Verdict
Destinations

Is Lou Malnati's Pizzeria worth it with kids?

Worth itWith kids

With kids, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria works.

The reliable, family-friendly answer to 'where's the real Chicago deep-dish?' Touristy at the central locations, but the pizza genuinely holds up.

Price
$$ — moderate; a pie feeds several
Time
1–1.5 hours (deep-dish bakes ~45 min)
Last verified
2026-06-17
Check availabilityThe full verdict on Lou Malnati's Pizzeria →
Is Lou Malnati's Pizzeria worth it…
On a budgetIn a dayAs a coupleSoloFor food
How we verified
  • First Lou Malnati's opened March 17, 1971; the trademarked 'Buttercrust' substitutes butter for oil for a flaky, thinner deep-dish crust · loumalnatis.com
  • Lineage traces to Chicago's first deep-dish pizzeria, where the Malnati family worked from the 1940s · loumalnatis.com
Independent verdict. How we grade →