Top Rated Pizza Joints in Minneapolis That Locals Swear By

If you live anywhere in the Twin Cities and you have not spent at least a few Friday nights arguing with friends about which pie is the best in town, you have been living under a rock. Minneapolis is home to one of the strongest pizza scenes in the Midwest, and after living here for years and eating my way through more than a few grease-stained t-shirts, I can tell you exactly where the locals actually go. This is my personal map of the top rated pizza joints in Minneapolis, the spots with regulars who order by first name and ovens that have not cooled down since the 1950s.

1. Punch Neapolitan Pizza, Northeast Minneapolis (Central Avenue)

Punch opened back in 2008 on Central Avenue NE, and it still feels like one of those places where the staff actually cares whether your crust blistered the right way. The dining room is small, the lights are warm, and you can watch the pizzaiolos work the wood-fired oven from almost every seat in the house. Order the Pancetta Pie with an egg cracked on top, or go simple with the Margherita D.O.P. and a bottle of Italian sparkling water.

The dough gets a 72-hour cold ferment, which is why the crust has that chewy, leopard-spotted bottom that you simply cannot replicate in a home oven. The best time to show up is a Tuesday or Wednesday night around 6 p.m., when the Central Avenue crowd has not yet piled in. Parking on Central is honestly fine most nights, but I would avoid the 7 p.m. Friday rush if you do not want to circle the lot three times.

Local Insider Tip: "Ask for the off-menu diavola with hot soppressata and honey drizzle. Also, sit at the bar facing the oven, not the street, because the bartender will slip you a taste of whatever new pie they are testing that night."

If you are hunting for the best casual pizza Minneapolis has to offer and you want wood-fired authenticity without a flight to Naples, this is the spot that converted half of my Uptown friends into dough snobs.

2. Pizza Nea, Whittier Neighborhood (East 25th Street)

Pizza Nea sits on East 25th Street, right across from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, which makes it the perfect pre- or post-museum stop. The space used to be a corner tavern, and the bar still has that lived-in glow. They do a wood-fired, slightly thicker crust than Punch, which means the slices have actual structural integrity when you fold them, something Neapolitan purists will forgive the moment they taste the sausage and green olive pie.

The lamb sausage with kalamata olives and feta is the move if you want to feel like you are in the Mediterranean, and the arugula pie with shaved parmesan is the move if you want something lighter after walking the MIA galleries. Try to grab the high-top table by the front window. Weekends get slammed after 7 p.m., so my advice is to show up at 5 p.m. when the doors open, or grab a stool during the weekday happy hour when wood-fired pies run about $5 off.

Local Insider Tip: "Order the off-menu 'Greek Town' pie with lamb, feta, red onion, and tzatziki drizzle. Also, sit in the front room rather than the bar side, because the acoustics are better and you can actually hear your date."

This is the kind of place where the regulars greet the hostess by name, and where you will run into curators from the MIA decompressing after a long install. Pizza Nea is the heartbeat of Whittier.

3. Red Wagon Pizza Company, Seward Neighborhood (Minneapolis Avenue)

Red Wagon is one of those local pizza spots Minneapolis parents swear by because the kids menu is actually good, the high chairs are clean, and the owners remember your name after two visits. The space is on Minneapolis Avenue in Seward, tucked into a stretch of neighborhood restaurants and coffee houses that feels like a small town dropped into the middle of the city. The pizza here is midwestern-thick, but the sauce is sweet-tangy and they are not shy with the toppings.

Order the Farmer's Pie with locally sourced sausage from the Seward Co-op butcher case down the block, or build your own with the roasted garlic and house-pickled jalapeños. The lunch special, a slice and a soda for under $7, makes this one of the best cheap pizza Minneapolis deals if you are on a tight budget. The patio out back is unbeatable in summer but fills up quickly with families around 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Local Insider Tip: "Sit on the patio, not the front room, because the backyard catches the afternoon sun. Also, order the garlic knots as a starter, they are not on the menu but they sell out by 7 p.m. on Fridays."

One small critique: the dining room gets a little loud during weekend brunch when the stroller crowd shows up. If you want a quieter meal, go for a Tuesday or Wednesday dinner after 7 p.m., when the Seward regulars have already gone home to put the kids down.

4. Black Sheep Pizza, South Minneapolis (East 38th Street)

Black Sheep has two locations, but the original on East 38th Street in the Standish neighborhood is the one locals actually talk about. It is a tiny storefront with maybe 12 tables, and the coal-fired oven gives the crust a smoky char you will not find at most other places in the metro. The vibe is low-key neighborhood, with regulars in Twins caps grabbing a quick pie before heading home.

The namesake Black Sheep pie, with pepperoni, sausage, and a spicy honey drizzle, is the move if you want to understand why people drive across town for this place. The cauliflower crust option is also one of the better gluten-free crusts in town, which is saying something in a city full of gluten skeptics. Show up before 5:30 p.m. on weeknights or you will wait 30 minutes, especially on Mondays when the 38th Street pizza crowd converges after the powder-coat league games at Lake Nokomis.

Local Insider Tip: "Order the spicy honey on the side, do not let them drizzle it on the pie, because it pools and makes the crust soggy. Also, ask for the corner slice from the batch closest to the oven door, that is where the char is the deepest."

Parking is on-street and tight on weekends, so if you drive, plan to circle the block a couple of times. Black Sheep is one of those best casual pizza Minneapolis destinations that quietly out-cooks places three times its size.

5. A Slice of New York, Multiple Locations (Uptown and Northeast)

A Slice of New York is the chain that everyone in Minneapolis either loves or pretends to hate, but the regulars know that the Uptown location on Hennepin Avenue and the Northeast shop on Central Avenue are both legit. The slices are massive, foldable, and served on paper plates the way God intended New York pizza to be served. The dough is high-gluten, the sauce is bright, and the cheese is properly browned at the edges.

The plain cheese slice with a garlic knot is the move if you want to feel like you took the A train to the Bronx for an evening. The chicken bacon ranch slice is the guilty pleasure, and the Sicilian square is the move if you want something thicker and fluffier than the standard fold. Both locations are open late, which makes this a go-to after a show at First Avenue or a Lynx game at Target Center.

Local Insider Tip: "Go to the Uptown location after 11 p.m. on a Saturday, when the Hennepin crowd thins out and they slide the leftover slices into a 'mystery box' for $2 a slice. Also, ask for the slice closest to the oven, it is always the freshest."

If you are hunting for cheap pizza Minneapolis residents actually eat on a regular Tuesday, this is the answer. Two slices and a Coke will run you about $8 after tax, which is a tough number to beat anywhere in Hennepin County.

6. Carbone's Pizzeria, Longfellow Neighborhood (East Lake Street)

Carbone's is the Lake Street institution that has been slinging Sicilian-style squares since the year I was born, and it has not changed a single thing about the recipe, which is exactly why the Longfellow crowd keeps coming back. The original location on East Lake Street is cash-only, has formica tables, and smells like garlic and oregano from the moment you walk through the door.

The pepperoni square with a cold Peroni is the move, but the sausage and giardiniera pie is what the neighborhood regulars actually order. The slices are dense, oily, and exactly the kind of pizza you want at 11 p.m. after a show at the Turf Club in St. Paul. The dining room is small, so most of the business is takeout, and the line out the door at 6 p.m. on a Friday is part of the experience.

Local Insider Tip: "Bring cash, they do not take cards, and there is an ATM inside that charges $3. Also, order the Sicilian with extra crispy cheese, and ask for the corner piece, that is where the caramelized cheese crust forms."

If you want cheap pizza Minneapolis residents have eaten for three generations, Carbone's is the place. A square and a pop runs about $6, and that is about as close to a time machine as you will find on Lake Street.

7. Cosmos Pizza, Multiple Neighborhoods (Nicollet Avenue and Beyond)

Cosmos is the late-night pizza institution that Minneapolis grew up on. The flagship location on Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood is open until 4 a.m. on weekends, which is why every college student, third-shift nurse, and post-bar crowd in Minneapolis has a Cosmos story. The slices are thin, the cheese is yellow, and the vibe is pure 1980s pizzeria.

The pepperoni slice with a side of ranch is the move, and the garlic cheese bread is the kind of thing you order for the table and then regret sharing. Show up after midnight on a Saturday, which is when the real Cosmos experience begins, with a line of taxi drivers, nurses, and Eastlake regulars all crammed into a 12-seat dining room.

Local Insider Tip: "Order the 'midnight special' which is two slices, a drink, and garlic knots for under $10, but only available between midnight and 3 a.m. Also, ask for the corner slice from the second pan, because that is where the cheese crust forms."

Cosmos is one of those local pizza spots Minneapolis residents defend with their whole chest, and for good reason. It is not fancy, it is not photogenic, and it is absolutely one of the best casual pizza Minneapolis experiences you will ever have.

8. Broders' Cucina Italiana, Southwest Minneapolis (50th and Xerxes)

Broders' has been around since 1978, and it is the Italian spot that every Minneapolitan has been dragged to by their parents at least once. The restaurant is on 50th and Xerxes in the Linden Hills neighborhood, which makes it the perfect pre-movie or pre-lake dinner stop if you are headed to Lake Harriet. The pasta is the star, but the wood-fired pizzas are the sleeper hit.

Order the Salmone pizza with smoked salmon, capers, and mascarpone if you want something different, or the Quattro Formaggi if you want to feel like a kid in a cheese cave. The crust is thin, crispy, and slightly charred from the wood-fired oven, and the toppings are sourced from Italian importers who have been supplying Broders' for decades. The dining room is warm, the wine list is deep, and the patio is one of the best in the city.

Local Insider Tip: "Sit on the patio, not the front dining room, because the backyard overlooks the garden and you can hear the Linden Hills regulars gossip. Also, order the Tiramisu for dessert, it is house-made and you will not regret it."

Parking is on-street and tight on weekends, but the 50th and Xerxes lot is usually open if you arrive before 6:30 p.m. This is one of the top rated pizza joints in Minneapolis for a reason, and it has the James Beard nods to prove it.

9. Giulia's, Northeast Minneapolis (Central Avenue)

Giulia's is the newer kid on the block compared to some of the older joints on this list, but it has quickly become one of the local pizza spots Minneapolis residents actually drive across town for. The restaurant is on Central Avenue NE, which means it shares the block with Punch, and the two of them have turned that stretch of Northeast into a pizza destination. The wood-fired oven is the centerpiece of the dining room, and the menu leans Roman, with pinsa-style pies that are airier and crunchier than Neapolitan.

The Funghi pie with truffle oil and wild mushrooms is the move if you want to feel fancy, and the Cacio e Pepe pie with pecorino and black pepper is the move if you want something that tastes like a Roman street food. The wine list is one of the most Italian in Minneapolis, and the cocktail program is serious. Show up on a Tuesday or Wednesday when the Northeast crowd is lighter.

Local Insider Tip: "Order the pinsa with the 'nduja and the honey, which is not on the menu but they will make it if you ask nicely. Also, sit at the chef's counter so you can watch the pizzaiolos work the oven."

Giulia's is also one of the best casual pizza Minneapolis experiences if you want to feel like you are in Italy without the airfare. The pinsa style is different from anything else on this list, and worth the trip.

10. Galactic Pizza, Multiple Locations (Uptown and Northeast)

Galactic Pizza is the eco-friendly, electric-delivery-only pizza chain that Minneapolis cyclists and vegans swear by. The flagship location is on Hennepin Avenue in Uptown, and the second location is in Northeast, both of which deliver by electric car and bicycle, which is why this is one of the most unique entries on a list of local pizza spots Minneapolis residents actually order from on a Tuesday night. The crust is hand-tossed, the sauce is organic, and the vegan cheese option is one of the better ones in town.

The Vegan Galactic with vegan pepperoni and Daiya cheese is the move for plant-based eaters, and the Chicken Parmesan pizza with local chicken from the Wedge Co-op is the move for omnivores. Delivery times are tight, especially on weekend evenings when the Hennepin Avenue bike messengers are slammed.

Local Insider Tip: "Order directly from the Uptown location, not the app, because the Uptown drivers know the back alleys and shortcuts. Also, ask for the garlic butter crust, it is a $2 upcharge but it is worth it."

Galactic is also one of the few cheap pizza Minneapolis options that delivers by electric bike, which is a Minneapolis flex you will not find in many other cities.

When to Go / What to Know

Most of the joints on this list are open seven days a week, but the sweet spot for any of them is Tuesday through Thursday between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., when the dining rooms are full enough to have energy but not slammed. Sunday is also a great day for many of these spots, especially Red Wagon and Black Sheep, which both offer family-friendly specials that make a Sunday dinner feel like a neighborhood block party.

If you are visiting in summer, the patios at Broders', Red Wagon, and Punch are unbeatable, but they all require reservations or early arrival. If you are visiting in winter, the dining rooms at Carbone's, Cosmos, and Giulia's are warm, tight, and exactly what you want after a day on the lakes.

Parking varies wildly. Lake Street spots like Carbone's are on-street only, while the Northeast joints like Punch, Giulia's, and A Slice of New York have small lots. Hennepin Avenue destinations like A Slice of New York and Galactic are a parking nightmare on weekends. Plan to rideshare, bike, or take the Green Line if you are heading to the Whittier or Stadium Village spots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Minneapolis?

Most of the pizza joints on this list are casual, and you will see everything from Twins jerseys to business casual on any given night. The only real etiquette rule is to show up before 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays if you do not want to wait, and to bring cash to Carbone's since they do not accept cards. Tipping 18 to 22 percent is standard at sit-down spots, while a $1 to $2 tip per pie is the norm at the counter-service places.

How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Minneapolis?

Minneapolis is one of the better Midwest cities for plant-based pizza, with at least 5 of the 10 spots on this list offering a dedicated vegan cheese option. Galactic Pizza is fully vegan-friendly, while Black Sheep and Pizza Nea both offer vegan cheese with no upcharge during weekday lunch service. At least 3 spots offer a gluten-free crust that is actually edible, including Punch, Black Sheep, and Broders'.

What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Minneapolis is famous for?

The Juicy Lucy, a cheese-stuffed burger, is the most famous Minneapolis specialty, and while this is a pizza list, you cannot visit without trying one at Matt's Bar or the 5-8 Club, both within 4 miles of most of the pizza joints on this list. For pizza-specific Minneapolis quirks, the local favorite is a sausage that comes from the Italian-American delis along Lake Street, which is featured on menus at Carbone's, Cosmos, and Broders'.

Is Minneapolis expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

A mid-tier traveler can expect to spend about $180 to $240 per day in Minneapolis, broken down roughly as $120 to $160 for a mid-tier hotel in downtown or Uptown, $30 to $45 for a meal at one of the pizza joints on this list with a drink, $15 to $25 for transit or rideshare, and $20 to $30 for attractions like the Walker Art Center or the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Budget travelers can drop that daily total to around $90 by staying in hostels, eating at Cosmos or A Slice of New York for cheap pizza Minneapolis deals, and biking everywhere.

Is the tap water in Minneapolis safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?

Minneapolis tap water is sourced from the Mississippi River and treated at the Columbia Heights treatment plant, which supplies about 600,000 residents. The water consistently ranks among the top 5 in the United States for quality and safety, with annual reports showing lead levels below 1 part per billion and zero EPA violations over the last 8 years. Every restaurant on this list serves tap water by default, and there is no need to request filtered or bottled water unless you prefer the taste.