Pizza is one of the foods New York is known for. The options are endless, whether it's a greasy pepperoni pie or something covered in tomato sauce.
So there are plenty of pizza places you can try to find the best pizza in the city. But where is the most top-rated pizza shop in New York?
We've created a list of the Best Pizza in New York City for you below.
What is a New York Style Pizza?
You can get pizza all over the world, and each place has put its stamp on it. Chicago is home to the deep dish, and Italy is where pizza comes from.
It's known for its delicious pizza with thin crusts. So what is it about pizza that makes it an NYC pizza?
The Classic New York Slice
A New York-style pizza has a thin crust that you can fold over. They are big and wide, so people can buy the whole pie or get individual thin-crust slices.
Traditionally, New York pizza comes with fresh mozzarella, and sweet tomato sauce, with other toppings being added to it.
Best Pizza in New York City
The city has endless pizza joints, but some stand out from the rest. Whether it's the type of cheese, the fact that they do wood-fired pizzas, or the fresh ingredients, everyone has their version of New York-style pizza.
Here are some of the absolute best pizza spots in the city, from well-known pizza places that attract tourists in droves, to hidden tiny holes in the wall you'd walk by and miss.
Famous Ben's Pizza
Source: famousbenspizzaofsoho.com
Down in Soho, Famous Ben's Pizza is a famous pizze ria that's won many awards for its square slices and whole pizza pies.
They have fresh basil, tomato sauce, and buffalo mozzarella cheese. Expect to queue up here as it's one of New York's most popular pizza spots.
They are known for their crispy crust and square slice, and it's the ideal place to experience a classic NYC slice, wide, large, and perfect for eating on the go.
Joe & Pat's Pizzeria
Source: tasteatlas.com
Joe & Pat's Pizzeria opened in 1960 and is run by an Italian family who settled in Staten Island. They have a secret recipe that creates an epic Neapolitan pizza with a thin crust.
You can stop here for a whole clam pie. But they also do inventive pizzas with vodka, fresh mozzarella, and sweet tomato sauce.
Their pizza shop is in the East Village, Manhattan, and is the perfect place to enjoy some fresh pizza.
You need to sit in to enjoy pizza from Joe & Pat's, but the atmosphere is worth it and they'll make you feel like family.
Prince Street Pizza
Source: princestreetpizzanyc.com
Prince Street Pizza is one of New York 's most loved pizza shops. If you're looking for some of the best pizza in NYC, you'll find it here!
Their mouthwatering pies come with fresh ingredients, like a pepperoni square slice with lots of curly pepperonis. You can also pick up a Sicilian slice or get a whole pie and sit in to eat it.
The walls are covered in pictures of the owner with various celebrities who have frequented this pizza joint over the years. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for you!
Lombardi's Pizza - America's First Pizzeria
Lombardi's is one of the first pizza joints in New York City. It was opened in 1905 by a Napolitan immigrant.
It's in Little Italy and is known as America's first pizzeria. Remember the classic NYC slice that you know and love? They are credited with creating it.
So where else is better to come for some coal oven traditional Neapolitan-style pies? You can get a clam pie, which is a favorite among visitors.
Mamas Too!
Source: ediblemanhattan.com
This tiny hole-in-the-wall pizza joint is in the Upper West Side of Manhattan and relatively new to the New York pizza scene, but don't let that dissuade you from giving them a visit.
You may have to wait in a long queue if you show up, but you can skip it and order online! They have all sorts of inventive flavors, including a Sicilian slice of hot honey, chili oil, and salami.
It's called the Angry Nona, and it's delicious.
Mama's Too serves up square slices and the classic NYC slice for you to take and eat on the go.
They also don't allow you to make any amendments to their menu - all their ingredients blend and complement each other perfectly.
Una Pizza Napoletana - Lots of Fresh Mozzarella Cheese!
Source: ny.eater.com
If you decide to visit Una Pizza Napoletana , you'll need to pla n it in advance. They're only open from Thursday - Saturday.
They open at 5 pm and close when the fresh dough runs out. It's down in Manhattan's Lower East Side and is worth a visit.
They use the freshest of ingredients, including San Marzano tomatoes. While they have a small menu, what they do, they do well.
You'll have pizzas drenched with olive oil, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, and that traditional thin crust New Yorkers love.
John's of Bleecker Street
Source: cntraveler.com
This well-known John's of Bleecker Street pizza was opened by an Italian immigrant, John Sasso, in 1929. It's one of the oldest spots in the city to get NYC pizza and is still owned by a family (although a different one than the Sasso's).
Unlike other pizza places on this list, this one is a restaurant. They have a coal oven which creates an excellent charred effect on the thin crust.
So you have to get a whole pie instead of square slices and sit in to enjoy these incredible pizzas. They don't take reservations, but it's worth the wait to enjoy pizza at this popular spot.
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Conclusion
These pizza places are just some standouts in New York's boroughs. Every street will have a slice shop you can grab a pepperoni slice from or a sit-down restaurant where you'll find some traditional Neapolitan-style pies.
The options are endless for grabbing a classic NYC slice in the city.
But if you're looking for a top-quality pizza place to get a slice that'll change your life, you should visit some of the pizza makers we've mentioned above!
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