What’s the most Midwestern food you can think of? We’ll give you a moment.
Bratwurst and sauerkraut? Nah. Pork tenderloins? Eh… Barbecue ribs with a side of corn on the cob? Maybe. Dessert bars? Idc. Hash brown hot dish? This ain’t it, ma.
Pizza? Bet!
Pizza is possibly the most popular food in the entire country, perfect for lunch, dinner, and even the occasional breakfast (who doesn’t love leftover pizza for breakfast?).
When it comes to famous pizza, Midwest restaurants can hold their own against the most heralded pizzerias in the nation, and we’d challenge any honest person to travel our region and not return home with a newfound respect for Midwest’s famous pizza.
It’s not about opinion; it’s about good food at some of the most interesting, unique, and fun-filled restaurants in the country. In the Midwest, we LOVE our pizza. And in the Midwest, it all starts with little gas stations (yes, we said gas stations!) inside the big city or on the outskirts of our small towns…
The Best, Most Popular, and Most Famous Pizza Places in the Midwest
Casey’s Pizza – EVERYWHERE in the Midwest!
Rating: 8/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: Famous pizza from a gas station convenience store
Yep, we’re starting our list with the quintessential Midwestern pizza. A convenience store pizza that you can find in virtually every small town across the Midwest. Don’t be fooled by the fuel pumps outside; there are big-city restaurants that wish they could make pizza as good as this!
Casey’s, frankly, punches above its weight; it is a convenience store that makes restaurant-quality pizza with real cheese, made-from-scratch dough, and hand-cut veggies. For a perfectly Midwestern spin, try the taco pizza, which comes loaded with fresh lettuce and tomato.
Pig Ate My Pizza at Nouvelle Brewing – Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Rating: 9/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: Great pizza with unique toppings at a brewery!
If you’re in the Twin Cities area and want a good pizza with a craft beer, along with the unique brewery atmosphere, look no further than Nouvelle Brewing and its restaurant, Pig Ate My Pizza.
Besides the craft beer, this place is most notable for its famous pizza’s unique toppings, which include chicken tikka masala, marinated artichoke, avocado puree, and tomato curry.
Harris Pizza – Davenport, Iowa
Rating: 8.5/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: Quad-City style pizza
You may have heard of New York style and Chicago style, but if you’re looking for something a little more interesting, head to Davenport on the eastern edge of Iowa and find Harris Pizza.
This local chain is best known for Quad City-style pizza, which uses malt in the dough, is hand-tossed to get the right stretch, and puts delicious toppings underneath layers of Romano and Parmesan cheese, finished with a generous sprinkling of crushed oregano. Famous pizza!
The Airliner – Iowa City, Iowa
Rating: 9/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: Quality crust options in thick, thin, or “Airliner Regular”
Most visitors to Iowa City come on a college football Saturday. Trying Airliner’s pizza then will be a challenge, as this place is so popular you’ll find it almost impossible to get a table!
Claim your table early or visit on a weekday and order one of the signature pizzas. A thick-crust Greek special is particularly delicious.
Imo’s Pizza – St. Louis
Rating: 9/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: St. Louis-style pizza
Located in downtown St. Louis (and other locations), Imo’s Pizza is a regional institution. It is best known for St. Louis-style pizza, one of the most unique types of pie in the United States.
St. Louis-style pizza is marked by an extremely thin crust that has the texture and taste of a cracker. The crust is made without yeast, which keeps it from rising. It also uses Provel cheese and is cut into squares instead of slices.
Pizza Brutta – Madison, Wisconsin
Rating: 9/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: Traditional Neapolitan-style pizza
If you’ve eaten too many brats and cheese curds (as if that’s even possible) and want something a little more upscale, you might try Pizza Brutta in Madison, Wisconsin. This high-quality pizzeria sources ingredients from the local region to create traditional, authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas.
R-Pizza – Vermillion, South Dakota
Rating: 8.5/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: A huge variety of unique topping options
Some pizza restaurants go above and beyond for topping options. Take R-Pizza in Vermillion, South Dakota, as an example. This popular pizza joint has all the traditional options but includes unique selections like anchovies, sauerkraut, goat cheese, artichoke, and prosciutto.
With made-from-scratch dough and sauce, R-Pizza is one of the most popular pizza restaurants in the entire Midwest.
Wichita Brewing Co & Pizzeria – Wichita, Kansas
Rating: 9.5/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: Unique specialty pizzas in a brewery!
Wichita Brewing is the second brewery-meets-pizza-place on the list. That’s not a coincidence, as good beer and good pizza pair together like Midwestern winters and flannel pajamas!
The beer at this place is extremely popular, and the pizza menu offers a variety of interesting selections, including the Gregorian Feast, Smoke Stack, and Sweet Heat Carnivore.
Fireflour – Bismarck, North Dakota
Rating: 8.5/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: Traditional pizza and craft coffee
There is no better lunch spot in Bismarck, North Dakota, than Fireflour. This pizzeria offers the finest pizza in the area. To punctuate your dining experience, you can order one of their popular craft coffees.
The pizza menu ranges from simple to complex. There are upscale options like the Bianca and Pesto, as well as filling choices like the Americano or Tenderloin.
LaCasa Pizzaria, Omaha Nebraska
Rating: 8.5/10 Slices
Noteworthy for: Sicilian-style pizza in the heart of Omaha
Founded in the 1950s by a carpenter who purchased a house and turned it into a restaurant, LaCasa Pizzaria started with family recipes and became one of the most famous pizza places in the region.
One of the first pizzerias to feature Romano cheese, LaCasa maintains a dedication to traditional Sicilian-style pizza, along with calzones and pasta dishes, for an authentic dining experience.
Try the Midwest’s Famous Pizza
There you have it, our list of the best pizza restaurants (and gas stations!) in the entire Midwest.
But don’t take our word for it; get out there and try some for yourself! You’ll be surprised by all the fantastic pizza places dotting the Midwest, and you’ll find that practically every small town has a wonderful pizza place all its own. And if they don’t, there’s always a Casey’s gas station down the road!
So be polite, stay away from hot dishes, and eat pizza; nothing could be more Midwestern!
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