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Must Eats
All about the Pizza Spots in Austin, TX.
Want to know what pizza spots are worth the hype in Austin? Here are my unfiltered thoughts on pizza in Austin, TX.
I love pizza so much that I bought a pizza oven just to make it! I enjoy all types of pizza, so I wanted to share my top recommendations for pizza places in Austin, TX. I'll start by sharing my absolute favorites, and then provide more details on the other spots that I've tried.
Pedrosos Pizza
So far, out of all the pizza spots I've tried in Austin, Pedrosos is by far my favorite. I've eaten a lot of pizza over the years in Boston, New York, and all around Texas, and I can say for certain that Pedrosos is the closest I've gotten to NYC! My first experience with Pedrosos was preordering the Sicilian and the Pep and Ricotta NYC style pizza. The Sicilian is the ooey-gooey thick crust pizza of your dreams. The bread is soft and crispy on the edges, and the cheese compliments the delicious pizza sauce and charred cupped pepperoni. The Pep and Ricotta wasn't my favorite mainly because I dislike ricotta. However, I revisited 10 times and decided their NYC cheese slice or just pepperoni is their best pizza. The perfect crisp crust-to-sauce-to-cheese ratio is perfect at Pedrosos. I dare say it's better than all the spots I had in Boston. Anyway, you can preorder in advance via their website. If you go on a weekday, you can walk up to order, and they usually don't sell out. Otherwise, call in advance to avoid sellout.
Baldinucci Pizza Romana(West Lake Hills)
Baldinucci is currently my go-to spot for Roman-style pizza. I'm not a huge expert on Roman-style pizza, but I can say for certain that the pizza at Baldinucci is delicious. They offer NYC-style pizza as well, but the real star is the Roman-style. They have tons of dietary options, including gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free. They have a lot of their pizza options on display, and you purchase a pizza rectangle by the slice, which they heat up and cut in half. Alternatively, they also sell whole pizzas made fresh, but the pizzas by the slice are all reheated. My favorite slice is the sausage and honey (Fresh tomato sauce, Italian sausage, Serrano peppers, mascarpone cheese, basil, local honey). The sauce here is on the sweeter side, and I personally like it, and the tomatoes are flavorful. I love the crust on the Roman-style. They also serve gelato. Anyways, it's one of my favorite spots near Austin. Here is their website to order online and delivery!
Sangiovanni Pizza (Pflugerville)
This is probably Pflugerville's biggest secret! Sangiovanni has very limited hours and focuses on their distillery business. However, they serve authentic Chicago deep-dish pizza. The pie is a great price and is cooked to order, so it takes some time. I recommend getting maybe one meat topping with the Chicago Deep Dish. The crust is well-cooked and nice and crispy at the bottom. The tomato sauce is delicious, and the cheese is perfectly melty all throughout. Sangiovanni's pizza easily takes the top spot for Chicago deep-dish in the area. You can call ahead to order, here is their website.
Little Deli Pizza
Little Deli is a beloved spot in town, and while it may not be a hidden gem, it is considered one of the best pizza places in Austin. The place is popular for its pizza by the slice and sandwiches. I have tried their supreme and pepperoni pizza slices, and I think they are on par with NYC pizza. It has that typical NYC pizza joint vibe with the glass display cases. However, the pizza can be a bit dry at times, but the crust, cheese, and pepperoni are all good. Although Pedroso's is my top pick due to its better pizza ratios, I would still rank Little Deli in the top 3-4 pizza spots in Austin. Here is their website.
Jester King Brewery
We got the pepperoni and a custom pizza here. I was really surprised about how perfectly cooked this pizza was. The wood fired pizza really hits the spot and I love the char. I got a custom pizza with sausage, hot honey, pepperoni, and calabrian peppers. Maybe it was because I was starving but this pizza really hit the spot. The tomato sauce they use is great and the cheese melts perfectly on top. It took about 30 minutes for the pizza to come out.
Pieous ATX
Pieous used to be considered the best pizza spot in Austin, but the pandemic caused a dip in its popularity. They specialize in Neapolitan-style pizza with a thin sauce and airy, white crust. Initially, I wasn't impressed with their pizza as it tended to be too moist and underdone, causing the toppings to fall off easily. However, on my recent visits, I've noticed that they now cook their pizza longer, and I really enjoyed their pepperoni pizza with mushrooms. While I don't think it's the best in town, it's still worth a visit, especially when paired with their delicious pastrami sandwiches and desserts. You can use this website to order for pick up.
Desano's Pizza
Desano's has been open for years on Burnet Road, selling Neapolitan-style pizza. I think what Desano does best is serve large portioned pizza at reasonable prices, and for the most part, it's consistent. An unpopular opinion, but I think the pizza itself is just okay. The tomatoes they use for their sauce don't seem to be as high quality as the Bianco Dinapoli ones I use in my Ooni pizza. Personally, I prefer the Neapolitan-style pizza I get at Pieous or some other spots I've tried in Dallas. If you order the calzone, ask them to cook it extra-long, or else the inside might be cold. If you visit, I recommend trying the Carnevale-style crust that's stuffed with ricotta. Overall, it's good for Austin, but not as good as other cities. Here is their website! they have multiple locations and I hear you can purchase their door.
Via 313
Via 313 is a tricky one for me. When I first tried them years ago outside of Crown Anchor when they were a food truck, they were delicious! However, over the years, I feel the quality has declined a bit and the prices have increased. That being said, the Cadillac pizza (Gorgonzola, Fig Preserves, Prosciutto, Parmesan, Balsamic Glaze) has remained one of the best pizzas in Austin! The sweet fig preserves complement the gorgonzola and prosciutto perfectly, creating a perfect balance of sweet and salty. In terms of Detroit style, they are the most popular in Austin and they offer a gluten-free crust option as well. Here is their website. They have multiple locations.
Jersey Giant Pizza (Bee Cave)
Jersey Giant is a hidden gem. Full disclaimer, I haven't had it in a few years, but when their McNeil location was still around, they pumped out some of the best pizza ever. I would say this spot would rank in the top 2-3 in Austin if their McNeil location had remained. Their NYC or Jersey-style pizza is delicious, and although I'm not clear on the difference, it tastes like NYC style to me! The ratio of cheese, sauce, to crust is great. I would say the quality is slightly below Pedrosos, but not too far off. Anyway, they are a hidden gem, and I get happy every time someone mentions them to me on Instagram. You can click here for their website and menu.
Toss Pizzeria
Toss is a pizza spot in Austin, TX that serves above-average pizza. They are a great option for those who like pizzas with multiple toppings or for kids. For example, their Quatro Formaggi (which includes herb ricotta, mozzarella, gorgonzola, Romano, basil, and extra virgin olive oil with vegetarian choices) with added pepperoni is delicious, and they also have barbecue pizza. While Toss is not one of my favorite spots, I appreciate that it is quick and consistent. If you happen to be nearby, I would recommend giving it a try. Here is their menu.
Intero Italian
Intero is a popular, low-key Italian restaurant in Austin that also serves wood-fired pizzas. I tried the arrabbiata pizza with house-made mozzarella, Texas olive oil, and oregano, and it was delicious. This is definitely a fancier spot, and their pizza is good. They also offer potato pizza. Overall, it's not something I would rank in my top three, but it's certainly a must-try item if you're dining there for a nice date night. Here is their website.
Homeslice Pizza
Home Slice is the go-to spot for tourists in Austin, with several locations including the popular one on South Congress (SoCo). While the quality has dipped a bit since their initial location, it's still a solid option. Similar to Little Deli, they offer NYC-style pizza by the slice as well as whole pies and Sicilian pie. The slices used to be one of the best deals in town. I personally enjoy their pepperoni slices, but I've heard great things about their Italian sub, meatball sub, and white clam pizza. Overall, it's a must-visit for tourists, but not necessarily my top pick. The pizza can be a bit dry, and I think the ratios of toppings are slightly off. They have multiple locations. Here is their menu.
Sammataro
I would say Sammataro ranks within the top 5-10 pizza spots in Austin, TX. Although I've only had it once, I'm due for a revisit. Sammataro's pizza is a hybrid of Neapolitan style and NYC. When I first tried it, my initial impression was that it was very expensive for a food trailer pizza - a 16-inch pie cost $26 and an additional $4 for pepperoni. I tried the pizza on the spot at the trailer park and thought the bottom crust was good, but the sauce was bland and lacked the flavor and depth I would expect from an NYC style pizza. The pizza was also a bit dry despite being served fresh. Frankly, I was not impressed and noticed that most of the people who raved about the place were bloggers. Through the grapevine, it's clear that there are inconsistencies with the pizza here, and I've had multiple people say they love it and have had times where it's a similar experience to mine. At $30 a pizza, it has to be consistent and good. Anyway, I'll revisit one day! They have since opened a brick and mortar location as well. Here is the menu.
Delucca Gaucho Pizza
This is the only pizza spot in Austin that offers all-you-can-eat gourmet-style pizza. While Cici's and Gattisland may offer unlimited pizza, this place's pizza tastes better. It's actually a Brazilian pizza concept from Dallas. At this spot, you're given an order card that you flip over when you want pizza. They have 14+ types of pizza and bring them around to offer you. They even have dessert pizza! It's a great spot if you want to try multiple types of pizza. However, if you only like pepperoni or one type of pizza, this may not be the best choice for you, as you'll save more money buying a whole pizza elsewhere. In addition to unlimited pizza, they offer unlimited salad, lobster bisque, and meatballs. Overall, I'd say the pizza is good but not amazing. Click here for the menu.
Conan's
Conan's is a classic gem in Austin, known for their deep pan pizza, which is not to be confused with Chicago or Detroit style. They offer a variety of crust options, including gluten-free. The pizza here has a homey feel to it, and I recommend trying the wheat crust with the Savage filling (sausage, hamburger, pepperoni, green pepper, white onion, mushroom, and black olive, with jalapeño and anchovy as optional toppings). Ask for it to be extra toasty for added flavor. While Conan's certainly deserves recognition as an Austin classic, I wouldn't say it's the best pizza in town. Click here for the website.
Jet's Pizza
Jet's is my go-to spot for Detroit-style pizza and fast food in Austin, TX. Their pizza is cheap, quick, and pretty darn good. I particularly enjoy their pepperoni Detroit-style pizza, which is solid. I think Jet's has a bit of a cult following, and for good reason - their consistency is impressive.
