How Many Pizza Restaurants Are There in the US?
There are currently over 100,000 pizzerias in the United States, according to Restaurantji.
The geography of pizzerias in America is very diverse - there is not a single state with more than 9% of all pizzerias. California has 8,9%, followed by Texas (7,5%), New York (6,5%), and Florida with 6,1% closing the leaderboard. On the other side, you'll have the hardest time eating pizza in Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming - those states combined have just 0,7% of all pizza restaurants.
Pizza is a very affordable dish - more than 3/4 of all restaurants (85,165 or 77,6%) are in the $-$$ price range. And only 53 fall into the category of expensive establishments with a $$$$ average price tag.
The most popular pizzerias are Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut, Little Caesars, and Papa John's. They have a combined total of 34,558 locations in the US. That's 65% of all chain pizzerias, or more than a quarter (27,7%) of all pizzerias overall.
But don't let their popularity fool you - we analyzed millions of reviews and found that the average rating of independent local pizza restaurants is a cut above chain pizzerias (4,07 vs. 3,2 out of 5).
7 Most Popular Regional Pizza Styles
Neapolitan Pizza
The original Neapolitan pizza comes from Naples, Italy and has just a few fresh ingredients: dough, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. It must have more sauce than cheese, resulting in a very wet center, so it's served unsliced as a personal 10-12 inch pizza. Strict guidelines from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana dictate the ingredients and cooking method of baking at 800°F-900°F for 90 seconds in a wood-fired oven. This creates the signature puffy, charred outer crust. Variations don't qualify as true Neapolitan style.
Sicilian Pizza
The original Sicilian pizza called sfincione has a thick, fluffy bread base topped with a simple tomato sauce made with onions, herbs and anchovies, plus breadcrumbs instead of cheese. When Sicilian immigrants brought it to America, mozzarella was often added. For New York-style Sicilian pizza, the same spongy dough is pressed into an oiled square pan and topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella. The bottom gets crispy and charred while the middle stays soft and doughy. Authentic versions don't use mozzarella since sheep/goat milk is more common in Sicily.
New York Pizza
New York is considered the birthplace of American pizza restaurants, with Gennaro Lombardi opening the first licensed pizzeria in 1905. New York-style pizza has large, floppy slices that are wide and pliable. The crust is thin but not as thin as Neapolitan pizza. An important feature is the ability to fold the slice to eat on-the-go. The oversized slices, around 9-10 inches long, have a crispy bite but stay chewy from the high-gluten flour used. The sauce usually contains herbs, while the cheese is aged low-moisture mozzarella. New York pizzas are traditionally cooked in coal-fired ovens.
New Haven Pizza
At first glance, New Haven pizza looks similar to New York style - circular, thin crust and large. But the slices are smaller and the shape is irregular from longer dough fermentation. Like Neapolitan pizza, it has a signature charred crust from being cooked in scorching coal-fired brick ovens. A famous example is the tangy tomato pie from Sally's Apizza, loved by Frank Sinatra. The sauce is made from a proprietary tomato-herb blend with no cheese. The longer fermentation gives the crust a distinct chewy texture and nuanced flavor.
Detroit Pizza
Born in 1946, Detroit-style pizza was originally baked in rectangular steel pans meant for auto parts. The thick, fluffy crust gets a crispy, buttery caramelized edge from the pan's cast iron-like qualities. It's basically a cross between Sicilian and deep dish, with cheese spread from edge-to-edge under the sauce to ensure a crispy crust. Classic toppings are pepperoni and brick cheese. You can still get these iconic rectangular pies at the original Buddy's restaurant or Loui's in Hazel Park, which has a vintage 1970s vibe.
Chicago Pizza
When people say "Chicago-style", they usually mean the famous deep dish pizza with a buttery, yellow crust made from wheat flour and corn oil or butter. The dough is pressed into a deep pan and topped in reverse order - first cheese to prevent burning, then toppings like meat and veggies, and finally a robust tomato sauceLayer. It takes around an hour to bake. Some prefer the cracker-thin, square-cut tavern-style pizzas that are common in Chicago. Fillings are added to the dough in a pan, with cheese and sauce on top for a lightly-fried crunchy edge.
California Pizza
California pizza broke the rules by featuring fresh, innovative toppings representing the state's diverse bounty of produce. It started in 1982 at Spago in Los Angeles with a smoked salmon, red onion and dill crème fraîche pizza. Chains like California Pizza Kitchen popularized unique flavor combinations like barbecue chicken, avocado carpaccio, and mixed toppings like pear, walnut and blue cheese. The crust is often similar to Neapolitan style - thin and hand-tossed - but the generous toppings are where California pies get creative and over-the-top.
Most Popular Dishes in Pizza Restaurants in the US and Canada
Restaurantji collected millions of restaurant reviews from all of the Pizza restaurants across the US and Canada to find out, which particular pizzas are mostly loved by North Americans.
Pepperoni Pizza
Pepperoni is the most popular choice of topping, and analysis by Restaurantji only proves this. About 251.7 million pounds of this flavorful, meaty topping is eaten annually in the U.S. on pizzas. More than 36 percent of the pizzas ordered at restaurants around the U.S. have pepperoni as a topping. Its tasty slightly smoky and spicy flavor makes it easy to understand why so many people love it. Surprisingly, pepperoni wasn't created in Italy - it was invented by Italian immigrants in New York City in the early 1900s. Pepperoni became a go-to topping when pizza chains like Pizza Hut and Domino's opened, since it was inexpensive and traveled well. Common ingredients are a pizza crust, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and thinly sliced pepperoni.
Some of the most praised restaurants serving Pepperoni Pizza, according to Restaurantji:
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Pizza • Meat Lovers Pizza
This hearty pizza is topped with a variety of different meats like pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon. It's popular with customers who want a protein-rich meal and love the flavor of meats. Some versions may also include vegetables like onions, peppers and mushrooms, though the focus is on the meats. Key ingredients are pizza crust, tomato sauce, cheese, and assorted cooked/cured meat toppings.
According to Restaurantji, the best Meat Lovers Pizza is served here:
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Beer Bar • Supreme Pizza
In the US, a supreme pizza usually contains traditional toppings like pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and peppers. However, in Italy, the term "supreme" isn't used and topping combinations vary by region. Supreme pizzas appeal to many because of the variety of flavors - from savory meats to sweet pineapple. The exact origins are unclear but some believe it started with Italian-Americans customizing pizzas, or with the rise of pizza chains creating new topping combos in the 1960s. Typical ingredients are crust, sauce, cheese, plus an assortment of vegetable and meat toppings.
Users recommend these places for the best Supreme Pizza:
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Italian • Lasagna
An Italian favorite, lasagna is surprisingly one of the most popular non-pizza dishes at many pizzerias in the US. It's a comforting baked casserole with layers of wide noodles, cheese, meat sauce, and more cheese. Though strongly associated with Italy today, lasagna did not actually originate there. It may have evolved from ancient Greek laganon noodles layered with toppings and eaten with a stick. The key ingredients in modern lasagna are wide flat noodles, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, ground meat sauce, and tomato or bechamel sauce.
These places pop up the most when talking about a perfect Lasagna:
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Italian • Margherita Pizza
The simple yet iconic Margherita pizza was created in Naples with just a few quality ingredients: yeasted dough stretched into a round, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh buffalo mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. One legend traces its 1889 creation to honoring Queen Margherita with colors of the Italian flag: red (tomatoes), white (mozzarella), and green (basil). However, similar pizzas likely existed before that in Naples. The key ingredients are a simple bread dough base, fresh tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil.
Restaurantji suggests to try Margherita pizza here:
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Pizza • The First Pizza Restaurant in The United States
Lombardi's – Est. 1905 (New York City) started out as a small grocery store on the corner of two streets in 1897. Lombardi's changed food history forever when the owner, Gennaro Lombardi, decided to start making pizzas in 1905. Lombardi's moved locations in 1984, but still uses the same type of coal oven to bake crusts that are blackened on the bottom with a yeasty, soft inside, topped with tomato sauce made from fresh basil.
About 350 Slices of Pizza Are Eaten Every Second in The US
Americans eat an average of 350 pizza slices every second. That equals about 100 acres of pizza every day and 21,000 slices per minute. That's a huge amount of pizza.
93% of Americans Order Pizza At Least Once A Month
Pizza is more than just America's favorite comforting food. It has become a regular part of our diet. More than 93% of Americans order pizza at least once every month. This means pizza makes up an important part of what Americans eat regularly. And it's probably the most delicious part of the diet too.
Pizza Is a Super Bowl Dish
The American Pizza Community says that around 12.5 million pizzas are ordered, baked, and delivered to football fans on Super Bowl Sunday. Domino's revealed they sell more than 11 million slices on just that one day. The most popular pizza topping for Super Bowl orders is pepperoni.
Studies show that 61% of people consider pizza a "must-have" food for Super Bowl parties. It's estimated that over $230 million is spent on frozen and deli pizzas in just the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl game.
The Largest Pizza in The World
Pizza Hut teamed up with a famous YouTuber named Airrack to make the world's largest pizza. The giant pizza was 14,000 square feet in size! It was made using huge amounts of dough, pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Guinness World Records was there to officially declare it the largest pizza ever made, beating the previous record set in 2012.
Airrack wanted to make this colossal pizza for two reasons: 1) To celebrate getting 10 million followers on YouTube, and 2) To make up for a disappointing 8th birthday party from his childhood where the birthday pizza did not get delivered.
Pizza Hut helped sponsor and create this pizza. It took 48 hours of non-stop work by Pizza Hut workers and Airrack's friends at a convention center. The finished pie had 68,000 slices, all of which were donated to charities in Los Angeles.
Must-Try Restaurants
“I had an amazing experience at Mister O1 Pizza, thanks to Vanessa! The pizza was delicious. I’ll definitely be coming back!”
“Had a great experience, Fermin was very nice and attentive. Food is absolutely delicious. Definitely recommend!”
“Parking: Street parking right outside.
Kid-friendliness: Just a very good atmosphere
Wheelchair accessibility: No n...”
“The best place you can go to get a pizza, the best quality and Spanish and English are spoken. A place that I would always return to.”
“Pizza that moves to soul Iam MsCarter and I Stamp Pizza movers of Takoma Park Maryland is my favorite convenient location ������� I enjoy the service , C...”
“Wrigley was great she gave me plenty oh ranch!
Parking: lots of spots”
“Great gluten free pizza and amazing service
Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options”
“I highly recommend Jofree. He was amazing and so detail-oriented. 10/10 would ask for him to be your waiter.”
“Wings are very good and priced reasonably well for the area.
Got the mango hanbanero wings wo
With meat lover pizza and a nuttella pizz...”
“Pizza was perfectly, I mean perfectly cooked. Service was a tad slow. We had already finished our appetizers before we even put in our entrees. Brussel s...”
“I'm suing this place. I burned the roof of my mouth on my pizza. It was so dang good I couldn't wait for it to cool down and eat it lol. I wasn...”
“Zappa and Tristen are the best. I love this place. Best pizza in the valley and a great chill vibe!”
“Awesome staff and delicious pizza! Very fresh and lots of options on the menu. You even get free bread bites when dining in!”
“Pizza was kinda tasteless and had an extremely chewy crust. We keep looking for good pizza in the area and have been let down every time. Wings were prob...”
“The staff is super friendly and helped explain the items on the menu. Everything came out really fast and the food was amazing. The pizzas are really goo...”
Recently Opened Restaurants
“I was there for a class given at West Side Brewery. Decided to have dinner there before. The Smile BBQ pizza and the Reggae Ranch Salad....very, very goo...”
“Super excited to go and we left because we couldn’t get a waiter. We sat there for like 20 mins. The waiters looked at us and didn’t even serve us. Didn’...”
“Gorgeous space with amazing patio views of the bay just feet away from the entrance to the Chase Center! Staff was friendly & courteous. The QR cod...”
“Great local spot with amazing portions. Everything you order here is practically 1.5 meals and its amazing. The cheese on the cheesesteaks can be overwhe...”
“Got questions about Poppy’s Pies? Don’t. Just come in and experience the best pizza Mississippi has ever seen. ??
Parking: In the same...”
“There is way too much information out here and too many resources for ppl to open a basic pizza restaurant and not figure out the basics of something ...”
“Best pizza I’ve ever had omg this place is so amazing I just want to eat here all day!”
“Husband and I stopped in on a quiet Wednesday night dinner here not long ago. We had Pizza, firecracker shrimp and a shrimp po bboy I believe it was call...”
“For a fairly new restaurant the food was very good. The server Leo was very attentive and took the time to explain the dishes thoroughly. A little fine t...”
“My husband and I ordered 2 thin crust pizzas (classic pepperoni and margherita w/ sausage) and they were both delicious! They were also very friendly and...”
“Came early. Noise level ridiculous. By the time we left around 8p we were almost screaming to hear each other. Food was pretty good and service “ok”. Ove...”
“Ordered a 16-inch pizza tonight. Again fantastic. I read the husband/wife reviews that were negative. So weird that they both left a review on a brand ne...”
“Food was delicious, staff is friendly, and the self serve taps were super fun with lots of delicious choices!!!”
“Clean,friendly staff, love the hot honey pizza,wings & tiramisu and the fettuccine pasta could be a little more flavorful but still good! Def recomme...”
“The gentleman who took our order and made our food, was amazing! Hands down, every time we are going to pass through, this is our destination for the bes...”
Recent Reviews
“The staff is so friendly I would like to move to Wakefield so I could eat there more often. The food is good too!!!”
“Just picked up Large Cheese&Pep pizza. Outstanding!! Love the basically double cheese&pep. Also got an order if deep fried mushrooms w/ blue chee...”
“My kids love the pizza, great for when me and my wife don't have time to cook.”
“Have been going to this place for a bit. Love the specialty pizza, and their wings. The wings are large, and the pizza toppings are always many on th...”
“I have been here 3times back to back and I haven't been disappointed yet.”
“I order tonight for a pizza six garlic knots and a dinner. I asked what kind of pasta they said they had it got home 18 miles away and it was the wrong p...”
“First time tried. Pizza was very good Got an italian hoagie. Way too much vinegar--all I could taste! Other items we got were very good, too.”
“We have been coming to papa johns since they opened and have never been disappointed! Always great pizza, cheese sticks etc. and most of all their servic...”
“I was initially hit with the sticker shock of 20 bucks for a 10" 3 topping! However, I'm okay with the price if the pie is good. This was not ...”
“Price went from 19 to 31 and then charge me 39 I said it will be here in 50 minutes I’m going on an hour and a half”
“Best Pizza Place in Lakeland. This delicious one is “The Magic Mushroom “. I highly recommend - great food, good family.”
“Always a pleasure to grab the best pizza around. Greeted at the door like your family and plenty of seating in the cozy pizza place to dine in if you wan...”
“Everything I have eaten at this restaurant has been amazing! Gyros, meatball sub, Gyro Plate, and the cake!!!!”
“Absolutely delicous food!! We had the Margarita Pizza & Chicken Caesar Pizza along with a caesar salad. The service was exceptional. Totally recommen...”
Recently Updated Menus
“Ordered The Works pizza and chef salad today .. By far one of the best pizzas around! They definetly are not stingy on the toppings. Staff is very p...”
“Food is great! Service is decent.
Ordered Hibachi Shrimp. I like onions but this photos shows an absurd amount of onions. There is mor...”
“Had our first pizza from Shorty’s last night. Since my wife and I are originally from the NY metro area we are pizza snobs. Since we’ve moved to Texas ...”
“We had Patti's Pizza and Cheesesticks for supper tonight. It was AMAZING tastes just like a homemade pizza. The workers are so nice! This was the be...”
“Take and Bake pizza doesn't get better. Friendly staff, easy pickup, tasty pizza.”
“Very Good service and excellent food!!
Vegetarian options: Nopales Salad”
“Great little pizza place. Pizza surpassed expectations. Don’t let the small footprint of the building sway you. Perfect blend of soft/crunchy crust. Sauc...”
“Rizzos has very quickly become a favorite of mine. The pizza tubs are deceptively filling, full of flavor, and incredibly affordable. I'm greeted wi...”
“We were in Bainbridge for the circus that was in town and just made an evening of it so we had dinner out. Of course, pizza is at the top of the list for...”
“Excellent food , nice big burgers that are filling indeed. Good appetizers too ! Chicken wings are good with a variety to flavors! The pizza is good but ...”
“This place has the best subs ...very generous on toppings and chese ...delicious..
And the staff is amazing...!!!!”
“Service 10,000
Atmosphere 11,000
But food is 10000000000000000000000000”
“This lounge is very small. For it to be very small the music is extremely loud you can't hear your waitress. The waitress can't even hear you. ...”
“Lala's is our favorite spot in town or out of town! We are regulars not only because of the delightfully cozy decor and delicious eats, but the care...”
“Stopped here with my wife and daughter on our way to Decatur and was not disappointed. Pizza was great as well as the meatballs but nothing beat the hosp...”
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They have swapped ownership (asked and confirmed) and you can tell by the service and quality. Use to we only got little Caesar’s to save money. Now it’s because it’s better also! The pizza is coming out just right. They are doing so good about having your order out on time, in my experience. This is on the weekend we do this so for me, that’s awesome.If you stopped coming to this particular little Caesar’s in the past cause of the quality or time, I’d highly recommend giving it another shot.Also, don’t mind the photo, yes I already dug in and writing the review while I enjoy it☺️