New York

New York is the state that gave America its most iconic pizza style — the classic New York slice. Thin, wide, and perfectly foldable, it’s a food experience that locals swear by and visitors line up for. Walk down almost any block in New York City, and the aroma of bubbling cheese and tangy tomato sauce floats from corner slice shops, where grabbing a slice on the go is a way of life.

But New York’s pizza culture is bigger than the five boroughs. Buffalo has its own spin with thicker crust and sweeter sauce, while upstate cities like Albany and Rochester mix traditional Italian roots with modern flair. College towns keep slice shops bustling late into the night, and smaller communities pride themselves on family-run pizzerias that have been around for decades.

What makes pizza in New York unforgettable is its mix of tradition and innovation. Generations of Italian immigrants laid the foundation, and today chefs continue to push boundaries with artisanal ingredients and wood-fired ovens. Whether you’re biting into a $1 street slice or a coal-oven masterpiece, pizza in New York isn’t just food — it’s part of the state’s identity.