This Is the Best Pizza Spot in the U.S. Midwest

Looking for an absolutely fantastic slice of pizza? Then, it’s time to head to the Midwest.

In August, Yelp unveiled its list of the top 100 pizza shops in the region. Though this wasn’t a list created by some high falutin editors. Instead, Yelp explained, its list is all based on your rave reviews. 

“We identified businesses in the pizza category with a large concentration of reviews mentioning relevant keywords, and then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning those keywords,” the company explained about its methodology. “We also consulted with our Community Managers to zero in on which spots Yelpers were loving.” 

The list considered pizza shops in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. After looking at all the data and hearing from local community managers, it named Loui’s Pizza, a family-owned restaurant in Hazel Park, Michigan, the No. 1 spot. 

As Yelp explained, the restaurant has been slinging “Detroit-style pizza for almost 50 years.” It all began with its founder, Louis Tourtois, who opened the shop in 1977 and then passed the torch to his grandson Nykolas Sulkiwskyj, who started his career in the restaurant’s kitchen at 12. “Now I’m building on my grandfather’s legacy,” Sulkiwskyj shared in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. “We still make pizzas just like he did — with caramelized cheese walls around the outside, [using] Wisconsin brick cheese, which has a high butterfat content.” 

One of the shop’s best-selling pizzas, according to Yelp, is the Loui’s Meat Lovers Pizza, made with sausage, pepperoni, beef, ham, bacon, and extra cheese. And it’s no surprise when you look at the Yelp reviews, which often rave about its “old-school” cool decor and way of making pies. 

“One of the best Detroit-style pizzas around. Great sauce flavor and plenty of cheese. I would highly recommend their pizza. I always get a carry out there. The place is always packed due to their good food,” one Yelp reviewer wrote. “Hands down, the best pizza in Detroit. Many places claim to have the best Detroit-style, [but don’t] even come close to Loui’s,” another added. 

Next on the list is Futuro, in Indianapolis, which wins high praise thanks to its creative toppings (think pies like its Spotted Pig pizza, made with house-made red sauce, applewood-smoked bacon, jalapenos, goat cheese, ricotta, hot honey drizzle, and Pecorino Romano) and it’s ultra-thin and crispy crust. 

Rounding out the top five spots are Pequod’s Pizza in Chicago; Tyler’s Pizzeria & Bakery in Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and Milly’s Pizza in the Pan in Chicago.

Want to see if your favorite pizza joint made the top 10 list? See the full rankings at yelp.com. And if your preferred pizza place didn’t make the list, perhaps now is the perfect time to leave them a stellar Yelp review so they can take the No. 1 spot next year.