What was once a prominent local chain has been whittled down to a just a few locations in the suburbs. That hasn’t stopped this Northbrook outpost, though, from cranking out superb tavern-style pizzas. The crisp, cornmeal-dusted crust provides the foundation for a right amount of cheese, tangy sauce, and toppings like housemade sausage.

It’s hard to miss the gigantic neon arrow pointing folks in the direction of Candlelite. West Rogers Park is home to great cracker-thin-crust pizzas boasting ingredients such as Italian beef, shrimp, and barbecue chicken. On Tuesdays, those who dine in can get two pies for the price of one.

Family-owned and operated since 1940, Marie’s is for pizza junkies seeking a vintage Chicago experience. The restaurant is attached to a liquor store so customers can purchase alcohol and have them brought to the table along with their ultra thin crust pizzas.

Head to Uptown for cold beer and flaky and buttery crusts topped with a thick layer of ingredients. Michael’s is a sports bar that does Chicago-style pizza the way it was meant to be done. If guests prefer to hold the tomato sauce, an extra thin white pie finished with garlic, olive oil, mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan is the ideal alternative.

Exuding Old World charm, this family-run establishment has been a steady presence on the Northwest Side for decades. Owner Salvatore Canale makes everything from scatch, and his top notch thin crusts sport a second layer of cheese over the toppings. Selections include the La Villa Special (sausage, pepperoni, green pepper, mushroom, green olives, onion), Veggie Alfredo, and Southwestern (barbecue sauce, chicken, bacon).

Step into this retro pizza den to experience tried-and-true thin crust. The back dining room at John’s may seem like a relic of the ‘60s, but the food is a much more impressive affair. Try the signature John’s Special (sausage, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers) for a winning combination.

Started in suburban Homewood, Aurelio’s has been mastering thin crust pizza for more than 60 years. It’s one of the oldest franchises in the Chicagoland area and has expanded to multiple states.

Consumers might know Home Run Inn from the frozen foods aisle at the grocery store, but the company also has several restaurants across the city. The thin and flaky butter crust serves as the base for a shower of toppings. Spicy food lovers will appreciate options like the Garlic Fireball, made with sausage, jalapenos, and giardiniera.

Another contender for the thin crust crown, Villa Nova is a no-frills spot that deserves to be mentioned among the South Side’s greats. It’s worth a trip out to suburban Stickney to enjoy the square-cut pizzas topped with juicy house sausage, gooey mozzarella, and other add-ons like Italian beef and chicken.

Tucked away in a Gage Park strip mall, this pizzeria has been drawing in patrons for more than 40 years with light, crispy, cracker-thin pies. Owner Rich Jensen makes the dough and fennel sausage fresh and bakes them in a Faulds rotary oven.

Garfield Ridge residents know and love this quaint carry-out joint. The neighborhood favorite has received accolades (including an appearance on The Good Wife) for one of the best thin crust pizzas the South Side has to offer. They’re sauced all the way to the edges, giving each bite a nice balance, and cooked in a 1947 Middleby Marshall oven.

Opened in the late ‘40s, Italian Fiesta is a popular South Side staple with five locations. The pizza is also a favorite of President Obama and was served at his 2009 inauguration. It’s carryout-only and customers should expect to wait at least 45 minutes, but the reward is a solid thin crust pie with a buttery crust, lots of topping choices, and a hefty amount of oregano.

The Eater 38 institution has long been praised as the king of tavern-style pizza. In a town where deep dish gets all the buzz, Vito & Nick’s still manages to garner national recognition for its thin, crunchy crusts, topped with everything from fennel sausage and ground beef to shrimp and anchovies. It’s a must-visit not just for pizza lovers, but every Chicagoan. Make sure to bring cash and order a pint of Old Style.

Travel across city lines to the suburb of Evergreen Park for terrific pies loaded with tangy sweet sauce and fresh toppings. The crispy crusts are very thin but sturdy enough to stand up to the layers of melted cheese, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, and more.

Reliable and unassuming Milano’s is where Morgan Park locals look to for some stellar thin crust. The pizzeria celebrated 35 years of operation in 2019 and its pies are notable for using imported mozzarella and a secret family sauce.