From Chicago to Houston: Top 5 Chicago-style Pizza Places in Houston

Bollo doesn’t cook your pizza in a regular, steel oven. Instead, they choose the traditional, wood-fired way to cook them which gives their pizzas that distinct, authentic flavor.

And if you don’t want to order a la carte, then all you have to do is pay between $2 and $5 to build your own pizza. That’s the kind of freedom we want!

You can even add extra toppings on the a la carte pizzas if you want! Whether you want to add greens like basil and arugula or pack it with more protein like pancetta, there’s plenty of options to choose from.

Our top picks are their 44 Farms Beef pizza and their Chicken Parm. We’d also like to give the Shrimp Scampi Pizza and the Fettucine Alfredo a shout-out, too!

Bollo also offers gluten-free pizza options, so those with a gluten allergy can also enjoy a slice of an authentic Chicago-style pizza.

In our opinion though, some crusts on their deep-dish are a bit too thin to be a Chicago-style pizza. Some pizzas (*ahem, Margherita*) are more of a New York style pizza, but they all still taste good.

We like that you can choose between white (blanco) or red (rosse) sauces, which adds another touch of customization for those who are picky with their pizzas.

They also have a pretty extensive drink menu with curated wines, beers and non-alcoholic drinks that pair well with their food menu. So all things considered, if you’re looking to scratch that authentic Chicago-style pizza itch, Bollo is a great choice!

Should you give Pizzaro’s Pizzeria Napoletana, a self-proclaimed award winning Chicago-style pizzeria in Houston the benefit of the doubt? We did, and we liked our experience, too!

Firstly, the menu. Though they don’t offer as many options as other places, it works for them. Gordon Ramsay said so himself, too many menu items can lead to confusion for the chefs.

Their award-winning owner has a good repertoire, and has been winning awards left and right since 2012!

We like that Pizzaro’s cooks their pizza in a real brick oven. This ensures that authentic flavor that every pizzeria aims for.

Speaking of flavor, their three pizza options are well-curated and well-designed. Their Napoletana, Detroit, and New York style pizzas are all made fresh every day, and can be built to your liking for a couple of bucks ($16 to $26).

For us, we suggest you give their D.U.M.B.O. New York style pizza and the Ranch Salad a try. You can even ask them to add chicken to the ranch salad! 

But all of these come at a steep price. The Ranch Salad costs $17 if you add chicken, and the 16” D.U.M.B.O. pizza costs a whopping $35. But you can rest your pretty laurels that the flavor more than makes up for the price.

Pizzaro’s also got you if you’re allergic to gluten, too! Their gluten-free, build-your-own Detroit-style pizza can be had for $21.

Luna has branches in Heights, Upper Kirby, and Westheimer, and all three stand out from one another. Upper Kirby has a casual bistro feel, Heights has art deco design, and the Westheimer branch feels more like a restaurant.

Though these three might differ in appearance, the way they make their pizzas is the same way.

No matter which branch you go to or order from, we strongly recommend that you give their Pepperoni Pizza a try. The crust has just the right crunch to it!

But then again, if you really want that authentic Chicago-style pizza, then you’ll find the crust to be too thin.

And what’s more shocking is that we didn’t spend much money on our orders! We spent around $50 on everything!

Speaking of deals, Heights and Westheimer branches run a half-priced pizza special on Mondays. And better still, all branches run a $3 deal on all house wines and beers on Tuesdays, so we recommend giving them a visit then! 

With two branches in Houston alone and another one In Cypress, Brother’s Pizzeria is slowly taking Texas by storm, one city at a time.

Established in the 1980’s Brother’s Pizzeria has a long repertoire in Houston for their Chicago-style pizzas, pastas, and subs. And their experience more than speaks for itself with their well-curated menu.

In our opinion, we recommend you to try out the Brother’s Special. It’s flavorful and crispy, and it’s seasoned just right for the individual flavors of the ingredients to shine through. 

We also want to give the honorable mention to their Philly Cheese Steak, too! And although their Classic Sub and their Sausage Roll are good, we were disappointed to find out that these are sold exclusively on their Cypress branch.

But don’t feel bad! Houston’s menu doesn’t fall short of our expectations, and they still deliver great flavor for a reasonable price. The 18” pizza and Cheese Steak costs somewhere around $50, and they’re just as filling as they sound!

From 11 AM to 2 PM every Tuesday, Star Pizza has a promo unlike anything that we’ve seen from other shops that offer Chicago-style Pizzas in Houston. They offer a pizza buffet!

Yes, for 3 hours every Tuesday, you can visit Star Pizza and try out any pizza on their menu. Their specialty pizzas are a must-try, and this buffet can help you decide which one’s your favorite of the bunch! 

We liked Gorgonzola & Pesto and The Cowbell. The pesto sauce has the right kick to it, and The Cowbell’s BBQ sauce is made perfectly. But we also want to give a shout-out to their amazing cheesy garlic bread, too!

And if you’re not there for the buffet, then you should give The Cowbell a try. Word of warning though, it’s only available Thursdays to Sundays. But the limited-time offer is properly worth it, as the slow-smoked flavor really gives it a unique flavor.

Their other menu items, though, don’t quite fit the bill. Their Cheese pizza has too much cheese, and the No Meat Treat tastes too much like olives rather than cheese.

We really appreciate that Star Pizza makes everything in-house. From their sauces to the pizza dough (you can get a whole wheat and gluten-free option, by the way) everything is made to order and has that delicious flavor.