These locally loved pizza places serve everything from wood-fired pies and Minnesota-style thin crust to one of the state’s most unusual creations: cheese curd pizza.
This list originally came from votes collected from Give Me The Mike readers and Twin Cities Live viewers. I’ve visited each restaurant featured here to learn what makes it worth the drive.
You’ll find pizza destinations in the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota, including St. Paul, Hampton, Montgomery and Princeton.
How I Chose These Pizza Places
This list started with recommendations and votes from Give Me The Mike readers and Twin Cities Live viewers. I then visited the restaurants myself to try the pizza and learn more about what makes each place stand out.
This is not a paid ranking. Restaurant information was reviewed and updated in September 2026, but menus, hours and availability can change.
Best Pizza Places in Minnesota
Mama’s Pizza — St. Paul
Address: 961 Rice St., St. Paul, MN 55117
Known for: Classic thin-crust pizza, house-made sauce and square-cut pies
What to order: Flavor Explosion
Good to know: Mama’s is a longtime family-owned St. Paul restaurant that can get especially busy during peak dining times.
Website: Mama’s Pizza
Mama’s Pizza has been serving St. Paul since 1964. The family-owned restaurant keeps its pizza menu relatively simple, but the Flavor Explosion stands out with sausage, pepperoni, bacon, pineapple and banana peppers.
One of the things that makes Mama’s distinctive is its sauce. The family recipe has been used for decades, and the restaurant even sells the sauce by the gallon. The spices used for the sausage and other meats are also mixed in-house.
If you dine in, give your pizza a minute before taking your first bite. I learned firsthand that Mama’s serves its pizzas extremely hot — and that’s intentional.
Related: What you should know before visiting Saint Paul
Meric’s Woodfire Oven & Tavern — Hampton
Address: 23309 Water St., Hampton, MN 55031
Known for: Wood-fired pizza made with Minnesota ingredients
What to order: Porkie Pie
Good to know: Everything from the pizzas to the wings and appetizers is cooked in a wood-fired oven.
Website: Meric’s Woodfire Oven & Tavern
Meric’s Woodfire Oven & Tavern is a small-town pizza destination in Hampton, south of the Twin Cities. Its pizzas are cooked in an Italian wood-fired oven fueled with kiln-dried Minnesota oak. The restaurant also emphasizes locally sourced ingredients, including meats from nearby Greg’s Meats.
My pick is the Porkie Pie, a white pizza topped with sausage, portabella mushrooms, bacon and basil, then finished with chili-infused honey.
Don’t overlook the wood-fired wings, either. Meric’s doesn’t have a fryer, so its wings are also cooked in the wood-fired oven.
Also on Give Me The Mike…
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Pizzeria 201 — Montgomery
Address: 201 1st St. S., Montgomery, MN 56069
Known for: Creative pizzas made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients
What to order: Chicken-in-a-Grass-Skirt or Hog Heaven
Good to know: Curbside pickup is available year-round. Dine-in service is seasonal.
Website: Pizzeria 201
Pizzeria 201 in Montgomery takes a farm-to-pizza approach. Owners Troy and Diane Domine opened the restaurant in 2010, and many of the ingredients come from close to home. Beef and pork are raised on the family’s farm, seasonal produce comes from a neighboring CSA and herbs and peppers are grown behind the pizzeria.
One of the restaurant’s most memorable pizzas is the Chicken-in-a-Grass-Skirt, made with garlic chicken, pineapple, pepperoncini peppers and Alfredo sauce and finished with coconut. I’m also a fan of the vegetarian Roman Holiday.
If you want to sample the family’s locally raised meat, try the Hog Heaven.
Pizzeria 201 offers curbside pickup year-round, while dine-in service is seasonal.
Pizza Barn — Princeton
Address: 128 N. Rum River Dr., Princeton, MN 55371
Known for: Cheese Curd Pizza and creative specialty pizzas
What to order: Cheese Curd Pizza
Good to know: Regular, deep-dish, pan, take-and-bake, gluten-free and cauliflower crust options are available.
Website: Pizza Barn
Pizza Barn in Princeton combines two Minnesota favorites with its famous Cheese Curd Pizza. The pizza is topped with ranch, cheese curds and cheese, and it’s still one of the most distinctive pizzas I’ve found in Minnesota.
The menu goes well beyond cheese curds. The Cowpie is loaded with pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, onions, olives, green peppers and mozzarella, while Pizza Barn regularly rotates in a Pizza of the Month for people looking for something different.
Pizza Barn also offers take-and-bake pizza. For diners looking for alternative crusts, its menu includes gluten-free and cauliflower crust options.
Also on Give Me The Mike…
The best breakfast spots in Minnesota
Minnesota Pizza FAQ
What are some of the best pizza places in Minnesota?
Some standout Minnesota pizza places include Mama’s Pizza in St. Paul, Meric’s Woodfire Oven & Tavern in Hampton, Pizzeria 201 in Montgomery and Pizza Barn in Princeton. Each offers a different style, from classic thin crust to wood-fired pizza and creative specialty pies.
Where can I find good pizza outside the Twin Cities?
You don’t have to stay in Minneapolis or St. Paul to find great pizza. Meric’s in Hampton, Pizzeria 201 in Montgomery and Pizza Barn in Princeton are all worth considering for a pizza road trip in Greater Minnesota.
Where can I find wood-fired pizza in Minnesota?
Meric’s Woodfire Oven & Tavern in Hampton specializes in wood-fired pizza, with pizzas, wings and other menu items cooked in a wood-fired oven. Pizzeria 201 in Montgomery is another good option for pizza with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Where can I find cheese curd pizza in Minnesota?
Pizza Barn in Princeton is known for its Cheese Curd Pizza, made with ranch, cheese curds and cheese. It combines two Minnesota favorites in one pizza.
What is Minnesota-style pizza?
Minnesota doesn’t have one official pizza style, but many longtime pizza restaurants in the state are known for thin crust, generous toppings and square-cut slices. You’ll also find wood-fired, deep-dish and specialty pizzas across Minnesota.
Which Minnesota pizza places have gluten-free options?
Pizza Barn in Princeton offers gluten-free and cauliflower crust options. Because menus and preparation methods can change, anyone with a food allergy or sensitivity should check directly with the restaurant before ordering.
Are these pizza places locally owned?
The restaurants featured on this list are Minnesota businesses with strong local connections. Several are family-owned or independently operated and have built loyal followings in their communities.
How were these pizza places chosen?
The original list was based on recommendations and votes from Give Me The Mike readers and Twin Cities Live viewers. I then visited the restaurants myself to try the pizza and learn more about what makes each place stand out.
Is this a paid ranking?
No. This is not a paid ranking. The list is based on reader recommendations, personal visits and what makes each restaurant distinctive.
When was this Minnesota pizza guide last updated?
This guide was reviewed and updated in September 2026. Restaurant menus, hours and availability can change, so check each restaurant’s website before making a special trip.
Did you enjoy this roundup of the best pizzerias in Minnesota? Check out my other Best of Minnesota guides
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- 5 best meat raffles in Minnesota
- Hidden gems at the 5 best museums in Minnesota
- 18 Mexican restaurants in Minnesota worth the trip
- The best ice cream shops in Minnesota
- The best restaurant, brewery and winery patios in Minnesota
- 17 best restaurants for breakfast in Minnesota
- 5 best holiday light displays in Minnesota
- 5 best coffee shops in Minnesota
- 7 top spots for a margarita in the Twin Cities
- 17 favorite bookstores in the Twin Cities
- 19 favorite meat markets in Minnesota and western Wisconsin
- The best Broasted chicken in Minnesota
While you’re here, take a moment to read how I adapted after losing both parents before I was 25 years old and my journey with epilepsy.
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Wish there would have been a bit more time spent on each of the winners. You were given way too little time compared to other topics on the show yesterday.
I could talk about the pizzerias all day, but that segment was twice as long as any other segment on the show.