. On top of this, diners can personalize their pizzas with eccentric options like a guava-infused crust. 

Illinois 

Aneil Lutchman/Wikipedia

Looking for Chicago tavern-style pizza? Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in Northbrook has excellent options. Also locally called the deep-dish style, these pizzas have firm, crunchy crusts and are cut into squares rather than wedges. Malnati’s pizzas, with their buttery crusts and chunky tomato sauce, have made it a must-try for locals and tourists alike. 

Alabama

Post Office Pies/Facebook

Slice Stone Pizza in Alabama is owned by three siblings from Birmingham. The three have attempted to combine southern soul food and pizza. Their signature ‘soul pie’ pizza is a combination of sausage, black-eyed peas, turnip greens, red onion, and pepper jack cheese. This quirky English twist to the good old American pizza has found itself a local favorite. 

Alaska

Michelle B./Yelp

Moose’s Tooth in Anchorage, Alaska, has been in the news for its lofty sales and praise from customers. The pizza is known for its apricot pie, which consists of apricot sauce, carrots, cream cheese, and chicken. This outlet also crafts its own beer. It’s happy hour for customers at Moose’s as they await their pizzas with a glass of booze.

Written by Gabriel Rickles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *