New York City and Times Square has always felt impossible to rank when it comes to pizza because there are slices everywhere you look. Everybody has an opinion, every block has another spot claiming to be the best, and somehow the city still keeps delivering.
For the second stop of the Respect My Region North American Pizza Tour, we had to officially bring things to Times Square. It’s one of the busiest areas in the entire country, packed with tourists, locals, late night crowds, and some of the most recognizable pizza spots in New York.
Over the years, these are the places that have kept standing out the most. Not just one random visit for the sake of content either. These are spots that consistently held up every single time we came back.
5. Upside Pizza
Upside Pizza earns this spot because it understands exactly what makes New York pizza work while still bringing its own identity to it.
Everything here feels balanced. The crust on the slices comes out crispy while remaining soft enough to achieve that classic fold. The sauce has a sweetness that doesn’t overpower the cheese, and every slice somehow feels light while still filling. What really makes Upside stand out is consistency. Times Square moves fast, crowds constantly rotate in and out, and somehow the pizza still comes out tasting fresh every time. Nothing about it feels rushed.
The first thing that stands out when walking in is the variety. So many different slices are sitting on display, and honestly, it immediately makes you feel some sort of way. Everything looked so fresh that it instantly grabbed my attention the second I went in.
Upside doesn’t try too hard to reinvent New York pizza. It just focuses on making really good slices that keep people coming back, and honestly, that simplicity is part of what makes it work so well.
4. Champion Pizza
On our #4 spot, Champion Pizza feels built specifically for New York City foot traffic.
This is the kind of spot where you walk in, grab a slice immediately, and already know exactly what you’re getting. Thin crust, strong fold, solid cheese pull, and just enough grease to make it feel like a real New York slice without going overboard.
What really sets Champion Pizza apart is its taste. Everything comes together exactly how you want a classic New York slice to taste. The sauce, cheese, and crust all balance each other perfectly, without any of them overpowering the others. Even when the city is packed, and people are constantly moving in and out, the slices still come out hot and fresh every single time.
3. Little Italy Pizza
On our #3 spot, Little Italy Pizza lands here for a reason. The fact that they have multiple locations across New York already tells you everything you need to know. Places do not expand like that unless people consistently keep coming back.
Nothing here feels overcomplicated. They focus on making a classic New York pizza look as good as it tastes. Every slice sitting behind the glass looked absolutely amazing, from cheese to the more loaded options. Everything felt fresh, crispy, and ready to grab the second you walked in. Their garlic bread is something you should not sleep on. Seriously! The outside comes out crispy while the inside stays soft and buttery with enough garlic flavor to make it slap. It’s simple, but the combo complements Little Italy perfectly.
If you are a nightlife person, Little Italy Pizza is one of those spots that somehow hits even harder late at night. There’s just something about being in New York with a hot slice in your hand while the city is still fully alive around you. The slices stay light enough to keep eating, and the taste never disappoints. Overall, this is one of those reliable pizza spots you can keep finding yourself coming back to.
2. Nolita Pizza
On our #2 spot, Nolita Pizza might honestly be one of the more underrated pizza spots around Times Square.
Everything here feels extremely balanced from the first bite. The crust stays crispy without becoming too crunchy, the sauce actually has flavor that stands out, and the cheese melts perfectly across every slice instead of overpowering everything underneath it. Nothing feels too heavy or overloaded, which honestly makes it easy to keep coming back for another slice.
What also stood out about Nolita Pizza was how consistent everything felt across the board. No matter what slice you grabbed, everything tasted fresh, balanced, and made correctly. It never felt like you had to search for the “right” option because the quality carried across the entire menu.
1. Joe’s Pizza
At our #1 spot, we have the infamous Spider-Man pizza spot, Joe’s Pizza.
There’s a reason this place continues getting brought up in almost every serious New York pizza conversation. The moment you grab a slice, it immediately makes sense why people keep coming back year after year.
Joe’s focuses on doing the basics at an extremely high level. The crust comes out thin with the perfect fold, the sauce has that classic New York flavor people look for, and the cheese always feels balanced across the entire slice. Nothing feels overly complicated or forced. It’s just classic New York pizza done correctly.
This is also one of those places that instantly feels like New York the second you walk in. Fast moving lines, people grabbing slices and heading back into the city, and pizza that somehow lives up to all the hype surrounding it. Joe’s Pizza keeps things simple, and honestly, that’s exactly why it lands at the top of this list.
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