Tavern-Style vs Deep Dish: The Chicago Pizza Argument, Settled

Both come from Chicago. Both are delicious. Only one is what people in Chicago actually eat on a Tuesday night. Let’s clear this up.

The headline difference

What Chicago actually orders

Talk to anyone who lives in Chicago for more than six months. They’ll tell you: deep dish is a special-occasion thing. It’s heavy. It takes 45 minutes. You eat it once a quarter when out-of-towners visit.

Tavern-style is what corner taps, neighborhood spots, and family-owned shops serve seven nights a week. It’s what Chicagoans grow up eating. It’s what they order for a Bears game.

Which should you try first?

If you’re new to Chicago pizza, start with tavern-style. It’s the working pizza of the city — the everyday version. Once you’ve had a few of those, then go sample a real deep dish at a place like Pequod’s or Lou Malnati’s and you’ll understand the role each one plays.

At Arcadia Pizza Company, we make tavern-style because it’s what we grew up on and what we think Phoenix has been missing. Try the Wisco-Roni if you want the cleanest version of the style, or the Italian Beef if you want our love letter to Chicago in pizza form.