Unearth The Voyage
New Jersey pizza doesn’t just compete with New York, it fights back with a smirk. From century-old tomato pie traditions to nationally recognized artisan pies, the Garden State has quietly been winning the pizza game for decades.
Whether you’re a thin-crust loyalist or a brick-oven believer, NJ has a slice with your name on it. These ten pizzerias make the strongest possible case that Jersey deserves to be at the top of every pizza lover’s map.
Razza Pizza Artigianale (Jersey City)
Food critics don’t usually agree on much, but Razza has somehow managed to unite them all in one glorious chorus of praise. Located in Jersey City, this place isn’t just making pizza.
It’s making a statement. Chef Dan Richer obsesses over every ingredient, from the flour to the fermentation, with a level of dedication that borders on poetic.
The menu rotates with the seasons, so every visit feels like a new experience. That margherita-style pie, though?
It’s a permanent reminder of why simplicity wins. National food media has covered Razza repeatedly, and the buzz never seems to cool down.
If you’ve ever doubted New Jersey’s pizza credentials, one visit here will permanently recalibrate your opinion. Go hungry.
Order the seasonal special. Then order another.
This is the kind of place that turns skeptics into believers before the check arrives.
Star Tavern (Orange)
Star Tavern has been quietly winning the thin-crust argument since before most of us were born. Located in Orange, NJ, it’s the kind of spot where regulars have their usual table and newcomers quickly realize they’ve been missing out for years.
The crust here is so thin and crispy it practically shatters when you fold it.
This place doesn’t rely on flashy toppings or trendy ingredients. The crust does all the heavy lifting, and it earns every compliment.
Decades of packed dining rooms don’t happen by accident. People drive significant distances just to get a table here on a Friday night.
My advice? Keep your order simple.
A classic pie lets the technique shine without distraction. Star Tavern proves that restraint is sometimes the boldest move a pizzeria can make.
It remains one of NJ’s most respected institutions, and for very good reason.
PaPa’s Tomato Pies (Robbinsville)
Founded in 1912, PaPa’s Tomato Pies holds a legitimate claim to being one of the oldest pizza operations in the entire country. That’s not a small thing.
While other restaurants were still figuring out their menus, PaPa’s was already perfecting the tomato pie. Over a century later, it’s still at it.
The must-order here is the Mustard Pie, and yes, that sounds alarming at first. But trust it.
It’s become a signature item that loyal fans travel specifically to try. The tomato pie tradition runs deep in this part of New Jersey, and PaPa’s is its beating heart.
Traveler reviews consistently rank it among the best in the region, and the loyal fan base spans multiple generations. This is bucket-list pizza territory.
Whether you’re a history buff or just seriously hungry, PaPa’s delivers something genuinely rare: a meal with more than a hundred years of soul behind it.
De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies (Robbinsville)
When NJ pizza debates get loud, De Lorenzo’s name always shows up fast. The Trenton tomato pie tradition is its own proud universe, and De Lorenzo’s has been one of its most respected ambassadors for decades.
The Robbinsville location keeps things classic and consistent, which is exactly what devoted fans want.
Here’s the thing about a proper tomato pie: the sauce goes on top of the cheese, not under it. That’s not a mistake.
That’s a tradition. De Lorenzo’s executes it with a confidence that comes from years of doing it right.
Hundreds of strong reviews across major platforms back this up without hesitation.
Keep your toppings minimal when you order. Let the tomato and the crust carry the experience.
Over-topping a De Lorenzo’s pie would be like putting ketchup on a fine steak. Unnecessary, honestly.
This place earns its pilgrimage status every single weekend it opens its doors.
Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza (Elizabeth)
Walking into Santillo’s feels like stepping through a portal, except the pizza on the other side is very much a present-day triumph. This Elizabeth institution has been operating with the same brick-oven dedication for decades, and the results speak for themselves every single time.
Al Santillo, the man behind the pies, is a local legend. He’s been known to personally guide customers through their order, which makes the whole experience feel genuinely personal.
The brick oven does what modern equipment simply cannot replicate: it gives the crust a character that’s impossible to fake.
Both the classic round and the Sicilian are worth ordering, depending on your mood and your appetite. Strong TripAdvisor ratings and a loyal long-time fan base confirm what regulars already know.
Santillo’s isn’t just a pizzeria. It’s a living piece of New Jersey food history that still delivers the goods on every visit.
Kinchley’s Tavern (Ramsey)
Kinchley’s Tavern in Ramsey operates on a simple but brilliant philosophy: make the thinnest, crispiest pizza possible and serve it in a setting where everyone feels like a regular. It works.
The tavern atmosphere adds a layer of warmth that turns a good meal into a great night out.
The ultra-thin crust is the star here, and it’s the kind of thing that makes you reconsider every thick-crust decision you’ve ever made. Keep the toppings simple and let the crust do what it clearly trained for.
High review volume and solid ratings across platforms confirm this isn’t a hidden gem, it’s an established classic.
What makes Kinchley’s special is that it never tries too hard. No gimmicks.
No over-engineered menu. Just excellent thin-crust pizza in a room full of happy people.
That’s a harder formula to pull off than it sounds, and Kinchley’s makes it look effortless every single service.
Pete & Elda’s / Carmen’s Pizzeria (Neptune City)
Pete & Elda’s is Jersey Shore royalty, and it has been for a very long time. Neptune City locals have been passing this place down through family recommendations like an heirloom recipe.
The casual, buzzing atmosphere is half the experience, and the thin-crust pizza is the other half that actually matters most.
This is a group-friendly stop by design. Order a couple of pies, split everything, and let the conversation flow.
The pizza is the kind that prompts people to immediately plan their next visit before they’ve even finished the current one. That’s a real phenomenon here.
The review count at Pete & Elda’s is impressively high, and the local ranking reflects years of consistent quality. It carries a bit of challenge lore and club culture that regulars love to reference.
Whether you’re a Shore regular or a first-time visitor, this spot delivers the full New Jersey coastal pizza experience without any pretension.
Federici’s (Freehold)
Federici’s has been feeding Freehold since 1921, which means it has been doing this longer than most countries have had televisions. That kind of staying power doesn’t come from luck.
It comes from consistently delivering the thin-crust pizza that locals grew up eating and refuse to give up as adults.
The nostalgic factor here is real and completely earned. Crispy, familiar, and exactly what you want after a long week, Federici’s thin crust hits a sweet spot that newer spots often try and fail to replicate.
Hundreds of TripAdvisor reviews back up what regulars have known for generations.
Regulars tend to keep their orders simple here, and that’s genuinely good advice. A classic pie lets the decades of technique shine without interference.
Federici’s isn’t chasing trends. It’s setting the standard for what dependable, delicious New Jersey pizza should taste like every single time you sit down.
Pizza Town USA (Elmwood Park)
Pizza Town USA has a retro exterior that looks like it time-traveled from 1960 and decided to stay put in Elmwood Park. The building might not win any architecture awards, but the pizza inside has earned something far more valuable: the obsessive loyalty of dedicated NJ pizza reviewers who track it like a sport.
This is a no-frills operation, and that’s precisely the point. Fast, straightforward, and consistently good, Pizza Town proves that a great pie doesn’t need a designer interior or an Instagram-friendly presentation.
Dedicated pizza-review communities have flagged it repeatedly, which is a serious endorsement in the current food landscape.
Order a classic pie, or ask locals what topping combo they swear by. Either approach works.
Pizza Town USA is the kind of place that rewards curiosity and punishes overthinking. Just order, eat, and understand why New Jersey pizza culture runs so deep across so many different neighborhoods and generations.
Bread & Salt (Jersey City Heights)
Bread & Salt occupies a fascinating space between serious bakery and pizza obsession, and it pulls off both with considerable style. Located in Jersey City Heights, it’s earned national food media coverage that most full-scale restaurants would envy.
The rotating slice selection means the menu is always a little different, which keeps every visit genuinely interesting.
The philosophy here is straightforward: trust the kitchen. Whatever is fresh that day is what you should order.
There’s no point in overthinking a menu built around quality ingredients and skilled hands. The editorial coverage this place has received is not hype.
It’s a legitimate reflection of what’s happening in that kitchen daily.
TripAdvisor numbers may be modest compared to older NJ institutions, but other platforms and respected food publications tell a fuller story. Bread & Salt is the kind of place that food-obsessed people whisper about to their most trusted friends.
Now you’re one of them.
