Thick, crispy, cheesy, and unmistakably Detroit.
The city’s signature square pizza is a true local classic that has earned its place alongside New York’s foldable pies and Chicago’s deep-dish slabs. With its pillowy crust, and gooey cheese (typically Wisconsin brick) topped with dollops of savory sauce, Detroit-style pizza is comfort food at its finest.
The style traces its roots back to 1946, when Gus Guerra, an Italian immigrant, created the first square pizza at Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria on the city’s east side. Inspired by Sicilian recipes, Guerra used blue steel pans borrowed from the auto industry to make a pie with a soft interior, a crispy bottom crust, and thick cheese that caramelizes into golden edges.
By the mid-2010s, pizzerias across the country started featuring Detroit-style pizza on their menus. Even Pizza Hut joined in the trend with its version in 2021.
But nothing compares to the real thing, so I set out in search of the best local Detroit-style pizzas. For the past half-year, I tried 25 pies from cozy neighborhood bars, downtown hotspots, hip restaurants, and even a convenience store, scattered across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. From old-school staples like Buddy’s and Loui’s to rising stars such as Michigan & Trumbull and Grandma Bob’s, the metro area has no shortage of delicious Detroit-style options.
Ranking something as subjective as pizza was a tricky task, and this is by no means anything more than a list of my favorite pies.
Without further ado, let’s dig in.
