10 Illinois Pizzerias Serving Slices Worth Traveling For
Illinois knows pizza like nobody’s business, and the Prairie State serves up pies that rival anywhere on the planet. I’ve chased slices across Illinois for years, pulling over for roadside shops, lingering in neighborhood joints, and planning entire afternoons around a single recommendation.
The range is staggering, with deep, cheese-laden classics, crisp foldable slices, and inventive combinations that somehow work better than they should. What keeps me coming back isn’t just the food, though.
It’s the pride behind the counter, the decades-old recipes, the ovens that never seem to cool down. These ten pizzerias capture that spirit at its best.
Each one delivers a distinct point of view on pizza, shaped by its city, its regulars, and its history. Come hungry and curious; this is the kind of list that turns a casual craving into a full-blown road trip.
1. Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe – Chicago
Your quest for the perfect New York–style slice ends at this Montrose Avenue gem that’s been serving hungry Chicagoans since opening in 2011.
Jimmy’s doesn’t mess around with fancy gimmicks or trendy toppings, focusing instead on classic New York–style pies and slices that have built a loyal following over the years.
The crust strikes that magical balance between crispy and chewy, giving you that satisfying crunch on the outside while staying tender where it counts.
Walking into Jimmy’s feels like stepping into your Italian grandmother’s kitchen, assuming your nonna ran a bustling pizza joint. The aroma of bubbling cheese and tomato sauce hits you the moment you open the door, instantly making your stomach growl no matter how recently you ate.
Their sauce recipe remains a closely guarded secret, but one taste tells you everything you need to know about quality ingredients and time-tested techniques.
Located at 2434 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, this spot serves neighborhood charm alongside every piping-hot pie. The staff treats regulars like family and newcomers like future regulars, creating an atmosphere that’s genuinely welcoming without trying too hard.
Whether you’re grabbing a quick slice for lunch or settling in for a full pie with friends, Jimmy’s delivers exactly what great pizza should be: honest, delicious, and completely satisfying.
2. Dimo’s Pizza (Logan Square) – Chicago
Forget everything you thought you knew about pizza toppings because Dimo’s throws the rulebook out the window and creates magic instead.
This Logan Square hotspot has built a cult following by asking the question nobody else dared to ask: what if we put mac and cheese on pizza? Spoiler alert, it works brilliantly, along with their other wildly creative combinations that somehow make perfect sense once they hit your taste buds.
The menu reads like a greatest hits album of comfort food mashups, with options that sound crazy until you take that first bite and realize you’re experiencing genius. Their signature pies combine flavors you never imagined together, yet each ingredient plays its part in creating something unexpectedly delicious.
The crust provides the perfect foundation for these adventurous toppings, sturdy enough to hold everything together while still delivering that essential pizza texture.
You’ll find this innovative pizza paradise at 2246 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, right in the heart of one of Chicago’s coolest neighborhoods.
The vibe matches the food perfectly, casual and fun without taking itself too seriously, which is exactly the right attitude when you’re serving pizza topped with things that would make traditional pizzaiolos faint. Dimo’s proves that respecting pizza traditions is great, but breaking them creatively can be even better.
3. The Art of Pizza – Chicago
Deep-dish pizza reaches its full potential at this Lakeview establishment where every pie truly qualifies as edible artwork. The name isn’t just clever marketing, it’s a promise that gets delivered with every golden-brown, cheese-stuffed masterpiece that emerges from their ovens.
Building a proper Chicago-style deep dish requires patience, skill, and ingredients that can stand up to the extended baking time, and The Art of Pizza has mastered every element.
Their pies tower above the plate like delicious skyscrapers, packed with layers of gooey cheese, chunky tomato sauce, and whatever toppings your heart desires. The buttery crust forms a perfect vessel, holding everything together while adding its own rich flavor to every forkful.
Yes, you’ll need a fork for this pizza, and you’ll want to pace yourself because these beauties are seriously filling.
Located at 3033 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, this spot has been perfecting their craft for years and it shows in every slice. The restaurant itself feels authentically Chicago, without the touristy atmosphere that plagues some deep-dish joints closer to downtown.
Locals know this is where you go when you want the real deal, the kind of deep dish that reminds you why this style became legendary in the first place and why people travel from around the world just to experience it.
4. DeSalvo’s Pizza – Evanston
Just north of Chicago in the charming college town of Evanston sits a pizza place that’s become legendary for doing things the right way.
DeSalvo’s approaches pizza-making with the kind of dedication usually reserved for fine dining, using high-quality ingredients and time-honored techniques that result in consistently outstanding pies.
Their dough gets made fresh daily, their cheese comes from trusted suppliers, and their sauce tastes like summer in Italy.
What sets DeSalvo’s apart isn’t just one thing but rather their commitment to excellence across every aspect of the pizza-making process. The crust achieves that elusive perfect texture, crispy on the bottom with just enough chew, while the toppings get distributed with care rather than just dumped on haphazardly.
Each pizza gets the attention it deserves, from the moment the dough gets stretched to the second it lands on your table.
You’ll discover this gem at 1945 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201, in a location that’s convenient for Northwestern students and Evanston residents alike. The atmosphere strikes a nice balance between casual and polished, making it equally appropriate for a family dinner or a date night.
DeSalvo’s has earned its reputation through consistency and quality, proving that great pizza doesn’t need gimmicks when you’re starting with superior ingredients and genuine skill.
5. Rocco’s Pizzeria – Naperville
Naperville might be known for its excellent schools and family-friendly suburbs, but Rocco’s gives folks another reason to love this western Chicago suburb.
This pizzeria brings authentic New York-style pizza to Illinois, serving up massive slices that fold perfectly and deliver that characteristic thin, crispy crust that makes NYC pizza famous.
The cheese stretches for days, the grease glistens just right, and every bite tastes like you’ve been transported to a corner pizzeria in Brooklyn.
Rocco’s understands that great New York-style pizza isn’t about overthinking things but rather about executing the basics flawlessly. Their dough recipe creates that signature texture, sturdy enough to hold your toppings but thin enough to cook quickly and develop the right amount of char.
The sauce hits that sweet spot between tangy and savory, complementing rather than overwhelming the cheese and other toppings.
Located at 192 W Gartner Rd #168, Naperville, IL 60540, Rocco’s has become the go-to spot for pizza lovers throughout the western suburbs. Whether you’re grabbing a quick slice after work or ordering a whole pie for the family, you’re getting consistent quality every single time.
The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the pizza tastes exactly like it should, which is sometimes the highest compliment you can give a pizzeria.
6. Papa Del’s Pizza Factory – Champaign
College students at the University of Illinois know that Papa Del’s isn’t just a restaurant but rather an essential part of the Champaign experience. This local institution has been feeding hungry students, faculty, and townspeople since opening in 1975, earning a reputation that extends far beyond campus boundaries.
Their deep-dish pizza rivals anything you’ll find in Chicago, which is saying something considering Chicago basically invented the style.
Papa Del’s takes their pizza seriously, using a recipe that’s been perfected over decades of service. The cornmeal crust provides a distinctive crunch and flavor that sets their pies apart from competitors, while the generous layers of cheese and toppings create that satisfying richness that makes deep dish so beloved.
Each pizza takes time to prepare properly, but the wait is absolutely worth it when your bubbling, golden-brown pie finally arrives.
You’ll find this Champaign treasure at 1201 S Neil St, Champaign, IL 61820, in a location that’s been serving the community for generations. The restaurant itself has that comfortable, lived-in feeling that comes from years of happy customers and countless memories made over shared pizzas.
Papa Del’s proves that you don’t need to be in Chicago to enjoy world-class deep dish, and their loyal following of alumni who return whenever they’re in town speaks volumes about the lasting impression their pizza makes.
7. Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza – Peoria
Sometimes the best pizza experience happens in your own home, and Nick-N-Willy’s makes that possible with their take-and-bake concept.
This Peoria location lets you enjoy restaurant-quality pizza with the convenience of baking it fresh in your own oven, filling your house with that irresistible aroma of baking bread and melting cheese.
The pizzas come fully assembled and ready to pop in the oven, so you get all the benefits of homemade pizza without any of the work.
The beauty of the take-and-bake model is that you control exactly when your pizza gets cooked, meaning it comes out of the oven at peak freshness right when you’re ready to eat. Nick-N-Willy’s uses quality ingredients and generous portions, creating pizzas that taste like you spent hours making them from scratch.
Their dough recipe produces a crust that bakes up beautifully at home, achieving that golden-brown perfection that’s tough to replicate without a commercial oven.
Located at 4700 N University St #90, Peoria, IL 61614, this spot has become a favorite for busy families and anyone who wants great pizza without the restaurant prices or delivery fees.
The staff will customize your pizza exactly how you want it, and you can grab a few to keep in your fridge for easy weeknight dinners. Nick-N-Willy’s proves that convenience and quality don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
8. DP Dough – Bloomington
While DP Dough specializes in calzones rather than traditional pizza slices, its stuffed dough creations deliver the same flavors pizza lovers crave in a more portable format.
This Bloomington location serves Illinois State University students and locals who’ve discovered that calzones might actually be the superior way to enjoy pizza flavors. Everything you love about pizza gets wrapped up in a golden-brown dough pocket that’s easier to eat and somehow even more satisfying.
DP Dough offers an impressive variety of calzone options, from classic combinations to creative inventions that push the boundaries of what belongs inside a folded pizza.
The fillings stay hot and melty inside their dough cocoon, with the cheese stretching perfectly when you take that first bite. Their dough achieves a nice balance between crispy exterior and soft interior, providing the perfect vehicle for all those tasty ingredients.
You’ll find this calzone haven at 121 E Beaufort St, Normal, IL 61761, conveniently located for late-night cravings and quick meals near the Illinois State University campus. The menu caters to adventurous eaters and traditionalists alike, ensuring everyone finds something they’ll love.
DP Dough has perfected the art of the calzone, proving that sometimes the best way to enjoy pizza is by folding it in half and eating it with your hands like a delicious handheld treasure.
9. Simply Slices – Carbondale
Southern Illinois University students have made Simply Slices their unofficial campus headquarters, and one visit explains why this Carbondale spot has achieved legendary status.
This slice shop does exactly what its name promises, serving up simple, delicious pizza by the slice that hits the spot whether you’re cramming for exams or celebrating the end of finals. Their slices are generously sized, properly heated, and priced right for college budgets.
Simply Slices keeps things straightforward, focusing on classic pizza done really well rather than trying to reinvent the wheel with crazy toppings or gimmicks. Their cheese pizza achieves that perfect ratio of sauce to cheese to crust, while their specialty slices add just enough variety to keep things interesting.
The pizza tastes fresh throughout the day, with new pies coming out of the oven regularly to ensure you’re never stuck with dried-out leftovers.
Located at 1420 E Main St, Carbondale, IL 62901, this spot has become an integral part of the Carbondale community beyond just the university crowd. The casual atmosphere welcomes everyone from professors grabbing lunch to families stopping in for a quick dinner.
Simply Slices proves that sometimes the best approach to pizza is keeping things simple and executing the fundamentals perfectly, creating slices that satisfy without needing to show off or complicate what already works.
10. O/B Slices – Alton
Alton might be a smaller Illinois town along the Mississippi River, but O/B Slices proves that outstanding pizza isn’t limited to big cities.
This Broadway establishment has carved out a reputation for serving creative, delicious pizza that draws people from across the region. Their approach combines respect for pizza traditions with a willingness to experiment, resulting in a menu that offers something for everyone from purists to adventurous eaters.
O/B Slices pays attention to the details that separate good pizza from great pizza, like proper fermentation time for the dough and high-quality cheese that melts beautifully. Their crust achieves that ideal texture that’s become their calling card, crispy enough to provide structure but never tough or cardboard-like.
The sauce balances acidity and sweetness perfectly, while their topping combinations show creativity without going overboard into weird-for-weird’s-sake territory.
You’ll discover this hidden gem at 4 E Broadway, Alton, IL 62002, in a location that’s convenient for locals and worth the drive for pizza pilgrims from elsewhere. The restaurant itself reflects Alton’s small-town charm while maintaining a modern sensibility that appeals to contemporary tastes.
O/B Slices demonstrates that great pizza can thrive anywhere when you’re committed to quality ingredients, solid technique, and genuine passion for the craft, making it a destination worth adding to your Illinois pizza road trip itinerary.