Gino's East: Best Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago

Chicago is famous for its deep dish pizza. Ever since 1943, when two friends opened Pizzeria Uno, the city's love for and devotion to deep dish pizza has done nothing but grow. It is now a staple in the Windy City food culture. While there are many places that boast of having the best deep dish pizza, there is one place that truly delivers: Gino's East, opened in 1966 by two taxi drivers and a friend looking to start something new, and bringing to Chicago an instant classic.

The Vibe

On of the great things about the deal I found for Gino's East is that I can be used at any of there 10 Chicagoland locations. The branch of Gino's East closest to my apartment is a short 10 minute drive away, which is possibly too convenient as I am tempted to go there for dinner at least once a week. Located at the intersection of Diversey, Lincoln, and Racine, the Lakeview spot is cozy and comfortable. The walls are filled with pictures of celebrities that have come to indulge and the table have checkered tablecloths, like old school Italian joints. While it is not particularly big, the staff is incredibly friendly and attentive. Service is always speedy (although that 45 minute wait for pizza can seem like an eternity… can't rush perfection). The crowd is always mixed: I have seen couples, groups of friends both old and young, and families whenever I visit. The restaurant is also BYOB, which always makes for a good time if you think ahead.

The Food

And now to the moment you've all been waiting for: the pizza. In order to eat a slice of Gino's East deep dish, which by the way hardly even fit onto my plate, you first need a fork and knife. Many of you not accustomed to this Chicago delicacy may not be familiar with eating pizza with utensils, but it is essential.

My boyfriend and I ordered a large Supreme Deep Dish Pizza – layers of cheese with pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers and onions. I was salivating while we were ordering, but by the time the pizza made it to our table, I was drooling. When you cut into a slice, your knife sinks into the many layers that make deep dish pizza so spectacular: the gooey cheese, the veggies, the meat, and the vine-ripened tomato sauce made special for Gino's East only.

With each bite, you taste the soft mozzarella, with a slight crunch of green peppers, the saltiness of the pepperoni and oh my gosh that sauce! Honestly, I am a ‘the more sauce the better' kind of gal, and this is probably why Gino's East ranks so high on my list. Their pizza is absolutely covered in it, but its the best thing you could ever put into your mouth.

And I haven't even gotten to the crust! Gino's East has signature golden yellow crust that is crunchy on the outside, while still being soft on the inside, and baked to perfection. I washed mine down with a cold glass of root beer, and left feeling full and completely satisfied. You must be out the door by this point because just writing this is making me so hungry!

Tips!

The Lakeview location of Gino's East is not especially large. For those pizza lovers dining in, it is best to get there ahead of the dinner crowd rush to avoid a long wait. Along with a small restaurant, is a small parking lot. I would say there are about 5 legitimate parking spaces (not including one for handicap); there are maybe about 7 spaces once people begin to get desperate (or creative). When I arrived on a Saturday around 6:30 there were plenty of spaces and I did not have to wait for a table. Between 7:00 and 7:30 it started to get really busy.