Best Pizza in Dayton, Ohio (The Local List — 10 Spots Worth Knowing)
10 locally owned spots across the greater Dayton region — curated, not corporate.
Looking for the best pizza in Dayton, Ohio? Here are 10 locally owned pizzerias across the greater Dayton region worth knowing.
Dayton’s pizza scene doesn’t get talked about the way Cincinnati’s does. That’s fine with the people who eat here. From Yellow Springs funk to Oregon District Italian to small-town spots in Piqua and Covington, the region has built something worth paying attention to—quietly, on its own terms.
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.
Dayton
California-style pizza and Italian fare from co-owners Liz Valenti and Elizabeth Wiley, who met at Grinnell College and reunited decades later to build this. Valenti trained at Tony Gemignani’s International School of Pizza in San Francisco. Mom’s marinara anchors the menu, the focaccia uses leftover pizza dough the traditional Italian way, and James Beard recognized Wiley for entrepreneurial leadership. The real thing.
Yellow Springs
A Yellow Springs institution since the early 1970s, legend has it started by Antioch College students. Fresh dough daily, secret recipes passed down in a little black book, and over 30 toppings including falafel, banana, and artichoke hearts. BYOB, funky murals, and the kind of place that defines a town. Featured in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.
Bellefontaine
Owned by six-time World Pizza Champion Brittany Saxton, named for the 600-degree temperature of the old-world brick ovens. Dough made in-house daily, local farm-raised ingredients, and a beautifully restored former JC Penney building with stamped metal ceilings. Over 100,000 unique customers a year. Championship pedigree with small-town roots.
Kettering • Oregon District
Classic Italian comfort food from Mo Jusufi, a Kosovo refugee who came to Dayton in 2002 speaking no English and purchased the original Kettering location from his friend Jimmy Troni. The Oregon District spot opened in 2024, fulfilling a promise Jusufi made to Troni. Family-run, fresh ingredients, and a story worth knowing.
Yellow Springs
The area’s premier independent pizzeria since 2006. Super-stretchy cheese, generous toppings, and a cozy dining room where paper plate artwork from customers lines the walls. Gluten-free options, seven-day-a-week service, and the kind of loyal following that only comes from doing the basics better than everyone else.
🍕 3 Joe’s Pizzeria & Trattoria
Piqua
Third-generation Williamson family operation since 1968. Signature sourdough-crust pizzas, famous subs, and an extensive wine list round out a Mediterranean-inspired menu. Over 50 years in Piqua and still family-run. That kind of staying power speaks for itself.
Vandalia
Brewery and pizzeria built from the ground up by Matt Harris and Mike Legg after 15 years working together. Barn wood on the walls donated by a local family farm, craft pizzas like the Brewhouse Rancher, and smoked wings with chocolate habanero sauce. Giant Jenga on the patio. Beer and pizza under one roof, done with care.
Piqua
A 10,000-square-foot warehouse-style beer hall in a former granite and marble building, anchoring the Lock 9 Park redevelopment. Flagship beers brewed on-site, a full kitchen known for its pizzas, and an outdoor biergarten overlooking the park. Piqua’s craft anchor.
Covington
Craft pizzas, smashed burgers, and wings in a pub-style spot named after the owners’ late dog. The Buffalo chicken and BBQ Dad Bod pizzas are local favorites. Dog-friendly patio, small-town setting, and a big-city vibe that Covington didn’t know it needed.
Kettering
Marine veteran Scott Green spent eight years on his food truck before opening this carryout-only spot in March 2020 — days before Ohio shut down indoor dining. Scratch-made sauces, house-smoked pork, and a pizza lineup that holds its own alongside the sandwiches. No dining room, no pretense, just food worth the drive.
Why These Pizza Spots Made the List
Dayton-area pizza spans world champions and 50-year family operations, food trucks turned brick-and-mortar and breweries that take their pies as seriously as their beer. What ties these 10 together isn’t geography or style — it’s independence, quality, and the kind of repeat business you can’t buy.
The Local List isn’t exhaustive. It’s curated. It evolves as the region does.
A Final Note
Marion's Piazza is Dayton's most recognizable pizza institution — nine locations, a million pizzas a year, and a reputation that has defined the city's food culture for sixty years. It doesn't appear on this list because of its scale, but it belongs in the conversation. You'll find it in our Beyond wellfd section, reserved for places that grew locally without selling out.
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 in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, or Southeast Indiana? Check out The Local List for each region.
- Best Pizza in Cincinnati
- Best Pizza in Northern Kentucky
- Best Pizza in Southeast Indiana
wellfd — Curated, Not Corporate
— That's the wellfd way. —
Written by Liv Ann — part of the wellfd editorial team.
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