If you’ve been following me on Instagram at all, you know that pizza is my one true love. I regularly grab a slice as a snack and eat it while walking to my next meeting. I order extra slices to keep in the freezer so I always have it on hand and have even flown it back to Hong Kong. I even ate 27 slices of pizza in 21 days (and as of 2022, ate over 60 slices in 60 days!) and have worn a damn pizza bikini on a pizza beach towel while eating a slice of pizza bigger than my head – THAT’S how much I love it. And while that photo was taken in Miami, New York City is my one true love for pizza.

You can find almost every type of pizza here (yes, even deep-dish “pizza”). And more importantly, you can find GREAT versions of almost every type of pizza (yes, NYC even has great versions of deep-dish pizza, but those will not be found in this list – sorry Chicagoans). So it’s only fitting that for my first edition of Where to Eat in NYC, I highlight my favorite pizza slice joints and restaurants.

Mama’s Too

🎶Mama, Mama, you know I love you 🎶 Mama’s Too makes pizza that is so good it makes me want to sing, but the real testament to the product is the fact that this slice joint all the way out in the Upper West Side has quickly become something of a pizza mecca. They now have a West Village location too, so there’s no excuse not to try it, just go on a weekday afternoon when there’s no line! Owner Frank Tuttolomondo’s square slices perfectly balance a crispy crust with caramelized cheese baked into the edges, an airy, fermented focaccia-like dough, robust sauces, aged cheeses, and creative topping combinations that are made even more delicious with their killer hot honey made with a blend of habaneros, serrano peppers, chili flakes, and ancho chilis.

🎥 Watch how Mama’s Too pizzas are made

They only serve one round slice, their INCREDIBLE house pie that marries the high quality ingredients of a margherita with the crispy portability of a New York slice. Be sure also to follow them on Instagram to see their rotating sandwich specials with everything from Jacob’s Pickles fried chicken to Shake Shack patties on an incredible house-baked crispy focaccia bread or semolina roll.

It’s important to note that if you don’t like your pizza well done with a charred crust like I do, then you may not enjoy this slice shop so take that into consideration before you make the trek over (or just go for a round slice).

Eat this: Really everything, but my favorites in no particular order (since it changes by the day) are the vodka, pepperoni, cacio e pepe, caramelized onion & mushroom, and house slice

Try my Burrata-Topped Crispy Skillet Pizza from my cookbook, inspired by Mama’s Too

Razza

Razza makes my absolute favorite wood-fired pizza in a rustic, warm setting and is truly my favorite sit-down pizzeria of them all. What sets Dan Richer’s pizzas apart is that wonderfully crispy crust (no soggy Neapolitan pies here!) and his use of seasonal New Jersey produce to create a constantly rotating menu. Take the Jersey Girl margherita, with crushed New Jersey tomatoes (the best!) and local mozzarella, or their summer corn pie flecked with chili paste to balance the sweet, fresh Jersey corn. You can’t miss their incredible mushroom (my favorite pie), guancia with cured guanciale, and burrata pizzas that are always on the menu.

Their expanded indoor dining room has a full bar and also serves a complete menu that includes seasonal salads and THE BEST meatballs ever that are kissed in their wood-fired oven. You also can’t miss their special Clamzone that turns a bowl of steamed clams and crusty bread into the most unique calzone. It’s worth a short PATH train ride as it’s closer to certain parts of Manhattan than many of the Brooklyn pizzerias on this list, so it’s definitely worth the trek to Jersey City.

Bread and Salt

Surprise! 2 of my top 3 NYC pizzerias are actually located in Jersey City, but one bite of the insanely crispy, cracker-like crust of Bread and Salt will make you understand why. They make the classic Roman pizza al taglio, where the pies are made into giant rectangles and cut into squares. While I DO need to go back to try the different toppings that rotate throughout the day, you can also order their simple pizza bianco (pictured) or rosso (with no cheese) as half or whole pies, which makes sense because you won’t want to stop eating the thin slices topped with tangy tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella. I can’t wait to go back and try more but the fact that I loved it this much in a single visit should be telling of just how delicious the pizza is, especially if you prefer your pizza light and crispy like I do.

Una Pizza Napoletana

This Lower East Side spot was recently named the top pizzeria IN THE COUNTRY, so do I really need to say much more to get you to try Una Pizza Napoletana? While my personal preference is generally for crispier pizzas, the unbelievably puffy, wood-fired crust that’s become the signature of pizzaiolo Anthony Mangieri is simply DIVINE. I’ve never had anything quite as light, chewy, airy, crisp, and charred all at once, and when paired with the highest quality Italian ingredients, Una Pizza sends you straight to pizza heaven. While all the pizzas we tried were unreal, if you can get the off-menu ‘nduja and burrata pizza, GET IT.

Scarr’s Pizza

Scarr’s Pizza has cemented it’s title as my favorite classic New York style slice. The crust is impossibly thin yet simultaneously crispy AND chewy, with a perfect ratio of tangy sauce and golden bubbly cheese. Even better, they also make excellent square slices, like their grandma with punches of fresh garlic in the sauce. Don’t miss the Hot Boi we featuring pepperoni, jalapenos and Mike’s hot honey, which is available in any style (classic, grandma or Sicilian).

Lucali

Yes, Lucali is famously known for once hosting Jay-Z and Beyoncé and for owner Mark Iocono’s various TV appearances. But the hype is real, hype that started before a celebrity ever stepped foot in the restaurant thanks to Lucali’s instant popularity with locals. That hype has brought on an intense waitlist system, but once you can get through up to a 2 hour wait, you’re in for pizza perfection in its purest form. [2021 Update: Lucali now has an outdoor dining area that has made wait times for their pizza significantly shorter]

Lucali does things a little different than most. The dough is rolled out with a wine bottle before its hand-stretched, the sauce is cooked first, and they use a combination of both low-moisture mozzarella & fresh buffalo mozzarella. Out of the oven, the crispy crust and bubbling cheese gets a final grating of Grano Padano before the pie is topped with copious fresh basil. It’s next level deliciousness that’s made even better thanks to the BYOB policy and laid back yet energetic vibe inside the restaurant that makes you forget about the line situation just outside, especially since tables are spaced so you aren’t elbow to elbow with strangers as is common in so many other pizzerias. And if Mark is there, be sure to say hi as he’s one of the nicest, personable people I’ve met (stay tuned for my upcoming video where I make pizza with him!)

Aside from the classic pie, you’ll want to order a calzone, which is stuffed with 4 different kinds of cheese, including an insanely good fresh ricotta, and served with fresh basil and a Grana Padano lined bowl of their incredible marinara sauce that is also perfect for dipping your pizza crusts in.

Rubirosa

When people ask me what my favorite restaurant in NYC is, Rubirosa is usually the answer. It all starts with that vodka pie, a perfectly crispy, thin crust pizza with that tangy vodka sauce and fresh mozz that meld together harmoniously. While it’s great plain, it goes well with pretty much any topping (especially those curly pepperoni & basil or a prosciutto & arugula combo, but you can also order it with pesto for their Tie Dye pie). If you ask nicely, you can even get it shaped into a heart, but be aware you don’t get as much pizza this way.

It’s not just about the pizza here though, as all of their classic Italian dishes are delicious – from the braciole (beef slow cooked in tomato sauce with garlic bread) to the arancini (crispy, cheesy rice balls) to the pastas like cavatelli with sausage and broccoli rabe and spaghetti alla chitarra. The vibe is laidback, and feels like it caters to the neighborhood despite a heavy mix of tourists and locals alike. Make a reservation with a group for the full experience, or go during slice hour from 4-5PM, the only time you can order individual slices of their vodka pizza.

Speedy Romeo

Purists will say that processed cheese should go nowhere near pizza, but Speedy Romeo breaks from tradition to make creative and delicious wood-fired pies. Their flagship St. Louie melds Provel (a processed cheese popular in the Midwest) with sausage and super addictive pickled chili peppers that they also provide in a jar on the table so you can add them to everything. For a true taste of NYC, they also have a pie with Katz’s pastrami and an everything seasoned crust. They’ve even got an avocado toast pizza and smoked salmon pie for brunch, and a namesake Speedy Romeo pie which comes bursting with heirloom tomatoes in the summer months.

Roberta’s

My favorite spot for new-school wood-fired pizza may be the epitome of Brooklyn’s hipsterization, but Roberta’s serves up perfectly puffed and charred crust with inventive combinations of toppings (especially the Beesting with hot soppresata, chili and honey) that makes you forget about all of that and give into the utter dopeness of their pizza. If you don’t feel like venturing out to Bushwick, you can also find them at Urbanspace Vanderbilt and seasonally at Urbanspace’s outdoor markets.

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza is the ultimate spot for late night pizza, thanks to their namesake Artichoke pie that’s topped with a creamy, almost soupy spinach and artichoke cheese sauce plus more cheese. It’s a thick slice that’s big enough to split for smaller appetites, and while the greasy slice is ideal for soaking up a night of alcohol, it’s great anytime of day in my opinion (although some will say it’s too rich when you’re not drunk so keep in mind if that doesn’t appeal to you). My go-to slice for the daylight hours is their vodka pizza, which gets topped with a heap of their delicious vodka sauce packed with chunks of tomatoes and rounds of fresh mozzarella on a charred, olive-oil topped crust.

L&B Spumoni Gardens

This is what you call destination pizza. Located deep in Brooklyn, L&B Spumoni Gardens serves my favorite plain square slice in all of NYC in a lively outdoor space filled with picnic tables. At first glance you’ll think there’s barely any cheese on the slice since all you’ll see is sauce. That’s because they put a thick layer of their deliciously sweet yet tangy tomato sauce on top of a layer of cheese, which all sits on top of a crunchy bottomed (though sometimes burnt) crust with a doughy center thanks to the cheese in the middle. Go for a corner slice if you want more of that olive-oil soaked crispy crust (and make sure to order it well done!), and finish your meal with their namesake spumoni (a layered Italian ice cream dessert) or my favorite orange-cream soft serve.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

L’Industrie Pizza for super crispy (though almosttt burnt) slices with a delicious blend of cheeses, tangy sauce, fresh basil, and toppings like mounds of burrata and spicy salami in the heart of Williamsburg. They also serve a weekly Wednesday sandwich that I still have yet to try, though I’ve heard they sell out quickly every week!

Unregular Pizza for crispy, airy Roman style square slices with both classic and unique toppings. This is one of the only slices shops where you can get a whole ball of creamy burrata on top (so good), though their traditional margherita is also undeniably satisfying with a bright, fresh marinara sauce.

Joe’s Pizza is for the quintessential New York slice, made to grab on your way to your next appointment, folding it in half for maximum portability, with each bite providing the optimal ratio of tangy yet sweet sauce, high quality mozzarella, and a thin yeasty crust with a crunchy bottom and edge that still has a nice chew. I love this pizza so much that I’ve dressed to match it once or twice, but in recent visits I’ve found it to be a bit inconsistent. If you’re near one, grab it, but if you’re going out of your way to try a proper NY slice, go to the aforementioned Scarr’s instead.

Upside Pizza for pepperoni lovers, as their NY style slice is loaded with SO MUCH curly pepperoni on a crispy crust with golden, bubbly cheese. I’m definitely planning to revisit them to try more slices to see if it warrants moving up in this list!

Emmy Squared for bringing Detroit-style pizza to NYC in a variety of classic and creative combos, from an amazing vodka pie to the Colony with pepperoni, chilis and honey (a personal favorite) to a cheeseburger pie complete with cornichons. But the pizza isn’t the only star, as their Le Big Matt burger and spicy chicken sandwich alone are also worth a trip. Add some fried cheese curds and their okinomi waffle fries topped in the style of a Japanese okinomiyaki pancake and you’re in for one of the most gut-busting but satisfying meals (needless to say this is best enjoyed with a group).

Kesté Pizza & Vino for real deal Neapolitan pizza with the highest quality ingredients imported from Italy.

Sofia Pizza Shoppe for thin, crispy slices from classic to vodka to their award-winning spinach slice

Di Fara for their classic round pie with that irresistible blend of Parmesan and pecorino, plus fresh basil cut with scissors by their 90-year old pizza maestro Dom DeMarco (RIP to this legend). Go right when they open during the week or be prepared for a 2 hour wait that may not be worth it considering how many pizza options are in town

Williamsburg Pizza for their awesome grandma pie finished with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh grated Parmesan for extra umami. If you’re trying to send some pizza love, you can even get it shaped it into a heart with an arrow made of basil *swoon*

Motorino for their Neapolitan pies with delicious twists like Brussels sprout and pancetta and a brunch pie with prosciutto and an egg on top

Best Pizza for the best white slice topped with caramelized onions and Parmesan on a sesame seed coated crust

Adrienne’s Pizza Bar for their rectangular Grandma pies with curly pepperoni that you can enjoy at their outdoor tables on historic Stone Street

Vezzo/Gruppo/Spunto/Posto/Tappo/Brado for almost guilt-free, shatteringly thin and crispy crust pizza available at sister locations ALL over NYC

Juliana’s for coal oven pizza with a light and chewy crust right by the Brooklyn Bridge (go here, not the neighboring Grimaldi’s which gets its name from Juliana’s owner Patsy Grimaldi but is in no way affiliated with him due to complicated legal reasons)

Proto’s Pizza for solid slices in the East Village run by incredibly nice owners and the best garlic knots in NYC covered with 4 kinds of cheeses

Paulie Gee’s, Joe & Pat’s, Ops, Leo, and Louie & Ernie’s for some of the best pizza in NYC that I still need to try myself!