Who Serves the Best Pizza in Michigan?
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Michigan may be a land of Vernors, bumpy cake, and coney dogs, but the Great Lakes State is also a place with a plethora of perfect pizzas. From Detroit-style pizzas and classic offerings to secret recipe pies and unique twists on old favorites, there’s a pizza place (or two or three) for every Michigander young and old to enjoy.
We asked Michiganders, “Where is the BEST place to get a pizza in Michigan?” The following is a list of some of the top places Michiganders go to enjoy their favorite pizza…
Chuck Wagon Pizza | Ludington
One of Michiganders’ overwhelming favorites is Chuckwagon Pizza in Ludington, which uses daily fresh-made dough, quality cheese, and a homemade sauce to make pies that keep customers coming back. Customers with big appetites can dig into the Super Pizza or the Give Me the Meats Man! to taste the goodness for themselves.
Loui’s Pizza | Hazel Park
This award-winning Metro Detroit pizza spot offers classic pies and tasty specialties like Hawaiian pizza, BBQ Chicken pizza, and Meat Lovers, all piled high with toppings. Customers in the mood for traditional Italian dishes can also indulge in mostaccioli, baked cappelletti, ravioli, and lasagna, so everyone can come hungry and leave happy.
Buddys | Detroit
The originator of the famous Detroit-style pizza has many locations in Southeast Michigan, but the best spot to enjoy it is in Detroit at its original Conant Street location.
Buddy’s Detroit-style pizzas, with their thick cheesy crust, are available in more than a dozen specialty offerings including the Henry Ford (red onions, beef, bacon, bleu cheese, sauce, and cheese), the BBQ Conant (grilled chicken, onions, cilantro, BBQ sauce, and cheese); and Detroit Public TV (Old World pepperoni tucked under a cheese blend with more pepperoni on top).
Silver Beach Pizza | St. Joe
This St. Joe pizza spot — housed in a former Amtrak depot — offers something to tantalize every tastebud with more than a dozen specialty pizzas.
Hungry customers with big appetites can dig into favorites like The David’s (a base of Frank’s Red Hot and BBQ sauce with chicken, bacon, ham, sausage, garlic, and pepperoni piled on top); UJ’s Sunburst (asparagus, yellow squash, sweet peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini); and The Carousel (green pepper, mushrooms, sausage, ham, and pepperoni).
Vivio’s | Indian River
Vivio’s offers a fine Italian dining experience in the heart of Northern Michigan with mostaccioli, lasagna, vegetable lasagna, and manicotti among its offerings.
But the pizza is one of the highlights of the menu and guests can choose from classic and BYO options along with specialties like the Feta pizza (tomatoes, feta and mozzarella cheese, and green and black olives); and Heidi’s Favorite (bacon, tomatoes, and double cheese).
Big Al’s | Manistee
When you’re in the mood for pizza, there aren’t many places better than Big Al’s, a family-owned pizzeria whose pies have been named some of Michigan’s best.
Big Al’s offers numerous pizza options (including 12, 14, 16, and 18-inch pies and vegan and gluten-free crusts). Guests can choose specialty pizzas like Hawaiian, BLT, and taco, Chicago-style deep dish pizza, and even a giant stromboli with up to three items.
Fricano’s | Grand Haven
Since 1949, Fricano’s has been a Grand Haven institution — so famous for its pizza that it has a following known as the “Fricano Faithful” and it has been inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame.
Fricano’s delicious pizza starts with its famous 12-inch, ultra-thin crust that’s described as crispy, but slightly flaky and strong enough to still hold toppings. From there, visitors can choose from favorites like the Fricano’s EBA (Everything But Anchovies), the Double Italian Sausage, Well Done Pie, and the Double Pepperoni, Double Sausage, Well Done Pie.
Pizza Plus | Cadillac
Since 1964, Pizza Plus has been a fixture in downtown Cadillac with a well-earned reputation for great pizza. Specialty pies include the CBR (chicken, bacon, ranch), the Western Chicken (chicken, bacon, onion, green peppers, BBQ sauce, and cheddar cheese), and the OHS (Original Hot Sub, pepperoni, lettuce, ham, and house sauce).
Tawas Bay Pizza Co. | Tawas
On the shores of Lake Huron, pizza enthusiasts, and even the pickiest eaters can find something to munch on at this quaint eatery that has one of the most expansive lists of specialty pizzas in the state.
Customers can go for classics like BLT, Cheeseburger and Meat Lovers, or choose bolder options like the Mac Dog (cheddar cheese, mac and cheese, hot dogs, and white sauce), the Freakin Pickle (bacon, Freakin Garlic Pickles, red pepper flakes, mozzarella, and white sauce), and the Cuban (Freakin Pickles, ham, pulled pork, mustard, and mozzarella).
The Mitten Brewing Co. | Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids may be known as Beer City USA, but Mitten Brewing Company brings together two great things — beer and pizza — and somehow makes them even better in a baseball-themed bar — complete with lots of cool baseball memorabilia.
Mitten Brewing Company has won “Best Pizza” awards numerous times, and for good reason — the pizzas are that good! Specialties here include the Field of Greens (pesto, spinach, green peppers, garlic, feta, and portobello mushrooms), the Curse of the Goat (sausage, goat cheese, tomato basil sauce, mozzarella, and peppadew peppers), and a pizza flight that allows customers to sample up to four specialty pies.
Green Lantern Pizza | Various Metro Detroit Locations
With multiple locations in Metro Detroit, Green Lantern is frequently listed as a favorite among Michiganders. With numerous options and pies piled high with toppings, every guest leaves full and happy.
Options here include the Chicken Siciliano (marinated chicken, garlic butter, red onion, mild peppers, oregano, feta, and cheese); the John’s Jumbo Supreme (pepperoni, green pepper, mushroom, and cheese); and the Octopie (all corners).
Riviera Theatre & Bar | Three Rivers
Is there anything better than dinner and a show — especially when that dinner is pizza? While enjoying trivia nights and live performances, guests can dig into 14-inch artisanal pizzas including double pepperoni, cheese, Margherita, and Oberonion (Oberon-braised onions, pepperoni, red pepper flakes, and mozzarella).
Brooklyn Boyz | Bay City
There’s a lively atmosphere at Brooklyn Boyz, made livelier by good company and authentic New York-style pizza, Italian-style pasta, and delicious Italian desserts.
Pizzas can be ordered Neapolitan style, traditional, vegan, and even gluten-free. Customers can build their own pizza or choose from specialties like the Hawaii 5-0 (ham, bacon, pineapple); the Brooklyn Pizza (pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ham); and the White Pizza (broccoli, ricotta, parmesan, garlic, spinach, and mozzarella cheese).
Cloverleaf Pizza | Eastpointe
After Buddy’s founder Gus Guerra sold Buddy’s, he opened Cloverleaf in 1946, serving up award-winning, Detroit-style pies said to be “the pizza everyone copies, but no one equals.”
That tradition continues nearly 80 years later with creations like the Rueben (corned beef, sauerkraut, sauce, and mozzarella), the BLT, the Hawaiian, and a local favorite (old-fashioned pepperoni, honey and jalapenos).
Pizza e Vino | Plymouth
Pizza and wine make the perfect pairing at Pizza e Vino, where visitors can choose from extensive lists for both things.
The pizza menu features both rosse and bianche (no red sauce) options, including Amatriciana (mozzarella, basil, garlic, onion, pancetta, and Fresno chile); the Pistacchio (mozzarella, basil, Italian fennel sausage, and pistachio pesto), and the Quattro Formaggi (oregano, mozzarella, pecorino romano cheese, smoked provolone, and ricotta cheese).
Fatso Pizza | Rockford and Coopersville
With two locations, hungry customers have more opportunities to taste the high-quality pies served by this family-owned eatery.
Fatso’s specialties include the BLT, the CBR, BBQ Chicken, Spicy Lovers (spicy capicola, jalapeno, bacon, mozzarella, and homemade sauce); and buffalo chicken. Guests can also order loaded stromboli with cheese and up to three items.
Mr. Scribs | Grand Haven, Muskegon, Norton Shores
For more than 60 years, West Michiganders have flocked to Mr. Scribs for its family atmosphere and legendary pizza. With its fresh dough, homemade sauce, secret four-cheese blend, and secret recipe sausage, customers keep returning to Mr. Scribs because know they’re getting quality in every pie.
Mr. Scribs keeps the menu simple with veggie, deluxe, and cheese-only options (plus additional toppings upon request) available in deep pan and thin crust options. No matter what you choose, you’ll taste the goodness in every bite.
PizzaPapalis | Detroit, Taylor, Southfield, Bloomfield Hills
What started as a love affair with Chicago-style deep dish pizza in the 80s grew into a quest to make the perfect crust, and ultimately resulted in the creation of PizzaPapalis, where the freshest ingredients come together to make the perfect pizza.
Customers can choose from Detroit-style, Chicago-style, thin-crust, bianca thin crust, lunch-style (8-inch), and even half-baked pizzas to enjoy at home. With options ranging from bacon cheeseburger to seafood combo, to vegetarian to Spinach deep dish, there’s something delicious for everyone on the menu.
Bernie O’s Pizza | Muskegon
Pizza enthusiasts looking for something different won’t want to miss the chance to try Bernie O’s famous Twist Pizza, said to be the “World’s Best Pizza” that’s the ultimate combination of textures and flavors.
The Twist starts with a layer of tangy yellow sauce which is topped with bacon, chicken, and mozzarella cheese. After baking, it’s topped with pineapple, fresh tomato, bits of jalapeno, and yellow pepper and finished off with a coil of ranch. It really offers a bit of everything in each bite!
Other options on the menu include the BLT, the BroSkee (chicken, bacon, and chorizo topped with pineapple, ranch, and brackle sauce), and the Big Dill (ham and a pickle-based cream sauce, pickle shreds, and ranch).
Big Chuck’s Pizza Plus | Munith
Big Chuck’s has all the ingredients for a perfect pizza experience: Good prices, a friendly atmosphere, and good food. They serve both pan crust and screen-baked pizzas ranging from 6 inches to 20 inches. A BYO option is available and the specialty options include the BLT, the Turkey Club, BBQ Chicken, Hawaiian, and Supreme.
Honorable Mentions
With so many great places to enjoy pizza in Michigan, it’s hard to cap the list at just 20. Here are a few more places Michiganders said they enjoy getting a slice or a whole pie:
- Little Caesars | Various locations
- Klavon’s Pizza | Jackson and Mason
- Jet’s Pizza | Various locations
- Mother’s Pizza | Plymouth
- Capone’s Speakeasy and Restaurant | Muskegon
- Skiles Tavern Inc | Holland
- Brent’s Pizza of Perry | Perry
- Cascarelli’s Pizza | Homer
- Fredi the Pizza Man | Melvindale
- Bilbo’s Pizza | Kalamazoo
Michigan’s Best Pizza
Whether you’re looking for a simple pizza or a gourmet pie loaded with toppings, the best pizza in Michigan is colorful, full of flavor, and delicious.
From Detroit and Kalamazoo to Tawas, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven, each of Michigan’s best pizza spots is unique, offering mouthwatering pies certain to satisfy every tastebud. So if you seek a delicious pizza in Michigan, look around you; odds are you don’t have to travel far to find one.
Did we miss mentioning your favorite place to get pizza in Michigan? Tell us in the comments!
