I’m 40, and I’ve been eating Lou Malnati’s for as long as I can remember. I left Chicago at 18, and of all the foods I miss, this is at the very top of the list. There is simply no substitute for their deep dish pizza with that legendary butter crust. I’m a classic cheese fan, but the sausage chunks have become a favorite over the years, too.
This location has been our family’s takeout spot my entire life, and it still feels like home. They’ve done an incredible job scaling the company while preserving the soul of a Chicago family business. The food is consistently excellent, the pricing feels fair, and I’m genuinely proud to bring friends here when I’m back in town.
The Malnati salad is a standout, rich and flavorful, and the perfect way to start a pizza night. The storefront is easy to access, always buzzing, and the staff are kind, efficient, and truly embody the brand.
I’ve ordered dozens of frozen Lou Malnati’s pies shipped to the East Coast over the years, and they come impressively close to the real thing, especially with a high-functioning oven. Best tip: bake and eat them right away, and butter the pan. I’ve made the mistake of letting them sit too long in the freezer, and they lose a bit of their magic.
I’ve even worked holiday shifts in the warehouse where these pies ship from, so I don’t just love this place, I live and breathe it. Great family, great history, and a world-class pizza experience. The boneless wings and bruschetta are also excellent. The newer app and loyalty program are also a great evolution for the brand.
If you’re visiting Chicago, this is a must, and with roughly 60 locations to choose from, it’s a true Chicago institution you have to experience. If you’re in the North Shore suburbs and want a dine-in experience, the original Lou Malnati’s in Lincolnwood is fantastic for group dinners and highly recommended. This Lake Avenue location is takeout only and consistently delivers.
Highly, highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sharon Nikho
Love this location especially the fact that it's a carryout only. It's all about the convenience. We ordered a large thin crust pepperoni pizza with sausage and their traditional barbecue wings. Everything was great and made to correct order. Wonderful experience from the start!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Miki Moto
1 - got the wrong pizza. 3 - service is bad. Disorganized. Told by staff to move because I was blocking the salad fridge. Suggestion- don't put a fridge in the waiting area. 2 - atmosphere is not great. This white guy decides he's so entitled that he can just walk up to the front of the line and check in for his order, disregarding the fact that there's several people ahead of him in line. I told him that and he snaps back at me. Just because you're white does not mean you ate entitled and can gi ahead if everyone else. 3) parking - Considering that this location is carry out only, not only is the store so small, but parking is a nightmare in the strip mall. And somewhat chaotic due to the swarms of locals always hovering by the pickup counter.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Dena Cohen
Normally great, but i waited 20 minutes checking in 2x , and calling for my pizza to be brought out. When I finally got it, it was not cut as requested and a total soupy mess. I was very disappointed.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Julie Aiello
Ordered a deep dish, received a thick crust. Super disappointing, and not really tasty. Was looking forward to the cheesey inside.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Phoenix DaVida
Lou's is the best 🍕
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Theodore File
Lou’s is the best deep dish in Chicago!
Food: 5
Ted Marcus
Have been eating their pizza for over 40 years. Simplythe best and most authentic!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Marcy Caron
We ordered our pizza on Father’s Day. They forgot to put cheese and tomato sauce on the pizza. It was just a bunch of dough for a stuffed spinach pizza. Really disappointing. The crustless pizza also was very shy and cheese. I don’t know what happened that day but I was super disappointed so we spent $100 and threw all the pizza away. Basically not enjoyable in anyway.
Take a look at the so called boneless bbq chicken. The kids said the bbq sauce was even worse than the awful chicken flavor. I could have done better with Tyson and my bbq sauce. Gross!!! At least the pizza was spot on.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Brian J
Food was sloppy and wet. Tasted undercooked when me and my mom got it. Usually when we get gooey it's the cheese that's melted a bit more, but the whole bottom of the pizza was wet and the cheese was barely cooked so it made an already wet and disgusting pizza even more gross.
Always have issues with this location for some reason. Pizza wasn't very good, but the GrubHub driver was prompt and fast. If you want a better location go to the ones in Glenview or Lincolnwood.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 5
Steve Wohlman
Pizza box was wet and soggy on the bottom, pizza toppings had slid off the pizza, was all soggy, huge disappointment.
Food: 1
Shaun Kim
Great pizza
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Florenzo Cruz-Garbo
The food is great and is the best deep dish in chicago.
Easy takeout.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m 40, and I’ve been eating Lou Malnati’s for as long as I can remember. I left Chicago at 18, and of all the foods I miss, this is at the very top of the list. There is simply no substitute for their deep dish pizza with that legendary butter crust. I’m a classic cheese fan, but the sausage chunks have become a favorite over the years, too.
This location has been our family’s takeout spot my entire life, and it still feels like home. They’ve done an incredible job scaling the company while preserving the soul of a Chicago family business. The food is consistently excellent, the pricing feels fair, and I’m genuinely proud to bring friends here when I’m back in town.
The Malnati salad is a standout, rich and flavorful, and the perfect way to start a pizza night. The storefront is easy to access, always buzzing, and the staff are kind, efficient, and truly embody the brand.
I’ve ordered dozens of frozen Lou Malnati’s pies shipped to the East Coast over the years, and they come impressively close to the real thing, especially with a high-functioning oven. Best tip: bake and eat them right away, and butter the pan. I’ve made the mistake of letting them sit too long in the freezer, and they lose a bit of their magic.
I’ve even worked holiday shifts in the warehouse where these pies ship from, so I don’t just love this place, I live and breathe it. Great family, great history, and a world-class pizza experience. The boneless wings and bruschetta are also excellent. The newer app and loyalty program are also a great evolution for the brand.
If you’re visiting Chicago, this is a must, and with roughly 60 locations to choose from, it’s a true Chicago institution you have to experience. If you’re in the North Shore suburbs and want a dine-in experience, the original Lou Malnati’s in Lincolnwood is fantastic for group dinners and highly recommended. This Lake Avenue location is takeout only and consistently delivers.
Highly, highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this location especially the fact that it's a carryout only. It's all about the convenience. We ordered a large thin crust pepperoni pizza with sausage and their traditional barbecue wings. Everything was great and made to correct order. Wonderful experience from the start!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
1 - got the wrong pizza.
3 - service is bad. Disorganized. Told by staff to move because I was blocking the salad fridge. Suggestion- don't put a fridge in the waiting area.
2 - atmosphere is not great. This white guy decides he's so entitled that he can just walk up to the front of the line and check in for his order, disregarding the fact that there's several people ahead of him in line. I told him that and he snaps back at me. Just because you're white does not mean you ate entitled and can gi ahead if everyone else.
3) parking - Considering that this location is carry out only, not only is the store so small, but parking is a nightmare in the strip mall. And somewhat chaotic due to the swarms of locals always hovering by the pickup counter.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Normally great, but i waited 20 minutes checking in 2x , and calling for my pizza to be brought out. When I finally got it, it was not cut as requested and a total soupy mess. I was very disappointed.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ordered a deep dish, received a thick crust. Super disappointing, and not really tasty. Was looking forward to the cheesey inside.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Lou's is the best 🍕
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lou’s is the best deep dish in Chicago!
Food: 5
Have been eating their pizza for over 40 years. Simplythe best and most authentic!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
We ordered our pizza on Father’s Day. They forgot to put cheese and tomato sauce on the pizza. It was just a bunch of dough for a stuffed spinach pizza. Really disappointing. The crustless pizza also was very shy and cheese. I don’t know what happened that day but I was super disappointed so we spent $100 and threw all the pizza away. Basically not enjoyable in anyway.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Take a look at the so called boneless bbq chicken. The kids said the bbq sauce was even worse than the awful chicken flavor. I could have done better with Tyson and my bbq sauce. Gross!!! At least the pizza was spot on.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Food was sloppy and wet. Tasted undercooked when me and my mom got it. Usually when we get gooey it's the cheese that's melted a bit more, but the whole bottom of the pizza was wet and the cheese was barely cooked so it made an already wet and disgusting pizza even more gross.
Always have issues with this location for some reason. Pizza wasn't very good, but the GrubHub driver was prompt and fast. If you want a better location go to the ones in Glenview or Lincolnwood.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 5
Pizza box was wet and soggy on the bottom, pizza toppings had slid off the pizza, was all soggy, huge disappointment.
Food: 1
Great pizza
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
The food is great and is the best deep dish in chicago.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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