16 Pizza Places That Prove Minnesota Has Its Own Style
Minnesota pizza is a unique culinary experience with deep roots in our state’s heritage.
From cracker-thin crusts cut in squares to hearty toppings that satisfy during our brutal winters, these pies tell a delicious story about Midwestern food culture.
The following pizza joints showcase why Minnesota deserves recognition for its own distinctive pizza style.
1. Red’s Savoy Pizza
The birthplace of ‘Sota-Style® pizza serves up cracker-thin crusts cut into perfect squares and loaded with toppings from edge to edge. No skimpy coverage here!
Their House special – featuring a savory blend of sausage, mushroom, and onion – has fueled Minnesotans through countless winters.
The sauce strikes that magical balance between tangy and sweet, a hallmark of true Minnesota pizza.
2. Carbone’s Pizzeria
Since the 1950s, Carbone’s has defined what tavern-cut pizza means to Minnesotans. The thin crust snaps with each bite, creating that distinctive crunch we crave.
The Deluxe showcases their perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and toppings. My grandpa swore Carbone’s hadn’t changed their recipe in 70 years, exactly why we keep coming back generation after generation.
3. Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies
This Twin Cities institution has perfected the square-cut Minnesota pie while also mastering the hot hoagie sandwich.
Their Works pizza piles on pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers with generous cheese coverage.
The crust achieves that golden-brown color that signals perfect doneness. Many Minnesotans grew up celebrating sports victories and birthdays around Davanni’s tables, creating lifelong pizza memories.
4. House of Pizza
St. Cloud’s pizza legacy since 1964 continues with crispy, thin crusts that support hearty Minnesota toppings without sagging. The square cut allows for perfect portion control – or the excuse to grab “just one more piece.”
I remember my college days when a House of Pizza pie would appear at 1 AM during study sessions. Their House Special remains the gold standard for Central Minnesota pizza lovers seeking comfort food perfection.
5. Pagliai’s Pizza
Mankato’s pizza treasure since 1969 serves ultra-thin crusts that somehow support mountains of toppings without collapsing. The square cut creates perfect bite-sized pieces that disappear faster than you’d expect.
Their Special combines sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, and onion in ideal proportions. The sauce has a slightly sweeter profile than other Minnesota pizzerias, creating loyal customers who drive from hours away for a taste of nostalgia.
6. Sammy’s Pizza & Restaurant
An Iron Range–born pizza pioneer (founded in Hibbing in 1954) with beloved Duluth locations brings Northern Minnesota heritage to every pie with its distinctive sweet-savory sauce that locals recognize instantly.
The thin crust gets that perfect char around the edges while staying tender in the center. A sausage and pepperoni combo showcases their quality ingredients.
Growing up, my family would drive an hour just for Sammy’s – the taste of Lake Superior vacations and the comfort of northern Minnesota in every bite.
7. Sven & Ole’s
Grand Marais’ iconic North Shore pizza spot serves hungry hikers and tourists with Minnesota-meets-Scandinavian flair.
Their square-cut pies feature a slightly thicker crust than most Minnesota styles, perfect for refueling after Lake Superior adventures.
The signature Sven & Ole combo balances savory meats with fresh vegetables. The restaurant’s quirky Norwegian-inspired decor and punny menu items create an atmosphere as memorable as their distinctive pizza style.
8. Punch Neapolitan Pizza
This Twin Cities favorite revolutionized Minnesota pizza by introducing authentic wood-fired Neapolitan techniques. The 90-second bake creates that perfect leopard-spotted crust with airy, chewy edges and a thin center.
Their Margherita Extra showcases high-quality ingredients with minimal intervention. I once watched my pizza-hating nephew devour an entire Punch pie by himself, the true test of exceptional pizza that bridges culinary traditions from Naples to Minnesota.
9. Pizza Lucé
Minnesota’s gourmet pizza chain brilliantly balances traditional and innovative approaches with locations throughout the state. Their hand-tossed crust strikes the perfect middle ground between thin and thick styles.
The Maximus loads hearty toppings for winter survival, while their creative vegan and gluten-free options welcome all eaters.
Late-night pizza runs to Lucé after concerts have become a Minnesota tradition, their slices fueling the local music scene for decades.
10. Pizzeria Lola
Chef Ann Kim’s wood-fired masterpieces blend Korean influences with Midwestern sensibilities in Southwest Minneapolis. The copper-clad oven produces perfectly blistered crusts with a subtle smokiness that elevates every bite.
The Lady ZaZa showcases Korean flavors with kimchi and Korean sausage. The walls decorated with vintage photo booth strips of happy customers tell the story of a community built around exceptional pizza that breaks Minnesota’s square-cut tradition with triangular slices.
11. Young Joni
Ann Kim’s Northeast Minneapolis restaurant elevates pizza to fine dining status without losing its soul. The wood-fired crusts develop complex flavors from fermentation and smoke, creating the perfect canvas for creative toppings.
The Korean BBQ pizza merges culinary traditions with bold flavors. My birthday dinner here featured pizzas passed around our table like edible conversation pieces, each bite sparking discussions about flavor combinations that somehow feel both exotic and distinctly Minnesotan.
12. Wrecktangle Pizza
Minnesota’s answer to Detroit-style pizza features thick, airy dough in rectangular pans with caramelized cheese creating the coveted “frico” edges. Each corner piece becomes a treasure worth fighting over.
The Shredder balances multiple meats with hot honey for sweet-savory perfection. What started as a food hall phenomenon has grown into a pizza empire, proving Minnesotans embrace innovation while honoring traditional pizza elements in exciting new formats.
13. Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza
The North Loop’s coal-fired pioneer produces distinctive charred, light crusts unlike anything else in Minnesota. The intense heat creates complex flavors while maintaining a satisfying chew.
Their meatball and ricotta pie balances richness with bright tomato sauce. The minimalist industrial space lets the pizza take center stage, with the roaring coal oven visible from most tables, adding dinner theater to the exceptional pizza experience.
14. Boludo
Argentina meets Minnesota in these distinctive Buenos Aires-style pizzas with their thick, cheesy, crisp-edged glory. The focaccia-like base provides the perfect foundation for creative topping combinations.
The Peras pizza pairs pears with blue cheese and prosciutto for sophisticated flavor contrasts. What began as a tiny storefront has expanded across Minneapolis, proving that Minnesotans embrace global pizza styles while making them part of our local food identity.
15. Pizzeria Pezzo
White Bear Lake’s dual-personality pizzeria excels at both coal-fired thin crust and authentic Chicago deep dish. The coal oven creates blistered, airy crusts, while their deep dish features an authentic buttery, high-edged crust.
Trying both styles side by side reveals the breadth of Minnesota’s pizza appreciation.
The restaurant’s warm brick interior welcomes pizza explorers ready to debate which style reigns supreme – though most locals wisely refuse to choose, embracing both as essential Minnesota pizza experiences.
16. Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria
Rochester’s pizza gem serves Mayo Clinic visitors and locals with New York-style pies featuring that perfect foldable yet crispy crust. The generous slices satisfy hungry hospital workers and patients seeking comfort food.
Their classic cheese pizza demonstrates pizza fundamentals executed flawlessly.
The small, unassuming storefront belies the big flavors inside, proving that sometimes the best Minnesota pizza experiences happen in the most modest settings, where quality ingredients and technique matter more than flashy surroundings.