14 hours ago
Who makes the best pizza in the world?
From hidden alley shops in Naples to pizza legends in New York, these six pies blew everything else out of the oven. What started as curiosity turned into a full-blown global quest to find the world's best pizza, one slice at a time.
I've always loved pizza, but like most people, I never stopped to ask why some slices taste life-changing while others fall flat. Was it the crust? The sauce? The technique? I had a lot of questions and a pretty good excuse to eat a lot of pizza in the name of research.
So I hit the road, visiting everywhere from famous grocery store food courts to tucked-away pizzerias run by multi-generational chefs. Some pizzas were assembled by robots, others cooked in ovens older than most buildings. One was topped with gold. No matter the method, one thing was clear: I was determined to find the best slice on Earth.
Yes, really — Costco. I found countless articles and Reddit threads claiming that Costco serves some of the best pizza in the world. That surprised me, considering it's better known for bulk toilet paper and $1.50 hot dogs. Still, the internet doesn't lie (well… sometimes). So, I had to try it out for myself.
Unlike traditional pizzerias with chefs tossing dough and adding toppings by hand, Costco uses a machine to distribute the sauce and cheese in perfect circles. The result? Almost every slice looks identical, and the flavor is reliably consistent.
My first bite reminded me of the pizzas I grew up eating in that it was cheesy, comforting and delicious in its own way. However, the crust lacked the crisp texture I typically look for in my favorite pizzas. That said, at under $2 a slice, Costco pizza certainly earns a spot on this list for value and nostalgia alone.
Next stop: Al Forno's, a legendary pizza spot in Providence, Rhode Island. It also happens to be the first place I ever worked. I may be biased, but this isn't just hometown pride. Al Forno's is often credited with inventing grilled pizza, and at one point was ranked among the best casual restaurants in the world.
What sets this pizza apart is its reverse assembly. The chefs layer cheese first, then spoon the tomato sauce on top. That choice changes the entire taste and texture of the pie. You get pockets of savory sauce that blend seamlessly with the melted cheese, making each bite truly special.
Then comes the grilling. Instead of baking in an oven, the pizza is placed directly on a wood-fired grill. This technique gives it a beautifully charred, crispy base and a slightly smoky flavor. It's bold, rustic and unlike anything else I tasted on this journey.
No 'best pizza' list is complete without Frank Pepe's in New Haven, Connecticut. This spot is considered pizza royalty, and rightly so. New Haven is often called the pizza capital of the United States, and Frank Pepe's is its crown jewel.
They're known for coal-fired pizza, baked in a 100,000-pound oven that runs at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That kind of heat gives the crust a signature crunch and blistered finish. They also use bread flour instead of pizza flour, which makes the dough slightly looser and lighter than typical pies.
Topped with crushed tomato sauce, fresh-sliced mozzarella, Pecorino Romano and a drizzle of olive oil, it's a simple yet masterfully executed pie. Every bite has a contrast of textures with an airy interior, crispy exterior and tons of savory flavors. At this point, I started wondering if I'd already found the winner, but I had more slices to go.
Yes, that's the name: Best Pizza. Located in Brooklyn, New York, this unassuming shop had a lot to live up to just based on the name alone. Spoiler alert: it delivered.
What makes Best Pizza stand out is its 130-year-old oven, which is the size of a one-car garage. The crust here is something else. It puffs up dramatically in the oven, which pushes the toppings toward the middle of the pizza and creates a naturally 'loaded' center and light, airy edges.
The chefs here use dried oregano for an earthy touch, minimal fresh mozzarella and a signature doming method that chars the top and gives the pizza an almost wood-fired look and taste. The result is a well-rounded, perfectly executed pizza that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Now for the wild card: Industry Kitchen. This famous New York City restaurant sells the most expensive pizza, not just in the United States but in the entire world. At $250 a slice, I had to see if it lived up to the hype.
Made with black dough infused with cuttlefish ink, a roasted garlic base and toppings like white Stilton cheese, foie gras, truffles and 24K edible gold, this pizza looks like a piece of modern art.
Cooked in a gas-wood combo oven, the crust gets perfectly crisp, while the toppings offer rich, savory, smoky notes. It's not traditional, and definitely not for everyday eating, but it was surprisingly delicious. My friend called it the best he's ever had. I, on the other hand, still had one more destination before crowning a winner.
Last, but certainly not least, I Masanielli is a pizzeria located just outside Naples, Italy. It was ranked the #1 pizza in the world by a panel of 900 judges, and it was the perfect way to end the trip.
I cheated a little here and tried two pizzas, a classic margherita pizza and their deep-fried specialty pizza. The margherita was layered with toppings in a way that melted into each other, creating a smooth, almost chocolatey texture, as the chef described it. The balance of bright tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and tender dough was pure perfection.
The deep-fried pizza? Mind-blowing. It had the crispiest crust of any pizza I tried and a rich, savory filling inside. It was indulgent, surprising and completely unforgettable.
This quest wasn't just about ranking; it was about celebrating everything pizza can be, in all parts of the world. From robot-assembled slices to century-old ovens, grocery store counters and Italian alleyways, I tasted history, innovation and a whole lot of cheese.
Some pizzas stuck to tradition. Others broke all the rules. Some were budget-friendly. Others were luxury items. Yet, every single pie had something special to offer.
As a self-proclaimed pizza expert, I can confidently say that these six are among the best in the world. Can I pick just one winner? Honestly... I'm still chewing on that.
