The 25 Most Popular Independent Pizzerias in America

Featured in the Pizza Power Report 2024:

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There has been a proliferation of “best-pizzeria” lists popping up online in the past couple of years. Mostly they’re compiled by media outlets and reflect the personal, often persnickety preferences of food critics. But let’s face it: Most consumers don’t read those reviews. They head straight to Yelp.

Granted, some pizzeria operators wish they wouldn’t. But if you’re managing your digital presence wisely and respectfully, crowd-sourced review platforms can deliver intangible yet blockbuster results as far as driving new business to your restaurant. Pizza lovers across the United States vote pretty much every day on their favorite dine-in, delivery and carryout spots, and, from a marketing perspective, every vote counts.

To develop a People’s Choice ranking of the most popular independent pizzerias, we averaged out ratings for highly reviewed pizzerias (1,000 reviews or more) on Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Facebook. From the aptly named Mister O1 (increasingly famous for founder Renato Viola’s star-shaped pies) at No. 1 to Reno, Nevada’s old-school Smiling With Hope at No. 15 and the legendary L’Industrie Pizzeria in Brooklyn at No. 23, here’s a look at which pizza shops customers around the United States seem to love the most.