Best NYC Pizza
Pizza is the king of NYC foods. But let’s back up a bit for a better perspective. It’s often said that NYC has four main food groups: pizza, bagels, hot dogs, and cheesecake. All of these NYC foods are delicious, but it’s pizza that reigns supreme. In fact, NYC is home to over 2,000 pizzerias. Which should you check out during your NYC vacation? Let’s explore!
Classic NYC Pizza
What is classic NYC pizza? Classic NYC pizza is pizza made in a coal burning oven. According to pizza-lore, the original pizzas in Italy were made in wood burning ovens. Italian immigrants came to NYC, and found there wasn’t an abundance of wood. There was, however, a lot of coal. The Italian immigrants used coal to heat their ovens and bake their pizza. Classic NYC pizza was born.
If you seek this classic NYC pizza, check out John’s of Bleecker Street. This pizza serve up piping hot classic NYC pizza from their coal bringing ovens every single day. John’s of Bleecker Street doesn’t take reservations, and it’s very popular. Be prepared to wait, but we assure you, the pizza is worth it.
What many believe to be the original NYC pizzeria is Lombardi’s, and while Lombardi’s still exists, its coal-burning oven does not. It is currently using a gas burning oven, and while still delicious, it is entirely not classic NYC pizza anymore.
Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn, and you’ll find two pizzerias dueling for the title of best classic NYC pizza. Grimaldi’s Pizza was founded by Patsy Grimaldi and folks would line up around the block for a delicious NYC pie. He sold the business, and eventually opened up Julianna’s pizza which also serves up the classic NYC pizza pie. Go to whichever has the shortest line, but most New York insiders will tell you they have a preference for Julianna’s.
NYC Slice
For many, classic NYC pizza will always be the greasy dollar slice. It’s truly difficult to find an actual dollar slice in NYC these days, but the tradition of the slice is still strong. You just might have to pay more than a dollar.
Joe’s Pizza is always a fan favorite. Joe’s Pizza was featured in Spider-Man, it’s where Peter Parker worked. The slices are so yummy it doesn’t need the Spider-Man publicity, but it certainly adds to the fun!
Two Bros is a local favorite. It’s a cheap pizza slice that will fill you up when you’re feeling broke.
Upside Pizza claims to have the best slice in NYC. It says its secret is a sourdough crust.
Percy’s on Bleecker is arguably as iconic as Joe’s for the slices, and is a favorite late-night pizza snack of NYU students.
If you’re in Lower Manhattan craving a slice, check out Scarr’s Pizza.
Iconic Pizzas
You can literally get any type of pizza that you want in NYC. Thick crust, thin crust, meatlovers, gluten-free, vegan, even dessert pizza can be found in the five boroughs! Here are some other favorite slices!
Gluten-Free Pizza can be found a Rubirosa. It’s truly delicious and they take our gluten-free friends very seriously. In fact, Rubirosa has a separate gluten-free kitchen to ensure there is no cross-contamination.
Chocolate by the Bald Man (Max Brenner) has scrumptious dessert pizza with a sugar cookie crust and nutella sauce.
If you enjoy a “Sicilian” or “square” slice, check out Prince Street Pizza. Their pepperoni SoHo square is especially memorable in all the best ways.
Our favorite iconic pizza in NYC is a Roman-style pizza called Unregular Pizza. Founded during the pandemic, Unregular makes creator pizza concoctions, some with a full burrata on top! Unregular pizza will even barter with you for a pizza! Bring in a bottle of wine, give the owners a tour of NYC, sing the owner’s a song, get as creative as you’d like bartering for your pizza.
And for an extra slice of awesome, take a photo of yourself eating your pizza and then put it on our giant Times Square billboard!