We've tried lots, disliked most and concluded that true Chicago style deep dish pizza could only be found in Chicago. That is until we stumbled upon two local pizzerias in San Diego that serve pies that are pretty darn close to the authentic culinary masterpieces that we enjoy while visiting Chi-town. If you have yet to hit these neighborhood hotspots, now's the time to discover The Best Chicago Style Pizza in San Diego!
Image Credit: Eric Chan
BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, "DEEP DISH OR STUFFED?"
How about one of each! There are two versions of Chicago style deep dish pizza, traditional deep dish and stuffed. Deep dish is the original when it comes to Chicago style pizza and was first debuted at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago (Chicagoans refer to this locale as UNOs) in the 1940s, though it is debated as to who should be named the creator of the first deep dish pie.
Stuffed pizza, taking deep dish to a whole new level, was introduced in Chicago in the mid 1970s. Novice deep dish eaters can hardly tell the difference between the two styles of pizza by just looking at them. The only real noticeable difference is that stuffed pizza is a bit "deeper" than deep dish. Once cut and served, however, the difference is clear.
The simplest way to explain it is that stuffed pizza has one more layer of dough than deep dish. Both deep dish and stuffed versions are typically cooked in circular, high sided pans and are built "upside down" in a sauce-on-top manner.
Deep dish pizzas are usually built by first arranging the toppings on the crust, then adding cheese, and topping off the creation with a chunky red sauce. Stuffed pizza starts off like deep dish, usually assembled with the toppings on the bottom and then cheese, but is then followed by an extra thin layer of pizza dough and more cheese before it is topped off with a chunky red sauce.
They're both phenomenal when ordered at the right establishments. Therefore, we recommend both at certain pizzerias and neither at others. Moving on...
CHICAGO'S LANDMARK PIZZERIAS
We've eaten pizza all over the globe and still insist that Chicago's pies tower over the vast majority of its worldly competition. The following is a compilation of our tried and true pizzeria favorites. All four of these companies have transformed into chains, so please note that the locations listed are purposeful... and better than their chain imitators!
162 E. Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611
29 E. Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611
730 N. Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611
6649 N. Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnwood, IL 60712
TRUE CHICAGO STYLE - RIGHT HERE IN SAN DIEGO (SAY WHAT?!)
So, next time you're craving a slice of Chi-town goodness for dinner but still want to catch a stunning SoCal sunset at Ocean Beach Pier or atop Mount Soledad, keep these yummy pizzerias in mind!
Mission Hills Location: 4030 Goldfinch Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Image Credit: Lefty's
"THE PIZZA PIES ARE NOSTALGIC, LEANING HEAVILY TOWARD THE TYPE MY DAD USED TO BRING HOME FROM A PLACE NEAR WHERE HE WORKED IN CHICAGO."
-DONNA W.
"BEING FROM CHICAGO, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE A SOME AUTHENTIC CHICAGO FOOD NEARBY!"
-MARK M.
Testimonials Credit: TripAdvisor
UTC Location: 4150 Regents Park Row #100, La Jolla, CA 92037
Image Credit: @RegentsPizza
"THIS IS THE BEST PIZZA IN SAN DIEGO. I'M FROM CHICAGO AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS PLACE WOULD BE 5 STARS EVEN IN CHI-TOWN."
-JPTSD2014
"REGENTS PIZZERIA DEEP DISH WAS THE REAL THING! VERY AUTHENTIC TO CHICAGO DEEP DISH, EXTREMELY TASTY WITH A GREAT CRUST AND FRESH FILLINGS."
-RUNNINGMAN61
Testimonials Credit: TripAdvisor
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