While Thrillist names Sapori Di 786 Degrees in Pasadena, California, the nation's top pizza spot, the esteemed 50 Top Pizza USA guide crowns Una Pizza Napoletana in New York as the undisputed champion for 2025, according to Pizza Today. The divergence immediately complicates the search for the single "best" pizza. For travelers seeking top pizza cities in 2026, relying on one list presents a culinary challenge.
Popular crowd-sourced rankings like Yelp offer a broad view, but expert-curated lists often identify entirely different establishments as the nation's best. Travelers following only one source risk missing critically acclaimed pizzerias.
The "best" pizza is entirely subjective, with zero overlap among top picks from expert panels, popular aggregators, and lifestyle publications. Culinary tourism now demands a fragmented, nuanced approach, requiring travelers to cross-reference multiple "best of" lists.
The Contradictory Crowns: Thrillist vs. Expert Palates
- 1 — Thrillist named Sapori Di 786 Degrees in Pasadena, California, as the nation's top pizza spot, with Ciao! Pizza & Pasta in Chelsea, Massachusetts, ranking second, and Zeneli Pizzeria & Cucina Napoletana in New Haven, Connecticut, third, according to Miami Herald.
- 1 — Una Pizza Napoletana in New York is ranked as the top pizzeria in the USA for 2024 by 50 Top Pizza USA. Tony's Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco ranks second by the same guide.
The stark contrast in top contenders reveals varied perspectives on what constitutes the 'best' pizza, from broad popular appeal to artisanal craft. This means 'best' is defined by vastly different criteria: expert panels value specific culinary traditions, while other lists reflect broader popularity or regional appeal.
Beyond the Top Spots: Regional Favorites and Hidden Gems
Beyond top-ranked establishments, crowd-sourced and expert lists highlight a diverse array of locations and pizza styles nationwide. The diverse array of locations and pizza styles nationwide encourages exploration beyond major culinary hubs.
1. New York, NY Pizza Destinations
Best for: Neapolitan purists and historical pizza enthusiasts.
New York hosts pizzerias recognized across multiple national lists. Una Pizza Napoletana ranks #1 Best Pizzeria in the USA for 2025 by Pizza Today and for 2024 by 50 Top Pizza USA. Prince Street Pizza made Yelp's Top 100, according to Michael W Travels. Lombardi's, the first US pizzeria, opened here in 1905. Its consistent expert recognition and historical significance solidify its status as a must-visit for serious pizza enthusiasts.
Strengths: Consistent expert recognition, historical significance, diverse styles. | Limitations: High competition, can be overwhelming. | Price: Moderate to high.
2. San Francisco, CA Pizza Destinations
Best for: Artisan pizza connoisseurs and West Coast culinary explorers.
San Francisco ranks high due to Tony's Pizza Napoletana, the second-best pizzeria in the USA for 2024 by 50 Top Pizza USA. The city offers a strong scene for high-quality, craft pizza, positioning it as a key destination for refined, artisanal experiences.
Strengths: Critically acclaimed pizzerias, focus on quality ingredients. | Limitations: Fewer crowd-sourced options, potentially higher prices. | Price: High.
3. New Haven, Connecticut Pizza Destinations
Best for: Apizza style enthusiasts and East Coast regional food explorers.
New Haven hosts Zeneli Pizzeria & Cucina Napoletana, which ranked #3 on Yelp's Top 100 Pizza Spots in the U.S. for 2023, according to Miami Herald. Zeneli Pizzeria & Cucina Napoletana's ranking highlights the strong regional appeal of its unique pizza style.
Strengths: Distinct regional "apizza" style, strong local following. | Limitations: Limited national recognition beyond specific lists. | Price: Moderate.
4. Philadelphia, PA Pizza Destinations
Best for: Foodies seeking emerging pizza scenes and diverse culinary offerings.
Philadelphia is recognized for high-quality pizzerias like Pizzeria Beddia, ranked among the top in the USA for 2025 by 50 Top Pizza USA. The city's food scene continues to gain national attention, making Philadelphia an exciting, evolving destination for diverse pizza offerings.
Strengths: Growing reputation for artisanal pizza, diverse culinary scene. | Limitations: Not as historically established as other major pizza cities. | Price: Moderate to high.
5. Chicago, IL Pizza Destinations
Best for: Deep-dish aficionados and those interested in pizza history.
Chicago ranks for its historical significance. Pizzeria Uno, a pioneer of deep-dish pizza, opened here in 1943, making it a key destination for a unique and iconic American pizza style, according to Michael W Travels.
Strengths: Birthplace of deep-dish, strong identity, unique regional style. | Limitations: Deep-dish is not universally preferred; other styles less prominent. | Price: Moderate.
Both popular and expert lists recognize a wide geographic spread of quality pizzerias, encouraging exploration beyond major culinary hubs and showcasing varied pizza traditions. Una Pizza Napoletana's consistent top ranking by 50 Top Pizza USA (2025) suggests stable expert opinion for a specific style, sharply contrasting with other lists' volatile results.
Navigating the Pizza Landscape: Crowd-Sourced vs. Connoisseur
| Feature | Crowd-Sourced Lists (e.g. Yelp) | Expert-Curated Lists (e.g. 50 Top Pizza USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Criteria | Broad popularity, customer reviews, accessibility, local appeal. | Culinary technique, ingredient quality, adherence to specific traditions (e.g. Neapolitan), chef reputation. |
| Target Audience | General public, casual diners, travelers seeking popular local spots. | Food critics, culinary enthusiasts, travelers seeking artisanal or authentic experiences. |
| Geographic Focus | Wide regional diversity, reflecting local preferences. | Often concentrated in major culinary centers, but can highlight specific regional styles. |
| Top Picks Example | Cheese Board Pizza (Berkeley, CA) | Una Pizza Napoletana (New York, NY) |
| Surprise Element | Can highlight unexpected local favorites from smaller towns. | May feature lesser-known, highly skilled pizzerias. |
The absence of New York pizzerias in Thrillist's top 3, despite the city's iconic reputation and Una Pizza Napoletana's consistent expert ranking, shows how different methodologies can overlook established culinary hubs.
Understanding the 'Best': How Lists Are Made
Different ranking methodologies fundamentally shape which pizzerias gain recognition. Crowd-sourced platforms like Yelp rely on user reviews and ratings, reflecting popular sentiment and local favorites. Crowd-sourced platforms prioritize broad appeal and customer satisfaction over specific culinary standards.
Conversely, expert-curated lists, such as 50 Top Pizza USA, employ panels of seasoned critics and food journalists. These experts evaluate pizzerias based on criteria like dough fermentation, sauce balance, cheese quality, and oven technique. Their focus: artisanal craft and adherence to specific pizza traditions, often favoring Neapolitan or other classic styles.
The specific data points and expert palates employed by each ranking system directly shape which pizzerias rise to the top, reflecting distinct definitions of 'best.' The profound disagreement among top pizza lists—from Thrillist's #1 Sapori Di 786 Degrees to 50 Top Pizza USA's Una Pizza Napoletana—reveals 'best pizza' is less about objective quality and more about the specific palate and priorities of the list's creators or audience.
As culinary tourism evolves, travelers will likely rely on a multi-source approach, blending expert recommendations like 50 Top Pizza USA with crowd-sourced insights from platforms like Yelp, to truly navigate America's diverse and fragmented pizza landscape.
