The Best Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago
A Slice of Tradition
Deep dish pizza in Chicago is not just food; it’s a cultural icon, and Gino’s East has been at the forefront of this tradition since 1966. When you think of Chicago-style pizza, the deep, buttery crust, layers of rich cheese, savory toppings, and tangy tomato sauce likely come to mind. Gino’s East is synonymous with this experience, offering a pizza that has defined the genre and set the standard for pizza lovers everywhere.
Ingredients That Set Us Apart
As a family company ourselves, we take pride in being able to say we source our ingredients from family-run organizations. From the California tomatoes in our sauce to the sausage made here in Chicago, you can eat happily knowing that your deep dish is made with the best ingredients.
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Dough
GMO-free, made from scratch every day
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Tomatoes
Family-grown from California
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Cheese
From Wisconsin, designed especially for pizza
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Sausage
Made in Chicago for Chicago
Today, our pizza is made the same way it was over 50 years ago
What Is Chicago Deep Dish Pizza?
Chicago deep dish is a pizza baked in a deep, round pan, with the crust pressed up the sides to hold a generous filling. It is built in the opposite order from most pizza: cheese goes down first, then the toppings, and chunky tomato sauce goes on top. That order protects the cheese through a longer bake and gives every slice its tall, layered cross-section.
Gino’s East has baked deep dish in Chicago since 1966, when the first restaurant opened just off the Magnificent Mile. Our deep dish is still made to order in the pan, one pie at a time.
The Gino’s East Crust and Alice Mae Redmond
The recipe that made Gino’s East famous came from Alice Mae Redmond, a pizza cook who spent 29 years in the Gino’s East kitchen before retiring in 1989. She stretched the dough gently into the pan instead of slapping it around, coaxed the sauce into each pie instead of splattering it, and brought her own secret dough conditioner. That conditioner is still what gives our crust its texture and taste, and her nephew, Glenn Hudley, made sure the method was passed down when he ran the kitchen after her.
Read the full Gino’s East story, or see the anatomy of the perfect deep dish.
Deep Dish or Tavern-Style Thin Crust?
Every Gino’s East restaurant serves both Chicago styles. Deep dish is the tall, knife-and-fork pie described above. Tavern-style thin crust is the city’s other tradition: a thin, crisp crust cut into squares, made for sharing at the bar. If your table cannot decide, order one of each.
How to Eat Deep Dish Like a Chicagoan
Give the pie a minute to settle after it arrives, then lift a slice with a server and use a knife and fork. Our guide to how to eat deep dish pizza covers the rest, including why you should save room for a second slice.
Where to Get Gino’s East Deep Dish
In downtown Chicago, visit the original Gino’s East Magnificent Mile off Michigan Avenue, or Gino’s East South Loop in Printers Row. Outside the city, find us in Wheaton and Los Angeles. You can also order online for pickup or delivery, book catering for a group, or bake our frozen deep dish at home.
First to Offer Vegan Cheese
Our food team worked around the clock to finally bring a vegan option to our deep-dish and thin-crust lineup, and in 2019, Gino's East became the first major Chicago Deep Dish restaurant to offer vegan cheese as an option.
Gino’s East Locations
Select a spot for menus, catering, events, and more!
Deep Dish Pizza FAQ
What is Chicago deep dish pizza?
Chicago deep dish is baked in a deep, round pan with the crust pressed up the sides. It is layered in reverse of most pizza: cheese goes in first, then toppings, with chunky tomato sauce on top, so the cheese does not scorch during the longer bake.
Who created the Gino’s East crust?
Alice Mae Redmond, who joined Gino’s East after it opened in 1966 and baked there for 29 years. Her gentle method of stretching the dough into the pan and her secret dough conditioner still define the Gino’s East crust.
How long does deep dish pizza take?
Deep dish is baked to order and takes longer than a thin crust pizza. In our restaurants, many guests order the pizza right away and start with an appetizer while it bakes.
Is there gluten-free or vegan deep dish?
We offer vegan cheese, and in 2019 Gino’s East became the first major Chicago deep dish restaurant to offer it. We do not offer a gluten-free deep dish; our gluten-free option is a thin crust.
Can I get Gino’s East deep dish outside Chicago?
Yes. Visit us in Wheaton or Los Angeles, ship deep dish nationwide through Goldbelly, or pick up Gino’s East frozen deep dish at grocery stores.
