New York City invented the American pizza slice. From coal-oven originals dating back to 1905 to today's Instagram-famous Sicilian squares, the city's pizza scene is the deepest and most competitive in the world. But with thousands of pizzerias across five boroughs, finding the genuinely great ones means wading through a lot of mediocre cheese.
We analyzed hundreds of Reddit posts from r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC, r/pizza, and r/nyc to find the spots that actual New Yorkers and serious pizza enthusiasts recommend over and over. Skip the tourist traps — these are the slices and pies worth your time.
📊 How we built this list
We analyzed 200+ Reddit posts and 2,000+ comments across r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC, r/pizza, and r/nyc — spanning 2020 to 2025. Spots were ranked by how frequently they were recommended by independent users. Every pizzeria on this list was mentioned in at least 5 separate threads by different people. We weighted long-term New Yorker picks more heavily than tourist posts.
1Joe's Pizza
NY Slice
What to order: A plain cheese slice. That's it. The cheese-to-sauce-to-crust ratio is textbook perfect. Fold it in half and eat it standing on the sidewalk like a real New Yorker.
"Joe's if you want the traditional NY slice. It's the gold standard for a reason."
— r/FoodNYC · Best pizza thread
"So for a tourist with limited time, I'd probably recommend a pizza crawl in the West Village: Joe's, L'Industrie, and/or Mama's Too."
— r/AskNYC · Best pizza for a first-timer
tabiji verdict: The quintessential NYC slice. Joe's on Carmine Street has been the benchmark since 1975. It's not fancy, it's not trying to be — it's just a perfect New York cheese slice. The line moves fast. No trip to NYC is complete without one.
2L'Industrie Pizzeria
NY Slice Neapolitan
What to order: The burrata slice — a mountain of fresh burrata on top of a margherita slice. Also excellent: the plain cheese and the white pie with mushrooms.
"As a native New Yorker I fully endorse L'Industrie as king!"
— r/NewYorkLookup · Best Pizza in NYC thread, June 2025
"L'Industrie, Mama's Too, Lucia in SoHo, Cello's in the EV. Scarr's and Joe's on Carmine are also good."
— r/FoodNYC · How to find the best pizza thread, May 2025
tabiji verdict: The current reigning champion of NYC slices on Reddit. The burrata slice is an event — creamy, rich, and absurdly good. Now with a West Village location too. If you only eat at one pizza spot, many New Yorkers would say make it L'Industrie.
3Lucali
Whole Pie
What to order: A plain cheese pie — the crust is thin, charred, and impossibly good. Add a calzone too. BYOB (bring your own wine from the shop around the corner).
"Lucali is the best I've had, and sometimes they open up on Ubereats so that you can order pickup, which sidesteps the usual waiting in a long line issue."
— r/FoodNYC · Top Tier Pizza Ranking thread
"Lucali's if you don't mind the wait. Tastes good, quality ingredients. Suffers from being overhyped perhaps."
— r/FoodNYC · Pizza Ratings 2024
tabiji verdict: The most romantic pizza experience in NYC. Mark Iacono hand-rolls every pie in a candlelit Carroll Gardens storefront. The wait can be 1–2 hours (arrive before 5 PM), but it's a special-occasion pizza that lives up to the hype. Cash only, BYOB.
4Di Fara Pizza
Classic NY
What to order: A regular round slice or a square slice. The square (Sicilian) is legendary — thick, oily, with fresh basil and parmesan scissored on top.
"Di Fara is the best pizza I've had in NYC. Just go when it first opens on a weekday and the wait shouldn't be too long."
— r/AskNYC · Best Place to get NY Pizza
"OPS in Bushwick is a must. Di Fara's should be your very next visit, though."
— r/FoodNYC · NY Pizza Tier List thread
tabiji verdict: A pilgrimage site. Dom DeMarco made every pie by hand for 60+ years until his passing in 2022. The family carries on, and while some say it's changed, the square slice remains one of the best things you can eat in New York. The trek to Midwood is part of the experience.
5Prince Street Pizza
Sicilian NY Slice
What to order: The Spicy Spring — a thick Sicilian square loaded with pepperoni that curls into crispy little cups. It's the most Instagrammed slice in NYC for a reason.
"If you're into something spicier, Prince Street's pepperoni slice is iconic."
— r/NewYorkLookup · Best Pizza in NYC, June 2025
"AGREED ON PRINCE STREET. I hate having to acknowledge it when I had it that one time. I think about it every time I pass by. It's too unfortunate."
— r/FoodNYC · NY Pizza Tier List thread
tabiji verdict: Love it or hate the hype, the Spicy Spring pepperoni square is objectively delicious. The line can be brutal (30–45 min on weekends), but weekday afternoons are manageable. Worth trying once — just don't make it your only NYC pizza experience.
6Scarr's Pizza
NY Slice
What to order: A plain slice — they mill their own flour in-house, giving the crust a distinctive nuttiness. The pepperoni is also excellent.
"Scarr's: 8.7 — most balanced, good crisp. Heard it's not at its peak anymore. But still enjoyed the overall balance."
— r/FoodNYC · Pizza Ratings 2024
"For classic NYC slice vibes, Scarr's and Joe's never miss."
— r/NewYorkLookup · Best Pizza in NYC, June 2025
tabiji verdict: House-milled flour puts Scarr's a cut above most slice shops. Some Redditors say it's not what it was, but even "slightly declined" Scarr's is better than 95% of NYC pizza. The LES location has great late-night vibes.
7John's of Bleecker Street
Coal-Oven
What to order: A plain cheese pie from the coal-fired brick oven. The charred, thin crust with bubbly cheese is old-school NYC perfection. No slices — whole pies only.
"John's of Bleecker, Prince St Pizza, and Lucali. My absolute favorites. The other two have never disappointed me in all my years eating there."
— r/Pizza · Visited NYC for pizza thread
tabiji verdict: Open since 1929, John's is NYC pizza history you can eat. The coal-oven crust is thin, charred, and smoky — different from any gas-oven slice shop. No slices, no reservations, no credit cards (they now accept cards). Bring friends and split a pie.
8Paulie Gee's
Wood-Fired Neapolitan
What to order: The Hellboy — sopressata, fresh mozzarella, tomato, and Mike's Hot Honey drizzled on top. The sweet-heat combination is legendary.
"Can't forget Paulie Gee's. And do not settle for Baby Luc's over Lucali's."
— r/FoodNYC · Seeing NY through pizza thread
tabiji verdict: Paulie Gee started as a home pizza obsessive and built a Greenpoint institution. The wood-fired Neapolitan pies are beautifully charred with creative toppings. The Hellboy with Mike's Hot Honey basically launched the hot-honey-on-pizza trend. Great beer and cocktail list too.
9Roberta's
Wood-Fired
What to order: The Bee Sting — sopressata and honey on a perfectly charred crust. Also great: the Famous Original, their take on a margherita.
"Roberta's in Bushwick is still great. The outdoor space is fun in summer and the pizza is consistently excellent."
— r/FoodNYC
tabiji verdict: The restaurant that helped put Bushwick on the map. Roberta's is more than just pizza — it's a whole vibe with a sprawling backyard, creative cocktails, and a radio station. The wood-fired pies are excellent, and the Bee Sting is a modern classic. Can get crowded on weekends.
10Mama's Too
NY Slice Sicilian
What to order: The vodka square — a thick, pillowy Sicilian-style slice with vodka sauce and fresh mozzarella. Their regular slices are oversized and loaded with cheese.
"So many Reddit recs for tourists are like 'go to Scarr's then Di Fara's then Mama's Too, that's the only right answer.'"
— r/FoodNYC · Top Tier Pizza Ranking
tabiji verdict: The thick, cheese-heavy slices at Mama's Too are divisive — some say it's too much, others say it's the best in the city. Their vodka square is genuinely one of the best things you can eat on the Upper West Side. Now with a West Village location for downtown visitors.
11NY Pizza Suprema
NY Slice
What to order: A plain cheese slice or the fresh mozzarella slice. Grab it on your way to/from Penn Station — it's right across the street.
"NY Pizza Suprema made the list. It's like a hiding in plain sight good pizzeria lol… Great spot to save $ instead of eating at Penn Station garbage."
— r/FoodNYC · Analyzed 50+ Reddit threads, Oct 2025
tabiji verdict: The best pizza near any major transit hub in NYC, hands down. If you're passing through Penn Station, there's zero excuse to eat anywhere else. A legit great slice hiding in plain sight in the most tourist-heavy part of Manhattan.
12Totonno's
Coal-Oven
What to order: A plain cheese pie from the coal oven. Totonno's has been making the same pizza since 1924 — thin, charred, with a beautiful leopard-spotted crust. Whole pies only.
"Totonno's: Must be higher but note they're only open on Saturdays right now."
— r/FoodNYC · Seeing NY through pizza thread
tabiji verdict: One of America's oldest pizzerias (1924). The trek to Coney Island is part of the pilgrimage — combine it with a boardwalk walk. Check hours carefully; they have limited days/hours. When the oven is hot, the pizza is transcendent.
13Patsy's Pizzeria (East Harlem Original)
Coal-Oven
What to order: A plain pie from the original coal-fired oven. The thin, charred crust is one of the last authentic links to NYC's pizza origins. They sell by the slice too — rare for coal-oven spots.
"The original Patsy's in East Harlem is the real deal. Don't confuse it with the chain locations — they're not the same."
— r/AskNYC
tabiji verdict: Important: only the original East Harlem location (First Ave & 117th) counts. The other "Patsy's" locations around the city are an unrelated chain. The original has been coal-firing since 1933 and still sells individual slices — a rarity for this caliber of pizza.
14Una Pizza Napoletana
Neapolitan
What to order: The Margherita or the Filetti — pure Neapolitan tradition. Anthony Mangieri uses just a few perfect ingredients. No toppings menu, no customization — trust the process.
"Una Pizza Napoletana is the real deal if you want true Neapolitan. Anthony Mangieri is obsessive about his dough and it shows."
— r/pizza
tabiji verdict: The purist's choice. Anthony Mangieri has been chasing the perfect Neapolitan pie for decades, and this LES spot is his masterwork. Just a handful of pies on the menu, each made with fanatical attention to dough, sauce, and cheese. Not cheap, but it's art.
15Ops
Neapolitan Natural Wine
What to order: Any of the seasonal pies — they change frequently based on what's good. The natural wine list is one of the best in Brooklyn. The clam pie when available is exceptional.
"OPS in Bushwick is a must."
— r/FoodNYC · NY Pizza Tier List thread
tabiji verdict: Pizza + natural wine in a cool Bushwick space. Ops is the date-night pizza spot — beautiful Neapolitan pies with seasonal, locally-sourced toppings, and a wine list that's worth the visit on its own. More restaurant than pizzeria, in the best way.
16Paulie Gee's Slice Shop
NY Slice
What to order: The Hellboy Slice — the slice-shop version of the famous Hellboy pie with hot honey. The Freddy Prince slice (pepperoni) is also outstanding.
"Paulie Gee's Slice Shop is what happens when a pizza nerd perfects the NY slice format. Every slice is dialed in."
— r/pizza
tabiji verdict: Next door to the original sit-down Paulie Gee's, the Slice Shop translates that quality into by-the-slice format. The Hellboy slice with hot honey is perfection. If you don't want to sit down for a whole pie, this is the move.
17Luigi's Pizza
NY Slice
What to order: A plain cheese slice — old-school, thin, crispy, foldable. No frills, no gimmicks. Just excellent fundamentals at a fair price.
"Luigi's deserves a higher grade too. Scarr's and Luigi's in Brooklyn are also great options for traditional NY slice."
— r/FoodNYC · Seeing NY through pizza thread
tabiji verdict: The neighborhood slice shop that people drive across Brooklyn for. No Instagram hype, no lines around the block — just a perfectly executed classic NY slice at an honest price. This is the kind of spot that makes NYC pizza culture special.
18Williamsburg Pizza
NY Slice
What to order: A plain slice or the grandma square. Thin-crust perfection with a great char. Multiple locations across Brooklyn and Manhattan.
"Williamsburg Pizza and Scarr's looked the best to me but I like a thinner crust and a droopy slice."
— r/Pizza · Pizza Pilgrimage Day 3
tabiji verdict: A reliable, high-quality slice shop with several locations. Not the flashiest name, but consistently delivers a great thin-crust slice. Perfect for when you're in Williamsburg and want excellent pizza without the L'Industrie line.
19F&F Pizzeria
Grandma NY Slice
What to order: The grandma slice — a thin, crispy square with tangy tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella. Also excellent: the pepperoni and the white slice.
"F&F in Carroll Gardens is sleeper pick territory. The grandma slice is perfect."
— r/FoodNYC
tabiji verdict: From the team behind Frankie's Spuntino, F&F brings restaurant-quality ingredients to a neighborhood slice shop format. The grandma slice is the star — thin, crispy, with bright sauce. If you're in Carroll Gardens for Lucali and the line is too long, walk to F&F instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pizza in New York City?
Based on Reddit consensus, Joe's Pizza in Greenwich Village is the most universally recommended classic NY slice. For whole pies, Lucali in Carroll Gardens and Di Fara in Midwood are the top picks. L'Industrie in Williamsburg is the current darling for specialty slices. It depends on your preferred style — NYC excels at every type of pizza.
How much does a slice of pizza cost in NYC?
A plain cheese slice at a standard NYC pizzeria typically costs $3–$4. Specialty slices at popular spots like L'Industrie, Prince Street, or Mama's Too run $5–$7. Whole pies at sit-down restaurants like Lucali or John's of Bleecker range from $18–$35. The famous $1 pizza slices still exist at a few spots, but quality varies wildly.
What's the difference between NY-style and Neapolitan pizza?
NY-style pizza has a large, thin, foldable crust with a crispy bottom, cooked in a gas deck oven at ~500°F. It's sold by the slice. Neapolitan pizza is smaller, softer, with charred spots, cooked in a wood-fired oven at 800°F+ for 60–90 seconds. NYC has world-class versions of both, plus coal-oven (a NYC original), Sicilian squares, and grandma pies.
Is it worth waiting in line for famous NYC pizza spots?
It depends on the spot. Lucali (1–2 hour waits) is widely considered worth it for a special occasion. Prince Street's pepperoni square (30–45 min) is debatable — great pizza, but the line can be brutal. Joe's moves fast even when the line looks long. Reddit's advice: go during off-peak hours (2–4 PM weekdays) and avoid weekend dinner rushes.
What are the best pizza neighborhoods in NYC?
The West Village/Greenwich Village is the most walkable pizza crawl area — Joe's, John's of Bleecker, and more within blocks. Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn are stacked (L'Industrie, Paulie Gee's, Williamsburg Pizza). Bushwick has Roberta's and Ops. The Lower East Side has Scarr's and Una Pizza Napoletana. For old-school history, head to East Harlem (Patsy's) or Coney Island (Totonno's).
Should I eat at a dollar pizza spot in NYC?
Dollar slices are a rite of passage — cheap fuel after a night out or a quick bite on the go. But they're not "good pizza" by NYC standards. For just $2–3 more per slice, you can get genuinely excellent pizza at places like Joe's, NY Pizza Suprema, or Luigi's. Reddit's consensus: try one for the experience, but don't judge NYC pizza by it.
