Gino’s East v Lou Malnati's | Pizza Restaurant
Okay, there is much debate about deep dish pizza in Chicago. Which is the best? Which is the original? Which layer is the cheese on? Where should I eat?
The two that I have found to be the best tasting and most authentic are Gino's East and Lou Malnati's. Both offer many locations in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, plus both offer the option to ship nationwide. Deep dish pizza is unique in that it places the ingredients backwards than a typical thin crust pizza, ending with sauce on top.
Gino's East was founded by two taxi drivers and a friend who were frustrated with Chicago rush hour traffic. They decided to open a pizzeria off of Michigan Avenue and Superior Street. The recipe is the same as when the pizzeria opened in 1966 and it became a legendary place with locals and tourists alike. From the secret recipe for the crust to the vine ripened tomatoes the pizza is always delicious. Many locations are covered in customer's graffiti on the walls drawn with Sharpies. Some even allow you to continue to write on the walls and add to its history.
Lou Malnati, the founder of the namesake restaurant, worked in the first Chicago deep dish pizza restaurant, which is where he learned the secrets of this delicious food. He then took his knowledge and opened his own pizzeria in 1971. Since then 32 locations have opened creating all pizzas by hand using only the finest ingredients. Lou Malnati's places mozzarella directly on the dough, which has been rolled out by hand and placed up the sides of the pan. Then additional ingredients are added, finishing with sauce and a sprinkling of cheese and spices. Their sauce uses only the finest tomatoes and they meet with the growers each year to select the tomatoes to be used in the sauce.
Both are going to provide great deep dish pizza experiences and are worth the 45 minute wait for them to prepare and cook your pizza.
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Gino's East
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Lou Malnati's
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Gino's East Deep Dish Pizza |
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Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Pizza |