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22 Detroit Destinations for Seriously Cheesy Pizza

Tried and true slices from across the Motor City

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Perhaps one of metro Detroit’s biggest contribution to the world of food is its pizza. The region is home to major national chains like Little Caesars and Domino’s Pizza and it’s also the originator of the Detroit-style square pie — a pizza style that’s trending nationally, but is still done best at a smattering of old-school restaurants across the city.

Recent additions to the Detroit landscape have added more variety for pizza lovers including lots of Italian oven-baked pies. Whether the occasion calls for a foldable New York-style slice, a slab of cheesy Detroit square, or a fancier Neapolitan round, the Motor City’s neighborhood pizzerias have the answers to all manner of pizza craving. Below, find some of the latest and greatest in metro Detroit pizza right now.

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Pizzawala’s

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This Indian pizzeria makes for a worthy carryout stop after a trip to Ikea. The aloo gobi pizza features a mild tikka sauce with cheese, cauliflower, tomatoes, garlic, and potatoes in the form of french fries. Do yourself a favor and add a side of masala potato wedges to the order. Place orders online for pickup.

Tomatoes Apizza

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Farmington Hills favorite Tomatoes Apizza specializes in New Haven-style pizzas. The popular “green” pizza features chopped spinach, garlic, and mozzarella. The ingredients are spread generously across each slice and nearly reach the edge of the crust for even more perfect bites. Order online for takeout or delivery.

Major Tomato

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This family-friendly Downriver pizza gem pays homage to David Bowie in its name and decor. Major Tomato’s pies strive for originality without skimping on flavor. For example the Meatsiah comes topped with pepperoni, bacon, ham, Italian sausage, and bison meat. Customers can place orders by phone or online.

Bigalora Cucina

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Bacco Ristorante chef Luciano DelSignore’s southeast Michigan pizza chain Bigalora dishes up Neapolitan-style pizzas in a casual atmosphere with plenty of beer and wine on tap. Look out for original pies like crispy Brussels sprout with pancetta.

Chicago's Pizza

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Sometimes the occasion calls for a high volume of dough layered with cheese, red sauce, and lots of meaty toppings. When that moment comes, look no further than the Windy City-style deep dish gut bombs at West Vernor Highway carryout restaurant Chicago’s Pizza. Make sure to try some of the restaurant’s creamy, spicy dipping sauce.

A red sauce topped Chicago-style deep dish pizza in a box. Brenna Houck

PizzaPlex

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Neighborhood pizzeria PizzaPlex on West Vernor Highway serves certified Neapolitan pizza in a laid back atmosphere with casual table seating and patio options. Customers can choose from different styles of pie assembled with traditional toppings such as the porcini mushroom pizza with white sauce, pancetta, truffle oil, and basil. In addition to the pies, PizzaPlex features a full bar with cocktails, wine, and beer as well as espresso. Dine-in is and online ordering is available.

Sicily's Pizzeria & Subs

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Neighborhood mainstay Sicily’s serves up creative options like the ranch-based Angry Bird with hot chicken, beef bacon, jalapeños, and mozzarella, while the deliciously chewy crust is made with naturally fermented sourdough stock — making for a touch of gourmet from a traditionally takeout spot. Customers can also find items like cheesesteaks and sub sandwiches here — all halal. More recently, the restaurant unveiled its attractive dining space, a years-long effort that had been delayed due to the pandemic. Sicily’s accepts orders for both takeout and delivery and even has its own app.

Jed’s Detroit

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Chef Max Hardy brought the first outpost of a popular Ohio-based restaurant, Jed’s, to Detroit in 2021. The restaurant features a variety of burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, and wings, in addition to its flatbread menu. Pizza options include the Get Big with shrimp, lobster, and a roasted tomato alfredo sauce or go for the Eastsider with sausage, onions, peppers, and a tomato ranch aioli.

Loui's Pizza

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One of the many pizzerias around metro Detroit with deep ties to the original Buddy’s on Conant, Loui’s is a Hazel Park institution and contender for one of the best slices around. This restaurant has it all: square pizzas, tons of cheese, and plenty of old-school kitsch (Think: Chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling). Indoor dining is available and customers can also pick up food and take it to-go.

Pie-Sci

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The people behind Detroit’s pizza laboratory Pie-Sci pride themselves in concocting unexpected pizzas with punny names. The light, spongy dough used in the round and square pies is unlike other pizzerias in town and the menu changes seasonally, so customers can always expect something new. Past featured pies have included the Taco’s Modern Life with vegan cauliflower-walnut “chorizo,” roasted corn, white onions, vegan mozzarella, radish slaw, cilantro, and lime and the Freaks and Greeks, the pizza version of a Greek salad complete with pickled beets.

Grandma Bob’s Pizza

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Corktown pizzeria Grandma Bob’s went all in on cheesy edged Detroit-style pizza. The Michigan Avenue eatery features in a relaxed atmosphere with lots of beer, boozy shakes, and vegan custard (vegan options here are plentiful). Choose from creative toppings like sausage and pistachio or the smoked chicken gyro pizza with topped with kalamata olives and Greek feta dressing.

Michigan & Trumbull

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This Detroit-style pizzeria in Corktown makes amazing square pizzas with fun, unconventional toppings and lots of vegan options. Take, for example, the McLovin’, a white pizza featuring ground beef, mozzarella, cheddar, fresh iceberg lettuce, and a shower of sesame seeds with “Awesome Sauce” that faithfully mimics a certain fast-food hamburger. Round out the meal with sides like Teader fries, deep-fried calzones known as Boblo Boats, and antipasto salad. Don’t miss “the Good Corner,” where a portion of customer’s orders for certain items are donated to a rotating list of local organizations. The ownership has announced plans to relocate soon, so be sure to keep an eye on the spot’s social media for updates.

Motor City Brewing Works

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The original Midtown brewery-pizzeria combo Motor City Brewing Works still serves some of the best brick oven pies around. For something spicy try the Sopla Fuego, a mixture of habanero sauce, jalapeños, chorizo, queso, onion, sour cream, lime, and cilantro. Just remember to have a beer handy when taking a bite. The brewery offers indoor seating as well as covered and uncovered patio seating — great whenever weather permits — both in Midtown and at its newer location on the Avenue of Fashion.

Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria and Brewery

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Sour ale devotee Jolly Pumpkin pairs its many beer taps with a whole lot of really tasty slices. The slightly sour crusts are dressed up with intriguing combinations like the Fire & Smoke with smoky mozzarella and smoked chicken. Customers often round out the meal with a salad or an order of the brewpub’s truffle fries. In February 2023, the spot is to welcome Avalon Bakery into the fold, serving up its famous breads, pastries, and more during the morning hours.

Buddy's Pizza

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When people say Detroit-style square pizza, they mean Buddy's nine times out of 10. This is the original, the beloved. Though it’s gone corporate in recent years with the rise of square pizza around the country, its pizza is legendary, plain and simple, particularly if you’re eating it at the original bar on Conant. Plenty of toppings are available, but most go for the classic square pie baked into blue steel pans and topped with loads of melty, caramelized brick cheese, pepperoni, and a drizzle of red sauce on top.

Amar Pizza

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Hamtramck staple Amar Pizza fuses Bangladeshi, American, and Italian flavors into some really intriguing pies. The pizzas are baked both as rounds and Detroit-style square varieties. Fan favorites include the dry fish pizza with, shrimp, garlic, onions, cilantro, and fish paste sauce, as well as the famed (and very spicy) ghost pizza, which terrorizes tastebuds with heat. Customers can place orders for carryout or delivery through the website, or just place an order by phone.

HenriettaHaus

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Set inside a former Polish deli transformed into a colorful, eclectic space, Hamtramck’s HenriettaHaus is part cafe with in-house coffee roasting, bar, and pizzeria featuring Polish-inspired pies. Pair a dill pickle soup pizza with one of the bar’s variety of Belgium-style beers.

Mootz Pizzeria and Bar

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This downtown Detroit pizzeria serves New York-style slices with two different styles of service: Customers on-the-go can pick up a meal with to-go cocktails at the small carryout slice shop or dine in with full service and cocktails.

Checker Bar + Offworld Arcade

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Pizzeria, bar, and arcade Offworld occupies the second floor of Checker Bar and also serves pizza to downstairs patrons. The menu here ignores stringent pizza tradition and the result is fun, irreverent toppings combinations. Currently, the menu features options like Napalm Breath with a blend of melty cheeses, feta, onions, banana peppers, fried garlic, and a garlic aioli drizzle to drive home the garlic point.

Pizza Cat Max

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Toledo, Ohio-born Pizza Cat in Detroit’s Greektown is guided by the ambition to “keep pizza weird.” Oddball toppings include Hot Cheetos, pickles, orange secret sauce, mustard, or brisket. The full-service, sit-down pizza shop and bar also features steamed bagel sandwiches such as the Monroe & Central Brisket that comes with barbecue sauce, smoked beef brisket, a six-cheese cheddar blend and cocktails with wacky names like the Mr. Bigglesworth, a nod to the hairless pet cat that belongs to Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movie.

A bright pink neon sign lit up against an aqua, cinderblock wall. In cursive, the neon sign says, “Keep Pizza Weird.” Pizza Cat Max

Supino Pizzeria

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Find monster, fold-worthy slices and whole pies at Supino Pizzeria as well as paninis, antipasti, salads, and truly excellent cannoli. (Seriously, leave room for this bite of heaven.) Fan favorites include the Bismarck, a red sauce pizza topped with mozzarella, prosciutto, and egg.

Cloverleaf Bar & Restaurant

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This Eastpointe pizzeria was established by Buddy’s founder Gus Guerra and thus also claims to serve a version of the original Detroit-style pizza recipe. Per tradition, the pizzas at Cloverleaf are baked in a high-walled, rectangular pan in order to amplify the crunchy, cheesy corners. It’s an absolutely essential stop on a tour of metro Detroit’s most iconic pizzerias.

Pizzawala’s

This Indian pizzeria makes for a worthy carryout stop after a trip to Ikea. The aloo gobi pizza features a mild tikka sauce with cheese, cauliflower, tomatoes, garlic, and potatoes in the form of french fries. Do yourself a favor and add a side of masala potato wedges to the order. Place orders online for pickup.

Tomatoes Apizza

Farmington Hills favorite Tomatoes Apizza specializes in New Haven-style pizzas. The popular “green” pizza features chopped spinach, garlic, and mozzarella. The ingredients are spread generously across each slice and nearly reach the edge of the crust for even more perfect bites. Order online for takeout or delivery.

Major Tomato

This family-friendly Downriver pizza gem pays homage to David Bowie in its name and decor. Major Tomato’s pies strive for originality without skimping on flavor. For example the Meatsiah comes topped with pepperoni, bacon, ham, Italian sausage, and bison meat. Customers can place orders by phone or online.

Bigalora Cucina

Bacco Ristorante chef Luciano DelSignore’s southeast Michigan pizza chain Bigalora dishes up Neapolitan-style pizzas in a casual atmosphere with plenty of beer and wine on tap. Look out for original pies like crispy Brussels sprout with pancetta.

Chicago's Pizza

Sometimes the occasion calls for a high volume of dough layered with cheese, red sauce, and lots of meaty toppings. When that moment comes, look no further than the Windy City-style deep dish gut bombs at West Vernor Highway carryout restaurant Chicago’s Pizza. Make sure to try some of the restaurant’s creamy, spicy dipping sauce.

A red sauce topped Chicago-style deep dish pizza in a box. Brenna Houck

PizzaPlex

Neighborhood pizzeria PizzaPlex on West Vernor Highway serves certified Neapolitan pizza in a laid back atmosphere with casual table seating and patio options. Customers can choose from different styles of pie assembled with traditional toppings such as the porcini mushroom pizza with white sauce, pancetta, truffle oil, and basil. In addition to the pies, PizzaPlex features a full bar with cocktails, wine, and beer as well as espresso. Dine-in is and online ordering is available.

Sicily's Pizzeria & Subs

Neighborhood mainstay Sicily’s serves up creative options like the ranch-based Angry Bird with hot chicken, beef bacon, jalapeños, and mozzarella, while the deliciously chewy crust is made with naturally fermented sourdough stock — making for a touch of gourmet from a traditionally takeout spot. Customers can also find items like cheesesteaks and sub sandwiches here — all halal. More recently, the restaurant unveiled its attractive dining space, a years-long effort that had been delayed due to the pandemic. Sicily’s accepts orders for both takeout and delivery and even has its own app.

Jed’s Detroit

Chef Max Hardy brought the first outpost of a popular Ohio-based restaurant, Jed’s, to Detroit in 2021. The restaurant features a variety of burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, and wings, in addition to its flatbread menu. Pizza options include the Get Big with shrimp, lobster, and a roasted tomato alfredo sauce or go for the Eastsider with sausage, onions, peppers, and a tomato ranch aioli.

Loui's Pizza

One of the many pizzerias around metro Detroit with deep ties to the original Buddy’s on Conant, Loui’s is a Hazel Park institution and contender for one of the best slices around. This restaurant has it all: square pizzas, tons of cheese, and plenty of old-school kitsch (Think: Chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling). Indoor dining is available and customers can also pick up food and take it to-go.

Pie-Sci

The people behind Detroit’s pizza laboratory Pie-Sci pride themselves in concocting unexpected pizzas with punny names. The light, spongy dough used in the round and square pies is unlike other pizzerias in town and the menu changes seasonally, so customers can always expect something new. Past featured pies have included the Taco’s Modern Life with vegan cauliflower-walnut “chorizo,” roasted corn, white onions, vegan mozzarella, radish slaw, cilantro, and lime and the Freaks and Greeks, the pizza version of a Greek salad complete with pickled beets.

Grandma Bob’s Pizza

Corktown pizzeria Grandma Bob’s went all in on cheesy edged Detroit-style pizza. The Michigan Avenue eatery features in a relaxed atmosphere with lots of beer, boozy shakes, and vegan custard (vegan options here are plentiful). Choose from creative toppings like sausage and pistachio or the smoked chicken gyro pizza with topped with kalamata olives and Greek feta dressing.

Michigan & Trumbull

This Detroit-style pizzeria in Corktown makes amazing square pizzas with fun, unconventional toppings and lots of vegan options. Take, for example, the McLovin’, a white pizza featuring ground beef, mozzarella, cheddar, fresh iceberg lettuce, and a shower of sesame seeds with “Awesome Sauce” that faithfully mimics a certain fast-food hamburger. Round out the meal with sides like Teader fries, deep-fried calzones known as Boblo Boats, and antipasto salad. Don’t miss “the Good Corner,” where a portion of customer’s orders for certain items are donated to a rotating list of local organizations. The ownership has announced plans to relocate soon, so be sure to keep an eye on the spot’s social media for updates.

Motor City Brewing Works

The original Midtown brewery-pizzeria combo Motor City Brewing Works still serves some of the best brick oven pies around. For something spicy try the Sopla Fuego, a mixture of habanero sauce, jalapeños, chorizo, queso, onion, sour cream, lime, and cilantro. Just remember to have a beer handy when taking a bite. The brewery offers indoor seating as well as covered and uncovered patio seating — great whenever weather permits — both in Midtown and at its newer location on the Avenue of Fashion.

Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria and Brewery

Sour ale devotee Jolly Pumpkin pairs its many beer taps with a whole lot of really tasty slices. The slightly sour crusts are dressed up with intriguing combinations like the Fire & Smoke with smoky mozzarella and smoked chicken. Customers often round out the meal with a salad or an order of the brewpub’s truffle fries. In February 2023, the spot is to welcome Avalon Bakery into the fold, serving up its famous breads, pastries, and more during the morning hours.

Buddy's Pizza

When people say Detroit-style square pizza, they mean Buddy's nine times out of 10. This is the original, the beloved. Though it’s gone corporate in recent years with the rise of square pizza around the country, its pizza is legendary, plain and simple, particularly if you’re eating it at the original bar on Conant. Plenty of toppings are available, but most go for the classic square pie baked into blue steel pans and topped with loads of melty, caramelized brick cheese, pepperoni, and a drizzle of red sauce on top.

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Amar Pizza

Hamtramck staple Amar Pizza fuses Bangladeshi, American, and Italian flavors into some really intriguing pies. The pizzas are baked both as rounds and Detroit-style square varieties. Fan favorites include the dry fish pizza with, shrimp, garlic, onions, cilantro, and fish paste sauce, as well as the famed (and very spicy) ghost pizza, which terrorizes tastebuds with heat. Customers can place orders for carryout or delivery through the website, or just place an order by phone.

HenriettaHaus

Set inside a former Polish deli transformed into a colorful, eclectic space, Hamtramck’s HenriettaHaus is part cafe with in-house coffee roasting, bar, and pizzeria featuring Polish-inspired pies. Pair a dill pickle soup pizza with one of the bar’s variety of Belgium-style beers.

Mootz Pizzeria and Bar

This downtown Detroit pizzeria serves New York-style slices with two different styles of service: Customers on-the-go can pick up a meal with to-go cocktails at the small carryout slice shop or dine in with full service and cocktails.

Checker Bar + Offworld Arcade

Pizzeria, bar, and arcade Offworld occupies the second floor of Checker Bar and also serves pizza to downstairs patrons. The menu here ignores stringent pizza tradition and the result is fun, irreverent toppings combinations. Currently, the menu features options like Napalm Breath with a blend of melty cheeses, feta, onions, banana peppers, fried garlic, and a garlic aioli drizzle to drive home the garlic point.

Pizza Cat Max

Toledo, Ohio-born Pizza Cat in Detroit’s Greektown is guided by the ambition to “keep pizza weird.” Oddball toppings include Hot Cheetos, pickles, orange secret sauce, mustard, or brisket. The full-service, sit-down pizza shop and bar also features steamed bagel sandwiches such as the Monroe & Central Brisket that comes with barbecue sauce, smoked beef brisket, a six-cheese cheddar blend and cocktails with wacky names like the Mr. Bigglesworth, a nod to the hairless pet cat that belongs to Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movie.

A bright pink neon sign lit up against an aqua, cinderblock wall. In cursive, the neon sign says, “Keep Pizza Weird.” Pizza Cat Max

Supino Pizzeria

Find monster, fold-worthy slices and whole pies at Supino Pizzeria as well as paninis, antipasti, salads, and truly excellent cannoli. (Seriously, leave room for this bite of heaven.) Fan favorites include the Bismarck, a red sauce pizza topped with mozzarella, prosciutto, and egg.

Cloverleaf Bar & Restaurant

This Eastpointe pizzeria was established by Buddy’s founder Gus Guerra and thus also claims to serve a version of the original Detroit-style pizza recipe. Per tradition, the pizzas at Cloverleaf are baked in a high-walled, rectangular pan in order to amplify the crunchy, cheesy corners. It’s an absolutely essential stop on a tour of metro Detroit’s most iconic pizzerias.

Related Maps