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A Detroit-style square at Loui’s Pizza in Hazel Park.
Michelle and Chris Gerard

15 Places Dishing Up Detroit-Style Pizza

Where to find crispy cornered slices in the home of the square pizza

by Courtney Burk Updated
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A Detroit-style square at Loui’s Pizza in Hazel Park.
| Michelle and Chris Gerard
by Courtney Burk Updated

Detroit-style pizza has earned a reputation as one of the best slices in the country, thanks to its distinct rectangular shape, light and airy dough, crispy caramelized cheese perimeter, and delightful crunch.

It’s no surprise that Detroit-style pizza is catching on and within the last decade, Detroit-style pizza restaurants have popped up all over the country with unique takes on the pan pie. The square pizza is extremely versatile, accommodating all types of toppings from charred and curled pepperoni cups to ghost pepper.

Fans of square pizza can still find the original recipe served at Buddy’s on Conant, where it’s been baked in blue steel pans since 1946. But there are many other worthy versions around the metro area to try. From über cheesy, sauce-on-top squares at Loui’s Pizza in Hazel Park to spicy Bangladeshi-style naga slices at Amar Pizza in Hamtramck, here’s where to check out Detroit’s regional style around town.

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Buddy's Pizza

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When people say Detroit-style square pizza, they mean Buddy’s Pizza. While the restaurant has expanded to more locations over the years and is supposed to eventually go national, the restaurant on Conant is the original, the beloved, the often imitated but never (in the minds and hearts of Detroiters) surpassed. 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.

17125 Conant St, Detroit, MI 48212
(313) 892-9001
(313) 892-9001
a square pepperoni pizza being served onto plates over a black and white checked tablecloth with macaroni and cheese in a dish.
Buddy’s Pizza on Conant.
Michelle and Chris Gerard

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The Detroit Pizza Bar

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In spring 2022, Marcus Jones and Akunna Olumba brought Detroit-style pizza and soul food to Livernois and 6 Mile. The Coleman Young is a neighborhood favorite with ingredients of shrimp, crabmeat, lobster, cheese, garlic, and white sauce. The pizzeria combines quick and full service with the chance to enjoy pies on the building’s rooftop terrace during the warmer months. The pizzeria also participates in a profit-sharing model with its staff, which is made up of residents of the neighborhood.

7316 W McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48221
(313) 646-4601
(313) 646-4601

Loui's Pizza

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Founded by a former pizza chef from Buddy’s and Shield’s, Loui’s in Hazel Park serves a hearty version of Detroit-style square pizza with a perfectly charred yet buttery crust, melted cheese, and robust sauce. Don’t forget to add an antipasto salad to the order and maybe a bottle of Chianti.

23141 Dequindre Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030
(248) 547-1711
(248) 547-1711
A square pizza with sausage and two slices taken out sits on a metal pan surrounded by plates of pizza, salad, and glasses of water or beer. Michelle and Chris Gerard

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Como's Restaurant

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Como’s, a longtime Italian restaurant at the corner of Nine Mile and Woodward Avenue underwent major renovations, returning in 2019 with trendy Detroit-style pizza. Chef Zack Sklar’s version of the square pan pizza uses a sourdough starter that’s fermented for three days to give it a light, spongy, flavorful crust that’s complemented by toppings such as hand-cut pepperonis and Grana Padano cheese. This spot has vegan and gluten-free options on the menu, too.

22812 Woodward Ave Suite 100, Ferndale, MI 48220
(248) 677-4439
(248) 677-4439
A square pizza sits on a rack over a metal pan. It’s topped with thick-cut pepperoni, basil, and cheese. Michelle Gerard

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Palazzo Di Pizza

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This carryout square pizza spot in Royal Oak was co-founded by the late World Champion pizza maker and Detroit Style Pizza Company operator Shawn Randazzo, who passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer. Some say Randazzo helped spark the current Detroit-style pizza craze at U.S. restaurants by presenting the style on a national stage. The menu features a blend of traditional brick cheese and mozzarella with dollops of red sauce on top and fresh grated Parmesan. Toppings range from spicy peppers and sausage to chicken carbonara pizza, complete with bacon and alfredo sauce. A large pizza here comes in the form of two small pizzas for a total of eight crispy corners.

1222 E Eleven Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
(855) 233-7872
(855) 233-7872

Jet's Pizza

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For a quick Detroit-style carryout or delivery pizza fix there’s no denying the allure of Jet’s, a Sterling Heights-based chain known for its trademarked eight-corner pizza.

333 W Eleven Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
(248) 548-1210
(248) 548-1210

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Green Lantern Pizza

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This old-school pizza parlor mini chain goes back more than 60 years to when Thomas and Irene Vettraino bought an old farmhouse bar in Madison Heights, complete with a Prohibition-era green lantern. The restaurant serves three styles of pizza, including a Detroit-style pan pizza covered in a thick layer of melty cheese and perfectly curled roni cups with little pools of grease at the center. Unlike the traditional Detroit-style, the sauce here is placed beneath the cheese rather than layered over the top.

28960 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
(248) 541-5439
(248) 541-5439

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.

24443 Gratiot Ave, Eastpointe, MI 48021
(586) 777-5391
(586) 777-5391
A square pizza with pepperoni on a round table with a red and white checked tablecloth. Michelle and Chris Gerard

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Amar Pizza

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Hamtramck staple Amar Pizza fuses Bangladeshi, American, and Italian flavors into some really intriguing pies. While rounds and thin-crust pizzas are available, it’s hard to go wrong with Amar’s square pizza. Amar applies its own innovative twist on the old-school square by placing sauce underneath the cheese rather than on top, as well utilizing traditional Bangladeshi ingredients, spicy chicken naga, fry fish, and for the spice lovers, a fiery ghost pepper.

12195 Joseph Campau Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212
(313) 366-0980
(313) 366-0980
tandoori chicken pizza in a square pan detroit-style pan Eater

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Z's Villa

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Tucked inside a big Victorian house in Milwaukee Junction, Z’s Villa is known for its massive outdoor area filled with patio games and beach volleyball. The square pan pizzas here are topped with a three-cheese blend and served whole or by-the-slice. Customize the pizza with toppings like pepperoni, kielbasa, hot peppers, and anchovies.

42 Piquette Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 874-2680
(313) 874-2680

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Shield's Pizza

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Founded in Detroit in 1937, Shield’s is known for its pan pizzas. The metro area chain, which reestablished itself in Detroit proper in 2019, offers a classic version of the square with sauce on top of a generous helping of brick cheese.

5057 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 262-6087
(313) 262-6087

Pie-Sci

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Neighborhood pizzeria favorite Pie-Sci serves an eclectic selection of rotating pizza specials with punny names. Customers can order a round pizza here, but the square slices with crunchy corners and a buttery crust are superb. Creative options have included the Detroit Brussels Harder with

garlic oil, mozzarella, oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, feta cheese, bacon, and balsamic glaze drizzle. Pie-Sci is also vegan-friendly.

5163 Trumbull Ave, Detroit, MI 48208
(313) 818-0290
(313) 818-0290

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Michigan & Trumbull

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Of Detroit’s new guard of square-style pizza shops, Michigan & Trumbull stands out from the rest for its quality-meets-lowbrow approach to ingredients. The Corktown spot embraces an old-school pizzeria aesthetic and pays homage to fast food favorites with options like the McLovin — the square pizza version of a cheeseburger complete with sesame seeds. Fill out the order with sides like the deep-fried Boblo Boat calzones or barbecue chip-flavored waffle fries.

1441 W Elizabeth St, Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 637-4992
(313) 637-4992

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Grandma Bob’s Pizza

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Shortly after opening, Grandma Bob’s embraced the Detroit-style pizza and it quickly became a hit. Choose from options like sausage-pistachio or a Hawaiian-style square with chorizo, pineapple, and onions, and pickled jalapeno. The restaurant also features plenty of vegan options.

2135 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 315-3177
(313) 315-3177

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Belle Isle Pizza

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West Village’s carryout shop Belle Isle Pizza serves hand-tossed, thin-crust, and Detroit-style pizza. The menu features a variety of Detroit-themed signature pies including the Corktown with corned beef, Thousand Island dressing, swiss, sauerkraut, and caraway seeds. Patrons can also build-their-own.

7869 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214
(313) 331-1222
(313) 331-1222

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Buddy's Pizza

17125 Conant St, Detroit, MI 48212

When people say Detroit-style square pizza, they mean Buddy’s Pizza. While the restaurant has expanded to more locations over the years and is supposed to eventually go national, the restaurant on Conant is the original, the beloved, the often imitated but never (in the minds and hearts of Detroiters) surpassed. 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.

17125 Conant St, Detroit, MI 48212
(313) 892-9001
(313) 892-9001
a square pepperoni pizza being served onto plates over a black and white checked tablecloth with macaroni and cheese in a dish.
Buddy’s Pizza on Conant.
Michelle and Chris Gerard

The Detroit Pizza Bar

7316 W McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48221

In spring 2022, Marcus Jones and Akunna Olumba brought Detroit-style pizza and soul food to Livernois and 6 Mile. The Coleman Young is a neighborhood favorite with ingredients of shrimp, crabmeat, lobster, cheese, garlic, and white sauce. The pizzeria combines quick and full service with the chance to enjoy pies on the building’s rooftop terrace during the warmer months. The pizzeria also participates in a profit-sharing model with its staff, which is made up of residents of the neighborhood.

7316 W McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48221
(313) 646-4601
(313) 646-4601

Loui's Pizza

23141 Dequindre Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030

Founded by a former pizza chef from Buddy’s and Shield’s, Loui’s in Hazel Park serves a hearty version of Detroit-style square pizza with a perfectly charred yet buttery crust, melted cheese, and robust sauce. Don’t forget to add an antipasto salad to the order and maybe a bottle of Chianti.

23141 Dequindre Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030
(248) 547-1711
(248) 547-1711
A square pizza with sausage and two slices taken out sits on a metal pan surrounded by plates of pizza, salad, and glasses of water or beer. Michelle and Chris Gerard

Como's Restaurant

22812 Woodward Ave Suite 100, Ferndale, MI 48220

Como’s, a longtime Italian restaurant at the corner of Nine Mile and Woodward Avenue underwent major renovations, returning in 2019 with trendy Detroit-style pizza. Chef Zack Sklar’s version of the square pan pizza uses a sourdough starter that’s fermented for three days to give it a light, spongy, flavorful crust that’s complemented by toppings such as hand-cut pepperonis and Grana Padano cheese. This spot has vegan and gluten-free options on the menu, too.

22812 Woodward Ave Suite 100, Ferndale, MI 48220
(248) 677-4439
(248) 677-4439
A square pizza sits on a rack over a metal pan. It’s topped with thick-cut pepperoni, basil, and cheese. Michelle Gerard

Palazzo Di Pizza

1222 E Eleven Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067

This carryout square pizza spot in Royal Oak was co-founded by the late World Champion pizza maker and Detroit Style Pizza Company operator Shawn Randazzo, who passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer. Some say Randazzo helped spark the current Detroit-style pizza craze at U.S. restaurants by presenting the style on a national stage. The menu features a blend of traditional brick cheese and mozzarella with dollops of red sauce on top and fresh grated Parmesan. Toppings range from spicy peppers and sausage to chicken carbonara pizza, complete with bacon and alfredo sauce. A large pizza here comes in the form of two small pizzas for a total of eight crispy corners.

1222 E Eleven Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
(855) 233-7872
(855) 233-7872

Jet's Pizza

333 W Eleven Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071

For a quick Detroit-style carryout or delivery pizza fix there’s no denying the allure of Jet’s, a Sterling Heights-based chain known for its trademarked eight-corner pizza.

333 W Eleven Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
(248) 548-1210
(248) 548-1210

Green Lantern Pizza

28960 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071

This old-school pizza parlor mini chain goes back more than 60 years to when Thomas and Irene Vettraino bought an old farmhouse bar in Madison Heights, complete with a Prohibition-era green lantern. The restaurant serves three styles of pizza, including a Detroit-style pan pizza covered in a thick layer of melty cheese and perfectly curled roni cups with little pools of grease at the center. Unlike the traditional Detroit-style, the sauce here is placed beneath the cheese rather than layered over the top.

28960 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
(248) 541-5439
(248) 541-5439

Cloverleaf Bar & Restaurant

24443 Gratiot Ave, Eastpointe, MI 48021

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.

24443 Gratiot Ave, Eastpointe, MI 48021
(586) 777-5391
(586) 777-5391
A square pizza with pepperoni on a round table with a red and white checked tablecloth. Michelle and Chris Gerard

Amar Pizza

12195 Joseph Campau Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212

Hamtramck staple Amar Pizza fuses Bangladeshi, American, and Italian flavors into some really intriguing pies. While rounds and thin-crust pizzas are available, it’s hard to go wrong with Amar’s square pizza. Amar applies its own innovative twist on the old-school square by placing sauce underneath the cheese rather than on top, as well utilizing traditional Bangladeshi ingredients, spicy chicken naga, fry fish, and for the spice lovers, a fiery ghost pepper.

12195 Joseph Campau Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212
(313) 366-0980
(313) 366-0980
tandoori chicken pizza in a square pan detroit-style pan Eater

Z's Villa

42 Piquette Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

Tucked inside a big Victorian house in Milwaukee Junction, Z’s Villa is known for its massive outdoor area filled with patio games and beach volleyball. The square pan pizzas here are topped with a three-cheese blend and served whole or by-the-slice. Customize the pizza with toppings like pepperoni, kielbasa, hot peppers, and anchovies.

42 Piquette Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 874-2680
(313) 874-2680

Shield's Pizza

5057 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

Founded in Detroit in 1937, Shield’s is known for its pan pizzas. The metro area chain, which reestablished itself in Detroit proper in 2019, offers a classic version of the square with sauce on top of a generous helping of brick cheese.

5057 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 262-6087
(313) 262-6087

Pie-Sci

5163 Trumbull Ave, Detroit, MI 48208

Neighborhood pizzeria favorite Pie-Sci serves an eclectic selection of rotating pizza specials with punny names. Customers can order a round pizza here, but the square slices with crunchy corners and a buttery crust are superb. Creative options have included the Detroit Brussels Harder with

garlic oil, mozzarella, oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, feta cheese, bacon, and balsamic glaze drizzle. Pie-Sci is also vegan-friendly.

5163 Trumbull Ave, Detroit, MI 48208
(313) 818-0290
(313) 818-0290

Michigan & Trumbull

1441 W Elizabeth St, Detroit, MI 48216

Of Detroit’s new guard of square-style pizza shops, Michigan & Trumbull stands out from the rest for its quality-meets-lowbrow approach to ingredients. The Corktown spot embraces an old-school pizzeria aesthetic and pays homage to fast food favorites with options like the McLovin — the square pizza version of a cheeseburger complete with sesame seeds. Fill out the order with sides like the deep-fried Boblo Boat calzones or barbecue chip-flavored waffle fries.

1441 W Elizabeth St, Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 637-4992
(313) 637-4992

Grandma Bob’s Pizza

2135 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

Shortly after opening, Grandma Bob’s embraced the Detroit-style pizza and it quickly became a hit. Choose from options like sausage-pistachio or a Hawaiian-style square with chorizo, pineapple, and onions, and pickled jalapeno. The restaurant also features plenty of vegan options.

2135 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 315-3177
(313) 315-3177

Belle Isle Pizza

7869 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214

West Village’s carryout shop Belle Isle Pizza serves hand-tossed, thin-crust, and Detroit-style pizza. The menu features a variety of Detroit-themed signature pies including the Corktown with corned beef, Thousand Island dressing, swiss, sauerkraut, and caraway seeds. Patrons can also build-their-own.

7869 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214
(313) 331-1222
(313) 331-1222

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