Michigan’s pizza scene is legendary, especially with Detroit-style pizza putting the state on the culinary map. From crispy, cheese-edged squares to creative artisanal pies, Michigan pizzerias offer unique flavors you won’t find anywhere else. These ten pizza joints represent the best of Michigan’s pizza tradition, each with their own special twist that keeps locals coming back and visitors making special trips.
1. Buddy’s Pizza: The Original Detroit-Style Pioneer
Since 1946, this legendary establishment has been serving up what would become known worldwide as Detroit-style pizza. Their rectangular pies feature that unmistakable crispy, caramelized cheese edge that pizza lovers dream about.
The secret lies in the blue steel pans originally borrowed from automotive factories, giving each pizza its signature crunchy exterior and fluffy interior. Their sauce-on-top approach means each bite delivers the perfect balance of flavors.
With multiple locations throughout Metro Detroit, Buddy’s remains the gold standard that other Detroit-style pizzerias measure themselves against.
2. Loui’s Pizza: Time-Capsule Pizzeria With Devoted Following
Walking into Loui’s feels like stepping back to 1977 when it opened. Hundreds of Chianti bottles covered in wax drippings hang from the ceiling, creating an atmosphere unchanged for decades.
Founded by a former Buddy’s chef, Loui’s perfected their own version of Detroit-style pizza with a slightly thicker crust and generous toppings. The pepperoni pizza arrives with crispy-edged pepperoni cups that cradle tiny pools of savory oil.
Family-owned and fiercely independent, they’ve rejected expansion offers to maintain quality, serving just one location in Hazel Park.
3. Supino Pizzeria: Eastern Market’s Thin-Crust Sensation
Forget thick Detroit squares – Supino breaks the mold with exceptional New York-style thin crust that manages to stay both crispy and chewy. Owner Dave Mancini crafts pies that honor his Italian heritage while embracing Michigan’s agricultural bounty.
The Bismarck with fresh egg cracked on top has developed a cult following, while the City Wing Thing combines smoked turkey, cherry peppers and spinach for an only-in-Detroit combination. The Eastern Market location buzzes with energy on market days.
Even pizza purists admit these thin-crust creations stand tall against any Detroit-style competitor.
4. Green Lantern Pizza: Neighborhood Favorite Since 1955
The unmistakable aroma of Green Lantern’s famous dough hits you immediately upon entering. Their round pies, cut into squares in true Michigan fashion, feature a medium-thick crust that achieves the perfect balance between chewy and crispy.
Famous for their pepperoni that curls into perfect little cups when baked, Green Lantern has expanded from its original Madison Heights location to several Metro Detroit spots. The John’s Jumbo Special loaded with pepperoni, ham, bacon, mushrooms, and green peppers remains their signature creation.
Family-owned for three generations, they still use the original recipes that made them famous.
5. Cloverleaf Bar & Restaurant: Pizza History in Every Bite
Founded by Gus Guerra (who first created Detroit-style pizza at Buddy’s), Cloverleaf continues his legacy with rectangular pies that achieve pizza perfection. The slightly sweet sauce sits atop a mountain of Wisconsin brick cheese that caramelizes against their seasoned pans.
The Eastpointe institution maintains its old-school charm with wood paneling and vintage photos documenting Michigan pizza history. Their dough, still made from Guerra’s original recipe, rises twice before baking, creating that signature airy interior.
Try the Motor City Hit – topped with pepperoni, bacon, and their house-made Italian sausage.
6. Michigan & Trumbull: Modern Twist on Detroit Tradition
Named after the former intersection of Tiger Stadium, this hip pizzeria brings Detroit pizza traditions into the modern era. After starting in Pittsburgh, the Michigan-native owners returned home to open in Corktown, serving creative Detroit-style pies with locally-sourced ingredients.
Their signature Woodward White pizza skips tomato sauce in favor of mozzarella, ricotta, and hot honey – a combination that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. The restaurant’s industrial-chic vibe matches its innovative approach.
Don’t miss their handcrafted cocktails that pair perfectly with those crispy, cheese-edged squares.
7. Pie Sci Pizza: Experimental Flavors in Artistic Setting
Chemistry meets culinary art at this Trumbull Avenue gem where pizzas have names like “The Periodic Table” and “Magnetic Field.” Owner Jeremy Damaske experiments with unconventional topping combinations that somehow create perfect flavor harmony.
The small storefront doubles as an art gallery featuring local Detroit artists, with pizzas that are equally creative. Their rotating seasonal specials incorporate ingredients from urban farms just blocks away.
Try the Bees-ness pizza with goat cheese, honey, and hot peppers – a sweet-spicy combination that showcases their willingness to break pizza boundaries while maintaining Detroit pizza integrity.
8. Chuck Wagon Pizza: Northern Michigan’s Hidden Treasure
Far from Detroit’s pizza spotlight, this Ludington institution has been serving vacation-perfect pies since 1958. The laid-back atmosphere matches Lake Michigan’s beachy vibe, but their serious approach to pizza-making has earned them loyal followers across the state.
Unlike Detroit’s square pies, Chuck Wagon serves round pizzas with a distinctively buttery crust that remains light and airy. The “Give Me the Meats Man!” comes loaded with five different proteins, making it a carnivore’s dream.
Family-owned for three generations, they still use the original dough mixer that’s been turning out perfect crusts for over 60 years.
9. Silver Beach Pizza: Lakeside Dining with Railroad Charm
Housed in a converted Amtrak station overlooking Lake Michigan, Silver Beach Pizza serves up spectacular views alongside their equally impressive pies. Trains still rumble past as diners enjoy pizzas in what was once the station’s waiting room.
Their signature crispy thin crust provides the perfect foundation for creative topping combinations like the Napa Valley with olive oil, chicken, artichokes, and feta. During summer months, the outdoor patio becomes one of Michigan’s most coveted dining spots.
Don’t miss their famous breadsticks – pillowy-soft inside with a garlic-butter exterior that rivals the pizzas themselves.
10. Fricano’s: Michigan’s First Pizzeria Still Going Strong
When Gus Fricano opened this Grand Haven institution in 1949, most Michiganders had never even heard of pizza. Today, the original location still serves their legendary thin-crust pies exactly as they did over 70 years ago.
The menu remains delightfully simple – just five topping options and no substitutions. Each pizza arrives with a whisper-thin crust that somehow supports a mountain of toppings and their signature slightly-sweet sauce.
The restaurant’s vintage atmosphere completes the experience, with wood paneling and checkered tablecloths transporting diners back to pizza’s early Michigan days.
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