Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

If your family visits Chicago and eats one sit-down meal, it should probably be deep-dish pizza at Lou Malnati's. Founded in 1971, Lou Malnati's is considered by most Chicagoans to be the best deep-dish pizza in the city — a title that is hotly debated (Giordano's and Pequod's have their loyalists), but Lou's wins on consistency, crust quality, and overall family-friendliness.

Deep-dish pizza is unlike any pizza your kids have eaten before. It is baked in a deep round pan, with the crust rising up the sides like a pie. The cheese goes on first (directly on the crust), then the toppings, then a layer of chunky tomato sauce on top.

The result is inverted from what kids expect, and the first time a deep-dish pizza arrives at the table — bubbling, golden, in its own cast-iron-looking pan — there is always a moment of genuine surprise and excitement.

Lou Malnati's signature is the Buttercrust, a flaky, buttery pastry-like crust that sets it apart from the doughier crusts at other deep-dish places. The classic order is The Lou: sausage patty on buttercrust. The sausage is laid in a single layer across the bottom of the pie, creating a blanket of seasoned meat under the cheese.

It sounds heavy, and it is — two slices is a full meal for most adults, one slice for younger kids.

The family logistics work like this: deep-dish pizza takes 35-45 minutes to bake after you order. This is not a fast-food situation. Order your pizza immediately when you sit down, then order an appetizer or salad to eat while you wait.

The Lou Malnati's house salad is a surprising highlight — chopped greens with sweet vinaigrette, tomatoes, and croutons. For kids who are not patient waiters, bring a small activity or game. The anticipation actually builds the experience — when the pizza finally arrives, it feels like an event.

Kids' meals are available for around $8 and include individual thin-crust pizza or pasta. If your child is not adventurous enough for deep-dish, the thin-crust option is excellent. But most kids, once they see the deep-dish arrive at the table and watch the cheese stretch, want to try it.

The River North location at 439 N Wells is the most convenient for visiting families. It is walking distance from Navy Pier, Millennium Park, and the Magnificent Mile. The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly — dark wood booths, checkered accents, and a vibe that says neighborhood pizzeria rather than tourist trap. The noise level is family-appropriate.

A practical tip on timing: arrive right at 11 AM when the restaurant opens, and you will walk in with no wait. Weekday lunches are reliably uncrowded. Friday and Saturday evenings are the worst for waits — 45 minutes to an hour is common. Some locations have Yelp waitlist functionality that lets you join the queue remotely. Use it.