Best Pizza in Cincinnati (The Local List — 10 Spots Worth Knowing)
10 locally owned Cincinnati pizza spots with deep roots, real awards, and neighborhood loyalty — curated by wellfd.
Looking for the best pizza in Cincinnati, Ohio? Here are 10 locally owned pizzerias across the greater Cincinnati region worth knowing.
There may be no more argued-over food in Cincinnati than pizza. Tavern cut versus foldable slices. Detroit squares versus wood-fired crust. West Side loyalty versus Clifton institutions. Everyone has a favorite — and they’ll defend it.
The Local List is wellfd’s curated collection of independently owned restaurants that define a category in their region. No chains. No pay-to-play. No algorithms. Just places that earned their spot.
North College Hill • Silverton • Maineville
A generational favorite with a chewy, signature crust and toppings piled without apology. Krimmer’s doesn’t chase trends — it doesn’t have to. Decades of loyalty say everything. Family-owned since 1985 when Fritz Krimmer and his mother Shirley purchased Italianette Pizza. Fritz was 19 when they bought it.
Western Hills
West Side pride in every slice. No frills, no gimmicks — just deeply satisfying pizza from a spot that locals guard like a secret they’re also dying to share. Known specifically for their Chicago-style deep dish and stuffed pizza, which is their differentiator.
Clifton
A Clifton institution that feeds crowds and college kids alike. Massive pies, thick layers of toppings, and a crust built to hold it all together. If you’ve lived in Cincinnati long enough, you’ve had an Adriatico’s night. Serving Clifton since 1974. Won Best Pizza in the Best of UC poll (2016). Featured in Cincinnati Magazine.
Reading • Westside
Wood-fired crust with blistered edges and fresh, clean toppings. Strong’s balances artisan technique with neighborhood accessibility — and the family ownership keeps it grounded. Voted Best Pizza in Northern Kentucky every year since 2014 by Northern Kentucky Magazine. Ranked No. 3 Best Overall Pizza by CityBeat.
Hamilton
A Butler County institution with a fiercely loyal following. Chester’s doesn’t need to reinvent itself. Consistent, hearty, and deeply tied to the community it’s served for years. Voted Best Pizza in the 2023 Best of Butler County (Journal-News). Also rated Best Pizza in Cincinnati by Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Post. Founded April 1, 1954 — now over 70 years old. Oldest pizza place in Butler County.
Mason
Chicago meets New York under one roof. Deep dish one night, foldable slices the next — without sacrificing quality on either side. A favorite for anyone who refuses to pick a lane. Won "Best Pizza in Cincinnati" by Cincinnati Magazine within their first year (2017), then repeated the next year. Also won Cintas' 2021 America's Best Restroom Award for their NYC subway-themed bathroom.
Liberty Township • Fairfield
A Butler County staple known for hearty builds and a base of repeat customers who don’t need to look at the menu anymore. Loyalty like this isn’t bought — it’s baked in. The family connection is the story. Founded in 2008 by Raymond, grandson of Chester Dadabo (Chester's Pizza). Uses the same family recipes.
Evendale • Norwood
A relative newcomer that earned trust fast. Trophy leans into quality ingredients and consistency — no shortcuts, no hype — and the neighborhood responded. Co-owners James Moore and James Rowe previously owned Trophy Bar in Brooklyn, NY, then brought authentic NY-style slices back home to Cincinnati.
Anderson Township
Family-run and community-rooted, Goodfellows serves classic, crowd-pleasing pies that feel like they were built for regulars. Not to be confused with the OTR spot — this one belongs to Anderson. Founded by Dan "Pops" Ciminillo, whose father Lewis emigrated from Naples and started a produce company in Lima, Ohio. Dan ran a pizza shop called Daniello's (named after his daughter) for 25 years before moving to Cincinnati in 2004 and opening Goodfellows — named after his three sons.
Milford
Tucked into Milford’s River’s Edge, Joe’s serves East Coast-inspired pies with a loyal following that borders on devotion. The kind of place where tables fill up on a Tuesday. Voted "Best of the East" in 2019 (CityBeat's Best of Cincinnati awards). Holds Vera Pizza Napoletana (VPN) international certification (a big deal for authenticity). Owner Joe Nunner uses type "00" flour from Naples and San Marzano tomatoes. Featured in CityBeat as an "award-winning Old World wood-fired pizza" destination.
Why These?
Cincinnati pizza isn’t one thing. It’s neighborhood-driven. It’s generational. It’s wood-fired, tavern cut, Detroit square, and everything in between. What ties these 10 places together isn’t a single style — it’s ownership, consistency, and the fact that real people keep showing up for them.
The Local List isn’t exhaustive. It’s curated. It evolves as neighborhoods do.
Think we missed one?
This list is curated by wellfd, but the best recommendations come from the people who eat here. If your favorite locally owned pizzeria didn’t make this list, we want to hear about it.
➔ Vote for your favorite on our Best Of page. We publish it for all to see in an orderly fashion.
➔ Recommend a restaurant for possible inclusion on wellfd
Looking for pizza across the river and to the north? Check out our curated lists in nearby areas:
- Best Pizza in Dayton
- Best Pizza in Northern Kentucky
- Best Pizza in Southeast Indiana
wellfd — Curated, Not Corporate
— That's the wellfd way. —
Written by Eugene Allen — who believes good menus reveal more than good marketing.
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