The Top Hidden Gem Pizza Place In Each State

Theres a special thrill in stumbling upon a small, unpretentious pizza shop that serves slices rivaling the best in the country. While major chains and trendy restaurants dominate headlines, many true pizza gems are tucked away in neighborhoods, strip malls, or quiet streets. We set out to highlight these under-the-radar eateries that let their pizza shine, exploring how different regions of the U.S. approach this beloved dish. From thin, crispy squares to thick, cheesy deep-dish pies, these local favorites prove that exceptional pizza can be found far from the spotlight.

Alabama: Tortugas Pizza Hoover

Since relocating from Chicago to Birmingham over 25 years ago, the Vizcaino family has crafted authentic Chicago-style stuffed and hand-tossed pizzas. With locations in Birmingham and Hoover, Tortugas is celebrated for its rich deep-dish pies and has won multiple local best pizza awards. Reddit users hail it as the best Chicago-style pizza outside of the Windy City.

Alaska: Peace on Earth Unalakleet

In the remote village of Unalakleet, Peace on Earth serves thin-crust pizzas to locals and Iditarod mushers. The restaurant doubles as a community hub, delivering both comfort food and messages from loved ones, reflecting the close-knit spirit of the area.

Arizona: Otto Pizza Tempe

Family-owned Otto Pizza has been a New York-style favorite since 1992. Known for its crisp yet chewy crust and perfectly balanced toppings, this strip mall spot is a local institution praised by Food Network and Reddit alike.

Arkansas: DeLucas Pizza Hot Springs

DeLucas offers brick-oven thin-crust pizzas using handmade dough and fresh ingredients. Gaining attention in 2023 when rated highly by Barstool Sports, it remains a top choice for locals seeking flavorful, no-frills pies.

California: Pizzeria Sei Los Angeles

Pizzeria Sei blends Japanese technique with Italian tradition, featuring a unique "mochi-like" crust and inventive flavors. Located in Mid-City LA, the Michelin-recognized pizzeria offers an intimate dining experience for pizza purists.

Colorado: Marcos Coal Fired Denver

Marcos Coal Fired serves authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, with hand-stretched dough cooked in a 900-degree oven. As the only Colorado pizzeria certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, its praised for craftsmanship and accommodating vegan and gluten-free options.

Connecticut: Modern Apizza New Haven

Operating since 1934, Modern Apizza in New Haven is part of the citys Big 3. Known for thin-crust, char-kissed pies and classic recipes, it combines neighborhood charm with national recognition.

Delaware: Doms NY Style Pizzeria Newport

Doms offers generous New York-style slices with a welcoming neighborhood vibe. Originally take-out only, it has grown into a full-service restaurant and bar, cherished for hand-tossed, stone-baked pizzas.

Florida: Vice City Pizza Miami

Vice City Pizza brings Detroit-style rectangular pies with South Florida flair. Known for airy, buttery crusts and inventive toppings like brie and fig or bacon-and-banana-pepper sausage, its a hidden Miami favorite.

Georgia: Antico Pizza Atlanta

Antico Pizza Napoletana, opened in 2009, offers Neapolitan-style pies in a lively, communal environment. Recognized with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, its beloved for its wood-fired crusts and traditional approach.

Hawaii: 'ili 'ili Cash & Carry Honolulu

In the M'ili'ili neighborhood, 'ili'ili Cash & Carry serves large New York-style pizzas with thick, foldable crust and bold flavors. Its deli-market setting is secondary to the widely praised pizza.

Idaho: Guidos Original New York Style Pizza Boise

Boise locals favor Guidos for hand-tossed, fresh pizzas with generous toppings. Its casual, fast-casual vibe and consistent quality make it a dependable neighborhood choice.

Illinois: Millys Pizza in the Pan Chicago

Millys offers pan-style pizzas with caramelized edges and artisan toppings. Despite its limited daily menu, it has gained a devoted following for its innovative combinations and dough quality.

Indiana: Pizzaville Avon

Pizzaville has been serving hearty pizzas since 2013. Known for an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, fresh ingredients, and a welcoming atmosphere, its a local favorite for dine-in or take-out.

Iowa: Pagliais Pizza Iowa City

Family-run since 1957, Pagliais specializes in thin-crust pizzas baked in a hearth-style oven. Nostalgic and straightforward, it remains beloved for time-tested recipes and consistent quality.

Kansas: Pizza Johns Derby

Pizza Johns has been crafting thin-crust pies since 1969, pairing traditional recipes with warm service. The family-owned shop continues to attract locals and visitors alike.

Kentucky: The Post Louisville

Located in a former VFW building, The Post serves oversized New York-style slices in a rustic, welcoming atmosphere. Rotating daily specials and late-night hours make it a neighborhood staple.

Louisiana: Zees Pizzeria New Orleans

From a pandemic pop-up to a permanent Garden District location, Zees offers thin-crust Northeast-style pizzas, vegan options, and unique pies that have earned it a devoted following.

Maine: Micucci Grocery Co. Portland

Micuccis Sicilian-style pizzas are celebrated for thick, chewy crusts and rich cheese blends. The Italian market also offers frozen versions, allowing fans to enjoy the pies at home.

Maryland: Pizza Johns Essex

Operating since 1966, Pizza Johns is known for hearty, yellow-walled pies with a family-friendly atmosphere. Generations of locals appreciate its consistency and nostalgia.

Massachusetts: Galleria Umberto Boston

A small, cash-only North End institution, Galleria Umberto serves Sicilian-style pizza for over 50 years. It closes when sold out, maintaining its local, hole-in-the-wall charm.

Michigan: Louis Pizza Hazel Park

Louis is a Detroit-style pizza landmark, serving square or rectangular pies with cheese under the sauce. Locals and visitors alike praise it as a top regional destination.

Minnesota: Mamas Pizza St. Paul

Mamas has been serving thin-crust pizzas and Italian specialties for over 60 years. Carry-out only, its known for creative pies like the Flavor Explosion and Special Deluxe.

Mississippi: Lea Pizza + Bagels Cleveland

Lea uses a wood-fired oven to craft Naples-inspired pizzas and inventive bagels, with a rotating menu featuring fresh, seasonal options.

Missouri: Pizza-A-Go-Go St. Louis

A Lindenwood Park staple for nearly 60 years, Pizza-A-Go-Go serves classic hand-tossed New York-style pizzas in a simple, cash-only setting.

Montana: Biga Pizza Missoula

Known for unique creations like Flathead Cherry and Prosciutto & Fig pizzas, Biga Pizza emphasizes traditional dough and fresh ingredients, earning acclaim from locals and media alike.

Nebraska: La Casa Pizzeria Omaha

La Casa serves Omaha-style square pizzas with a flaky, biscuit-like crust. The historic spot has been offering this regional specialty for over 65 years.

Nevada: Secret Pizza Las Vegas

Hidden on the third floor of The Cosmopolitan, Secret Pizza offers thin-crust pies in a discreet, off-the-path location lined with record covers along the hallway.

New Hampshire: Marys Pizza Gorham

Family-owned since the 1940s, Marys Pizza continues using fresh dough and quality ingredients. The fourth-generation owners maintain its reputation as a local favorite.

New Jersey: Pizzeria Lucci Belmar

Specializing in sourdough crusts, Pizzeria Lucci has quickly become known for crisp, charred pies despite a limited menu, garnering strong local praise.

New Mexico: Giovannis Pizzeria Albuquerque

Giovannis offers New York-style pizza in a strip mall setting, beloved for its authentic crust and reminiscent of classic city-style pies.

New York: Louie & Ernies Pizza Bronx

This hidden Bronx gem has served thin-crust, topping-rich pizzas since the mid-1900s, maintaining a loyal local following for decades.

North Carolina: Pizzeria Don Luca Wilmington

Counter-serve Pizzeria Don Luca in the Brooklyn Arts District is praised for hand-tossed, fresh dough pizzas and wings, often called the best in the state.

North Dakota: Amici Pizza Company Bismarck

Amici Pizza Company, located in a strip mall, serves standard and specialty artisan pizzas named after Roman gods, earning strong local support.

Ohio: Rubinos Pizza Bexley

Serving simple, classic thin-crust pies since 1954, Rubinos cash-only pizzeria is celebrated for its consistency and community involvement.

Oklahoma: Dados Pizza Oklahoma City

New York-style pizzas crafted with fresh ingredients make Dados a top choice for locals seeking authentic, hand-prepared pies.

Oregon: Apizza Scholls Portland

Apizza Scholls offers large Neapolitan-style pizzas in a casual, arcade-adorned setting, recognized for exceptional crust and diverse toppings.

Pennsylvania: Angelos Pizzeria Philadelphia

Angelos, in Bella Vista, serves cash-only, carryout pizzas, drawing crowds for traditional and creative options alongside classic Philly cheesesteaks.

Rhode Island: Pasquales Pizzeria Napoletana Wakefield

Certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, Pasquales crafts Neapolitan, New York-style, and Grandma pizzas with international acclaim.

South Carolina: DAllesandros Pizza Charleston

Hand-tossed crust and locally sourced ingredients define DAllesandros, offering both classic and inventive specialty pizzas.

South Dakota: Pizza Cheeks Sioux Falls

Pizza Cheeks moved from a bar counter to its own building but maintains a casual, scratch-made approach blending multiple pizza styles.

Tennessee: Midnight Oil Nashville

Midnight Oil combines a dive-bar vibe with thin-crust pizzas, known for creative options like Sweet Heat, buffalo chicken, and build-your-own pies.

Texas: Carmines Pizzeria Dallas

Carmines serves New York-style slices in a north Dallas strip mall, celebrated for its thin crust and long-standing reputation for classic Italian fare.

Utah: Free Wheeler Pizza Salt Lake City

Since 1977, Free Wheeler has crafted sourdough crust pizzas with scratch-made marinara and cheese blends, earning local admiration for its relaxed atmosphere.

Vermont: The Parker Pie Company Glover

Located in the historic Lake Parker Country Store, Parker Pie Co. serves pizza and beer in a community-focused environment, recognized as Vermonts favorite.

Virginia: Stracci Pizza Alexandria

Stracci Pizza evolved from a food truck into a hybrid indoor/outdoor pizzeria, known for Roman-style thin, crispy crusts and fresh mozzarella.

Washington: Post Alley Pizza Seattle

Family-owned Post Alley Pizza offers New York-style pies with a charred crust and local ingredients, tucked into downtown Seattle near Pike Place.

West Virginia: The Pizza Place Parkersburg

Family-run since the 1980s, The Pizza Place serves thick and thin-crust pizzas, earning praise from locals as some of the best in the area.

Wisconsin: Zaffiros Pizza Milwaukee

For five generations, Zaffiros has produced Milwaukee-style cracker-thin pies cut into squares. Its relaxed, bar-like atmosphere is perfect for casual dining.

Wyoming: The Pizza Place Lusk

The Pizza Place offers counter-serve, hand-tossed, and pan pizzas with specialty and customizable options, celebrated by locals for quality and friendliness.

How We Chose These Spots

Selecting the best hidden pizza joints involved analyzing local reviews, social media feedback, and awards. Only restaurants with an unassuming, hole-in-the-wall feel were included, highlighting those tucked away or off the main path while still delivering exceptional pizza.

Author: Maya Henderson