Few foods inspire opinions quite like pizza. New York-style devotees want a slice thin enough to fold. Neapolitan fans look for blistered crusts and bubbling mozzarella. Detroit-style loyalists want those crispy, cheesy edges. And New Haven converts will happily explain why char is a feature, not a flaw.
So when DiningOut Dallas asked its Facebook followers to name the best pizza in Dallas, readers had plenty to say. More than 500 diners chimed in, recommending everything from decades-old neighborhood institutions to newer pizzerias specializing in regional styles. The answers also stretched well beyond Dallas city limits, because, as we’ve learned from previous reader debates, telling a North Texan that Garland or Plano is “not Dallas” rarely stops them from recommending a restaurant there.
Still, one name towered over the rest: Campisi’s.
With 70 mentions, Campisi’s earned more than twice as many recommendations as any other restaurant in the discussion. For generations of Dallas diners, that probably isn’t surprising. The original Mockingbird Lane location is the kind of restaurant people associate with family dinners, childhood meals, and a very particular version of old-school Dallas. And some readers didn’t simply recommend Campisi’s—they supplied an entire game plan.
“Go to Campisi’s and get a large salad for the table, an order of crab claws, Joe’s toast, 2 meatballs, and a medium all the way pizza,” Jarrett advised.
But the restaurant that received the most love also received some of the strongest criticism. Not everyone was convinced nostalgia should determine the city’s pizza hierarchy.
“Campisi’s pizza is terrible but their pasta is fine,” Jen countered.
And therein lies perhaps the most interesting thing about Campisi’s runaway showing. Its 70 mentions don’t necessarily mean Dallas diners agree about the pizza. They show just how deeply the restaurant is embedded in the city’s dining identity.
If Campisi’s stood alone at the top, the competition became considerably tighter from there. Cane Rosso finished second with 27 mentions. The local pizzeria helped introduce plenty of Dallas diners to Neapolitan-style pizza, and its wood-fired pies continue to have a loyal following.
But it wasn’t the only Neapolitan specialist earning praise. Partenope, with locations in Downtown Dallas and Richardson, received 20 mentions, putting it in a tie for fourth overall. Olivella’s also appeared repeatedly, making it clear that Dallas has no shortage of opinions when it comes to the charred crusts of Neapolitan pizza.
Coming in third with 21 mentions was Louie’s, the Henderson Avenue institution whose devotees tend to speak about it with the confidence of people who believe the debate should already be over.
“Louie’s, hands down,” Bill wrote.
Pizza Getti, an East Dallas neighborhood favorite, earned 14 mentions and some of the most nostalgic comments.
“Been eating there since the early ‘70s when they were on Ferguson and Lakeland,” Dean wrote.
Pizza Getti’s showing, along with Campisi’s and other longtime favorites, suggests that asking someone to name the “best” pizza often turns into something more personal: Which pizza feels like home?
One of the strongest showings belonged to a considerably newer arrival. Fortunate Son in Garland tied Partenope with 20 mentions, making its New Haven-style pies one of the most popular choices in the entire discussion.
“Fortunate son in Garland is as good as pizza as I’ve ever had,” Joseph wrote.
Its popularity also revived that eternal DiningOut Dallas Facebook debate: What exactly counts as Dallas? Some commenters objected to suburban recommendations, but diners continued offering them anyway. iFratelli earned 14 mentions, Zoli’s in Addison received 11, and Motor City Pizza in Lewisville collected nine. Plano, Rowlett, Frisco, McKinney, and other corners of North Texas all entered the conversation.
The results made one thing abundantly clear: Declaring one restaurant the “best pizza” gets complicated when Dallas diners can’t even agree on what kind of pizza they’re judging.
New York-style slices had plenty of champions. Carmine’s earned nine mentions, with one reader offering perhaps the ultimate endorsement.
“I’m a native New Jerseyan and Carmine’s is the best NY/NJ slice I’ve had in Dallas in my 20 years here,” Joe wrote.
For Detroit-style pies, readers pointed to Motor City Pizza, along with Heirloom Pizza in Plano. One reader praised Heirloom as an “awesome one guy show” making his own dough and sauce while offering both Detroit-style and thin-crust pizzas.
Then there’s Fortunate Son for New Haven-style pizza, while Bryan Street Tavern drew mentions from fans of St. Louis-style pies. In other words, “What’s the best pizza in Dallas?” may require a follow-up question: What kind?
Beyond the highest vote-getters, some of the most interesting recommendations came farther down the list. Cenzo’s Pizza & Deli in Oak Cliff earned 12 mentions, while Greenville Avenue Pizza Company picked up 10 and plenty of credibility as a late-night favorite. Thunderbird Pies, Piggie Pies, and Motor City Pizza each earned nine mentions. Thunderbird also received an enthusiastic endorsement for its gluten-free pizza.
“My daughter has celiac and Thunderbird has the absolute best GF pizza we’ve ever had,” Keith wrote.
Other Dallas favorites that surfaced repeatedly included Blackjack Pizza, Serious Pizza, Pie Tap, Scalini’s, Mimi’s Pizza, Pizzeria Carina, and NEONY. Even Salisbury’s Pizza, which only recently opened in Casa Linda, already made the conversation—an impressive showing for a newcomer competing against restaurants with decades of history behind them.
By the numbers, DiningOut readers gave Campisi’s the clearest victory. Its 70 mentions dwarfed Cane Rosso’s 27, followed by Louie’s with 21 and Partenope and Fortunate Son with 20 each. But the comments tell a more interesting story than the ranking alone.
Dallas pizza culture has become remarkably varied. The city that once relied heavily on red-sauce institutions and neighborhood pizza joints now has credible versions of Neapolitan, New Haven, Detroit, New York, and St. Louis-style pizza scattered across North Texas. At the same time, newer arrivals haven’t erased diners’ affection for the restaurants they grew up eating.
So, does Dallas have a definitive best pizza? DiningOut readers gave Campisi’s a commanding lead, but the rest of the conversation suggests the answer depends on what style you’re craving—and how far you’re willing to drive for it.
