Coalfire

Unlike certain other cities (ahem, New York), Chicago knows how to appreciate pizzas of all kinds. Like Coalfire, whose thin crust pies are crispy and polka-dotted with flavorful char spots, yet have a soft chew and maintain a nice flop in the center. There are a plenty of toppings to choose from, including options like pepperoni, nduja, or a gooey egg, but our favorite is the Honey and Salami: a balanced combination of sweet, savory, and spicy courtesy of sopressata, honey, and calabrian chile. There’s a lot of tables here, so come with your family and even your highly-opinionated New York friends to ease them into the Chicago pizza scene before having them try some deep dish.