Sr. Content Writer
The IL Forno team shares tips, guides, and stories from our kitchen, from authentic wood-fired pizza and fresh pasta to Italian food traditions and healthy eating choices. Every blog is reviewed by our culinary and content team so you get accurate, practical advice for your next meal in the UAE.
Everything begins with a craving. It makes you scroll through apps and menus and argue about pizza. Pizza isn’t just food, it’s personality. Thin or thick? Saucy or crispy? Cheesy or charred?
Time to kick off the multiverse of types of pizza, where each slice tells a story and every choice reveals your hidden personality. Across cultures and kitchens, different types of pizza are available, shaped by local ingredients, ovens and strong opinions. There are hundreds of options in the world, from simple cheesy bases to oven-baked classics.
Still, thinking about how many types of pizzas are available in the world? Then, there are hundreds of options available in the world. From simple cheesy bases to oven-baked heaven. In this blog, we will walk through ten of the most loved styles you should know about, with a quick table to help you compare them.
| Style | Origin | Crust | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neapolitan | Naples, Italy | Soft centre, puffy charred rim | Purists |
| Margherita | Naples, 1889 | Thin, soft | First-timers |
| Pepperoni | USA | Medium, crisp edge | Crowds, spice fans |
| New York | New York City | Thin, foldable, chewy | Quick bites |
| Chicago deep dish | Chicago, 1940s | Tall, buttery, pie-like | Big appetites |
| Sicilian | Sicily / USA | Thick, spongy, rectangular | Sharing |
| Detroit | Detroit, 1940s | Thick, airy, crisp cheese edges | Cheese-edge lovers |
| Roman (al taglio) | Rome, Italy | Rectangular, airy and crisp | Lighter slices |
| Hawaiian | Canada, 1962 | Medium | Sweet-savoury fans |
| Veggie | No single origin | Varies | Vegetarians |
Talking about the best types of pizzas, then Neapolitan pizza tops the list. It traces back to Naples, Italy, in the late 18th century and is often termed as affordable street-style food for the locals and the working class. They used a hot wood-fired oven to cook the extremely soft centre to make an airy crust and leopard-like char. Neapolitan pizzas are best without toppings, but the essence lies in their techniques. Pizza dough is fermented over time and slowly stretched by hand, unlike modern-day machines. Then, bake for under 90 seconds to give a perfect golden crust. Amongst the best pizzas in the world, this is protected by history and traditions.
The second on our list is royalty since 1889. This was named after Queen Margherita of Italy. The traditional saucy base topped with mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of basil makes it the best Italian pizza in the world. Amongst the rest, this one is done by pure discipline without any heavy sauces or creams. Every ingredient is added meticulously so that Margherita pizza becomes the eater’s reward, not punishment.
The third type of pizza on our list is called pepperoni pizza, which is an American sought-after dish that blends Italian sauces perfectly. This one is made with meaty particles shaped in circles called pepperoni, which is a spiced cured meat. Pepperoni pizza blends Italian recipes to give that perfect taste that thrives on indulgence. Do you know, it is one of the most ordered types in America, with spicy edges, crispy dough and melted cheese slices on the top to create a mouthwatering profile that brings comfort and richness. It’s one of the ten types of pizzas that needs no introduction.
At number four, we have the city’s favourite New York-style pizza, made for convenience and for busy peeps in the city. Originating from Neapolitan roots that run with the fast-paced city life, it is available in enormous sizes as compared to others. A perfect New York slice is made at low temperatures with sturdy crusts to go on the busy streets. It’s a walk-and-eat type of pizza that balances the structure and flexibility. The thin crust looks shaky, but it’s sturdy to fold and take on the go. It’s the kind of pizza you can have anywhere and anytime.
The next type of pizza is a deep dish that is shaped like a pie with a buttery crust. This deep-dish pizza originated in the 1940s and followed the flipping rules. So, unlike the flat base, it was shaped like a dish in a deep pan layered with a whole lot of cheese and sauces, just like lasagne. If we debate different types of pizza, this might be the list of fulfilling and hearty meals. For some it’s a savoury pie, but for some it’s filling and unapologetically right. You don’t just go with it but sit and plan for it.
The next pizza is rooted in Italy but has evolved over time to rule the American hearts and taste buds. Sicilian pizza is not your ordinary sliced masterpiece but has a rectangular shape with thick and airy dough. These pizzas are baked in large trays for sharing amongst groups. It’s the best type of pizza available for large gatherings and a hearty meal. The crust is not crusty or thin but spongy and crispy, layered with sauces and cheeses. It’s the most comforting kind of pizza available in the US.
The next kind of pizza was made for hardworking people. Detroit-style pizza originated in the 1940s, when blue-steel trays from car factories, made to hold small parts, were repurposed as baking pans. The deep pan made the pizza thick and airy and best to be paired with caramelised cheese edges. Amongst ten types of pizza, this stands out because of texture and melts in the cheesy edges along with sauces on the top of stripes. It started as a meal for workers and later became popular with the masses.
Pizza al taglio is one of the most famous Roman pizzas that is all about crispy and refined bases. It is made in large rectangular trays and sold by the slice or by weight. The dough is fermented for the right amount of time, so that it hydrates well enough to balance all the ingredients. Among different types of pizza, this one is surely unique and refined. Due to the fermentation process and heat, the crust cracks when someone takes a bite, and the toppings are balanced and not loaded to make a subtle spectacle.
Next on our list is the pizza that is named after a famous vacation spot but not the origin. Hawaiian pizza doesn’t come from Hawaii or even Italy, but it’s a local speciality of a small Canadian town. The best thing about the pizza is its sweet and savoury flavour that comes with pineapple and ham that has challenged the typical toppings. It’s the popularity of a king that never fades, and its flavourful combination doesn’t need any approval. Love it or hate it, Hawaiian pizza has earned the top spot on the list of different types of pizzas in the world.
Last but not least, we have the vegetable combo for those who despise the greens but love the pizza every now and then. It’s not a fallback option but a thoughtful cheesy veggie delight roasted, grilled and marinated with spices to give that perfect texture and taste. In the list of kinds of pizza, this one wins for creativity. You can literally add anything to it, from mushrooms to olives and so much more. Even the peppers, basil, spinach and pineapple have their own textures. It proves that meat isn’t needed when satisfaction matters.
Pizza is more than a dish for celebrations. It speaks through sauces, spices, textures, cheeses, crusts and shapes, and each of the types of pizza above shows a different culture, taste and bit of creativity. Understanding the different types of pizza helps you choose the right one, whether you love the classic Margherita or the deep Chicago style.
Ready to order? Browse our menu. Curious about nutrition? Read our pizza calories guide, or explore the types of pasta.
The popular kinds of pizzas in the world include Neapolitan, pepperoni, New York-style, Chicago deep dish and classic Margheritas.
There are countless types of pizzas available in the world, from local street styles to world-famous ones. Each tells a story of a region, its flavours and spicy mix.
There is no defined list of best pizzas according to flavours, but classic Margherita pizza and pepperoni tip the list.
There are 34 different types of pizza varieties available globally. From zingy tomatoes to meaty ones, each area has its own varieties based on individual styles.
Some unusual toppings include mangoes, crocodile meat, jalapenos, sweetcorn and roasted cauliflower, among others.
Pingback: Best Business Lunch Dubai: Top 5 Spots to Try in 2026
Pingback: Why Is Italian Food So Popular in Dubai? (2026 Guide)
Pingback: Sourdough Pizza Dough Recipe: Crisp Crust | IL Forno