The Absolute Best Pizza in Austin

You can find some of the best crust in Austin on an unassuming white food truck on the East Side of Austin. Even if it requires you to brave the ever-frostier winter weather to grab a slice, Sammataro’s Neapolitan pies, with its perfect balance of chewy and crispy, would be worth venturing out in a freeze—or, what’s more likely in Austin, a crisp 40-degrees. This spot, which takes inspiration from the New York pizza scene, ferments its dough for 48-hours, then tops ‘em with homemade tomato sauce, a blend of delicious cheeses, basil, and whatever toppings you can dream up. Like all good under-the-radar places however, this one isn’t going to be a secret for too long. Look out for its new, expanded location off of North Lamar, opening sometime in the next month.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order for pick-up online.

The hype around the new place slinging dough in South Austin, fresh from the minds of the same restaurant group behind Salt & Time and Rosen’s Bagels, has been buzzy enough to capture the Instagram feeds of your most fashionable food-loving friends. The pizza at Dovetail doesn’t just look good on the grid though—it tastes just as delicious IRL. Stand-outs include the White Pie that includes an unexpected pop of texture from snap peas and corn, as well as the Bittersweet, which balances the bite of hot peppers with the mild sweetness of eggplant. To make the most out of your visit, be sure to top your slice with a generous dose of the chimichurri provided at every table (it might just dethrone ranch as your new favorite pizza condiment).
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, or order for pick-up online via Toast.

This past summer, the city’s pizza lovers were sent in a bread-and-cheese tailspin upon learning the news that much-loved slice-slinging sensation, Dough Boys, was shutting its doors for good. The dough depression didn't last long though. Dough Boy’s chef Tony Curet quickly announced the debut of Side Eye Pie at Meanwhile Brewery. It's the perfect place to spend a sunny Sunday downing a brew and digging into satisfying Neapolitan pies. Top picks include appropriately titled The Meat Sweets, topped with the quadruple-punch of pepperoni, Calabrese salami, soppressata, and Italian sausage—with enough fresh mozzarella-goodness that you’re bound to have extra cheese dripping off of every slice you pull.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, or order online for pick-up via Toast.

Picture it: It’s Sunday, and you and bae are hungover. They’re craving some thin-crust slices to satisfy their beer-laden stomach, while you can’t imagine grubbing down on anything besides Detroit-style squares to gear up for that eventual post-meal nap. Love Supreme has you both covered, serving two styles for all your versatile needs in a location with such a beautiful, string light-covered patio that you might be tempted to change that to-go order to dine-in. Regardless of which style you pick, you’ll want to go for the signature Love Supreme, a topping bonanza spanning pepperoni, sausage, pomodoro, red onion, and olives, plus unexpected highlights like kale and watermelon radish.
How to book: Order for pick-up via Toast. 

Consider the 40-minute drive to Jester King a true pizza pilgrimage, one that rewards the pious with all the chewy, Neapolitan-style crust of their prayers. In fact, the dough is so good, you won’t even miss the cheese when you order its vegan pizza, the Jeffries. Its fresh and bright with its smattering of charred local tomatoes, burnt onion, and green sauce made from herbs grown on the famed brewpub’s farm. And, as if that’s not enough carbo-loading for one day trip, Jester King specializes in award-winning sour beers, so you can take your gluten devotion to a whole new level, all while basking in gorgeous Texas Hill Country views.
How to book: Reserve via Tock or order online for pick-up.

Sometimes you can’t help but crave the type of drippy, droopy, grease-smothered pizza guaranteed to leave you in a cheese-induced coma—hey, no judgment on our end. For those moments, there is no better option than the Detroit-style mastery of Via 313. Thick, bready crusts are perfectly accentuated with the crispy caramelized cheese, making every slice the coveted “corner piece” you and your siblings fought over back in the day. Menu newbies can’t go wrong with The Detroiter with its double-layer of pepperoni, which means double the rush of meaty goodness.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via Toast.

Few places pay the unbeatable combination of pizza and beer the homage it deserves as well as Pinthouse. Its award-winning homemade brews like the citrus-driven Electric Jellyfish IPA serve as perfect soulmates to the soft-crusted, toppings-loaded pies it crafts with equal care. Unusual-yet-tasty combinations (think the Honey Pear, which tempers the sweetness of pears and honey with the boldness of prosciutto and blue cheese) can be modified for multiple dietary needs, so even your keto and vegan friends can enjoy a slice together. Be sure to order a side (or two) of its homemade Jalapeño Ranch for dipping purposes—you’ll never feel the same way about Hidden Valley again.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, or place an order for pick-up via Toast.

Northeast transplants can find a taste of home at Home Slice, the only place in Austin that really nails the New York-style pie, down to the distinct aroma of cheese and tomato sauce that wafts clear down the block. It’s hard to choose anything other than a slice of their tried-and-true classic Pepperoni and Mushroom, which soaks its paper plates with grease like a good New York slice should. For the more adventurous, Home Slice’s take on the White Clam Pizza, with a hearty dose of chopped clams and garlic, will transport you directly to New Haven—without the terrible weather
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, or order take-out via ChowNow.

Sipping Lemoncello beneath the light-covered tree on Il Brutto’s outdoor patio might make you forget that Italy is actually a 15-hour flight away. And perusing the menu of Italian cuisine only adds to the illusion—while the antipasti and pasta are stellar on their own, the Neapolitan-style pies are the perfect shareable Happy Hour snack for a group of friends. The Funghi Pizza, with its sizable dosage of shiitake mushrooms, is an ideal bite for those craving a hit of umami.

As Austin’s dining scene continues to explode like its growing population, a bulk of the city’s original haunts have, unfortunately, disappeared. This makes Little Deli all the more special. Its Crestview location has been open for close to three decades and its relaxing, inviting atmosphere continues to draw patrons across generations. That’s not to say their longevity is due to nostalgia alone, as their hand-tossed thin-crust pies have remained one of the city’s best year after year. The Rollatini, covered with roasted eggplant, ricotta, pecorino romano, and roasted garlic, is as essential an Austin experience as watching the bats from the South Congress bridge.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, or give them a call to order for pick-up.

Technically bordering the outskirts of Austin, Pieous is a bit of a drive compared to the other locations on this list. For pizza aficionados, it’s worth the extra miles—the pies are so popular, in fact, they moved to their current location three years ago in order to accommodate growing demand. It may not be officially listed on the menu, but the move here is to add a mound of juicy house-made pastrami to your pizza order. Also, as the name suggests, Pieous worships pies in all forms. So, make sure to save room for the Blueberry Brown Betty, a melt-in-your mouth treat made with fresh blueberries and coated with crumble.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, or order online for pick-up.

While every Austin local has a favorite taco or BBQ place they will defend to the death as “the best,” there is no such debate when it comes to the Bufalina brand. This high-end, pizza-driven establishment is universally loved by all who have tasted its Neapolitan-style pies. And, lucky for us city-dwellers, the recently opened location of the OG-namesake, Bufalina, on the East Side has made its seriously unique slices easier to get than ever before. The delicate, expertly formed pizzas there are like a love letter to all the possibilities that the combination of dough and toppings can achieve. The complex show of flavors, like the ones in the Goat Cheese pie (which contains mozzarella, pistachio, honey, red onion, and, of course, goat cheese), will elevate your idea of pizza from guilty pleasure to fine cuisine.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, or order online for pick-up from Bufalina Due via Tock.

While officially called The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., any Austinite worth their carbs knows it simply as the ABGB. If the cherished nickname doesn't give it away already, this beer garden is a deep-rooted neighborhood go-to in South Austin. While the beer may be, literally, the headliner here, its fresh, seasonal pizzas are equally deserving of the spotlight. And the joint’s cherished bond with the city is further emphasized by the food itself, where many ingredients come locally sourced. Considering how topped-to-the-gills its pizzas are—one features brussel sprouts, pistachio pesto, taleggio, rosemary, black garlic, sweet potatoes, red onions, ricotta, and goat cheese on a single pie—it’s a good thing the chefs can restock the line without leaving the restaurant's backyard.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, order for pick-up via ChowNow, or get delivery through Favor.

While this list alone is proof that Austin has its fair share of great Neapolitan-style pizza purveyors, the Backspace gets a special shout-out for its exceedingly exceptional dough, which covers all the standard characteristics of a thin and crispy base while still maintaining a fluffiness that’s all too often lost to the flames of other wood-fired ovens. A real winner is its take on the Bianca Pizza, a white pie that can often be so rich that having more than one slice can be nauseating. The Backspace, however, balances its Bianca with enough lemon and arugula to cut through the heaviness, giving you all the satisfaction with none of the stomach ache.
How to book: Order online for pick-up via RevelUp.