CHICAGO | Growing up in Michigan, two things are taught to you from a very early age; number one is win or (more likely) lose, you must always root for the Detroit Lions. Two is that Detroit-style pizza is superior to all others. Given that the state’s loyalty to the Lions has yet to pay off with a Super Bowl appearance, it is fair to say these teachings may have some minor flaws. When I first arrived in the Windy City, I didn’t give Chicago pizza the time of day. Some may call my lack of interest naive, but almost four years later, I see it as downright foolish. I’m happy to say that I have since reformed and I am a certified Chicago pizza enthusiast. So, given my shared love of Radio DePaul and Chicago slices, I present to you my list of all of the Chicago pizza places I’ve tried as songs about Chicago.
Gino’s East
With a cheese pull guaranteed to get your mouth to water, it’s no surprise that Gino’s East is beloved by so many. Although I wish the deep dish was a little crispier, Gino’s saving grace is its flavorful sauce. Plus, its Mag Mile location makes it feel like an extra Chicago-y experience. Because of this, the comfort you’ll feel after Gino’s East can be further relished by putting on “To Chicago” by Ciaran Lavery. Just watch out for tourists and you’ll be in store for a wonderful meal.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
It is with a heavy heart that I must admit that I don’t understand the hype of Lou Malnati’s. It may be controversial to say, but for me, a good deep dish is all about the sauce… and the time I went, the sauce was not saucing. It wasn’t justlacking in flavor, but also simply mediocre and bland. I genuinely do respect Lou Malnati’s and all the passionate rants people go on about how it’s the best, but like howSurjan Stevens said in his song “Chicago,” I just get sick of hearing it sometimes.
Homeslice
Come on, I couldn’t talk about pizza as a DePaulian without mentioning Homeslice. Is it very Instagram-able in a way that makes me slightly uncomfortable? Yes, totally. Is it also…. delish? Yes, totally. Much like the song that is blowing up on all of our feeds right now, Homeslice is the beloved song “End of Beginning” by DePaul’s very own Djo.
Professor Pizza
Just thinking about Professor Pizza’s dollop of whipped ricotta plagues my stomach with hunger. With toppings like shaved garlic and braised leeks, it’s a pinkies up kind of pizza that’ll make you want to waltz. Professor Pizza is a little slice of romance that can be summed up by “Ghost of Chicago” by Noah Floersch.
Giordano’s
Even though you’ll be absolutely stuffed to the brim after a slice or two, you cannot go wrong with Giordano’s famous stuffed pizza. It’s the type of pizza that makes me feel lucky to live in a place that strives to push the socially accepted cheese-per-slice boundary. Complete with dramatic stomach rumblings of indigestion and a long trip to the bathroom, the feeling after a Giordano’s visit sounds like “Chicago” by Flipturn.
Pequod’s Pizza
Pequod’s made me fall in love with Chicago-style pizza. From the caramelized crust to the crispy yet airy cheesy edges, a slice at Pequod’s is a masterful bite of pure bliss. Full of Chicago references and a cheerful hook that will make you want to skip to the El, the euphoric feeling that Pequod’s Pizza brings is best summed up by “Angels” by Chance the Rapper —- because let’s face it…, Pequod’s is truly so magical that you feel like you died and went to heaven with the angels.
There are still loads of slices in Chicago for my taste buds to explore, but I can say with full confidence that Chicago pizza makes my heart sing. Well, not quite as much as Jet’s Famous Ranch does…. But that’s a joy only made in Mich. Suck it, Chicago ranch.