New York – The Undisputed Pizza Capital
New York State remains the undisputed champion in the pizza world, with roughly three-quarters of Americans listing it as one of America’s five best pizza states. New York City asserts its dominance in the U.S. pizza scene, with 17 restaurants in major pizza guides, making it the most represented state. The state’s pizza legacy stretches back more than a century, and you can taste that history in every bite.
The best pizza slice in the country comes from L’industrie Pizzeria in New York, while Una Pizza Napoletana claims the title of best pizzeria in America for the fourth consecutive year. The first pizzeria in the United States opened in New York City’s Little Italy in 1905, creating pizza that differed from traditional Neapolitan style to help homesick Italian immigrants feel more at home. Whether you prefer the classic fold-and-eat style from a Manhattan street vendor or the artisanal Neapolitan pies from Brooklyn’s acclaimed spots, New York delivers flavors that have shaped America’s pizza culture.
Connecticut – Home of the Famous White Clam Pizza
Connecticut stands out with its coastal delicacy pizza creations, where clams are used as pizza toppings. At Frank Pepe’s in New Haven, voted the number one pizza in America by The Daily Meal for several years straight, try the famous white clam pizza with freshly shucked littleneck clams, olive oil, garlic, and Pecorino Romano cheese. This might sound unusual, but it’s exactly this kind of creative thinking that makes Connecticut pizza special.
New Haven, Connecticut, boasts the most pizza restaurants per capita in the entire country, with roughly 36 per 100,000 residents. Modern Apizza in New Haven offers an experience steeped in tradition and flavor, established in 1934 and run by the Pustari family since 1988, serving as a beloved member of New Haven’s “holy trinity” of apizza alongside Pepe’s and Sally’s. What truly sets Modern apart is its ultra-thin yet chewy crust, blistered and charred just right from an oil-fired brick oven. The pizza culture here runs so deep that locals have their own pronunciation for pizza – “apizza” (pronounced “ah-beetz”).
Illinois – Deep Dish Glory in Chicago and Beyond
Chicago’s deep-dish pizza represents one of the most well-known and decisive pizza styles in America. Unlike New York’s preference for mess-free slices, deep-dish pizza is almost guaranteed to make a mess, with its crust set in a round, deep pan and topped with a layer of tomato sauce on top of vegetables, meats, and cheese. But don’t think Illinois is just about deep dish – the state offers incredible variety…