Ranking the best Detroit-style pizzas

#25 Amar Pizza

12197 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck; amarpizza.com

Amar Pizza in Hamtramck is known for making one hell of a pie. Praised for creative pizzas featuring Bangladeshi ingredients, Amar was even named one of the best pizzerias in the U.S. by The New York Times last year. But its take on Detroit-style pizza is underwhelming. Other than its rectangular shape, the pizza missed the key elements of Detroit style. It’s cut into 12 pieces, leaving only four corner slices. The dough is more spongy than airy, and the cheese and sauce are sparse and bland. What little there is on this pizza doesn’t have much flavor. That said, Amar’s strength lies in its more unique offerings. If you go, skip the Detroit-style and try some of their other pizzas — like ghost pepper, dry fish, or Mediterranean — for a more unconventional experience.

#24 Belle Isle Pizza

7869 E. Jefferson, Detroit; belleislepizza.com

Belle Isle Pizza has been serving pies from a small, no-frills spot near Belle Isle since 2015. Under new ownership since 2023, their Detroit-style pizza is straightforward but falls short of the city’s best. The crust is thinner than most Detroit-style pies, and while the edges have a satisfying crunch, the overall structure lacks heft. The tangy sauce leans acidic, which overpowers the cheese instead of balancing it. The flavor is there, but the execution felt a bit off. Still, it was a decent, satisfying pizza, but in a city with so many good options, this one doesn’t quite measure up.

#23 Crispelli’s Pizzeria

Multiple locations; crispellis.com

Known for its fresh, thin-crust pies, Crispelli’s falls short when it comes to Detroit-style pizza. The crispy edges and abundance of cheese are satisfying, but there’s a serious lack of sauce. The result is a pie that feels unbalanced, leaving you wanting more flavor.

#22 Detroit Pizza Bar

7316 W. McNichols, Detroit; thedetroitpizzabar.com

This vibrant spot has a menu that includes 17 different pizzas, some with names of local icons, like the Supremes, the Temptations, and the Coleman Young (a seafood-heavy pie with shrimp, crab, lobster, and alfredo sauce). The dough is big, fluffy, and topped with delicious cheese and a sauce that leans sweet, though it lacks much of a crust, and it isn’t as crispy as most of the pizzas I tried. What really stands out here is the atmosphere. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and some of the patrons encouraged me to stay for the Michigan-Michigan State football game. I wish I had taken them up on it, but I’m sure I’ll be back for some of those other pizzas.

#21 PizzaPapalis

Multiple locations; pizzapapalis.com

Known for its Chicago-style deep dish, PizzaPapalis introduced its take on Detroit-style pizza in 2020. It comes in one size, with eight large slices. Their version sticks to the basics — a thick, rectangular pie with a crispy-edged crust and a classic cheese-and-sauce layering. The dough is surprisingly airy for a deep-dish style, giving each bit a nice contrast between the soft interior and the caramelized edges. The flavor of the cheese and sauce is solid, but the portions are light, leaving some bites feeling dry.

#20 Jet’s Pizza

Multiple locations; jetspizza.com

Jet’s may not satisfy purists, but it’s a reliably delicious pizza delivered to your door, and that’s hard to beat. With more than 400 locations across the country, it’s the largest chain serving Detroit-style pizza, and in terms of quality, it blows away the other Michigan-based national franchises like Little Caesars, Dominos, and Hungry Howie’s.

Jet’s takes some liberties, like layering the sauce under the cheese and not using Wisconsin brick cheese. For some, that’s a dealbreaker. For me, it’s still a tasty, convenient pie that is far better than what most other pizza delivery chains offer.

And Jet’s is not stingy with its cheese. The blend of mozzarella and Muenster is gooey and caramelized at the edges. The sauce is sweeter and lighter than most. The pepperoni curls into cups, and the crust has a nice balance between moist and crunchy without becoming soggy.

#19 The Original Buscemi’s

Multiple locations; originalbuscemis.com

Serving pizza out of party stores for more than 60 years, this local chain is a unique and convenient fixture in metro Detroit. It brought back its original Detroit-style pizza in 2016, and at just $13.99 for an eight-piece pizza, the price is hard to beat. A single slice is only $2.19. The pizza is surprisingly good. The crust is thick, and they absolutely nail the crunch. Both the bottom and edges are perfectly crispy. The cheese is average, and there isn’t much sauce, but the overall experience is solid, especially considering this came from a convenience store.

#18 Frank’s Family Pizzeria

3144 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; frankspizza1952.com

A downriver staple since 1952, Frank’s is a quaint, casual spot with a local loyal following. Each pie is baked in a classic blue steel pan that creates beautifully crisp edges. The dough is light and perfectly crispy. The eight-corner pizza is topped with small, crunchy pepperonis and two generous dollops of sauce down the middle. However, the sauce is on the sweeter side and the cheese is a bit sparse and not particularly memorable. Still, the overall structure of the pizza is solid, with great texture and balance. It may not be flashy, but it’s a well-built pizza.

#17 Detroit Style Pizza Company

28630 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; detroitstylepizza.com

Founded in 2012 by World Champion Pizza Maker Shawn Randazzo, who made it his mission to perfect and celebrate Detroit-style pizza, this place even sells steel pans and ships its pizzas across the country. Although Randazzo passed away in 2020, his passion and expertise live on through his significant contribution to the tradition. The pizza is good, but not without flaws. The bread is the highlight, soft and airy on the inside with a nice crisp on the outside. The large dollops of sauce are a nice touch, though the sauce itself is a bit underwhelming, and some parts of the pizza feel over-seasoned. It’s not as thick as other Detroit-style pies, but overall, it’s a solid, well-executed pizza.

#16 Como’s

22812 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; comosrestaurant.com

A Ferndale icon since the 1960s, Como’s underwent a major transformation when new owners reopened it in 2019 with a fresh look, an updated menu, and a focus on Detroit-style pizza.

The pies are solid and satisfying. Each eight-piece order is two smaller pizzas, so every slice is a coveted corner. The crust is perfectly crispy on the edges, the cheese is decent, and the sauce adds a garlicky punch. Overall, it’s a hearty, well-executed pizza that holds its own.

#15 Guido’s Premium Pizza

Multiple locations; guidospizza.com

Known as “The Savory Sauce Boss,” Guido’s has been serving pies across metro Detroit since 1993. With 11 locations in the area, the chain has built a loyal following. Guido’s version is thinner than most Detroit-style pizzas, from the crust to the cheese and sauce, leaving you wanting more. The crust provides a satisfying crunch despite its thin base. It’s not as hearty as some other Detroit-style pies, but it’s still a solid, satisfying option.

#14 Palazzo Di Pizza

1220 E. 11 Mile, Royal Oak; palazzodipizza.com

Opened in 2019 by World Champion Pizza Maker Shawn Randazzo and his cousin Greg Cummings, Palazzo specializes in classic Detroit-style pies with a focus on quality ingredients and perfectly crisped edges. It’s a solid pie; the crust has great texture, and it’s got a well-balanced ratio of cheese-to-sauce. The sauce, however, didn’t quite hit the mark for me, reminding me more of a spaghetti sauce. Still, the pizza is well-cooked, filling, and satisfying. If you go, don’t miss the gelato. The strawberry cheesecake and pistachio flavors were worth the trip on their own.

#13 Shield’s Pizza

Multiple locations; shieldspizza.com

Shield’s is one of the original Detroit-style pizza spots, with roots tracing back to 1937, when it first opened as a bar at the corner of Davison and Shields streets in Detroit. Louis Tourtois, a former chef at Buddy’s, later brought Detroit-style pizza to Shield’s.

Unfortunately, the pizza I had at the Midtown location fell short of its reputation. The crust lacked the crispiness of a Detroit-style pie, and the edges were dry. The dough was very soft throughout. Neither the sauce nor the cheese stood out. Despite its shortcomings, it still managed to be a damn good pizza.

#12 Pie Sci Pizza

5163 Trumbull, Detroit | 8150 W. Nine Mile Rd., Oak Park | piescipizza.com

Pie Sci has grown from a pop-up location inside Woodbridge Pub in Detroit on Sundays to two full-fledged pizza destinations. The first brick-and-mortar opened in 2015 next to Woodbridge Pub in Detroit, and in early 2024, Pie Sci opened a second location in Oak Park. It has developed a cult following for its fresh, imaginative, and unconventional pizzas with weekly specials, like Artichoke Garfunkel: The Sound of Spinach.

The Detroit-style pizza is solid. It was cooked perfectly, with a great texture and nice crunch. Of all the pizzas I’ve tried, this one had the most pepperonis, which added some punch. The flavor reminded me a bit of French bread pizza, but more refined and well-cooked. It’s a decent option, especially for its inventive toppings.

#11 Green Lantern Pizza

Multiple locations; greenlanternpizza.com

This local favorite traces its roots back to 1955 in an old farmhouse bar in Madison Heights., its name coming from the green lanterns that were used to signal alcohol sales during Prohibition. Known for its laid-back vibe and longstanding reputation, Green Lantern gained a burst of attention recently when food critic Rashad Mooreman, aka Mr. ChimeTime, declared it the best Detroit-style pizza. But here’s the catch: while its menu includes square pizza, you have to make a special request for Detroit-style. It’s a decent pie, with crispy edges, a soft interior, and thin strips of sauce on top. Plus, it’s filling and satisfying, leaving me full after three slices.

#10 Sicily’s Pizzeria

3554 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; sicilysdetroit.com

This Southwest Detroit fixture has been serving up pies since 1998. Owner Ali Beydoun took over in 1999 and transformed the modest delivery spot into a true destination known for its naturally fermented sourdough crust. Sicily’s doesn’t use sugar, vegetable oil, commercial yeast, or bleached flour, and as a result, the pizza is light, airy, and full of flavor.

Indeed, the sourdough crust is the standout. It’s perfectly airy with a crispy, golden edge that gives every bite a satisfying crunch. Served in fresh dollops, the sauce is bright and flavorful without being overpowering. The pepperoni curls into crispy, salty cups. While the cheese didn’t blow me away, the crust and sauce made up for it. This is a very good pizza. It’s simple, well-executed, and all about the dough.

#9 Union Assembly

2131 Woodward Ave., Detroit; unionassembly.com

What sets this spot apart is its lineup of five different Detroit-style pizzas, including The Coney, a playful twist on the Motor City staple with chopped hot dog, chili, cheese, white onion, and yellow mustard. The pepperoni Detroit-style pizza is also very good and hits the spot. The crust is perfectly caramelized, with crispy, cheesy edges. It’s a bit thinner than most, and while there isn’t quite enough sauce, the flavor still stands out. But be warned: This is a heavy, greasy pizza. But despite the grease, it’s one of the best Detroit-style pizzas I tried.

#8 Niki’s Pizza

735 Beaubien Blvd., Detroit; nikispizzadetroit.com

Tucked in the heart of Greektown, Niki’s has been serving Detroit-style pizza for decades, along with Greek specialties like flaming saganaki. (The restaurant is named after Nikoletta Kefallinos, whose son opened the first location in her honor during one of her visits from Greece.) It’s all about balance here: The dough is light and airy, with a buttery, soft texture that contrasts nicely with the crispy edges. Dollops of tangy sauce add just the right amount of zest, and all the ingredients come together for an evenly layered taste. The pizza is surprisingly light, without grease or heavy ingredients, so you can enjoy it without a dreaded post-pizza coma.

#7 Grandma Bob’s

2135 Michigan Ave., Detroit; grandmabobs.com

When it comes to Detroit-style pizza, Grandma Bob’s doesn’t overcomplicate things, and it works. The crust strikes an ideal balance with crunch, caramelized edges, and an airy interior. The pie is topped with a thin layer of cheese, dolloped tomato sauce, and small, cupped, perfectly crispy pepperonis. All the ingredients tie everything together for a balanced, tasty pie. It’s simple, well-made, and really freaking good.

#6 Z’s Villa

42 Piquette St., Detroit; zsvilla.com

Housed in a charming 1890s Victorian home in Milwaukee Junction, Z’s Villa has been a neighborhood fixture for years. The environment is cozy and unpretentious, with a lively atmosphere, a patio with games and a volleyball court, and a menu featuring everything from “the world’s best corned beef” to creamy, homemade cole slaw. Their Detroit-style pizza is lighter and thinner than most, with an airy dough that’s crispy on the edges and the bottom. The fresh sauce is perfectly balanced, and there’s just enough of it. The real highlight is the delicious three-cheese blend, which gives the pizza a rich, savory flavor without making it overly heavy. This is the kind of pizza that satisfies you without feeling stuffed. It’s a solid, well-executed pizza that’s worth a visit.