Chicago is famous for its deep-dish pizza, at least among those who visit the city. Residents have another favourite. Chicago tavern style pizza, with its thin base and crisp crust, is the kind they are more likely to eat in their daily lives.

Its history is commonly traced to neighbourhood bars, where food helped keep customers at their tables for longer. The square-cut portions, often called a “party cut,” suited the setting. A customer could eat a slice while holding a drink in the other hand. The method has endured, and so has the defining quality of the pizza itself: a delicate, cracker-like crust that breaks cleanly with each bite.

Here is 10 Best Chicago Tavern Style Pizza Spots for Crispy Thin Crusts, Iconic Toppings and Local Favourites

1. Vito & Nick’s

Few establishments have done more to preserve Chicago’s tavern-pizza tradition than Vito & Nick’s. The family-owned restaurant traces its beginnings to 1923 and has earned recognition well beyond the neighbourhood it serves. Its appeal lies in a straightforward combination: a thin, crisp base and toppings that range from fennel sausage and ground beef to shrimp and anchovies. 

Deep-dish may command the headlines, but this place offers a glimpse of another side of Chicago tavern style pizza culture. Anyone interested in eating as Chicagoans do should consider stopping here. Bring cash, find a table, and order a pint of Old Style to go with the pizza.

2. Pat’s Pizzeria & Ristorante

Since 1950, Pat’s Pizzeria & Ristorante has remained a family business with a simple purpose: making thin-crust pizza well and doing it consistently. Its supporters regard it as one of Chicago’s finest, and the restaurant itself claims the top spot. 

The crust is exceptionally thin, crisp and sturdy enough to carry generous pieces of sausage. The dining room offers little in the way of decoration, and frosted beer glasses are not part of the attraction. The welcome is warm, however, and the pizza speaks for itself. Customers can also place orders online.

3. Palermo’s of 63rd

Sweet tomato sauce gives the pizzas at Palermo’s of 63rd their particular character. The restaurant has served Chicago diners for more than sixty years, building a following around its thin-crust pies and traditional Italian setting. Do not confuse it with the separate restaurant in Oak Lawn; the two have no affiliation. If the sauce wins you over, take a jar home.

4. Italian Fiesta

Italian Fiesta opened in the late 1940s and remains a family-run South Side institution with five locations. Barack Obama has counted himself among its fans, and its pizza appeared at his 2009 inauguration. The restaurant serves takeout only. 

Expect to wait at least 45 minutes, then choose from toppings such as Italian sausage, shrimp and pepperoncini. A buttery crust and a generous dusting of spicy oregano complete the meal.

5. Phil’s Pizza

House-made sausage is one reason Phil’s Pizza has kept its customers coming back for decades. This Bridgeport establishment opened in 1960 and has built a following without much fuss. 

The menu centres on tavern-style pies with crisp bases and plenty of toppings. The setting is plain, but the location near Sox Park makes it a convenient stop for baseball fans. There is one practical detail to remember before visiting: Phil’s accepts cash only.

6. Candlelite

Tuesday is a good day to visit Candlelite, when diners can get two pizzas for the price of one. The restaurant has served West Rogers Park since 1950. Its pies have a thin, crisp crust and a range of toppings, from Italian beef and sweet soppressata to barbecue chicken. A large neon arrow with a martini glass makes the Western Avenue location easy to spot. Those staying home can order online.

7. La Villa

At La Villa, the cheese does not stop beneath the toppings. The kitchen adds another layer above them, giving its thin-crust pizzas a distinctive finish. This family-run Northwest Side restaurant has served diners for decades in a setting with traditional Italian charm. 

Its menu includes the La Villa Special, loaded with meat and vegetables, alongside Veggie Alfredo and a Southwestern combination of barbecue sauce, chicken and bacon. Sizes range from 10-inch baby pies to 18-inch party pizzas. Customers can order online.

8. Pizz’amici

 West Town’s Pizz’amici has quickly established itself as a notable destination for Chicago pizza lovers. The restaurant opened in 2024, founded by two former partners from Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream and Kim’s Uncle Pizza. Getting a table remains difficult, so planning ahead makes sense.

The menu offers more than the usual combinations. Its thin, crunchy crust puts it firmly in Chicago’s evolving tavern-pizza tradition. Toppings include house-made Italian beef, giardiniera from J.P. Graziano and anchovies. 

Diners can also order tall, airy focaccia or try a pepperoni Negroni alongside their meal. The result is a menu that combines familiar local flavours with a few less conventional choices. Those who prefer to eat elsewhere can place a takeaway order online. Allow plenty of time; last-minute orders may involve a substantial wait.

9. Novel Pizza Café

Pilsen’s Novel Pizza Cafe brings Filipino and Mexican influences to Chicago’s pizza scene. The restaurant opened in 2024 and quickly attracted a following. Its most distinctive combination pairs longganisa, a Filipino sausage, with giardiniera, bringing sweetness, heat and savoury depth to each bite. 

The menu covers both tavern-style and pan pizza. There is more to explore, too: creative coffee drinks, weekend pastries from Fat Peach and pizza sold by the slice. One partner also runs Ravenswood’s Side Practice Coffee. Popularity can leave the kitchen sold out, so order ahead rather than risk missing out.

10. Professor Pizza

Anthony Scardino has made a name for himself through competitive pizza-making, earning awards for his work. His Professor Pizza venture treats pizza as a craft open to experimentation. Chicago comedy fans may even find his pies backstage at local clubs. 

The cracker-thin deluxe pepperoni stands out, topped with hot honey and whipped ricotta. A second shop at 1374 W. Grand Avenue broadens the menu with two additional styles. Customers can order online.

Conclusion

Chicago tavern style pizza is a testament to the city’s pizza history, which goes beyond the deep-dish pizza. These 10 restaurants demonstrate that a simple thin crust can still appeal to diners, even if it’s the same one that has been around for a hundred years or more. There’s still plenty of room for experimentation. 

Whether you like your sausage with the traditional tomato sauce or some unanticipated combinations that feature Filipino flavours and hot honey, there is a tavern-style pie to discover. Every restaurant has its own personality, and even a thin crust can pack a lot of personality. Before leaving, find out what the restaurant offers for ordering, payment methods and how long they take to serve.