8 New York Pizza-By-The-Slice Counters That Locals Claim Tourists Always Miss

New York is a pizza city through and through—but not every great slice comes from the spots tourists line up for on Instagram.

Locals know that the real treasures are tucked behind unassuming storefronts, glowing under old neon signs, and served on paper plates that drip just the right amount of grease.

These counters don’t need hype or gimmicks—they’ve been perfecting the foldable New York slice for decades.

From the Lower East Side to East Harlem, here are eight pizza-by-the-slice joints where you can skip the crowds and eat like a true New Yorker.

1. Scarr’s Pizza: Lower East Side’s Organic Flour Marvel

Tucked away on Orchard Street, Scarr’s became my Thursday night ritual after discovering their commitment to milling organic flour in-house. The vintage wood paneling and 70s vibe transport you back to old-school New York before you even bite into their perfectly crispy slice.

Last winter, I ducked in during a snowstorm and found the owner chatting with regulars like they were family. Their signature plain slice achieves that magical balance of thin yet sturdy crust with just the right cheese-to-sauce ratio.

Locals guard this spot fiercely, appreciating both the sustainable ingredients and no-nonsense approach to classic New York pizza. The limited counter space means you might stand, but trust me—your taste buds won’t care about seating arrangements.

2. Rizzo’s Fine Pizza: Queens’ Thin-Crust Legacy Since 1959

My grandmother first brought me to Rizzo’s when I was just seven years old, insisting their square slices were worth the subway ride to Astoria. Sixty years after opening their doors, this family-operated gem still crafts the same distinctive thin-crust square pies with their signature sweet-tangy sauce.

What makes Rizzo’s special isn’t flashy toppings or gimmicks—it’s pure consistency. Their rectangular slices feature a razor-thin crust that somehow stays crispy under a blanket of cheese and that legendary sauce that hits different notes than any other pizzeria.

Whenever friends visit from out of town, I smugly bypass the tourist traps and lead them here. The unassuming storefront keeps the crowds manageable while locals continue their decades-long love affair with these perfect squares.

3. NY Pizza Suprema: Penn Station’s Hidden Spot

Literally steps from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, NY Pizza Suprema remains bizarrely overlooked by tourists despite serving some of Manhattan’s most extraordinary slices since 1964. My first bite here came after a heartbreaking Knicks loss, and somehow made everything better.

The crust achieves pizza perfection—slightly charred bottom, pillowy edge, and that distinctive NYC fold without drooping. Their sauce deserves special mention: herb-forward with fresh sweetness that comes from quality tomatoes, not added sugar.

Commuters rush past its unassuming exterior daily, while savvy locals know to stop in for a pre-train slice. The walls covered with celebrity photos and sports memorabilia tell the story of decades serving New Yorkers who recognize greatness when they taste it. Fun fact: they still use the founder’s original recipes!

4. Mama’s Too: Upper West Side’s Rule-Breaking Slice Shop

Frank Tuttolomondo revolutionized my pizza expectations when he opened Mama’s Too on Broadway and 106th. Abandoning traditional New York pizza rules, this rebel created something entirely new yet undeniably authentic to the city’s innovative spirit.

Square slices here feature a focaccia-like base with caramelized cheese edges that create an addictive crispy perimeter. I’ve actually canceled dinner plans after “accidentally” eating three slices during an afternoon “snack.” Their pepperoni cup slice, with those little discs that curl up into spicy oil-collecting cups, haunts my dreams.

Despite national press attention, tourists rarely venture this far uptown, keeping lines manageable for neighborhood regulars. The tiny storefront offers standing room only, but the park is just blocks away—perfect for enjoying these transcendent slices in the wild.

5. L’Industrie Pizzeria: Williamsburg’s Italian-Brooklyn Fusion

Massimo Laveglia’s tiny Williamsburg slice shop ruined me for ordinary pizza. After my first visit, I texted five friends: “Drop everything and go to L’Industrie immediately.” The Italian-born pizzaiolo combines old-world techniques with Brooklyn innovation for slices that defy categorization.

The impossibly thin yet structurally sound crust gets topped with imported Italian ingredients and finished with fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil post-oven. Their burrata slice—adorned with a baseball-sized globe of creamy cheese that you spread yourself—creates an interactive eating experience that’s both playful and profound.

While Williamsburg swarms with tourists, they typically stick to the waterfront and Bedford Avenue, leaving this Metropolitan Avenue marvel to locals who don’t mind the limited standing room. The constant rotation of specialty slices keeps regulars coming back to discover what Massimo dreams up next.

6. Joe’s Pizza: Greenwich Village Institution (Not The One You’re Thinking)

Confusion is my secret weapon! When tourists ask for Joe’s Pizza recommendations, I send them to the famous Carmine Street location. Meanwhile, I quietly head to their West Village outpost on 6th Avenue where the same legendary pizza comes with significantly shorter lines.

The slices at both locations are identical—perfectly foldable with that quintessential New York character—but the experience differs dramatically. While Carmine Street processes tourists like an assembly line, the 6th Avenue spot retains neighborhood vibes where staff might actually remember your order.

Joe’s exemplifies the platonic ideal of New York pizza: thin, foldable, with balanced sauce-to-cheese ratio and that distinctive chew that comes from decades-old ovens. Nothing fancy, nothing extra—just pizza perfection that needs no embellishment. For true insider status, order “a regular and a fresh mozzarella” like the locals do.

7. Famous Ben’s Pizza: SoHo’s No-Frills Slice Sanctuary

Surrounded by SoHo’s designer boutiques and Instagram hotspots sits Ben’s—a gloriously unrenovated pizza joint that’s remained defiantly unchanged since 1977. I discovered it during a summer internship, when my measly budget made their generously sized slices a financial lifesaver.

The magic of Ben’s lies in its perfect ordinariness. Nothing about these slices screams artisanal or craft—they’re just honest, well-made New York pizza at prices that somehow resist SoHo inflation. The Sicilian slice, thick and rectangular with crispy bottom and pillowy interior, remains my comfort food gold standard.

Fashion-forward tourists shopping nearby almost never step inside this fluorescent-lit time capsule, missing out on what locals know: authentic New York experiences don’t need fancy packaging. The staff’s brusque efficiency completes the experience—order quickly, pay cash when possible, and never block the counter while deciding.

8. Patsy’s Pizzeria: East Harlem’s Coal-Fired Original

My pizza pilgrimage to Patsy’s original 1933 East Harlem location felt like stepping through a time portal. This historic spot claims to be the first pizzeria to sell by the slice in New York, and their coal-fired oven produces a distinctively charred, smoky crust that’s impossible to replicate in modern gas ovens.

While franchise locations bearing the Patsy’s name exist downtown, only this original outpost still cooks with coal, creating that signature high-heat magic. The slices emerge whisper-thin with minimal toppings—just enough tangy sauce and aged cheese to complement rather than overwhelm the exceptional crust.

Tourists rarely venture this far uptown despite the pizzeria’s historical significance, leaving it primarily to locals and pizza aficionados making the pilgrimage. The cash-only policy and no-frills atmosphere further filter out casual visitors. Their plain slice hasn’t changed in nearly a century—and thankfully, it never will.