New Jerseyans will argue about anything—Taylor Ham or Pork Roll, whether Central Jersey exists—but there’s one thing we all agree on: New Jersey has the best pizza in the world. Full stop.

To celebrate what is an absolute fact, we put together a list of the best pizza in New Jersey—traditional slice shops, thin-crust bar pies, upside-down Sicilian pizzas, Trenton tomato pies, and much, much more. These are 75 of the best pizzas in New Jersey.

The Best Pizza in New Jersey

Finding the best pizza in New Jersey is no easy task. The Garden State is loaded with exceptional pizza at every turn—your average plain slice from a New Jersey pizzeria will beat out most pizzas anywhere else in the country (we’ll spot Connecticut and New York the occasional win). There are dozens of styles packed within our 8,722 square miles, with sub-styles within those styles and sub-sub-styles within those. Pizza is a blank canvas, and New Jersey has seemingly figured it out.

This list covers 75 of the best pizzas in New Jersey, but it is by no means the final word. We might miss your favorites—you might want to write an angry email for leaving out your local spot (please do!)—but at the end of the day, it all comes back to one thing: no one can beat the combined variety, quality, and quantity of New Jersey pizza.

So, without further ado: if you’re looking for the best pizza in New Jersey, look no further.

Coniglio’s Old Fashioned

11 South St, Morristown, NJ

Nino Coniglio is a total pizza obsessive, and that shows in the pizza at Coniglio’s. Just a few years after opening, and it’s already in the conversation with the big dogs of the Garden State. What sets Coniglio’s apart from the rest is a truly remarkable dough structure, achieved by years of trial and error.

Razza

275/277 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ

We’d be remiss to leave out what the New York Times once named “the best pizza in New York.” Owner Dan Richer’s legendary pizzeria specializes in quick-fired, Neapolitan-ish pizza. When they have it, the Pork Pie is a must-try, with slices of guanciale and cubes of reduced pork glace that melt into the dough.

Bread and Salt

435 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ

Perhaps the most renowned bakery in New Jersey, Bread & Salt rose to prominence by doing things the traditional way, on their own terms. The pizza is no different. Thin, crisp crust—that still has some air to it thanks to a lengthy fermentation process—houses simple toppings. Vibrant tomato. Dried oregano. Maybe some cheese, though it’s not necessary. The Roman-style pizzas are stretched into an oblong, almost oval shape; slices are cut into rectangles. The philosophy at Bread and Salt is simple: amazing ingredients, focused technique, and zero care for the trends.

Joe’s Famous Pizza

2062 Springfield Ave, Vauxhall, NJ

Joe’s pizza sits somewhere between your standard pizza and a thin-crust Jersey bar pie. It’s baked in a pan, and has the bubbly, almost-fried undercarriage to show for it. On top, we’re talking about one of the tastiest pies in the Garden State. Full stop. The sauce is flavorful, the cheese is stretchy and baked to a beautiful orange hue, and the ratios of both are damn near perfect. You can totally opt for toppings like shaved sausage or pepperoni, but if it’s me? I’m going plain pie—and I’m eating the whole thing there.

Slice House

177 NJ-37, Toms River, NJ

This Toms River pizzeria has firmly cemented itself among the best. Slice House features several different styles of pizza on their well-rounded menu, from thick squares to thin-crust edge pies. Grab a slice there or a full pie to go—either option is bound to please.

Pompei Pizza

722 West Side Ave, Jersey City, NJ

Pompei Pizza is the platonic ideal of a typical Jersey pizzeria—one of those spots you’d see in The Sopranos. It’s a slice shop, serving exactly the kind of thin, foldable New Jersey-New York slices that you’d expect, albeit done exceptionally well. They’ve got you covered on whole pies for takeout or delivery too. Pro tip: while the round pie is classic, don’t look past the square.

Patsy’s Tavern & Restaurant

72 7th Ave, Paterson, NJ

Patsy’s Tavern has long been considered one of the great pizzas in New Jersey. Since 1931, regulars have flocked to the Paterson tavern for ice-cold beer, Italian-American classics and, of course, their famous bar pizza with its signature crimped edge.

Casano’s Pizza Parlor

8 Highland Cross, Rutherford, NJ

Owner Dave has Casano’s designed to resemble an Italian grandmother’s living room. That means a floral-print couch, dim lighting, a foldable snack table, vintage fridge, and an old-school wooden box TV set. Enough design though, how’s the pizza? Well, it’s one of the best. Casano’s plain pizza is crisp with a mixture of two different mozzarellas, but it’s his New Haven-style apizza that I keep ordering again and again, which boasts a thinner, crisper crust, bright tomato, and a punch of grated Pecorino.

Federici’s

14 E Main St, Freehold, NJ

In a state filled with great bar pies, Federici’s still stands out. The Freehold restaurant has been kicking since 1921, but it was in the ’40s when their now-famous thin-crust pizza rose to prominence. The beauty of a Fed’s pie lies in the informalities. Cheese extends and caramelizes beyond the crust on one side—tasty sauce peeks through on the other. The dough is stretched thin and baked well-done to a satisfying crunch. Enjoy it plain, or load it with toppings like crumbled sausage, black olives, peppers, and onions. It’s a pizza that beckons you with its familiarity, all while being nothing like any pie you’ve had before. That’s why it’s been a local favorite—and an institution people travel to—for over 100 years.

The Original Mr. Bruno’s Pizzeria & Restaurant

439 Valley Brook Ave, Lyndhurst, NJ

Bruno’s is a part of my blood. My father went there the day it opened when Mr. Bruno himself handed out free slices of pizza. The one thing to know about this Lyndhurst staple is that it’s all about the Sicilian pizza. Bruno’s square comes upside down, with slices of low-moisture mozzarella on the bottom and a robust sauce on top. It’s been the inspiration for multiple shops in the area.

Bruno’s Pizza

006 US-46, Clifton, NJ

If it bears the Bruno name, then you can get money that the square pie is worth traveling for. And Bruno’s Pizza in Clifton is no different. That’s because they’ve been serving Steve Bruno’s famous upside-down Sicilian for decades since opening in 1972. Thick, chewy crust, slices of low-moisture mozzarella, zesty tomato sauce, and grated cheese make it one of the best squares in the state.

Aquila Pizza Al Forno

7A Paterson Ave, Little Falls, NJ

Aquila serves what I like to call Neapolitan-ish pizza. That’s because while the wood-fired oven and style of pizza would indicate that it is Neapolitan, the use of handmade mozzarella and New Jersey tomatoes disqualifies it from being referred to as DOP Neapolitan. The intimate restaurant, with its small menu and weekly pizza specials, offers one of the best pizza-eating experiences in the entire state.

Dominick’s Pizza

304 Union Blvd, Totowa, NJ

It’s all about the square pie at this Union Boulevard pizzeria. Dominick’s pizza style is a true look at the pizza of yesterday, best described as old-school with its square stature, rich tomato sauce, and dusting of Pecorino Romano cheese. There must be something in the Pecorino, because Dominick’s has garnered a true cult following over the years.

Star Tavern

400 High St, City of Orange, NJ

A Star pizza, scampi wings, and a creamy red birch beer is my death-row meal—not that I plan on that anytime soon. Star Tavern is a part of Orange and surrounding Essex County’s dining fabric. It’s one of the first places I send visitors to get a taste of what New Jersey truly is. The cheese spreads to the edges and caramelizes, giving you a lacy, salty crust.

TIP: Order it well-done.

Casa D’Pizza

276 E Main St, Denville, NJ

My favorite pizzaiolo’s favorite pizza is Casa D’Pizza (that’s a mouthful), so it was a lock for this list from the get-go. If you are set on only getting one pizza, then it has to be the Brooklyn, but I wouldn’t look past their other styles either. Casa puts out a thin-crust pizza that comfortably hangs with the best bar pies.

Cafe Crevier

25 E Main St, Denville, NJ

Cafe Crevier eased its way into the “best bar pie” conversation with their thinny thin pizza. It’s got everything you’re looking for in a Jersey thin-crust offering: pan-baked, sauce and cheese spread to the edges, crisp cook, and a full 360 of caramelized cheese crust. That occurs when shredded mozzarella is spread to the edge of the dough and burns to the pan, creating a salty, unctuous treat at the end of each slice. And the thin crust means you could easily kill a whole pie if you’re hungry.

Panko Pizza

1104 NJ-35, Middletown Township, NJ

Some pies are baked on screens. Others are dusted with semolina or rice flour. Many come with a cornmeal bottom for texture. But in Middletown Township, Panko Pizza gives away their secret right in the name—their pies come coated with flaky panko breadcrumbs underneath. If it sounds genius, that’s because it is. Bright red crushed tomatoes, circles of melted mozzarella dotting the whole thing, and a crisp crust accentuated by thousands of crunchy panko flakes—this is bound to be one of your new favorite pizzas. Available in full pies or by the slice.

Pizzeria ‘Lucci

809 Belmar Plaza, Belmar, NJ

Pizzeria ‘Lucci has quickly become THE must-try New Jersey pizza. Pizzaillo Mike Gallucci’s expert pizzas are the culmination of years of research and development. Lucci bakes new-school NY-style pies out of a deck oven. The crust is airy with a satisfying crunch and the ingredients are top-notch. Seriously, if you go to any spots on this list, Lucci is the one.

Emilio’s Woodfire Pizza

170 Chestnut St., Nutley, NJ

Backyard pizza making quickly turned from hobby to obsession for Emilio’s owner Rafael Ruiz, who now slings proper, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas out of his charming shop in Nutley. Emilio’s pizzas are made using biga—a pre-ferment of flour, water, and yeast that lends flavor, aroma, texture, and a light, airy crust. In a world where more and more pizzaiolos seem to be shying away from traditional Neapolitan pizza, Emilio’s leans into it.

Nancy’s Towne House

1453 Main St, Rahway, NJ

Walking into Nancy’s is like walking back in time 40 years. The Rahway tavern features Italian-American staples, cold beer, and some truly delicious thin-crust pizza. It’s one of those pizzas that makes you feel like you’re in GoodFellas when you sit down to eat it at their red-checkered tables.

Song e Napule

106 Park Ave, Rutherford, NJ

While many of the wood-fired pizzas available across New Jersey don’t lean fully into the Neapolitan world, Song e Napule—as the name suggests—does. You get a pillowy outer crust, thin base, and simple toppings that allow the quality of the cheese, tomatoes, and olive oil to shine. As far as Neapolitan goes, this is as authentic as it gets.

Pizza Shop by Flour

500 Jefferson St, Hoboken, NJ

This fun pizza spot comes from the team behind Flour—Hoboken’s premier pasta restaurant. And they’re approaching pizza with a similar attitude, which sees seasonal produce and meats as the star. The Aloha combines compressed pineapple with spicy n’duja and funky guanciale. Meanwhile, the Little Caesar sees a fresh pie topped with little gem, Calabrian chili, colatura (anchovy sauce), and breadcrumbs. Beyond the complexity is a killer cheese pie, too. Topped with house-made mozzarella.

Low Fidelity

328 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ

Detroit-style pizza isn’t too hard to come by these days, but Low Fi was one of the earliest doing it in New Jersey—and still among the best. The heavily topped square pies pack more punch than their size might suggest. Airy crust, with plenty of almost-burnt cheese on the edge, and a robust sauce make for a pizza that pairs perfectly with any of the must-try cocktails at this Jersey City staple.

Bucky’s Pizza

465 Main St, Chatham, NJ

Bucky’s used to be a mobile pizza tent, popping up outside of breweries and the like. Now, Owner Domenick Calise has a standalone shop to dish his addictive sourdough pizzas from. Pillowy crust, with a nice crisp around the edges, and the best ingredients Calise can buy make his pizza one of NJ’s absolute best.

Third Proof Pizzeria

263 Changebridge Rd, Pine Brook, NJ

Third Proof sprung onto the scene near the end of 2025 and quickly became one of the hardest pies to snag in the Garden State. Their sourdough pizzas lean into that neo-New York style—crisp undercarriage, foldable slices, good charring, bright tomato, and melty low-moisture mozzarella cheese. A three-day cold ferment lends structure and flavor to their dough, which has people waiting hours for a taste.

DeLucia’s Brick Oven Pizza

3 1st Ave, Raritan, NJ

Another 100-year-old bread oven, another legendary pizza. DeLucia’s pizzas are well-done and feature what might be the best pizza sauce in the entire state. DeLucia’s features a unique style of pizza baking where they start a fire with coals in the morning, put it out, and allow the oven to remain hot by residual heat throughout the rest of the day. Plan out your visit and call ahead. They sell out daily.

Bricco Coal Fired Pizza

128 Haddon Ave, Haddon Township, NJ

These coal-fired pizzas are a must-try when driving through Camden County. The crust has plenty of chew and flavorful char to complement the many pies that Bricco has to offer. My advice? When you have a combo of crust, sauce and cheese that is as good as Bricco, it’s hard to go wrong with a Margherita. But I won’t blame you for getting the corn pie when it’s in season.

Back Door Pizza

1438 Marlton Pike East, Cherry Hill, NJ

Behind the Farm and Fisherman Tavern in Cherry Hill is an unassuming door plastered with “1438 FARM” and a small sign reading “Back Door Pizza” next to it. The hard-to-find spot sells artisanal pizzas with plenty of fun toppings. I suggest a plain pie or the Broccoli Woccoli, which is topped with broccoli, mozzarella, garlic crema, tomato sauce dollops, pepper jam, and Pecorino.

Pizza Town, USA

111 95 route 46 west, Elmwood Park, NJ

Petition to rename Elmwood Park to Pizza Town, because the legendary slice shop has come to define the Bergen County enclave. The long-running pizza shop is known for their cheese pizza, which is slightly well-done, light on the cheese, and boasts a vibrant sauce. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better plain slice.

Papa’s Tomato Pies

19 Main St, Robbinsville Twp, NJ

Papa’s is down the street from DeLos, but it actually opened decades prior. Papa’s tomato pie features splatters of sauce on the top and cheese on the bottom, but many diehard fans go there for one thing: the mustard pie. Yes, mustard. This features a thin smear of Gulden’s spicy brown on the dough. Trust me, don’t knock it ’til you try it.

Lillo’s Tomato Pies

2503 Marne Hwy, Hainesport, NJ

Lillo’s Tomato Pies first sprang onto the scene for their cheesesteak, which is one of Jersey’s best. But their name isn’t just for show; Lillo’s dishes out authentic Trenton-style tomato pies. That means melty low-moisture mozzarella accented by a hypnotic swirl of tomato sauce. And, if you dare, add a smear of mustard to the base for an authentic Trenton staple.

Holy Tomato

9 S Black Horse Pike, Blackwood, NJ

The only thing better than the design of this colorfully-decorated pizzeria is, well, the pizza. Another Trenton-style spot, Holy Tomato, serves a thin and crisp pie, laden with plenty of flavorful tomato and cheese. They cut the pie in strips rather than traditional slices. If you like dough with some crunch, here’s your spot.

Ralph’s Pizzeria

564 Franklin Ave, Nutley, NJ

Nutley has a lot of pizza, but Ralph’s is the oldest. The long-standing spot is famous for two distinct styles: Thin or Thick. The way it usually goes is that fans of one are beholden to that style and refuse the other. I prefer the thin, personally, which is structured somewhere between a bar pie and a NY-style slice. The sauce is nice and sweet, setting this pie apart from the rest of Nutley in my eyes.

Amore Pizza by Jack Calandra

371 Centre St, Nutley, NJ

In Nutley, there’s a pizza shop dishing out loads of different styles, toppings, and more. Amore’s classic options are worth the list alone—thin squares topped with visible slices of mozzarella, upside-down Sicilians, and a perfectly delicious plain pie. But then there’s the options that brought it to fame—the Sunday Gravy-topped pizzas, the Bleecker Street Pie paying homage to the NYC institution by the same name, and meatball-ricotta topped squares that will keep you coming back. It’s a pizzeria built for nerds like me.

Pizza Terminal

50 Bloomfield Ave, Verona, NJ

There are a lot of things to like about Pizza Terminal. The upside-down Sicilian is one of the best around, and the thin-crust bar pie comes with a lacy, caramelized cheese crust that will have you hooked from the first bite. But my favorite part about Pizza Terminal? It’s a classic Jersey slice shop. The glass case behind the counter is expansive—holding a dozen different pizzas, available by the slice, at any given time. My advice: order a bar pie to go… scarf down a Sicilian and a specialty slice while you wait.

De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies

2350 NJ-33, Robbinsville Twp, NJ

“It’s not pizza; it’s tomato pie!” That is what a Trentonian might tell you. Trenton-style tomato pie differs heavily from Philly-style tomato pie, which is square, served cold and leaves out mozzarella. De Lorenzo’s features a thin, crunchy crust with low-moisture mozzarella and splatters of crushed plum tomatoes. Whatever you want to call it, this style has made a resurgence in the 2020s. But its fans will tell you that it never went away.

Gervasio’s Italian Family Restaurant

95 Saddle Way, Crosswicks, NJ

It’s all about saucy Trenton tomato pies at Gervasio’s, which has been serving the niche style of pizza since 1969. The cozy pizzeria also serves a pretty killer grandma pie, if that’s more your style. My choice? Get both.

Angeloni’s Restaurant and Pizzeria

6 Brookside Ave, Caldwell, NJ

This Caldwell red sauce joint became known for their thin-crust, to-the-edge pizzas, fittingly named the “Thinny Thin.” The sought-after pie has everything you are looking for in a bar pie—cheese and sauce to the edge, great toppings, and zero flop whatsoever.

Nola’s Osteria and Pizza

607 South Ave, Garwood, NJ

Nola’s is somewhat of a pizza encyclopedia, offering a variety of styles to choose from. Trenton-style, bar pie, super thin squares, traditional pizza—you name it. For a treat, spring for the Warrior Pan pie, which is thin, cooked well, and topped with a blend of mozzarella, a slightly spicy cooked tomato sauce, and a dusting of Pecorino.

Mateo’s

1509 NJ-38 Suite #5, Hainesport, NJ

Slightly charred crust, big shreds of mozzarella, and barely crushed plum tomatoes splattered on top of it—Mateo’s serves a picturesque Trenton tomato pie. It might be a Mercer County thing in origin, but Mateo’s shows that the Trenton staple isn’t bound by borders. It just takes the passion and commitment to do it justice.

Ricardo’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant

567 Lakehurst Rd, Browns Mills, NJ

Ricardo’s serves the kind of bright-red-and-yellow pizzas that you’d expect to see at a classic Trenton tomato pie joint. At least if you spring for the Browns Mills Tomato Pie, which you should. The outer crust chars and bubbles in parts, the undercarriage is crisp, and the entire thing takes well to toppings—sausage, cupped pepperoni, or even a sesame-seed crust.

Corner Slice

419 Boyden Ave, Maplewood, NJ

Let’s get one thing straight, Corner Slice is a slice shop. Got it? This Maplewood pizzeria specializes in square pizzas featuring a three-day fermented pizza dough. There are eight staple slices in the case each and every day, with playful specials when Owner Mike Bergemann is feeling creative. In addition to the pizza, Corner Slice is a total time capsule, playing off your nostalgia to deliver something that invokes a sense of familiarity while being unlike anywhere you’ve been before.

Talula’s

550 Cookman Ave #108, Asbury Park, NJ

Talula’s is the first place I send anyone that is heading to Asbury Park. The brick-oven pizzeria features a list of whimsical pies and enticing cocktails. In a modern world that is filled with some combination of pizza, cured meat, and spicy honey, Talula’s contribution to the trend, the Beekeeper’s Lament, might just be my favorite. The pizza comes topped with their signature four-hour tomato sauce, hot Calabrian soppressata, cheese, and local honey.

BLVD Pizza

1503 Long Beach Blvd, Surf City, NJ

LBI is one of the most beautiful places in New Jersey. For years, the same praise couldn’t be made for the food scene, but that is luckily changing. BLVD Pizza brings a breath of fresh air to the Island with their contemporary, cleverly-topped pizzas. Try a classic plain or venture into one of their captivating square pies.

Brooklyn Square

Multiple Locations

Pan-baked, upside-down square pizzas are what it’s all about here. And it’s got everything you’re looking for in the perfect Sicilian—thick crust, a crisp focaccia-like bottom, good chew, melty mozzarella, and a full-bodied tomato sauce. Grated cheese to finish it off, of course. If you’re anything like me, you’ll spring for the corners before anyone else can get a hold of them.

CatBird

1215 Sunset Ave, Asbury Park, NJ

Wood-fired pies sport an atypical square shape that has come to define the pizza at Asbury Park’s CatBird. Square pies usually bake in a pan, and rarely from a wood oven—whereas brick oven pies typically come round, with a fluffy cornicione and minimal toppings. CatBird breaks these rules. And they don’t apologize. You can’t go wrong with a classic Margherita or Marinara, but don’t skip the white pie with fennel and spicy sausage either.

The Galley Pizza & Eatery

1313 Memorial Dr, Asbury Park, NJ

The Galley is in no way your typical pizza spot. The Asbury Park restaurant features several different styles of pizza including standard style, double-proofed square, and thin-crust bar pies. These pizza canvases come with dozens of different toppings and combinations. Feeling bold? Try the lobster pizza, which comes with fra-diavolo sauce and butter-poached lobster.

Kate & Al’s Pizza

2919 US-206 #104, Columbus, NJ

The Columbus Farmers Market has one of the best produce selections you’ll find in the state, but the real reason to head to the market is for Kate & Al’s. These old-school, upside-down square pies are the perfect lunch companion to a day at the market. The crust is thicker, with an open crumb and great chew. Kate & Al’s goes heavy on the sauce—just the way the regulars like it.

Lucci’s Pizza

590 NJ-3, Clifton, NJ

Lucci’s took over the space that was once Route 3 Pizza—a quintessential, late-night slice. They kept the late-night hours, and improved basically everything else. Expertly crafted New York-style pies—square or round. Lucci’s crust is nice and crispy, while still folding the way a NY slice should. And if you’re just in need of a quick bite, they offer a full case of slices to peruse. It strikes the perfect balance between artisanal contemporary and classic old-school.

The Bar

1899 NJ-35, Laurence Harbor, NJ

The Bar is… a bar. But unlike the other bars on this list, it’s not paper-thin pies up for grabs—it’s traditional pizza Napoletana. Do not skip the Bianca, which lands you a mozzarella and scamorza base, garlic, whipped ricotta, lemon zest, and, the best part, a showering of toasted breadcrumbs. It’s creamy, nutty, and a bit floral. A perfect white pie.

Vinnie’s Pan Pizza

61 Main St, Millburn, NJ

Take a little piece of each legendary thin-crust pizza joint in New Jersey, combine them, and you are left with Vinnie’s—one of the state’s best thin-crust pizzas. It’s well-done, and the lacy cheese edge is irresistible. I like to get pepperoni at Vinnie’s, which is cut in strips rather than rounds. They crisp up nicely and flavor the entirety of the pie.

ARTIE’S

15 Newark Way, Maplewood, NJ

Artie’s is still, somehow, a hidden gem. The Maplewood pizzeria, formerly known as Arturo’s, moved to a bigger space a few years back, employing a liquor license and bakery in the process. The Neapolitan-ish pizzas are delicious and feature plenty of playful toppings and combinations. Don’t skip the bread or pasta, either.

Brick & Dough

110 Walnut St, Montclair, NJ

What do you get when you combine the suppleness of Neapolitan dough with a list of toppings that break all the rules? Well, you get New Jersey’s hippest pizzeria. Brick & Dough has a large selection of unique and classic quick-fired pizzas. The B&D dough is the real star, though, which is soft with a defined chew, zero flop and a generous amount of leoparding. The gluten-free Detroit pie is also the best gluten-free pizza in the state and it’s not particularly close.

Vic’s Italian Restaurant

60 Main St, Bradley Beach, NJ

You go to Vic’s for the atmosphere—sitting somewhere between a 1980s bar and grille, and a trip to Grandma’s house—but you stay for the ridiculously good bar pies, which have a tad more of an outer crust than the other razor-thin options in the state. It makes for a pizza that is truly unique and completely identifiable by look alone. Make sure to grab a Pennsylvania Dutch birch beer while you’re at it.

Lodi Pizza Restaurant

19 US-46, Lodi, NJ

I’m not sure what’s better at Lodi Pizza, the food or the vibe. Signed Sopranos posters, orange booths, and a no-frills staff are just the preface to what is one of my favorite pizzas. The pie is saucy and cheesy. What sets Lodi Pizza apart is that they bake in a pan, but I wouldn’t define this as “pan pizza.” It has the thickness and build of a traditional NY-style pizza, but the pan-cook leads to a distinguishable, perforated undercarriage.

Boschetto

111 Grove St, Montclair, NJ

This Montclair spot rose to prominence for authentic Roman pastas and plates, but the pizza is just as much worth praise. A pie sits around 12″ like your typical Neapolitan would, but that’s about where the comparisons stop. Boschetto’s dough is full-flavored, donning a shattering outer crust that almost doesn’t match the light color. Tear open the dough and you’ll find plenty of airy structure and body. Boschetto’s pizza is anything but an afterthought.

Nunzio’s Pizzeria

230 Westwood Ave, Long Branch, NJ

This shore-side pizzeria is located on the first floor of a residential building, and the pizza tastes just as homey as the atmosphere. Nunzio’s dishes out old-school round pies that are liberally sauced and baked crisp. If you’re looking for a throwback experience from start to finish, Nunzio’s is your spot.

Rosie’s Pizza

620 Bay Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Rosie’s is one of those pizzerias that combines contemporary and old-school techniques. What this gets you is a pizza that is somewhere between NY-style and Neapolitan. The dough is what most rave about, but the general ingredients used deserve praise, too. Don’t look past the square pie, either.

Prima Pizza Kitchen

131 N Gaston Ave, Somerville, NJ

Prima Pizza Kitchen is another one of those places where you can instantly tell that it is run by a pizza obsessive. The plain pie is one of the greats, but many live and die by the Champlain Pizza—an upside-down round pie featuring Grande Mozzarella, robust marinara sauce, basil, and a dusting of Parmigiano.

Luigi’s Famous Pizza, Restaurant and Catering

650 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ

Saucy Sicilian pizzas, crispy thin-crust offerings, Trenton-style, New Haven ah-beetz, contemporary-topped pies, and pizza by the slice—Luigi’s sort of does it all. It’s a culmination of Jersey’s rich pizza heritage, all available at one Monmouth County spot. And it’s worth going out of your way for.

Kinchley’s Tavern

586 Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey, NJ

Another tavern—get used to it. Kinchley’s is one of my favorite places to eat in the world. Their thin-crust pizzas are legendary for good reason, with a flavorful sauce and cracker-like crust. What’s even better than their classic pizza is the fra-diavolo, which I like to get with pepperoni and enjoy alongside an ice-cold beer or birch beer.

Conte’s Pizza

339 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ

Princeton isn’t just known for having the top-rated college in the nation, the Mercer County city has some famous pizza, too. Conte’s thin-crust bar pies are cooked crispy and come with a cracker-like crust that is truly unique. Keep in mind the pepperoni cups and chars, if that’s something that matters to you…

Pete & Elda’s Bar / Carmen’s Pizzeria

96 Woodland Ave, Neptune City, NJ

This legendary Neptune City bar is known for bar pies that give “cracker-thin” a new meaning. The pizza is perfectly built—with the ideal ratio of sauce to cheese—and the slender build means you can eat a lot of it. Speaking of eating a lot… Pete & Elda’s has become famous for their Whole Eater Pie Challenge. The rules are simple: a whole 18-inch XXL pie in 30 minutes or less. The prize? Your very own P&E t-shirt. The designs are legitimately cool, and change often—so you can keep coming back to add to your collection.

Grant Street Cafe

25 Grant Ave, Dumont, NJ

Crackly crust defines this NJ tavern option. And a cool bar setting completes it. Look around the room at dinner time on any given day and you’ll see dozens of thin-crust pizzas scattered around the room. Crispy, cheesy, and loaded with toppings (if you like that kind of thing). It’s the perfect companion to a cold draft beer.

Lombardi’s

597 Pompton Ave, Cedar Grove, NJ

Lombardi’s consistently flies under the radar in terms of New Jersey bar pies. And maybe it’s because I grew up eating it, but I firmly believe it’s one of the absolute best in the category. Thin crust, cheese and sauce spread right up to the edge, well-done, and a caramelized cheese skirt offer everything you’re looking for. As far as bar pies go, it doesn’t get much better than this.

The New Park Tavern

250 Park Ave, East Rutherford, NJ

PT, as the locals call it, serves the exact kind of pizza you want to eat when watching the game. With a basket of wings next to you and cold beer for washing it all down. It’s thin, a bit crisp, and takes an array of toppings quite well. And I’ll let you in on a little secret: order your pie with their famous mussels sauce instead of the typical pizza sauce—your choice of sweet or hot.

Kuhl’s Tavern

53 Prospect Ave, Bayonne, NJ

Thin—and I mean really thin—pies are the name of the game at this Bayonne staple. Kuhl’s Tavern is famous for its cracker-like bar pies, which you can enjoy plain or scattered with your choice of classic toppings.

The Vic Tavern

107 Hobart Ave, Bayonne, NJ

Maybe it’s just the local palate, but Bayonne is clearly a thin-crust pizza town. The Vic serves another town favorite. Cracker-thin crust is the star of this tavern pie, which you can get topped with the likes of sausage, pepperoni, and even kielbasa.

The Starting Point

2 Avenue A, Bayonne, NJ

The Starting Point serves razor-thin pizzas, cold beer, and a classic dive bar vibe right underneath the Bayonne Bridge. It’s yet another addition in a long line of Bayonne bar pies. Here, the crust is paper-like, and unlike many other tavern varieties, the cheese and sauce leave some breathing room at the edge. So, if you don’t like the “crustless” quality of other bar pizzas, this craveable option might be worth a try.

Ava’s Kitchen & Bar

1 N 21st St, Kenilworth, NJ

In addition to one of the best cocktail bars in New Jersey, Ava’s Kitchen is slinging some truly artisan pizzas out of their burning-hot brick oven. The toppings are great, but it’s the dough that is something of a miracle, which chars heavy but retains a light and airy structure. Ava’s dough is naturally fermented and uses fresh, stoneground flour from NY state.

La Lupa

123 NJ-33 Unit 103, Manalapan Township, NJ

The pizzas at La Lupa are quick-cooked, simply topped, and lean heavily into the char. A high-hydration dough makes for a towering cornicione—crisp and crackly on the outside, with an almost hollow interior. You’ll find plenty of fun options as the seasons turn, but the classic Margherita is never a bad idea.

Tenth Street Pasta & Pizza Shop

1000 Willow Ave, Hoboken, NJ

A Tenth Street pie is a cathartic experience. It’s thin. It’s crispy. It’s saucy. It’s got house-made mozz. And it’s showered with a boat-load of grated parm right before it hits the table. This makes for a pizza with depth. It beckons you back for another bite. Then another slice. And next thing you know, the whole pie is gone. So, you should probably order a square one too to make up for it.

Emily’s Hearth

4 Hamburg Ave, Sussex, NJ

Set inside a classic cable car diner, Emily’s Hearth serves wood-fired pizzas that are as quirky as they are proper. The hyper-seasonal toppings are a huge draw, but it’s the dough that is the true star of the show. Chewy, puffy crust on the outside—with plenty of leoparding—and a thin base convey that sort of Neapolitan-ish thing that has taken off over the last decade. That’s what happens when an artisan bread maker (Emily, duh) opens a pizzeria. Open Friday and Saturday only.

Lido

701 Main St, Hackensack, NJ

This old-school Hackensack bar has been dishing out crushable bar pies for 70 years. Lido’s pizza is exactly what you’re looking for if you’re a fan of the style: thin crust, even dispersion of sauce and cheese, and a vintage setting that adds to the experience.

Ferrari Pizza & Italian Kitchen

40 NJ-31, Flemington, NJ

I have a crazy soft spot for places like Ferrari. You walk in for lunch on a weekday, and you’re met with a case that’s packed with dozens of different slices, garlic knots, and more. But beyond the array of different pizza offerings, there’s something truly old-school up Ferrari’s sleeve: a classic sfincione. That’s a Sicilian-style pizza—almost focaccia-like in texture—that leans heavy on the tomato and less on the cheese. It gets topped off with a healthy dose of toasted breadcrumbs. One of my absolute favorites, and always a pleasure to find in the wild.

BONUS: Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza

639 S Broad St, Elizabeth, NJ Temporarily closed

If you’re into pizza beyond a surface level, you’ve probably heard of Santillo’s in Elizabeth. Owner Al Santillo bakes old-school pizzas in his century-old bread oven. The menu is dotted with eras rather than names. “1940,” “1964,” and so on, meaning the pie will emulate a pizza from that timeframe. Not sure what to get? Describe to Al how you like your pizza and he’ll handle the rest.

Santillo’s is currently closed due to a fire in 2024. However, he is rebuilding and currently selling pizzas nationwide through Goldbelly.