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Chicago Deep Dish - Recommendations?

YefaYefa Posts: 1,133
edited August 2009 in The Porch
With all the talk of Philly cheese steaks, I thought I'd start a thread about Chicago deep dish pizza. Here are a few of the ones I've read about. Chicago folks are welcome to weigh in on which ones are their favorites and why.

Giordano's
Pequod's
Lou Malnati's
Gino's East
You see me empty, Sir, do not pause and inquire, simply assume and refill.
- Al Swearengen

http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • drsluggodrsluggo Posts: 4,742
    This is a tough one... there are two different pizza types here that most people say are deep dish.

    There is deep dish which is basically a thick crust and pizza toppings on top of it. That is a specialty of both Gino's East and Lou Malnatis.

    Then there is my personal favorite which is stuffed pizza. Its like a deep dish pizza with a 'pool' of toppings on top of it and just an amazing amount of cheese. That is where Giordano's is great, although my personal favorite is Nancy's. Either one is awesome though.

    I know that's not much help, but there are big differences between a Lou Malnatis deep dish pizza and a Giordano's stuffed pizza. Depends on if you like a boatload of cheese on your pizza :)
  • SPEEDY MCCREADYSPEEDY MCCREADY Posts: 25,884
    Yefa wrote:
    With all the talk of Philly cheese steaks, I thought I'd start a thread about Chicago deep dish pizza. Here are a few of the ones I've read about. Chicago folks are welcome to weigh in on which ones are their favorites and why.

    Giordano's
    Pequod's
    Lou Malnati's
    Gino's East
    Giordanos for deep dish spinach.....
    Lou malnatis for deep dish sausage....................
    Take me piece by piece.....
    Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
  • LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    edited August 2009
    all are good from what I hear. I really like Pizzeria Due or Uno. They are supposed to be the most popular.

    I'm not a big deep dish fan though. I like thin, crispy crust.

    Make sure you get a pork chop sandwich at Jimmy's or Maxwell Street.. And Hot Dougs for the supposedly best hot dogs in the world.
    Post edited by LikeAnOcean on
  • drsluggodrsluggo Posts: 4,742
    Oh... if you go to Gino's East and like sausage, they have a deep dish pizza that has a massive sausage patty on top. It's awesome - sounds gross maybe, but its awesome. I want to order one right now, come to think of it.
  • PJBuckeyePJBuckeye Posts: 1,102
    edited August 2009
    Mine - Giordano's

    My wife prefers Due's

    I hate Lou's b/c we always have it at work, so sick of it
    Post edited by PJBuckeye on
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  • YefaYefa Posts: 1,133
    Thanks drsluggo. Yes, I read about the two different types of Chicago deep dish. I may try to sample each type once during my visit.
    You see me empty, Sir, do not pause and inquire, simply assume and refill.
    - Al Swearengen

    http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com
  • msjpearsonmsjpearson Posts: 97
    I'm not a local, so maybe my voice should be taken with a grain of salt...However, last time I visited Chicago, I went to both Giordanno's and Gino's East. I'll be back in Chicago for the 2 shows, and if I can only get back to one of those 2 pizzerias, I'm picking Gino's East.

    Mike.
  • drsluggodrsluggo Posts: 4,742
    And for the love of all that is good in this world, get an Italian Beef with Mozz cheese on it!!! :twisted:

    It will change your life, although I'm not too sure what the best places are for that in Chicago itself. Portillos is always a favorite, but I've found better in the lonely suburbs.
  • Freddy ArheeharFreddy Arheehar San Diego Posts: 525
    Gino's East
  • SPEEDY MCCREADYSPEEDY MCCREADY Posts: 25,884
    drsluggo wrote:
    And for the love of all that is good in this world, get an Italian Beef with Mozz cheese on it!!! :twisted:

    It will change your life, although I'm not too sure what the best places are for that in Chicago itself. Portillos is always a favorite, but I've found better in the lonely suburbs.
    Italian Beef/dipped/with sweet/and hot peppers.......

    Outstanding!!!!!!
    Take me piece by piece.....
    Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,876
    Lou Malnati's for deep dish sausage. It's the best.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,586
    Freddy Arheehar wrote:
    Gino's East


    Agree...for the cornbready crust...amazing.

    I'd skip teh hug Sausage patty though . ;)
    hippiemom = goodness
  • erebuserebus Posts: 570
    This will be my first time in Chicago.

    Any hints on where to stay or avoid, what else to do or see?
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  • drsluggodrsluggo Posts: 4,742
    cincybearcat wrote:
    Freddy Arheehar wrote:
    Gino's East


    Agree...for the cornbready crust...amazing.

    I'd skip teh hug Sausage patty though . ;)
    Come on now - where else can you get sausage on a pizza where its literally a gigantic patty that covers the entire thing? :)

    Even if it is crazy weird, its something you can't get anywhere else that I know of!

    That said I still prefer true stuffed pizza to deep dish, but you can't really lose!
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,586
    drsluggo wrote:
    cincybearcat wrote:
    Freddy Arheehar wrote:
    Gino's East


    Agree...for the cornbready crust...amazing.

    I'd skip teh hug Sausage patty though . ;)
    Come on now - where else can you get sausage on a pizza where its literally a gigantic patty that covers the entire thing? :)

    Even if it is crazy weird, its something you can't get anywhere else that I know of!

    That said I still prefer true stuffed pizza to deep dish, but you can't really lose!

    Yep, I've had it. My friend got sick...;)
    hippiemom = goodness
  • drsluggodrsluggo Posts: 4,742
    cincybearcat wrote:
    drsluggo wrote:
    Come on now - where else can you get sausage on a pizza where its literally a gigantic patty that covers the entire thing? :)

    Even if it is crazy weird, its something you can't get anywhere else that I know of!

    That said I still prefer true stuffed pizza to deep dish, but you can't really lose!

    Yep, I've had it. My friend got sick...;)
    And you also now have a story you'll never forget ... all because of that magical sausage patty!
  • GmoneyGmoney Posts: 1,618
    Best Cheese deep dish=Pequads
    Best sausage= Giordano's (crumbled sausage)
    Best atmosphere for deep dish=Gino's East on Wells st.

    Best non- deep dish, Piece Pizza on North in Wicker Park
    Further back and forth a wave will break on me, today...
  • SPEEDY MCCREADYSPEEDY MCCREADY Posts: 25,884
    i am going to let..............
    solat13
    flagg
    and
    mrs.vedder78

    decide which pizza joint we are going to on saturday......................
    Take me piece by piece.....
    Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
  • orangediveorangedive Posts: 24
    http://www.exchequerpub.com/

    Go here. Absolutely phenomenal.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,586
    Gmoney wrote:

    Best non- deep dish, Piece Pizza on North in Wicker Park


    Great call for thin crust!!! And decent beers...it's a microbrewery.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • CServantCServant DCO Posts: 1,182
    The service at Giordano's sucks!!! I'd NEVER go back for that reason. Racism is alive and well in North Chicago!
    "Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience." Mark Twain
  • Father HubbardFather Hubbard Chicago Posts: 1,628
    Lou Malnati's by far.
    Ginos East would be second.
  • RS49442RS49442 Posts: 29
    Giordano's stuff crust pizza all the way. Was just in Chicago for the first time ever on business in May....Skip Pizzano's..... Giordano's small stuft pizza is enough for 2 very hungry people.
  • boxorbagboxorbag Posts: 246
    Go to Uno's or Due's. Trust me.
  • DiscopijDiscopij Posts: 479
    Pequod's is the best place for the connaisseur - awesome deep dish and thin crust. Also, much better atmosphere than the tourist traps; usually full of locals

    Piece has excellent thin crust and a great selection of house-made micro brews. Also usually full of locals. Great place to hang out while digesting too.

    Uno/Due and Gino's East are always packed with tourists and i generally don't find the pizza to be as good as some of the local joints - but they are in River North so it's probably easier to get there if you are staying downtown.

    I live across the street from a Malnati's and it's got great deep dish - but I'd still pick Pequod's over it

    For Beef, try Al's (on Ontario) - if i'm not mistaken, i think it's right across the street from Gino's East in this little hole-in-the-wall standalone building. Get the Combo (beef and sausage) with hot peppers and cheese. Portillo's is also excellent, but it's a much bigger operation all around the Chicagoland area.

    I love food
  • LOV2ROCKLOV2ROCK Minneapolis/St.Paul Posts: 822
    Giordanno's all the way!!!
  • 58823005882300 Posts: 813
    SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:
    i am going to let..............
    solat13
    flagg
    and
    mrs.vedder78

    decide which pizza joint we are going to on saturday......................



    For the love of god Mrs. Vedder take them to Gino's East but not the one on Wells. Go to the original on Superior. remember it takes about 35-45 minutes to cook one of these delicious pies so make sure you plan accordingly. Bring silver sharpies so you can draw PJ stuff all over the walls, tables, booths, bathroom stalls, cups, and whatever else you get your hands on. You can easily kill the 45 minutes with art work, some beer and some apps. Wish we were going to back from Toronto to join you. It can be quite a wait so get there at the early side of the lunch hour and get ready to be stuffed. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • crowes74crowes74 Posts: 273
    Giordanno's is all i can vote for. its fantastic. if we drive into chicago for a show we usually make time to go get a pie there (unless i go with the wife, damn pizza hatters). its well worth the wait, you'll be plenty hungry once the pie's finished.
    not sure if all the giordannos are non alcohoic, but the one nearest the rivera is if that is a factor in choosing.

    either way i bet the others are great too.
  • PJBuckeyePJBuckeye Posts: 1,102
    CServant wrote:
    The service at Giordano's sucks!!! I'd NEVER go back for that reason. Racism is alive and well in North Chicago!

    Your quote is funny, b/c North Chicago is a town well north of Chicago that is about 98% African American. I think you mean the North Side of Chicago. This statement is true of the whole city. Chicago is the most segregated city in America.
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  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,304
    Yefa wrote:
    With all the talk of Philly cheese steaks, I thought I'd start a thread about Chicago deep dish pizza. Here are a few of the ones I've read about. Chicago folks are welcome to weigh in on which ones are their favorites and why.

    Giordano's
    Pequod's
    Lou Malnati's
    Gino's East

    If I had to rate those 4 ^, it would be in this order...

    Pequod's
    Lou's
    Gino's
    .
    .
    .
    Giordano's
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