Chicago is very famous for its deep-dish pies. But what if we told you that there is another fantastic pizza type coming from the Windy City?

Indeed, we present to you the awesome Chicago thin-crust pizza!

Make no mistake, many Chi-town locals even prefer this type over the famous deep-dish style.

So, what makes it different? Well, as the name suggests, this Chicago pie comes with a thin crust. The dough is rolled which gives it a crunchy characteristic. Plus, it's thinner than your usual hand-tossed pizza such as the New York-style one.

Also, it is cut in squares rather than slices. This is popularly called a party cut or tavern style.

Another way to describe the crust, given its thin and firm structure, is that it resembles a cracker. This makes it suitable for holding all the toppings. However, folding it is not really an option.

Speaking of the toppings, the choices are typical just like in other places in America. But if pepperoni is the number one ingredient elsewhere, it is Italian sausage in Chicago.

When Was Chicago Thin Crust Pizza Invented?

When many Italians immigrated to America at the turn of the 20th century, they brought pizza with them.

In New York, the first pizza bakers made the dough by hand tossing it. But this wasn't the case with the Italian cooks that had moved to Chicago. Instead, they used the method of rolling the dough.

Hence, their pizza came with a thinner crust in comparison.

Moreover, the pizza makers in Chicago were first and foremost bar owners. In fact, the term tavern-style comes from them selling their pies in taverns.

Not only that but since many of these taverns didn't have plates, cutting the pizza into squares made it possible to serve it on napkins.

Also, serving pizza in taverns was a means to entice the customers to drink alcohol.

When the prohibition ended and taverns became open again, thin-crust pies were offered to attract patrons. Often times they came as a free snack with the drink. Thus, their popularity increased during the Great Depression.

One classic place known for its thin-crust pizza in Chicago is Vito & Nicks. They have been in business for a hundred years and are highly acclaimed. Their original location was opened in 1923 at Congress and Polk.

How Many Calories Are in a Chicago-Style Thin Crust Pizza?

A single slice of Chicago thin-crust pie (118g) contains around 290 calories. This includes 13g of total fat, 570mg of sodium, 31g of carbohydrates, as well as 14g of protein.

In regards to vitamins and minerals, there are 120μg of vitamin A (14%), 6mg of vitamin C (11%), 150mg of calcium (15%), and 1.8mg of iron (23%). The numbers in brackets denote the daily value percentage based on a 2000-calorie diet.

Where Can I Find Chicago Thin Crust Pizza Near Me?

Now that you're familiar with the awesome Chicago thin-crust pie, we recommend that you try some for yourself.

First, let's start with its home city - Chicago. A great place where you can get it is Rosati's Pizza on Grand Ave. They're open 7 days a week and you can also order takeout or delivery through the Slice app.

Don't worry, you can also try this special pie outside of Chi-town. In fact, if you're in New York, we suggest heading to Pizza Pete's. You can find them on Columbus Ave or order pickup or delivery via Slice.