Best Pizzas Across the State of Illinois

Sep 5, 2023

It’s National Cheese Pizza day, and we thought we’d take some time to highlight some of the best pizza places in our great state of Illinois. Of course, these type of lists are always contentious, and we get it! If you feel your favorite place has been slighted and left off our list, please let us know and we’ll make sure it makes it into rotation on next year’s list. We love to hear input from our readers, and always enjoy learning more about local favorites so we can check them out, too!

In no particular order of favoritism, here are some of the top highly rated pizza places across our state of Illinois (including some favorites from right here in Lake County):

Louie’s Pizza in Waukegan

This local haunt has been getting top marks since 1941, and that sense of comfort and nostalgia keeps people coming back year after year! Customers love their classic cheese pizza, but that’s not all they love. Reviewers report their taste buds are delighted by the garlic butter bread starter, as well as specials on the menu like the “Poor Mans Lobster” (cod with hot melted butter), Greek Salad, Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs, and their drink specials. It’s some of the best pizza around in the county.

Quonset Pizza in Waukegan

You’re getting old-fashioned classic thin crust pizzas, along with local favorites like Chicago-style Italian beef and of course, wings! Customers here rave about how perfect the pizza crust is, and the delicious amount of toppings you can choose from. While you can never go wrong with a traditional cheese pizza, locals also recommend asking for the “BLT Pizza” or “The Works”.

SLYCE Coal Fired Pizza Company in Wauconda

If you’ve never had a coal fired pizza, get ready because you’re in for a real treat! This crispy, smoky, flaky crust is like nothing else you’ve experienced. Customers here recommend showing a little restraint in your topping choices, preferring to opt for things like a margherita pie (#4 on the Original Menu) where you can fully savor the delightful tomato gravy, fresh basil, and scrumptious heaps of melted fresh mozzarella. If you’re making it a date night, you’ll love their expanded menu of Small Plates to share!

Crosstown Pub & Grill in Naperville

This is a local hub for great pub food and local sports that boats some of the best pizza and wings around. While they are far from the traditional pizza, the Crosstown Turbo Flats are really out of this world. Try the Chk Thai Thai for a pizza style flat bread with a little pizazz! Or combine their legendary wings with a flat bread pizza experience. Wash ‘em down with an ice cold brew and enjoy the Bears game while you’re there! It’s top notch, one-of-a-kind eatin’.

Leona’s Pizzeria in Elk Grove Village

Open since 1950, this is the place to go if you want to order your pizza with options. It’s the perfect place to come with friends, because everyone can order the pizza style they love most and enjoy a ½ pan or a 12” pie to themselves. Choose from thicker, airy crust of a Sicilian Style Pizza, a Thin Crust Pizza, or their very impressive Stuffed Pizzas! Got a bottomless stomach or just a bad case of indecision between pizza and pasta? They’ve got you covered with their Leonas Classic Sides Menu, featuring a lush, creamy fettuccine alfredo, a small plate of their famous Italian Meatballs, and more.

Bricks Wood Fired Pizza in Naperville

Casual style dining with an upscale taste! This is the home of authentic wood fired and brick oven pizza since 2005, making them a relative “newcomer” in regional pizza fare, but no less of an expert at their craft. You’ll never get bored of the “same old, same old” here! Choose from unique pizza like the “Betty White Arugula” or the “Sunny Side Up” and the simply delectable “Honey Love” pie. And of course, be sure to check the rotation of their signature seasonal favorites (currently the “Red, White, Bleu” and the “Hawaiian BBQ”).

Antioch Pizza Shop in Antioch

For more than 40 years, this shop has built a reputation as a fan favorite for pizza fanatics around the country. Choose from one of four pizza styles: Thin crust, the Double Decker, Pan Pizza, or Stuffed. They’ve also got a super yummy Gluten Free Pizza for those on a speciality diet. Local favorites here include the BLT Pie and the Bacon Double Cheeseburger, but their shining star is the Buffalo Chicken with its spicy buffalo sauce, deliciously moist chicken, and creamy mozzarella cheese.

On a Quest to eat some of the best pizza across the state? We don’t blame you! Add these stops to your road trip quest and you will go home with a happy belly, for sure: