Best Pizza in Toronto: Neapolitan, Slices and Detroit

The best pizza in Toronto depends on what you mean by pizza. The city has wood-fired Neapolitan pies with blistered crusts, New York slices, Detroit squares and a local pizza-and-donair hybrid. Start with the style you like, judge the crust first and order a margherita to compare Neapolitan ovens.

A slice is for speed and a pie is for company. If you are dining in, ask about the oven and the dough, and order in rounds so the table can compare.

What is the best pizza in Toronto?

Start with the style you like. A Neapolitan pie has a thin, soft centre and puffed, charred edges, and it is cooked in a very hot oven in a minute or two. A New York slice is wide, thin and foldable. A Detroit square is thick and airy, baked in a pan so that the cheese caramelizes against the sides.

Whichever you pick, judge the crust first. It should have flavour of its own, a little salt and some blistering, and it should hold the toppings without going soggy. The sauce should taste of tomato. The cheese should melt without turning to oil.

Where is Toronto Neapolitan pizza?

Toronto Neapolitan pizza has a long local following, from wood-fired ovens that turn out a pie in ninety seconds to pizzerias that rest their dough for days. Seasonal pies, like a duck confit and pear pie, show what a kitchen can do beyond the classics, so ask what the oven is proud of.

Order a margherita first. It is the simplest test of a Neapolitan kitchen, and any flaw in the dough or the sauce will show.

What about Toronto Detroit style pizza?

Toronto Detroit style pizza has become a local favourite. The style uses a rectangular steel pan, a thick airy crust and cheese baked right to the edge, with sauce spooned on top.

Expect a heavier meal than a Neapolitan pie. One square can be enough for a person with a modest appetite, and a pan feeds two or three. Eat the crispy corners first.

Where can you find Toronto pizza by the slice?

Toronto pizza by the slice is a late-night and lunchtime staple. Tavern counters serve New York style slices, bakeries sell very large slices, and some shops make a pie that is something like a marriage between a pizza and a bagel.

A slice is a good way to test a shop cheaply. Order plain cheese first. If the base and the sauce are good, add a topping on your second visit.

What are the main Toronto pizza styles?

Toronto pizza styles include Neapolitan, New York, Detroit, Roman, Sicilian and the local pizza-and-donair hybrids found in some neighbourhoods. Italian bakeries also sell pizza by the weight, cut from large trays. Each style suits a different mood.

Mix them in a day. A slice at lunch, a Neapolitan pie at dinner and a Detroit square for a late snack gives you three data points, and it teaches you which crust you love.

How do you order well?

If you are dining in, ask about the oven and the dough. A Neapolitan shop will say how long the dough rests. If you are ordering takeout, remember that thin pies lose crispness in a box, so eat them quickly. Detroit style travels better because of its thick base.

Order in rounds. Share a pie or two among friends, and add a salad to balance the richness. Ask whether the kitchen offers a half and half, which lets you try two toppings.

How do you choose between a slice and a whole pie?

A slice is for speed, a pie is for company. A slice counter lets you eat in five minutes, and it is a cheap way to try a new shop. A whole pie asks for a table, a conversation and a bit of patience, and it shows what the oven and the dough can do at their best.

Think about the hour as well. A Neapolitan pie is best eaten at once, within minutes of leaving the oven, so a sit-down meal suits it. A Detroit pan travels better, so it is a good choice for a party. A New York slice works at any hour and on any street corner.

If you are curious about toppings, try one classic and one adventurous. A margherita or pepperoni tells you the quality of the base. A seasonal pie, with local vegetables or an unusual cheese, tells you how the kitchen thinks. Share the pies, and ask for a plate and a knife so that each person can try a bit of everything.

What else should you eat around Toronto?

For another quick bite, read the best shawarma in Toronto guide. The cheap eats near Union Station page covers a downtown lunch, and the best pizza and sandwiches in Hamilton guide takes the question to the neighbouring city. The Canada guides page lists more cities.

Pizza is a dish that rewards notes. Get the Mosey app, rate each pie or slice by its crust, its sauce and its cheese, and build a Toronto list that tells you where to go on the next night out.