5 New York Pizza Shops Serving Quick Slices & 5 That Are Worth Sitting Down For
I’ve spent years hunting down the best pizza in New York City, and let me tell you—this town knows its pies!
From hurried lunch breaks to leisurely dinner dates, NYC has a pizza joint for every occasion.
Some spots are perfect for grabbing a quick folded slice while dodging taxis, while others demand you slow down, savor each bite, and maybe even use a fork and knife (don’t tell any locals I said that).
1. 2 Bros. Pizza: The Sidewalk Savior
Last Tuesday, I ducked into 2 Bros. during a sudden downpour and scored a piping hot slice for just a dollar! This budget-friendly chain has saved countless New Yorkers from hunger emergencies with their remarkably cheap yet satisfying slices. The beauty of 2 Bros. lies in its simplicity—thin, crispy crust with just enough sauce and cheese to satisfy without slowing you down.
No frills, no fuss, just good pizza that won’t break the bank. The line moves lightning fast, making this perfect for lunch breaks or late-night munchies. Just point, pay, and within seconds you’re back on the sidewalk, navigating the city with that distinctive orange paper plate in hand.
2. NY Pizza Suprema: Penn Station’s Hidden Spot
My first time at Pizza Suprema changed my entire Penn Station strategy forever. Now I deliberately arrive early for trains just to grab their perfect slice. Standing at their counter watching the steady parade of commuters and pizza enthusiasts feels like witnessing a New York institution in action. Founded in 1964, this family-owned spot serves slices that strike the ideal balance between chewy and crispy.
Their sauce—slightly sweet with a hint of herbs—deserves its own fan club. The plain slice here outshines fancy specialty pies at most other places. Though mere steps from the chaos of Penn Station, the quality never suffers from their high-volume business. Grab, fold, and go—you’ll make your train with time to spare.
3. Scarr’s Pizza: Hipster Heaven With Substance
Stumbling into Scarr’s during a Lower East Side art crawl, I found myself completely smitten with their retro vibes and mind-blowing pizza. The tiny, wood-paneled space feels like it time-traveled from 1982, complete with vintage Coca-Cola signs and that perfect neighborhood joint atmosphere. What sets Scarr’s apart isn’t just aesthetics—they mill their own flour in-house!
This extra step creates a crust with depth and character rarely found in quick-slice spots. The result is surprisingly light yet satisfying. Despite the Instagram-worthy aesthetic that attracts influencers by the dozen, Scarr’s keeps it real with efficient service. You can be in and out in minutes with a slice that’s changing the game for quick New York pizza.
4. Mama’s Too: Upper West Side Revolution
Mama’s Too ruined regular pizza for me. Seriously! One bite of their square slice with those caramelized edges and I knew my pizza standards would never be the same. Frank Tuttolomondo turned his family’s traditional slice shop into something extraordinary that’s worth the trek uptown. The crust here deserves poetry—airy but substantial, with charred spots that add complexity without burning.
Their pepperoni cups crisp up into perfect little flavor vessels that make me irrationally happy. Despite the acclaim and inevitable lines, Mama’s Too maintains quick-service efficiency. The staff keeps things moving, and the counter-service model means you can be enjoying pizza perfection within minutes. Pro tip: their morning focaccia might actually be worth missing your morning meeting for.
5. Louie & Ernie’s Pizza: Bronx Treasure Worth The Trek
My cousin Tony insisted we drive 40 minutes to this unassuming house in Throgs Neck, and I nearly disowned him until I tasted their sausage slice. Louie & Ernie’s sits in a residential Bronx neighborhood inside what looks like somebody’s converted living room, yet serves some of the most remarkable quick slices in the city. Operating since 1959, this cash-only spot feels gloriously untouched by time or trends.
Their sausage comes from the Italian butcher down the street—crumbled, not sliced—creating perfect little flavor bombs across the pizza. The thin crust maintains that magical structural integrity that lets you fold without collapsing. You can grab your slice and eat it at one of the few tables or take it to go. Either way, you’ll understand why pizza pilgrims make the journey daily.
6. Lucali: Brooklyn’s Candlelit Pizza Sanctuary
The first time I waited two hours for Lucali, I questioned my sanity. The second time, I brought a camping chair and wine. Now, I plan my month around scoring a table at Mark Iacono’s Carroll Gardens sanctuary. This BYOB haven has no phone, no reservations—just a clipboard outside where hopefuls scribble their names. Inside, the magic happens at a marble counter where Iacono crafts each pie by hand using a wine bottle as a rolling pin.
The dim lighting from antique fixtures creates an atmosphere that makes even Jay-Z and Beyoncé wait their turn. The pizza itself is sublime perfection—impossibly thin crust with a pillowy edge, topped with fresh basil and just the right amount of cheese. Every bite reminds you why you dedicated your evening to this experience. This isn’t fast food; it’s pizza as ceremony.
7. Una Pizza Napoletana: The Perfectionist’s Pilgrimage
Anthony Mangieri ruined me for ordinary pizza. After my first visit to Una Pizza Napoletana, I spent weeks boring friends with detailed descriptions of dough fermentation and the perfect leoparding on a crust. This Lower East Side temple to Neapolitan tradition operates with monastery-like dedication to craft. Mangieri personally makes each dough ball in a process that takes days. The menu is deliberately sparse, focusing on perfecting a few classic options rather than overwhelming with choices.
His Margherita—just dough, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil—reveals how transcendent simplicity can be. The space feels appropriately reverent, with clean lines and minimal decoration. Nothing distracts from the pizza experience. Una isn’t for quick eats—it’s a destination where pizza becomes art, demanding your full attention and deserving every minute spent.
8. John’s Of Bleecker Street: Old-School Pizza Pilgrimage
My grandfather first took me to John’s when I was seven, pointing out the same booth where he’d eaten since the 1950s. The worn wooden tables, carved with decades of initials, tell the story of this Greenwich Village institution better than any review could. Operating since 1929 in a former church, John’s remains gloriously unchanged—coal-fired brick ovens, no slices (whole pies only), and absolutely no reservations. The thin crust emerges beautifully charred with that distinctive smoky flavor only coal fire delivers.
Servers who’ve worked here for decades navigate the crowded dining room with practiced efficiency. Families, tourists, and locals share space in this democratic pizza paradise. The wait can stretch to an hour on weekends, but that’s part of the experience—this isn’t fast food, it’s a New York tradition worth preserving.
9. Roberta’s: Bushwick’s Pizza Revolution
My first Roberta’s experience involved getting hopelessly lost in industrial Bushwick before finding a graffiti-covered building with a line of hip twenty-somethings stretching down the block. Inside that unassuming concrete structure, I discovered pizza that forever changed my understanding of what toppings could be. What began as a scrappy DIY pizzeria in 2008 has become a culinary landmark without losing its edge.
The wood-fired oven turns out beautifully blistered crusts topped with combinations that sound bizarre but taste revelatory—like the Famous Original with caciocavallo cheese and chili flakes. The atmosphere remains delightfully chaotic—communal tables, industrial decor, and a buzzing energy that makes dinner feel like an event. Their garden in warmer months transforms the experience into something magical. This isn’t grab-and-go pizza; it’s a destination worth planning your night around.
10. Paulie Gee’s: Greenpoint’s Wood-Fired Wonderland
Meeting Paulie himself—a former IT professional who pursued his pizza dreams after 50—remains one of my favorite New York food memories. His enthusiasm is infectious as he works the room in his Greenpoint restaurant, checking on tables and sharing pizza philosophy with anyone who’ll listen. The space feels like a Scandinavian cabin that happened to install a gorgeous copper-clad wood-burning oven.
Low lighting glints off reclaimed wood surfaces, creating a warm atmosphere that encourages lingering. Their inventive pies sport clever names like “Hellboy” (fresh mozzarella, Italian tomatoes, Berkshire sopressata, Parmigiano Reggiano and Mike’s Hot Honey). What makes Paulie Gee’s special beyond the exceptional pizza is the genuine hospitality. This isn’t a place for rushing—it’s where pizza becomes the centerpiece of an evening worth savoring, preferably with friends and several rounds of natural wine.