Honorable Mention: Gino’s East. If you enjoy reading, the walls here provide plenty of material.

10. Pizzeria Uno. The one, the only, the original. Loosen your belts now.

9. Piece. These very non-Chicago-style slices are simply delicious.

8. Home Run Inn. This old neighborhood tavern offers the #1 selling frozen pizza in the city.

7. Coalfire. Don’t worry; your pizza is supposed to come a little burnt.

6. Lou Malnati’s. If you’re going to have deep dish, you might as well get it straight from the man who invented it.

5. Giordano’s. Both the thin-crust and deep-dish are excellent at this spot just off the Magnificent Mile.

4. Pequod’s. The crispy, caramelized deep-dish crust is unforgettable.

3. Art of Pizza. Despite its humble appearance, the great deals here are not to be overlooked.

2. Vito & Nick’s. The décor may not be pretty, but the pizza looks (and tastes) darn good.

1. Aurelio’s. This huge restaurant has been full of loyal regulars for over 30 years.

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

The Original Gino’s East on Wells St (just a block away from Hop Haus) is a sight to behold. By the light of chandeliers and candles, you can read the writing on the walls (literally!) while you wait. Every inch of this place is covered in graffiti, all from past customers. It is an incredible feeling to be able to read the restaurant’s and its visitors’ past. “Jim Was Here,” but how many times did he come back? And did the declaration “Linda + Kurt 4 Ever” stand true?

I have one important instruction for those thinking of visiting Gino’s East: come hungry. Yeah, the wait may be long (30-45 minutes), but when you see the size and depth of an honest-to-goodness Chicago-style pizza, you’ll understand why it took so long to make. And while this deep dish will leave you wanting to devour as much as you can, you’ll be lucky if you make it past one or two slices. Oh sure, there’s a menu full of pastas, salads, and sandwiches, but really? It’s all about the gut-busting pizza here. (You wouldn’t go to a steakhouse for the salad, would you?) Popular choices include the Gino’s East Supreme (sausage or pepperoni with fresh onions, green peppers, and mushrooms), the Meaty Legend (pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon, and Canadian bacon), and Four Cheeses (a combination of mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, and romano cheeses, with a garlic butter base).

Whichever one you decide upon, every deep dish is bursting with chunky tomato sauce and is kept together with a golden, buttery (and dreamy?) crust. To give you an idea of what you’ll be tackling, the pizza arrives in a 2-inch-thick (5 cm) pan. If you can find an open spot, feel free to leave your own mark on the wall while you wait for this tasty treat. Maybe something along the lines of “I Heart thechicagotraveler.com!” Hee.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Bret Arnett, robinhamman

Original Gino’s East ($$): 633 N Wells St; 312-943-1124
Mon – Thurs: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sun: 12 noon – 9:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult, pay lots available
Public trans: Bus # 11, 65, 156
http://www.ginoseast.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler