What’s the first image that comes to mind when you think about Chicago Pizza?

If it’s deep dish, well I don’t blame you, but here’s the truth — by far, the vast majority of Chicagoans, past and present, eat a completely different kind of pizza — one that has a longer history, and can be found all over the city.

In this video we will be taking a look at Chicago’s true signature pizza, thin crust tavern style. It’s origins go back to the 1930s, when tavern owners were looking to create a signature bar food to entice customers to return.

While most tourists enjoy a deep dish pizza pie when visiting Chicago, local Chicagoans overwhelmingly eat thin crust Tavern Style pizza (one poll had the ratio as 10:1).

Deep Dish Pizza is a style of pizza born in Chicago and it’s more famous worldwide, but within Chicagoland people prefer the thin crust pizzas. Chicago Tavern Style is different from New York style pizza in many ways – from the dough, to the sauce, to the toppings, to the crust.

Some of my favorite spots for Chicago Tavern Style pizza include – Pat’s Pizza, Mama Luna’s, and Marcello’s Father & Son.