Looking for where to find the best pizza in Philadelphia? You’ve come to the right place!
There’s nothing like a carefully crafted slice of pizza. Philadelphia is home to hundreds of pizza joints, each filled with hungry locals and tourists looking for a delicious slice.
Philadelphia’s pizza scene, locally and nationally regarded, has splintered into so many creative factions that it took a lot of debate and some heavy-lifting to come up with this article.
I went in with a certain mindset and was quickly challenged by crust thicknesses, sauce recipes, inventive toppings — pretty much anything you can think of that goes on pizza.
My criteria were that each pie has to be available for delivery and has had a great reputation all around the city.
So, If you’re looking for the best pizza Philadelphia has to offer, here are 10 of the best places for that. I focused mainly on the best places for sauce-and-cheese combos, but there are also Italian regional pies, Roman pizzas and even ones with a dash of South Philly edge.
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The Best Pizza In Philadelphia: 10 Must-Try Philly pizza restaurants
Pizzeria Beddia
1313 N Lee St, Philadelphia // +12679282256
Beddia is the perfect place to start an exploration of all types of pizza in this great city.
The atmosphere in their Fishtown restaurant is amazing, and they serve natural wines on tap and creamy soft serve for dessert. Their thin-crust pizzas (topped with aged gouda cheese like Old Gold) are some of the best in town, regardless of what they are called.
The first time you eat a cheese pizza, it almost reminds you of a childhood memory or where you went on your first date.
Among the other highlights are the very spicy “angry” pizza topped with jalapenos, and the tomato pie dripping with olive oil and covered in sweet tomato sauce.
PIZZA Shackamaxon
115 E Girard Ave #3907, Philadelphia
Pizzeria Beddia moved into the Pizza Shackamaxon location when it was just a counter shop, without anyone noticing.
Although there are no lines out the door anymore, these thin-crust pies are still really good. If you want to eat on the couch, you don’t have to buy an entire pizza from Shackamaxon. They sell their pizza by the slice.
Despite how big the slices are, they still have a lot of toppings on them, so you won’t lose all of your perfect little grease pools the moment you pick one up.
Even though you can get some of the best slices in the city at this neighborhood spot, you will be out in no time.
Wm. Mulherin’s Sons
1355 N Front St, Philadelphia // +12152911355
Wm. Mulherin’s Sons – an upscale hotel and restaurant in Fishtown – won’t serve up a big, greasy slice of cheese pizza.
What you will get, though, is a 10-inch pie with a chewy, soft crust, topped with things like duck and pears, or – our personal favorite – a spicy jawn with long hot peppers and pepperoni.
Several of their pizzas are available for brunch, such as one with speck and egg, when a cold slice from the fridge won’t do on a Saturday morning. Definitely my fav when it comes to the best pizza Philadelphia has to offer
Pizza Brain
2313 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia // +12152912965
In Philly, you’ll find decent plain cheese pizza almost anywhere, but Pizza Brain tops the pies with brisket, brown sugar and cheese whiz and gives them ridiculous names, like Bob Sheldsmoose and Wendy Wedgeworth.
Pies are served at this slice shop with thick, thin crusts and bizarre combinations that somehow work.
There’s probably only one pie you’ll need to fill you up, and while you eat, you’ll be able to see all the weird pizza paraphernalia hanging on the wall.
Rione
100.5 S 21st St, Philadelphia // +12155759075
Rione Pizza is the only place on this list that delivers, which means you won’t have to wait in line or travel across for the best pizza Philadelphia has to offer.
Rione’s Roman-style squares are chewy, soft and topped with a sweet tomato sauce that tastes great both with and without the cheese.
Moreover, you can order by the slice, so you can try lots of different topping combinations without having to buy a bunch of full pies.
Enjay’s Pizza
210 S 40th St, Philadelphia // +12152220770
There is a bar called Smokey Joe’s near Penn in West Philadelphia. There is live music every week and also a weekly game of quizzo at this divey sports bar. Sticky barstools, $2 beers, and a makeshift stage complete the picture.
It is also home to Enjay’s Pizza, so it is one of the best dives in town. They make their wood-fired pizza from a kitchen in Smokey Joe’s, and their pies are perfectly charred with bubbly crusts.
Whether you choose the 12-inch or 18-inch size, they are all topped with parmesan and oregano, regardless of the toppings. It’ll feel like you found a hidden gem when you get one of these pies.
Barbuzzo
110 S 13th St, Philadelphia // +12155469300
West Philly’s Barbuzzo has been serving upscale Mediterranean dishes since 2003, focusing on local ingredients. In addition to their high-quality menu, they excel at pizzas – baked in their wood-burning oven.
There are some exceptional rotating specials on the Buzzo menu.
In addition to the roasted corn pie with pickled shallots, guanciale and truffle egg, there are classics like the Margherita and eggplant pizzas with San Marzano tomatoes.
Pizzata Pizzeria
240 S 22nd St, Philadelphia // +12155467200
Pizzata, an Italian-American pizza restaurant located in Philadelphia, is one of the best places to get a pie in the city. Pizzata’s menu includes a variety of signature pizzas and bruschetta.
The pizza dough is typically made with high-quality all-purpose flour, there are no preservatives, and it is naturally leavened. The toppings are fresh.
The pizzeria’s location allows customers to have a glimpse of Italy through their menu items, decor and architecture.
Gallagher and Labruno, who worked for his family’s pizza place in Naples, make Pizzata’s dough, which is naturally leavened and topped with spicy salami and burrata.
Angelo’s Pizzeria
736 S 9th St, Philadelphia // +12159220000
At Angelo’s Pizzeria on South 9th Street, cash is the only payment method, takeout is the only option, and preorders have to be made by phone.
Lines are often long, and it’s open Tuesday through Sunday at 11 a.m. until it’s sold out.
The crust is chewy and sour, featuring cheesy layers, vibrant tomato sauce, and fresh basil. Tempted? Hoagies and cheesesteaks are just as popular at Angelo’s as the pizza.
Square Pie
801 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia // +12152380615
There are few places inside the city where it’s as easy to spend an entire evening as it is at Square Pie. Of course, there’s a draft beer on the menu. And there are always good movies playing.
“We’re never going back to round pizzas.” That’s what John Longacre, co-owner of Square Pie pizzeria in South Philly, keeps telling his customers as he prepares their massive square pies in the restaurant’s Scudé oven. Unlike traditional round pizza pies, these bad boys are made on a 10-by-14-inch tray.
Square Pie combines true blue Italian ingredients with Brooklyn-style aesthetics. Bring all your friends to this South Philly pizza place and order the porchetta pie, which riffs off the roast pork sandwiches that Italian immigrants brought to the Northeast when they first arrived in America.
Final Thoughts On The 10 Restaurants For Best Pizza Philadelphia Has To Offer
If you love pizza as much as I do, then you’re going to love this list of the best in the city. From thin crust to deep dish, and everything in between, there is no shortage of places in Philly to try some of the best pizza around.
Once you’ve read this list, I am sure that you’ll discover a new favorite place to indulge in some of the best pizza in the City of Brotherly Love.
I must admit my friends and I had some differences on which pie is the best, however, I should underline that of the group, I am the most objective by far. Having said that, I have no desire to impose my own opinion – it’s on you to figure out which one is really your favorite.
Visiting other destinations in Pennsylvania? Check out our other delicious guide:
Next time you’re craving pizza in Philly which place will you try first? Let us know in the comments section below!
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever