How long is the wait at Di Fara Pizza?

Typically 30-90 minutes. Weekdays at opening (noon) have the shortest waits. Weekend afternoons can stretch to 90+ minutes.

Does Di Fara Pizza take credit cards?

No — cash only. There's no ATM inside, so bring cash before you arrive. A whole pie is around $28-35.

Is Di Fara Pizza worth visiting with kids?

If your kids can handle a 30-60 minute wait and you bring entertainment, yes — it's a food experience they'll remember. If your kids don't do well with waits, try on a weekday right at noon for the shortest line.

How do you get to Di Fara Pizza?

The Q train to Avenue J is the easiest route — Di Fara is one block from the subway station. Driving is possible but parking in Midwood can be challenging.

Di Fara Pizza

Name: Di Fara Pizza
Address: 1424 Avenue J, New York City, NY, 11230, US
Telephone: (718) 258-1367
Rating: 4.3

Rating

4.3(4,200)

Family of 4

$30-$50 (a whole pie is around $28-35)

Duration

1-1.5 hours (including wait)

Best Ages

All ages

About

Di Fara Pizza is the kind of place that food critics and neighborhood regulars agree on: it's the best pizza in New York City. Located on Avenue J in Midwood, Brooklyn, it's been operating since 1965 and the pizzas are still made one at a time, by hand, with imported ingredients.

The experience of watching the pizza being made is part of what makes Di Fara special. Fresh mozzarella is torn by hand. Basil is cut with scissors directly onto the pie. Olive oil is drizzled from a glass bottle. Parmesan is grated over the top. It's methodical and unhurried, which is why there's always a wait. Budget 30-90 minutes depending on when you arrive.

For families, the honest assessment: the pizza is transcendently good, but the wait is real and the space is tiny. If your kids can handle a 30-60 minute wait (bring entertainment), the payoff is enormous. If your kids melt down after 10 minutes of waiting, save Di Fara for a date night and take them to Joe's Pizza instead.

The location is deep Brooklyn — the Q train to Avenue J is the easiest route. The neighborhood is residential and not touristy, which is part of the charm. There's nothing to do nearby while waiting, so bring books, games, or a tablet for the kids. Cash only, no exceptions.

Age Suitability

Infants (0-1)Toddlers (1-3)Little Kids (4-6)Big Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13-17)

Parent Logistics

Setting

Indoor

Rainy Day

Great option!

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit

Weekdays right at noon opening for the shortest wait

Wait Times

30-90 minutes depending on day and time

Nearby Food

["Di Fara IS the food option — you don't go to this neighborhood for anything else","If Di Fara has an impossible wait, L&B Spumoni Gardens in Gravesend (15 min drive) is the backup plan","Taci's Beyti on Coney Island Ave for excellent Turkish food if pizza doesn't work out"]

Why Kids Love It

Di Fara Pizza is widely considered the best pizza in New York City, which means it's arguably the best pizza in the world. The original location in Midwood, Brooklyn has been making pizza since 1965, and watching the process is half the experience — the pizza maker hand-cuts fresh basil with scissors directly onto each pie, drizzles olive oil, and carefully places each ingredient.

Kids love it because it's pizza and because the experience feels special. This isn't a quick slice at a corner shop. Watching the pizza being assembled by hand, waiting for your number to be called, and then biting into a slice with hand-grated Parmesan, fresh mozzarella, and homemade tomato sauce is a food memory kids keep. The crust is thin, slightly charred, and perfect.

The space itself is tiny and no-frills — fluorescent lights, a few tables, a counter. It's not fancy, and that's the point. For pizza-obsessed families, the pilgrimage to Di Fara is a New York rite of passage. Just manage expectations about the wait.

Pro Tips from Parents

Cash only — there's no ATM inside, find one nearby before getting in line
Go on a weekday right at noon when they open for the shortest possible wait
The Q train to Avenue J drops you one block away — this is deep Brooklyn and driving/parking is a hassle
Don't order by the slice during busy times; order a full pie — it comes out faster and is a better value
Bring entertainment for kids during the wait — the space is small and there's nothing for them to do while waiting

What to Bring

Cash
Patience
Entertainment for kids during the wait (books, small toys, tablet)

Cost Info

Estimated Cost (Family of 4)

$30-$50 (a whole pie is around $28-35)

Tips to Save

["Cash only — bring enough for a whole pie plus drinks","One regular pie feeds a family of 4 if kids are young","Skip the square pie on your first visit — the round is the classic","No delivery — this is strictly an in-person experience"]