Although historic accounts regarding the origins of deep dish pizza differ, the consensus holds that the birthplace of deep dish pizza was in Illinois. Chicago, now home to iconic chains and local restaurants, is where deep dish was invented at Pizzeria Uno on 29 East Ohio Street.
Since its invention in 1943, deep dish pizza has gone through numerous iterations throughout the years, becoming a staple across the city and beyond with restaurants dedicated to the Chicago-style pizza across the country.
The iconic pizza is characterized by layers of sauce, selections of meat, vegetables and cheese along with a golden crust, taking inspiration from southern Italian street food that was brought to the U.S. by Italian immigrants during the great diaspora of the 19th and early 20th century.
With Illinois being home to 16 of the top 100 pizza spots in the Midwest, you are sure to find numerous locations for deep dish pizza and more across the state.
View the list of top pizza spots in Illinois here.
Happy National Deep Dish Day!
