Where to Find Austin’s Best Pizza

Amongst the traffic-packed streets of North Lamar, the blue-striped umbrella deck and outdoor area of 40 North feels like an easygoing European respite. Although their atmosphere echoes the Neapolitan-style of pies they dish out, their unique flavor combinations are anything but  traditional. Consider the Dandelion, which delicately balances dandelion greens and onion jam with savory slices of pancetta. For an even more “who would have thought this would taste good on pizza?” example, go with the Spicy Pickle pizza, a collaboration with La Barbecue -- a dish which combines pickles (yes, pickles), spicy peppers, tangy dill, and thick slices of garlic which, somehow, works really, really well together.
How to order: You can order from 40 North online by clicking here. While their indoor dining is closed, they do allow customers to eat in their small outdoor area.

Sometimes you can’t help but crave the type of decadent, greasy pizza that is guaranteed to leave you in a cheese-induced coma on your couch -- hey, no judgment on our end. For those moments, there is no better option than the Detroit-style mastery of Via 313. The thick, bready crusts of their pies are perfectly accentuated with the crispiness of 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 Meatball, topped with green peppers, red sauce, grated parmesan cheese, and meatballs so on-point they will give your Italian grandmother’s recipe a run for its money. 
How to order: While they are currently closed for dine-in, you can still order online from one of their many locations for curbside pick-up. 

No place gives the unbeatable combination of pizza and beer the homage it duly deserves as well as Pinthouse. Their award-winning homemade brews, like the citrus-driven Electric Jellyfish IPA, are the perfect flavor soulmate to the soft-crusted, toppings-loaded pies they craft with equal care. Their unusual, yet tasty, combinations -- such as 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 their homemade Jalapeño Ranch to dip the ends of your crust into -- you’ll never want to go back to Hidden Valley again. 
How to order: All their locations are open with limited space for dine-in -- on their website, you can even click the location you are planning on visiting to pre-add yourself to the waitlist for a table. Their pizza, along with cans and crowlers of their beer, is also available to order online for pick-up. 

Although it has only been open a mere two months, Dough Boys has already built up quite a hefty word-of-mouth buzz among Austin food fanatics. Parked in the Arbor Food Park, it’s a worthy addition to a city with a reputation for food truck gems -- and, despite the limited space, Dough Boys has somehow been outfitted with an Italian wood-burning oven, which allows them to achieve the chewy, bubbly crust necessary for their Neapolitan-style pizzas. Lean into the Austin vibes by ordering the Eastside Trip, which features local oyster mushrooms alongside garlic cream and smoked mozzarella. Don’t sleep on the sides either: the Dough Boys queso, composed of baked brie with herbs and garlic and served with herby crust for dipping, will make you reconsider your commitment to the Tex-Mex staple. 
How to order: You can pre-order online through their website for pick-up or order at the truck in-person. The Arbor Food Park has outdoor space with picnic tables for customers to eat at.  

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 smell of cheese and marinara that wafts
through the door and starts you drooling from a block away. Considering this, it’s hard to choose anything other than a slice of their tried-and-true classic Pepperoni & Mushroom, which soaks any plate with grease and cheese like a good New York-style should. For those looking to be more adventurous, Home Slice’s take on the White Clam pizza, with plentiful amounts of chopped clams and garlic, should give you all the taste of New Haven -- without the threat of a long, gray winter.
How to order: Both their South Congress and North Loop locations are currently take-out only -- order online, and they will bring your food right out to your car on arrival. 

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. Ordering from their menu of Italian cuisine only adds to the illusion -- while their antipasti and pasta are noteworthy on their own, their Neapolitan-style pies are the perfect shareable Happy Hour snack for a group of friends. The anchovy pie, an authentic pairing of the little, salted fish with tangy capers and melted slices of mozzarella, is worth a try regardless of any preconceived notions you have about seafood that comes in a can. 
How to order: Dine-in, both inside and outdoors, is available -- you can make a reservation on their website. You can also order online for pick-up.  

As Austin’s dining scene continues to explode on par with its population, a bulk of the city’s original haunts have, unfortunately, disappeared. This makes Little Deli all the more special:  their Crestview location has been open for close to three decades, as its relaxing, inviting atmosphere continues to appeal across generations. That’s not to say their longevity is due to nostalgia alone, as their hand-tossed thin-crust pizza has remained one of the best slices you can get year after year. In particular, their Rollatini, a pie covered with roasted eggplant, ricotta, pecorino romano, and roasted garlic, should be considered as essential to an Austin experience as watching the bats from the South Congress bridge. 
How to order: You can order online for pick-up They are also open for dine-in, and limited outdoor seating is available. 

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 Bufalina -- this high-end, pizza-driven establishment is universally loved by all who have tasted their Neapolitan-style pies. The delicate, expertly formed pizzas there are like a love letter to all the possibilities that the combination of dough and ingredients can achieve. The complex show of flavors, like the ones in the Garden pie (which contains coconut milk, squash, corn, fennel hot sauce, and various herbs), will elevate your idea of pizza from guilty pleasure to fine cuisine. 
How to order: Both Bufalina and Bufalina Due are accepting orders online for pick-up. There is also limited space for outdoor dining, although a reservation through their website is required.

When you find yourself too many Lone Stars deep at the end of a night out, you can count on Hoboken Pie to provide the kind of grub your beer-soaked stomach craves. However, while their late hours (open till midnight) and no frills attitude might be part of the allure for the masses making their way out of nearby Dirty Sixth Street bars, that doesn't mean their New Jersey-inspired pies are any less tasty. Even for the stone-cold sober, their specialty pizzas, like the Danzig, with black olive, mushroom, honey ham, and cheese, are sure to hit the spot. 
How to order: Through their website, you can order for pick-up. For those who live in the downtown area, delivery is available. 

Fans of this Austin mainstay range the full spectrum of the city’s citizens -- from musicians indulging in some late-night grub to families grabbing a Saturday afternoon slice, everyone flocks to the doors of their three locations. One of the reasons for this may be the extensive menu, which allows you to forego the traditional marinara and, instead, opt for a base of pesto, chimichurri, ricotta, or black bean sauce on their thin, cracker-like dough. Pizza purists shouldn't be discouraged, though, as there are plentiful combinations featuring red sauce -- such as the vegetarian Guiche, topped with enough spinach, green chillies, sun-dried tomatoes, and goat cheese to melt the heart of even the most dedicated meat-lover.  
How to order: You can order online for pick-up and, in certain locations, delivery. Their Rosewood Avenue location, which has some outdoor tables for customers to eat out, is currently closed for repairs but will reopen on October 16.

Technically bordering the outskirts of Austin, Pieous is a bit of a drive when compared to the other locations on this list. For pizza aficionados, though, it’s a worthy pilgrimage -- their pies are so popular, in fact, that they moved to their current location two years ago in order to be able to accommodate even more of their hungry devotees. It may not be officially listed on the menu, but the move here is to add their juicy house-made pastrami as a topping to your pizza order. Also, as the name suggests, Pieous covers pies on all fronts -- save room for the Blueberry Brown Betty, a melt-in-your mouth treat made with fresh blueberries and coated with crumble.
How to order: For now, only pick-up is available. You can order online through their website by clicking on the menu pictures.

This establishment is officially named “The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.,” but any proper Austinite will only know it 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, their fresh, seasonal pizzas are equally deserving of the spotlight. Their bond with the city is further featured in the food itself, with many of their ingredients locally sourced. Considering how topped to the gills their pizzas are -- one option contains brussel sprouts, pistachio pesto, taleggio, rosemary, black garlic, sweet potatoes, red onions, ricotta, and goat cheese on a single pie -- it’s probably lucky they can restock in their own backyard.       
How to order: If you would like to dine-in on their large, outdoor patio, you must first make an online reservation. You can also order pizza, along with their home-brewed beer, to-go on their website. 

While this list itself is proof that Austin has its fair share of great Neapolitan-style pizza joints, The Backspace gets a special shout-out for their exceptional dough -- which hits all the standard characteristics of a thin and crispy base, while still maintaining a fluffiness that is often lost in the heat of other wood-fired ovens. A real standout is their take on the Bianca pizza -- often this white pie, loaded with cheese, is made in such a way that its richness makes having any more than one slice nauseating. The Backspace, however, balances their Bianca with enough lemon and arugula to cut through the heaviness, and give you all the satisfaction of fullness, with none of the stomach ache. 
How to order: While both their Downtown and West Anderson Lane locations are open for dine-in, you can also order for pick-up through their website.