Everybody likes pizza. Everybody LOVES pizza. That’s kind of an overstatement, but based on the hype pizza gets, it seems like I’m not the only one who could eat it every day and not care (or probably even notice.)

Even the name is kind of fun. The world pizza sounds like something that would be fun to eat. Pizza. Peets-Za.

The internet is obsessed with pizza, a close second to the cats of the internet. Throughout social media I alway see pizza memes like:

And:

And bringing first and second place together:

There’s even a Pizza Pouch that was introduced not too long ago, where one can store their pizza for later. Around their neck…

And so, because of all of this, I thought it would be fun to talk about some of my favorite pizzerias around Queens, where you can grab a quick slice and indulge in its cheesy goodness and all of its glory:

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Dani’s House of Pizza

Located:  81-28 Lefferts Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11415.

I can’t say enough about this place. They have the BEST pizza. This has got to be my favorite pizza place, hands down. Dani’s House of Pizza always has a line out the door of customers just waiting to get their slice, at every hour of the day.

They’re known for two types of pizza: regular red (seen in the featured image of this post) and pesto. And they are both amazing. The regular red sauce is covered in a sweet tomato sauce. This specific sauce is so unique, and the best sauce I’ve ever tasted on a pizza. Regulars at Dani’s even suggest getting a “wet kiss,” which is a pesto slice covered with an extra layer of red sauce on top. THAT SAUCE THOUGH.

Their pesto slice is really good too; it’s on the saltier side. All of their slices are large and filling. And they’re always so crispy and baked to perfection.

There is a restaurant part to Dani’s too, where you can sit down and order Italian favorites. You can’t just order pizza if you’re going to sit down in the restaurant.

The pizza side has a to-go area, you can either take it or stand and eat your slice at their stand up bar.

Dani’s also has an insane beer selection. They even had this one pumpkin ale that I’d been looking for called PUNK’N, which I was really happy about.

You have to come and try a pesto and red sauce slice from Dani’s House of Pizza. Trust me. On some nights, they’re open until 4 a.m.!

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A&J Pizza

Located:71-37 Austin St, Forest Hills, NY 11375.

This neighborhood pizza place has been here for as long as I can remember. I used to come here after school on Fridays with my mom and brother, as a treat for finishing the week off strong in elementary school. 

I used to come here with my family after playdates, and I think this was where I had my first date ever. Oh, memories.

The main point after all of this is that this pizza has never changed and it’s just so good. There is so much variety at A&J it makes my head spin. In a good way, of course.

My favorite is probably their simple tomato slice with mozzarella and basil on top. It’s always fresh and crispy and just perfect.

There are so many different pizza options here, like a really good vegetable slice, a spinach and ricotta slice, a chicken Caesar salad slice and such good bruschetta. But for some reason, I always find myself coming back to this classic.

There are a lot of bars in the area, and A&J is always a good idea after being at one.

Come check out A&J Pizza! It’s been here forever, and I never want it to leave. Just a warning, it’s cash only!

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Gino’s of Kissena

Located: 65-01 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367.

You know about Gino’s. Everyone who goes to Queens College knows about Gino’s. And they either love it, or don’t like it too much. I, for one, really like this pizzeria. I think it’s the best place to get good food around Queens College, and it’s convenient because it’s right across the street from campus. 

During free hour, which is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:15 p.m. to 1:40 p.m., Gino’s is always super full with students getting something to eat between classes.

They have a great variety of pizzas like a buffalo chicken slice, a chicken, bacon, ranch slice, a chicken parmesan slice and a lot of unique others.

They also have amazing salads. My favorite is the Amalfi salad. It comes with goat cheese, walnuts, cranberries, romaine lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers, and it’s covered with raspberry dressing. So. Good.

But my absolute favorite slice they have is the artichoke, spinach and sun-dried tomato. It has been my go-to slice for years. The best part of it is probably the sun-dried tomatoes, which adds a tangy flavor. Sun-dried tomatoes are the bomb. Not only do they taste amazing, but I think the colors look really pretty together. Looks like a fine slice. I definitely recommend trying this one out.

To view their full, vast menu, click here.

Come check out Gino’s of Kissena to see what all the hype is about!

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Lillian Pizzeria

Located: 96-01 69th Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375.

This pizzeria has been a local staple in Forest Hills for 40-something years. It is family-owned and welcoming, given that the staff is so friendly. 

This place has gotten a lot of publicity from actor Ray Romano, from the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. He grew up in Forest Hills and his family still lives here. In a New York Post article about his favorite New York restaurants, he mentioned Lillian’s as his neighborhood pizza place, and said he lived just five blocks away. He said it’s great New York pizza and the owners, Lillian and Tony, make you feel like family. You can find the full article here.

Romano is right, the pizza here is amazing. They are really traditional, too, and do not deliver and they do not get too fancy with their toppings.  It’s the perfect place to get a quick slice.

Now that we covered the basics about the pizza here, let’s talk about their broccoli pinwheels, a.k.a. the best thing ever.

When I first discovered these, my friend and I ordered a few, and then kept ordering more of them. I think in one sitting we ordered about fifteen and took five home. They are AMAZING. Especially with some crushed red pepper flakes sprinkled on top. UGH SO GOOD.

You may ask yourself, “what is a broccoli pinwheel?” Well, that’s a very good question. It’s really difficult for me to explain what one is, for some reason. But it’s basically a circle of dough filled with mozzarella cheese and broccoli. It’s then baked to golden brown and flakey perfection. I can eat them all day. They’re strangely filling for their size, and are only $1.00 each!

Come check out this neighborhood favorite in Forest Hills, you won’t be disappointed. It’s cash only!

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Rizzo’s Fine Pizza

Located: 30-13 Steinway St, Astoria, NY, 11103.

This pizzeria has been serving up classic pizza on Steinway street for 56 years to be exact, since they opened in 1959.

This place is famous for their thin crust pizza, specifically their classic pizza squares.

They have multiple locations now, but the original pizzeria is the Astoria location.

According to Rizzo’s website, brothers Joseph and Salvatore Rizzo, along with their step brother Hugo Lupi, opened up this small pizzeria. They only made one type of pizza in those days, the thin saucy slices with no toppings. And they were a hit.

Let me just say, their sauce is delicious. I never thought something so simple could be so good. The crust was pleasantly thin too– their best seller is an overall hit in my book, too. Ask for the corner slice! They’re always better.

What’s really cool about Rizzo’s is that they have a dessert menu, which includes a dessert pizza! It’s called the Pizzetta Nutella, and its a thin crust pizza topped with nutella, which the website describes as “Italy’s favorite rich chocolate hazelnut cream.” They also have handmade cannolis. You can view their full menu here.

Come check out the famous thin crust pizza at Rizzo’s Fine Pizza; it’s an important part of Astoria’s history!

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Thank you for reading this post about my favorite pizzerias in Queens! I hope this was helpful for those looking to find some good, Queens pizza.

Pizza lovers: Did I forget to mention your favorite pizza place in Queens? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time!