If there’s one type of food that all of our residents can agree to enjoy, it’s the delicious and various styles of pizza that can be discovered all over Illinois. Whether you’re looking to feast on our classic Chicago-style pizza or are craving the perfect flatbread dish, there’s always a mouthwatering restaurant waiting for you. To make your day just a little bit brighter, here are nine places to get the best pizza in Illinois that will make you think you’ve died and gone to heaven.

1. Harris Pizza - Rock Island

Facebook/Harris Pizza
Harris Pizza #1, 3903 14th Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201, USA
Facebook/Harris Pizza
If you're familiar with our Quad Cities, there's no excuse for you to have never tried Harris Pizza. You'll have a hard time finding any other shop in the nearby area that features pizza as delicious as this. With hand-tossed crust and toppings that will make your stomach rumble, there's nothing like splitting a pie with friends at this restaurant.

2. Vito and Nick's Pizzeria -Chicago

Facebook/Vito and Nick's
Vito & Nick's Pizzeria, 8433 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652, USA
Facebook/Vito and Nick's
A restaurant that's been serving unforgettable thin-crust pizza for nearly 90 years, Vito and Nick's is a location that should be at the top of your dining bucket list. While their Chicago location accepts cash only, we assure you that this pizza will be worth every actual penny you spend on it.

3. Lino's - Rockford

Facebook/Lino's Ristorante & Pizzeria
Lino's, 5611 E State St, Rockford, IL 61108, USA
Facebook/Lino's Ristorante & Pizzeria
A Leaning Tower of Pisa-inspired restaurant - does it get any more Italian than this? At Lino's, you'll be able to enjoy eye-catching decor alongside wonderful and friendly service that will keep you coming back for more.
Facebook/Pequod's Pizza Chicago
Pequod's Pizza, 2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
Facebook/Pequod's Pizza Chicago
With restaurants in both Chicago and Morton Grove, enjoying a drool-inducing pan pizza from Pequod's has been a longtime local favorite. Once you make a trip to this restaurant, you'll instantly become a regular after falling in love with all of their cheesy goodness.

5. Piece Brewery and Pizzeria - Chicago

Facebook/Piece Pizzeria and Brewery

Related Stories

The Tiny Town In Illinois With The Most Mouthwatering Restaurant

The Tiny Town In Illinois With The Most Mouthwatering Restaurant

 The Small Town In Illinois That's The Next Pizza Capital Of The World

The Small Town In Illinois That's The Next Pizza Capital Of The World

 The 12 Best Places In Illinois To Get Pizza That Aren't Chicago

The 12 Best Places In Illinois To Get Pizza That Aren't Chicago
Piece Brewery, 1927 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
Facebook/Piece Pizzeria and Brewery
If a pizzeria has a menu that features chocolate pizza, will there ever really be anything better than that? Aside from their unforgettable desserts, Piece Brewery is the perfect spot to grab an unbelievable pie you can split with friends while you watch the current sports game that's playing on TV.

6. Walt's Pizza - Marion

Google Maps
Walt's Pizza & Restaurant, 213 S Court St, Marion, IL 62959, USA
Facebook/Walt's Pizza
Don't be fooled into thinking that the only great pizza you'll find in Illinois will be in locations that are found around the Chicago area. Walt's Pizza in the southern half of our state is the perfect example of how you can find great tasting pizza all over Illinois. If you've never taken a visit to Walt's, we highly suggest crossing this place off of your bucket list with his famous Double Decker pizza. You won't regret it!

7. Quatro's Deep Pan Pizza - Carbondale

RecRob/TripAdvisor
Quatro's Deep Pan Pizza, 218 W Freeman St, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
AK P/TripAdvisor
Making delicious pizza since the mid 1970s, Quatro's is an absolute must-visit if you're looking to dine on pizza in the lower half of Illinois. Featuring both the classic deep pan and thin crusted pizza, you are sure to fall for this beloved spot.

8. Joe's Pizza and Pasta - Effingham

The_Bird_Catcher/TripAdvisor
Joe's Pizza & Pasta, 115 E Jefferson Ave, Effingham, IL 62401, USA
The_Bird_Catcher/TripAdvisor
Pizza that looks almost too good to eat, you can find Joe's Pizza and Pasta in an assortment of areas all throughout Illinois! Wonderful atmosphere and great service, you won't believe your eyes when you see how amazing these specialty pizzas are..

9. Gabatoni’s Restaurant - Springfield

Google Maps
Gabatoni's Restaurant, 300 E Laurel St, Springfield, IL 62703, USA
jlcIndiana/TripAdvisor
Another longtime classic, Gabatoni's has been making mouthwatering pizza for over 60 years! While they have much more to offer other than just pizza, Gabatoni's famous pies are all that you need to make your day even more tasty.

No more searching “pizza near me” for you! Was anyone able to make it through this post without ordering a pizza? If you’re looking for more dining adventures, check out these eight restaurants In Illinois where your meal is free if you eat it all.

For more fun ways to explore all that there is to eat in Illinois, you can hop on the road for our three-day road trip to all of the best restaurants in Illinois. The trip has scheduled breakfast, lunch, and dinner for three days all across the state, with plenty of time to explore in between. Before you head out on this trip, you may want to take a look at our ultimate road trip packing list. It’s got all the essentials for a perfect trip.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

The Best Of Illinois Dining

Sara Dager | December 14, 2023

Are there any food-themed road trips through Illinois that I can go on? 

If you are looking for the ideal way to discover as much of the Prairie State as possible while enjoying all of the amazing food we have to offer, you have to pack up the car and get on the road for one of these exciting food-themed road trips through Illinois:

  • BBQ lovers can road trip to seven of the best hole-in-the-wall barbecue restaurants in Illinois in a little under six hours. Along the way you will enjoy massive ribs, hearty sandwiches, signature sauces of all kinds, and of course, who can forget the all-important sides?
  • Those with a sweet tooth will want to grab a few similarly-minded friends and hop on the highway for our road trip to the best pie shops in Illinois. This adventure brings you to five charming shops with only 3.5 hours of drive time required; it's a slam dunk!
  • If you still need more pizza after reading this article, well you're in luck because this pilgrimage to the best pizza in Illinois will bring you to six of the most scrumptious slices in the state in about six hours of drive time.

Where are the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Illinois where I can dine like the locals? 

It's hard not to wonder while traveling "What do the locals do?" you may be having a blast seeing every tourist stop and natural wonder, it can be a nice break to enjoy some time trying to emulate the natives of the place you are a visitor to. Here are some of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Illinois where you can eat like the locals do:

  • The Wooden Tie Cafe in Pierron
  • Track Inn in Chillicothe
  • The Red Onion in Equality
  • Crazy Joe's Fish House in Ava
  • Isidro's Tamales & Taqueria in Kankakee
  • Joe Roger's Chili Parlor in Springfield
  • Bernadotte Cafe in Ipava
  • Dell Rhea Chicken Basket in Willowbrook

What are some classic Illinois foods that I need to try? 

There are a ton of classic Indiana foods that are a must try when visiting the prairie state, here are a few of the most scrumptious:

  • Italian beef sandwiches topped with giardiniera. The best ones come smothered in beef juices and many spots around the state claim to make the best ones.
  • Horseshoes are an open-faced sandwich made of a burger on bread topped with fries and, typically, cheese.
  • Deep-dish pizza, of course! While it's what Chicago is known for, there are quite a few pizza places around Illinois that serve up a killer deep dish.
  • Popcorn is the official state snack food; all kinds are beloved but the Illinois style is a mix of cheese and caramel-flavored popcorn.
  • Pierogis, the classic Polish dumpling, comes in flavors ranging from beef and potato all the way to apricot!

Related Articles

Explore Illinois