Three Essential Detroit Pizza Places You Need to Try

I love all kinds of pizza: a hearty NY slice, an oozing Chicago Deep-Dish, a bubbly and charred Neapolitan pie, a priced-by-weight and cut-with-scissors square of Roman pizza. But the pizza style that is most nostalgic to me, and probably closest to my heart, is Detroit-style – despite never stepping foot in the city until my 30s.

Why? Well, like many 90s kids, I grew up eating pan-style pizzas, frequently as a reward for reading. As I’ve gotten older, my palette has grown up, too – but I still crave a crisp and chewy slice of pizza often. The kind of pie where the dough isn’t an afterthought – instead it’s an equal player, supporting the toppings with all of its flavorful, long-fermented might.

So, when Michael chose Detroit as his birthday destination, my stomach held a celebration of its own.

A poster that reads Detroit Slice and has watercolor images of different pizzas — Poster by Cities by the Slice

…and then I entered a state of minor panic. With only three days in the city, that gave us a very limited opportunity for pizza-eating, particularly as there were other places on our radar, too. But we made up our minds to visit three of Detroit’s best pizza joints – one per day.

We devoted hours to scouring the internet for reviews and scrutinizing photos, to land on these three can’t-miss Detroit pizza restaurants:

THREE CAN’T MISS DETROIT PIZZA RESTAURANTS

Entrance to Michigan & Trumbull — Michigan & Trumbull is named for its original location (shown here); it has since moved

A rectangle pizza in Detroit — Cowabunga Supreme

A basket of pepper poppers — Fresno Chile Poppers

Michigan & Trumbull

A piece of advice for scanning the menu: Good luck.

The decision-making process at Michigan & Trumbull is next to impossible, but I recommend taking it one step at a time. Red or white? Meat or veggie? Classic or fun?

The best approach would be to visit with a group of friends and order a range of pies from the menu to try a little of everything (or better yet, make friends while you wait – because there just might be a wait when you arrive). But if you’re dining as a pair, you’ll have to make do with just one.

As hungry as we were, finishing the 8×10 pie was brutal. Well, not that brutal, I suppose, thanks to the Cowabunga Supreme’s crisp edges, soft interior, and perfectly balanced flavors. In the mood for a little more? Consider adding a batch of poppers, made with Fresno peppers and served with a side of cilantro ranch.

→Michigan & Trumbull // now at 1331 Holden St #100, Detroit, MI 48202

—

Exterior of Amar Pizza — Amar Pizza, Hamtramck

A Detroit pizza with two types of toppings — *top* Naga Pizza | *bottom* Dry Fish Pizza

Amar Pizza

Okay, so Amar Pizza is technically in Hamtramck, an enclave just fifteen minutes from downtown – but their offerings are so unique it would be a crime to leave them off this list.

They’re best known for two separate pies: the Naga Pizza (chicken, red onions, cilantro, and made with naga sauce) and Dry Fish Pizza (dried shrimp, roasted garlic, onions, and cilantro with a spicy fish paste sauce). Thankfully, Amar Pizza will combine the two for you in a half-and-half square. Both were worlds apart in flavor – the Naga pizza is sweet, tangy, and herbal with a little kick, and the Dry Fish Pizza is a salty umami bomb with intense heat – but it was a treat to bounce back and forth between the two.

Not feeling so hot? I’m certain you’ll find something to your liking (plus you can always build your own!). As seems to be the norm for us, we found a small pizza to be just too large to share – but the pair next to us was chowing down on a bigger pie plus several hot dogs, so YMMV I guess.

→Amar Pizza // 12195 Joseph Campau Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212

—

A Detroit pizza on a table — Pie Sci’s Meatlovers pie

Pie Sci Pizza

Pie Sci Pizza is located across the street from the Wayne State University campus (hence the name, get it?), and pizza class is in session, baby.

Choose between a four-slice 8×10″ pie or an eight-slice 10×14″ larger version (round pies are also available, but that’s not why we’re here), and then debate whether you want to order one of the fun flavor combinations or build your own. My recommendation is to choose one from their list, as you’ll save significantly more on your final bill. Enjoy every second of the cheese pull on this crispy-edged pillow of a pizza, and maybe have an extra slice for me.

→Pie Sci Pizza // 5163 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48208

MORE OPTIONS FOR DETROIT-STYLE PIZZA

I only feel comfortable sharing what I know or have experienced, but I’m more than happy to let you sneak a peek at my list for my next visit(s) to Motor City! A few places on my radar, in no particular order:

Grandma Bob’s for thick pies in hip digs
Sicily’s Pizzeria for sourdough Detroit-style pizza (that’s a thing? Yes, please)
Buddy’s Pizza to experience the OG of Detroit-style pizza
Z’s Villa for mouthwatering pies (judging by the photos, at least!)

FINAL THOUGHTS ON DETROIT’S PIZZA SCENE

Like all cities with an iconic dish, everyone will have an opinion on which restaurant makes the best version. And I haven’t had the chance to try all of Detroit’s pizza, but I’m thrilled to share these three worth-the-trip restaurants with you as a jumping-off point.

I hope to return to the Motor City one day to indulge in more of my favorite pizza style, and you know I’ll be sure to bring you along for the ride. If you feel like supporting this blog to bring me back to the city sooner, you can always Buy Me A Coffee.

—

Questions for you

What is your favorite style of pizza?

What other Detroit spots would you add to this list?

Enjoyed this post? You may also like:

Share this post:

Deep-Dish and Delish: Three Detroit Pizza Places You Need to Try