Top Pizza For Takeout Near Me In NYC

The quest for the perfect slice in New York City is a journey, and when time is of the essence, finding the top pizza for takeout near me NYC becomes a crucial mission. It’s about more than just convenience; it’s about getting that perfectly crisp crust, molten cheese, and vibrant sauce from the oven to your table with minimal compromise. NYC's pizza scene is legendary for its diversity, but translating that quality into a quick, satisfying takeout experience requires knowing exactly where to go and what to expect.

At a Glance

Pinpoint Your Style: NYC offers everything from classic thin crusts to thick Sicilian squares and airy Neapolitan pies—each ideal for different takeout cravings.
Location, Location, Location: Discover top-tier options across all five boroughs, making your "near me" search truly fruitful.
Order Like a Pro: Learn the best methods for placing your takeout order to ensure speed and accuracy.
Preserve Perfection: Get practical tips to keep your pizza hot and delicious from pickup to plate.
Beyond the Pie: Explore recommended sides and pairings that elevate your takeout meal.

Why "Takeout Near Me" Matters in NYC

In a city as dynamic as New York, choosing takeout isn't just a fallback—it's often the smartest strategy. Unlike delivery, which can sometimes soften a crisp crust on its journey, a well-timed pickup ensures your pie is as fresh out of the oven as possible, especially if you’re just around the corner. Takeout means no delivery fees, potentially shorter wait times, and the ability to grab a phenomenal meal exactly when it fits into your schedule, whether you're commuting home or exploring a new neighborhood. It puts you in control of the experience, guaranteeing peak freshness and temperature.

The Big Apple's Pizza Styles, Perfected for Pickup

New York City's pizza landscape is a delicious tapestry of traditions and innovations. When considering takeout, certain styles and specific pizzerias stand out for their ability to maintain quality outside the restaurant setting.

The Quintessential New York Slice & Round Pies

This is the bread and butter of NYC pizza, characterized by a thin, foldable crust, savory sauce, and gooey mozzarella. These pies often travel exceptionally well due to their structural integrity.

Joe's Pizza (Manhattan, Williamsburg): Synonymous with classic New York slices. Joe's delivers a consistently perfect, no-frills experience. Their reliability and speed make them a go-to for a quick, satisfying pickup.
Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop (Greenpoint): Specializing in classic slices, these are gooey, cheesy, and perfectly portable. Options like the Freddy Prinze Sicilian (vegan optional) and Hellboy are legendary and easy to grab on the go.
Scarr's Pizza (Lower East Side): Known for its featherweight circular pies made with grains milled by owner Scarr Pimentel. These pies, featuring pepperoni and/or extra cheese, are fantastic for a quick pickup where quality ingredients shine.
Mama's Too (Upper West Side): Features a plain slice known for its ideal marriage of crusty and chewy. Their slightly spicy, very cheesy pepperoni squares are also a standout for takeout.
Louie & Ernie’s Pizza (Pelham Bay, Bronx): A classic New York slice shop since the 1950s. Famous for its sausage pie with juicy, fennel-spiked sausage and melted cheese, it's a nostalgic and satisfying pickup.
Joe & Pat's (Staten Island original, East Village): Has perfected its recipe over 50 years, offering thin, cracker-thin crusts with creamy mozzarella cubes and savory tomato sauce spread to the edge. This delicate crust holds up surprisingly well for takeout.
Bleecker Street Pizza (Manhattan): Serves thin crust Tuscan-style pizzas along with classic Italian-American standbys. It's a solid choice for a quick, traditional pickup.
Williamsburg Pizza (Crown Heights, Upper East Side, and 3 other locations): All five locations deliver massive, delicious pies that are just as excellent for pickup, especially when feeding a crowd.
Nick's Pizza (Forest Hills): Offers big, charred, thin-crust pies with oily pepperoni cups. Call ahead for speedy pickup of their flavorful pies and calzones.
Sauce Pizzeria (East Village, LES, Herald Square): All locations offer thin, chewy pies packed with toppings. Their convenient locations make them a great option for grabbing a pie.
Di Fara Pizza (Midwood): Legendary pies crafted by pizzaiolo Dom DeMarco. Picking up here lets you savor their crunchy round pies topped with fresh basil and olive oil, bypassing potentially long lines.
Rubirosa (Manhattan): Offers simple, thin-crust pizzas with a delicate char and crackerlike crust edges. The no-frills vodka rendition or a Tie-Dye pie (pesto and vodka sauce) are fantastic for takeout.
Upside Pizza (Manhattan): Elevates New York–style slices. Their house specialty, the Falkowitz, featuring lemon-cream white-wine sauce, offers a unique, gourmet take on the classic that travels well.

Hearty Squares: Sicilian, Detroit & Deep Dish Delights

For those who prefer a thicker, more substantial pie, these options offer a different kind of takeout satisfaction, often boasting a satisfying crunch or a fluffy, doughy interior.

L&B Spumoni Gardens (Bensonhurst): Established in 1939, it's famous for its Sicilian slices. Features candy-sweet tomato sauce over tall, doughy rectangles with a crunchy browned bottom. Don't forget their housemade spumoni for dessert!
Rizzo’s Fine Pizza (Queens): An institution since 1959, specializing in crisp, thin-crusted Sicilian pies. Their rich, tangy tomato sauce and creamy mozzarella on a thin, crispy gas-powered oven crust make for a satisfying square.
Ops (Bushwick, Brooklyn): Known for phenomenal sourdough, available as bread or a square pie (twice as thick as regular). This substantial pie is excellent for a hearty takeout meal.
Emmy Squared (Williamsburg, East Village, Upper East Side): All locations offer thick, fluffy Detroit-style pies with that signature crunchy cheese on the outside. These substantial, flavorful pies are perfect for a filling takeout feast.
Emmett’s (Manhattan): For when only Chicago-style deep-dish will do, Emmett's delivers on that craving with substantial, cheesy pies available for pickup.
New Park Pizza (Howard Beach): A staple for brick-oven pies. Recommends ordering pies well-done for a well-oiled, crunchy crust, especially for their pillowy, square pies that hold up beautifully.
Marinara Pizza (Upper East Side): Offers both square and round pies. Their recommended square pie is the "drunk grandma" with vodka sauce, a rich and satisfying choice for pickup.

Neapolitan & Artisanal Char

These pizzas, often wood-fired, boast delicate, charred crusts and premium ingredients. While best eaten fresh, many spots have perfected their takeout process to ensure you still get a taste of that artisanal quality.

Una Pizza Napoletana (East Village): Anthony Mangieri crafts wood-fired Neapolitan pies from naturally leavened dough, topped simply with silky mozzarella and Sicilian sea salt. The quality of ingredients shines through, even on the go.
Roberta’s (East Williamsburg): Known for iconoclastic, Brooklyn-proud pies with charred and fluffy dough. Their pies, like the Cheesus Christ, are always a treat, and their popularity ensures high turnover for fresh takeout.
Motorino (East Village, Williamsburg, Upper West Side): All three locations offer Neapolitan-style pizzas, including the "DOC" Margherita with buffalo-milk mozzarella. The blistered char and elastic crust make for a consistently good takeout experience.
Saraghina (Bed-Stuy): Offers classic Neapolitan pies, pastas, fresh market salads, and housemade gelato. Pizzaiolo Edoardo Mantelli crafts simple, elegant pies perfect for a refined takeout meal.
Fornino (Greenpoint, Pier 6 in Dumbo): Makes Neapolitan-style pizza with thin, blistered crust. Offering topping-heavy pies (e.g., chicken sausage and caramelized onions, or brussels sprouts and spicy honey), they also offer gluten-free options, making them versatile for takeout.
Sottocasa Pizzeria (Harlem): Offers Neapolitan pies with a chewy-but-not-soggy crust. Their dedication to quality ensures a great experience for pickup.
Pizza Moto (Red Hook): Offers Neapolitan-style pies, along with liter-bottles of wine and chocolate olive oil cake, perfect for a full, high-quality takeout dinner.
Ribalta (Manhattan): Offers all its Neapolitan-style pizzas for takeout. From a simple marinara to speck, burrata, and zucchini puree, there's a wide selection.
Luzzo’s (LIC): Offers a big selection of Neapolitan-style pies, consistently good for takeout any day of the week.
Patricia's (Morris Park): A classic Italian-American spot with wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas that excel in flavor and authenticity.

The Wild Cards: Unique Styles & Flavors

Sometimes you crave something different. NYC's takeout pizza scene also delivers on innovation and specialty styles.

Emily (Clinton Hill, West Village): Offers eclectic pizzas categorized by sauce color. Examples include Camp Randall (sausage, mushrooms, peppers) and the signature Emily (mozzarella, pistachios, truffle, honey). The West Village location also offers Detroit-style pizzas.
Leo (Williamsburg): From the team behind Ops, Leo is great for takeout, known for charred, spongy crusts with toppings like clams and garlic or mushrooms and toma cheese. They also offer slices.
Montesacro Pinseria (Williamsburg): Specializes in Roman-style pinsas, which feature a focaccia-like crust loaded with toppings. Also serves charcuterie, offering a unique Italian takeout experience.
Camillo (Prospect Lefferts Gardens): Serves Roman-style pinsas – big, airy flatbreads with toppings like tomatoes and guanciale or artichokes and prosciutto. These are a delicious and distinct takeout option.
Screamer's (Multiple locations): A wholly vegan pizzeria (from the Champs Diner team) offering creative riffs on classic pizzas where sausage is made with seitan. An excellent choice for plant-based takeout.
L'Industrie Pizzeria (Williamsburg): Offers pizzas with gourmet toppings like fig jam, truffle sauce, burrata, and prosciutto. This spot provides a more elevated pizza experience for takeout.
Beebe’s (Long Island City): Features thin, crispy crusts with balanced topping combinations such as sweet fennel sausage and mushrooms, or pepperoni, hot Italian sausage, and spicy honey. Call ahead to order.
San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina (Upper East Side): Serves over 25 types of pizzas and panuozzi (giant sandwiches made with pizza dough). This wide variety makes it a versatile choice for takeout.
Vesta Trattoria & Wine Bar (Astoria): Offers thin-crust pies and family-style orecchiette, making it a good option for a larger takeout order with a touch of trattoria charm.
Antonio's Trattoria (Belmont): An Italian spot with large-portion pies, including toppings like chicken parm and broccoli rabe. A hearty choice for takeout.
Speedy Romeo (Clinton Hill): Offers St. Louis-style pies. The "Saint Louie" pie is topped with Provel cheese and cut into squares. Also offers "The White Album" (four-cheese pie), great for pickup.

Borough by Borough: Finding Your Local Takeout Gem

No matter which borough you find yourself in, there’s a stellar takeout pizza just a short walk or drive away.

Manhattan: The sheer density of options means you're rarely far from a great slice. From classic Joe's to artisanal Una Pizza Napoletana, Rubirosa, and specialized spots like Emmett's or Upside Pizza, your choices are boundless. The East Village and Lower East Side are particularly rich with choices.
Brooklyn: A hotbed of pizza innovation and tradition. Greenpoint (Paulie Gee's Slice Shop, Fornino), Williamsburg (Roberta's, Motorino, Emmy Squared, Leo, L'Industrie Pizzeria), Bushwick (Ops), Clinton Hill (Emily, Speedy Romeo), and Bensonhurst (L&B Spumoni Gardens) offer incredible variety for every craving.
Queens: Home to long-standing institutions like Rizzo’s Fine Pizza (LIC) and New Park Pizza (Howard Beach), alongside newer gems like Beebe's and Vesta Trattoria & Wine Bar in Astoria, and Nick's Pizza in Forest Hills. Queens offers diverse, quality takeout.
The Bronx: Classic Italian-American flavors dominate, with spots like Louie & Ernie’s Pizza in Pelham Bay and Patricia's in Morris Park delivering that authentic, neighborhood feel to your takeout order. Antonio's Trattoria also provides generous portions.
Staten Island: While often overlooked, it's the birthplace of Joe & Pat's original location and home to the iconic L&B Spumoni Gardens. Worth the trip for a dedicated takeout run if you're in the area.

Practical Playbook: Nailing Your NYC Pizza Takeout

Getting the best pizza for takeout near you isn't just about picking the right place; it's about smart strategy from order to first bite.

The "Near Me" Factor: Proximity is Power

Map It Out: Use your phone's mapping app to quickly identify the closest highly-rated spots. If you're flexible, consider what's on your route home from work or near errands you need to run. A shorter travel time means a hotter, fresher pizza.
Walk vs. Drive: If walking, ensure you can get home quickly. If driving, consider how your car's interior will help (or hinder) the pizza's journey.

Ordering Wisely for Pickup

Direct vs. App: For many established, local favorites, calling directly often ensures the quickest and most accurate order, sometimes bypassing app fees or glitches. For instance, for Louie & Ernie's, calling ahead is key, while for Mama's Too, their website is the best channel. Some places like L'Industrie Pizzeria are simply walk-in friendly for slices. Newer or larger chains might integrate better with apps. Always check the restaurant's website for their preferred method.
Be Specific: If you have special requests (e.g., "well-done" crust from New Park Pizza for extra crunch, or a vegan option from Paulie Gee's), make them clear when ordering.
Know Your Menu: Many places, like San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina, offer more than just pizza (e.g., panuozzi). Look at the full menu online before you call to save time.

The Sprint Home: Preserving Your Pie's Integrity

Keep it Flat: This is crucial. Never tilt or stack your pizza box vertically; toppings will slide.
Insulate It: If you have a short walk, a simple reusable grocery bag can provide a bit of insulation. For drives, a heated car seat (if available) or an insulated thermal bag works wonders to keep your pie toasty.
Timeliness: Don't linger. The sooner you get it home, the better. Pizza is a perishable delicacy in terms of its optimal texture and temperature.

Enhancing the Takeout Experience

Sides and Pairings: Don't forget the extras. L&B Spumoni Gardens' housemade spumoni is a legendary dessert pairing. Leo offers chopped salads and saucy meatballs. Saraghina has fresh market salads and housemade gelato.
Beverages: Some pizzerias, like Ops and Pizza Moto, offer natural wines by the bottle that can elevate your takeout meal into a full dining experience.
Beyond Takeout: For those times when you can't make it to pick up, or you're looking for an even wider range of options beyond just immediate takeout, our comprehensive guide to Best delivery pizza options offers fantastic alternatives delivered right to your door.

Quick Answers: Your Takeout Pizza FAQ

Q: What makes NYC pizza uniquely good for takeout?
A: The inherent design of many NYC pizzas—thin, sturdy crusts, often less overloaded with wet toppings—makes them travel exceptionally well compared to heavier, saucier styles. The quality of ingredients and the high-volume, quick-serve nature of many pizzerias also ensure freshness.
Q: Should I call ahead or use a third-party app for takeout?
A: For established, local favorites and smaller pizzerias, calling directly often ensures the quickest and most accurate order, sometimes avoiding app fees. Newer establishments or larger chains might integrate better with apps. Always check the restaurant's website for their preferred ordering method.
Q: Are there good vegan or gluten-free takeout pizza options in NYC?
A: Absolutely! Screamer's is an entirely vegan pizzeria with creative takes on classic pies. Paulie Gee's Slice Shop offers vegan options like the Freddy Prinze Sicilian. Fornino can make any pizza gluten-free, offering excellent choices for specialized diets.
Q: How can I keep my takeout pizza hot on the way home?
A: If driving, a heated car seat or an insulated bag is your best friend. For short walks, keeping the box flat and moving quickly often suffices. Avoid placing the box vertically, as toppings can shift and temperature can drop faster.
Q: What's the best way to reheat leftover takeout pizza?
A: A preheated oven (around 350-375°F) for 5-10 minutes on a baking sheet is ideal for restoring crispness. For a single slice, a non-stick pan on medium heat with a lid for a few minutes can replicate that fresh-out-of-the-oven feel by steaming the toppings while crisping the crust.

The Ultimate NYC Pizza Takeout Playbook

Finding the perfect takeout pizza in NYC is a rewarding culinary adventure. It's about knowing your preferred style, understanding the nuances of local favorites, and employing a few simple strategies to ensure your pie arrives home in peak condition. Whether you crave a classic New York slice, a hearty Detroit-style square, or a delicate Neapolitan masterpiece, this city has an incredible array of choices awaiting your pickup.
Next time the craving hits, whether you’re rushing home or simply exploring a new neighborhood, remember these top spots for your perfect top pizza for takeout near me NYC. Your ideal slice is always closer than you think.