The great Chicago pizza debate is not really a debate among locals. Here is the honest truth about deep-dish versus thin-crust.
Deep-Dish: The Celebrity
Deep-dish pizza was invented in Chicago in the 1940s and became famous nationwide. With its thick, buttery crust, layers of cheese, chunky tomato sauce on top, and generous fillings, it is an impressive culinary creation. Tourists line up at places like Lou Malnati's and Giordano's to try it, and it makes for great photos and food television segments.
But Here Is the Thing
Most Chicagoans eat deep-dish a few times a year, usually when out-of-town guests visit. It is heavy, rich, and takes 45 minutes to bake. It is not Tuesday night dinner pizza. It is a special occasion food.
Thin-Crust: The Local Favorite
Chicago thin-crust tavern-style pizza is what Chicagoans actually eat regularly. It is lighter, crispier, and more shareable. You order it for family dinner, poker night, the big game, and lazy Sundays. It is the pizza you grew up with if you grew up in Chicago.
The Numbers Do Not Lie
By some estimates, thin-crust accounts for the majority of pizza orders in the Chicago metro area. The neighborhood pizzerias that serve tavern-style outnumber deep-dish restaurants many times over. This is the real Chicago pizza, the one that feeds the city every single day.
Why We Chose Thin-Crust
At Mad Pizza, we chose to bring Chicago thin-crust to Hollywood, FL because it is the authentic, everyday pizza of Chicago. Our cracker-crisp crust, hand-shredded mozzarella, and 4-generation sauce recipe represent the style that Chicagoans are most passionate about. We wanted to give South Florida the real Chicago pizza experience.
Come try it at 211 N 21st Ave in Hollywood, FL. Call (754) 275-8466 and find out why thin-crust is the true king of Chicago pizza.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Chicagoans prefer thin-crust or deep-dish pizza?
Most Chicagoans eat thin-crust tavern-style pizza far more often than deep-dish. Deep-dish is considered a special occasion food, while thin-crust is the everyday pizza of the city.
What outsells deep-dish in Chicago?
Thin-crust tavern-style pizza outsells deep-dish in Chicago by a significant margin. The majority of neighborhood pizzerias in Chicago serve thin-crust as their primary style.
Why does Mad Pizza serve thin-crust instead of deep-dish?
Mad Pizza chose to specialize in Chicago thin-crust because it is the authentic everyday pizza of Chicago. We focus on doing one style exceptionally well with hand-shredded mozzarella and our 4-generation sauce recipe.
Ready to Taste the Difference?
Order authentic Chicago thin-crust pizza from Mad Pizza. Every slice supports veterans through our LEGION partnership.