How has it already been a year since our last Pizza Madness Tournament?
After doubling the field last year to 128, and the championship victory by Rosati’s, we go into Year 4 of Chicago Pizza Madness with another new twist! We have moved the local chains into their own 32-competitor division, and will allow 128 “Mom & Pop” pizza places to duke it out in their own bracket-style tournament. Listen to our Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast preview with Kevin Powell and Michael Piff for more info.
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8001653/8001653_2026-02-27-194953.64kmono.mp3
The 2026 edition of Chicago Pizza Madness starts Tuesday, March 3rd at 10 AM. Champions will be crowned on Thursday, March 26th, after the final polls close at 10 AM. Sponsored by Chicago Brick Oven – the finest U.S. made pizza ovens for your backyard.
[UPDATE]: POLLS HAVE OFFICIALLY CLOSED and our Chicago Pizza Madness Champions have been announced. Listen to the announcement from The John Williams Show here!
Congrats to Bartolini’s of Midlothian for winning our Mom and Pops Championship, and Rosati’s for winning our Local Chains Championship! We also appreciate Uncle Jerry’s and Antioch Pizza Shop, and the communities that support them, for all of their work, energy and enthusiasm to make the runs that they did in our 2026 Tournament.
Below is the full “Mom and Pops” bracket, which you can view closer by clicking on the graphic:
See the North Region Matchups here
See the East Region Matchups here
See the West Region Matchups here
See the South Region Matchups here
The Local Chains Division Voting will take place entirely in the link below, starting March 3rd at 10 AM. [UPDATE] The Local Chains Division Championship between Antioch Pizza Shop and Rosati’s goes until Thursday, March 26th at 10 AM.
See the Local Chains Division Polling here
Throughout the tournament, TUNE IN to WGN Radio 720 AM for round-by-round score updates or stream on wgnradio.com. After each round, we will post the results of each matchup here.
“Mom and Pops” Round 6 (Final Feast)
Uncle Jerry’s over Pequod’s with 64% of the vote
Bartolini’s over Wooden Paddle with 59% of the vote
“Mom and Pops” Round 5 (Elite Eats)
In the North Region…
Uncle Jerry’s (Cary) over Nick’s (Crystal Lake) with 67% of the vote
In the East Region…
Pequod’s (Lincoln Park) over Pat’s (Lincoln Park) with 51% of the vote
In the West Region…
Wooden Paddle (Lemont) over Dan’s (Downers Grove) with 63% of the vote
In the South Region…
Bartolini’s (Midlothian) over Fox’s (Orland Park) with 85% of the vote
Local Chain’s Division Round 4 (Final Four)
Antioch Pizza Shop over Pizzeria Uno with 73% of the vote
Rosati’s over Lou Malnati’s with 74% of the vote
“Mom and Pops” Round 4 (Slice 16)
In the North Region…
Uncle Jerry’s over Emil’s with 68% of the vote
Nick’s over Bill’s with 50.1% of the vote
In the East Region…
Pequod’s over Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Company with 62% of the vote
Pat’s over Zaza’s with 69% of the vote
In the West Region…
Dan’s over Nonnie’s with 65% of the vote
Wooden Paddle over Mamma Maria’s with 68% of the vote
In the South Region…
Bartolini’s over Village Pizza with 62% of the vote
Fox’s over Palermo’s of 63rd with 62% of the vote
Local Chain’s Division Round 3 (Elite Eats)
Pizzeria Uno over Nancy’s with 50.2% of the vote
Antioch Pizza Shop over Aurelio’s with 64% of the vote
Rosati’s over Gino’s East with 80% of the vote
Lou Malnati’s over Giordano’s with 60% of the vote
“Mom and Pops” Round 3
In the North Region…
Uncle Jerry’s over JJ Twigs with 79% of the vote
Emil’s over Chicago Pizza Authority with 57% of the vote
Nick’s over Georgio’s with 53% of the vote
Bill’s over Mug’s with 62% of the vote
In the East Region…
Pequod’s over Coalfire with 72% of the vote
Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder over D’Amato’s with 56% of the vote
Zaza’s over Art of Pizza with 54% of the vote
Pat’s over Pizz’Amici with 55% of the vote
In the West Region…
Nonnie’s over Kim’s Uncle with 53% of the vote
Dan’s over Barone’s with 63% of the vote
Wooden Paddle over Papa’s Place with 59% of the vote
Mamma Maria’s over Positano’s with 53% of the vote
In the South Region…
Bartolini’s over Vito & Nick’s with 62% of the vote
Village Pizza over Phil’s with 62% of the vote
Fox’s over Palermo’s on 95th with 51% of the vote
Palermo’s of 63rd over Angie’s with 51% of the vote
Local Chain’s Division Round 2 (Slice 16)
Uno’s over Barraco’s with 69% of the vote
Nancy’s over Salerno’s with 53% of the vote
Antioch Pizza Shop over Pizano’s with 54% of the vote
Aurelio’s over Moretti’s with 59% of the vote
Rosati’s over Tortorice’s with 91% of the vote
Gino’s East over D’Agostino’s with 66% of the vote
Giordano’s over Home Run Inn with 57% of the vote
Lou Malnati’s over Paisan’s with 79% of the vote
“Mom and Pops” Round 2 Results
In the North Region…
Uncle Jerry’s over Italian Pizza Kitchen with 83% of the vote
JJ Twigs over Buddyz with 52% of the vote
Emil’s over Burt’s Place with 57% of the vote
Chicago Pizza Authority over Tievoli with 64% of the vote
Georgio’s over Silo with with 71% of the vote
Nick’s over Barnaby’s with 56% of the vote
Mug’s over George’s with 57% of the vote
Bill’s over White Cottage with 72% of the vote
In the East Region…
Pequod’s over Professor Pizza with 68% of the vote
Coalfire over Pompei with 54% of the vote
Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder over Robert’s with 65% of the vote
D’Amato’s over Paulie Gee’s with 67% of the vote
Zaza’s over Spacca Napoli with 60% of the vote
Art of Pizza over Piece with 51% of the vote
Pat’s over Labriola with 64% of the vote
Pizz’Amici over Zarella with 73% of the vote
In the West Region…
Kim’s Uncle over Little Italian with 53% of the vote
Nonnie’s over Fast Eddy’s with 73% of the vote
Dan’s over Amato’s with with 66% of the vote
Barone’s over Angelo’s with 50.5% of the vote
Papa’s Place over Capri Pizza with 69% of the vote
Wooden Paddle over Armand’s with 61% of the vote
Positano’s over Pizza Napoli with 52% of the vote
Mamma Maria’s over Rosario’s with 50.6% of the vote
In the South Region…
Vito & Nick’s over Danny’s Place with 85% of the vote
Bartolini’s over Fat Ricky’s with 78% of the vote
Village Pizza over Joe’s Italian Villa with 60% of the vote
Phil’s over Connie’s with 56% of the vote
Palermo’s on 95th over Mid Villa with 76% of the vote
Fox’s over Ed & Joe’s with 54% of the vote
Angie’s over Chicago Dough Company with 66% of the vote
Palermo’s of 63rd over Rico’s with 76% of the vote
Local Chain’s Division Round 1
Pizzeria Uno over Papa Saverio’s with 63% of the vote
Barraco’s over Dimo’s with 66% of the vote
Salerno’s over Slyce with 74% of the vote
Nancy’s over Little Pops with 74% of the vote
Antioch Pizza Shop over Maciano’s with 56% of the vote
Pizano’s over Riverside Pizza and Pub with 63% of the vote
Moretti’s over Beggars with 62% of the vote
Aurelio’s over Gia Mia with 75% of the vote
Rosati’s over Taylor Street with 89% of the vote
Tortorice’s over Italian Fiesta with 59% of the vote
Gino’s East over Bob’s Pizza with 77% of the vote
D’Agostino’s over Jimano’s with 69% of the vote
Home Run Inn over Parlor with 73% of the vote
Giordano’s over Bacci with 78% of the vote
Paisan’s over Falco’s with 65% of the vote
Lou Malnati’s over Billy Bricks with 81% of the vote
“Mom & Pop” Bracket Round 1 Results
In the North Region…
Uncle Jerry’s over Tammy’s with 84% of the vote
Italian Pizza Kitchen over Little Joey’s with 53% of the vote
Buddyz over Joe’s with 56% of the vote
JJ Twigs over Nonna Silvia’s with 66% of the vote
Burts Place over Pizzeria DeVille with 53% of the vote
Emil’s over Kaiser’s with 65% of the vote
Tievoli over Hitz with 59% of the vote
Chicago Pizza Authority over Quonset with 70% of the vote
Georgio’s over Buffo’s with 80% of the vote
Silo over Trattoria Poretta with 51% of the vote
Barnaby’s over Nino’s with 68% of the vote
Nick’s over Frato’s with 85% of the vote
George’s over Joanie’s with 59% of the vote
Mug’s over Wayne’s with 50.1% of the vote
White Cottage over Geo’s with 54% of the vote
Bill’s over Station 34 with 71% of the vote
In the East Region…
Pequod’s over Ranalli’s with 81% of the vote
Professor Pizza over Flo & Santo with 53% of the vote
Coalfire over Pizza Lobo with 55% of the vote
Pompei over Michael’s with 61% of the vote
Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder over Peanut Park with 72% of the vote
Robert’s over Exchequer with 76% of the vote
Paulie Gee’s over JB Alberto’s with 68% of the vote
D’Amato’s over Milly’s with 69% of the vote
Spacca Napoli over Bellona’s with 50.1% of the vote
Zaza’s over Bartoli’s with 61% of the vote
Art of Pizza over Jimmy’s with 63% of the vote
Piece over Pizzeria Portofino with 55% of the vote
Labriola over Candlelite with 71% of the vote
Pat’s over Novel Pizza with 81% of the vote
Zarella over Roots by 50.1% of the vote
Pizz’Amici over Forno Rosso with 69% of the vote
In the West Region…
Kim’s Uncle over Dough with 67% of the vote
Little Italian over Mattone with 70% of the vote
Nonnie’s over Pie Life with 79% of the vote
Fast Eddy’s over Nemec Bros. with 62% of the vote
Dan’s over Pyramid with 89% of the vote
Amato’s over Giardino Trattoria with 63% of the vote
Angelo’s over V&V Paesano with 80% of the vote
Barone’s over Bertoli’s with 59% of the vote
Papa’s Place over Al’s with 54% of the vote
Capri Pizza over Euro Crepes & Pizza with 84% of the vote
Wooden Paddle over Brasi’s with 63% of the vote
Armand’s over Nonno Carm’s with 65% of the vote
Pizza Napoli over Dominick’s with 65% of the vote
Positano’s over Gulliver’s with 51% of the vote
Mamma Maria’s over Freedom Bros. with 72% of the vote
Rosario’s over Gianorio’s with 64% of the vote
In the South Region…
Vito & Nick’s over Fasano’s with 82% of the vote
Danny’s Place over Punky’s with 75% of the vote
Fat Ricky’s over Milano’s with 60% of the vote
Bartolini’s over Villa Nova with 83% of the vote
Joe’s Italian Villa over Rosangela’s with 54% of the vote
Village Pizza over Pizza Nova with 81% of the vote
Phil’s over Louisa’s with 60% of the vote
Connie’s over Mama Vesuvio’s with 51% of the vote
Palermo’s 95th over Russo’s with 81% of the vote
Mid Villa over Route 66 Pizza with 60% of the vote
Ed & Joe’s over Chesdan’s with 77% of the vote
Fox’s over Jullianni’s with 78% of the vote
Chicago Dough Company over Cipriani with 55% of the vote
Angie’s over Pizza Castle with 80% of the vote
Rico’s over Pudgy’s with 63% of the vote
Palermo’s of 63rd over Old Chicago Pizza with 71% of the vote
As it was 4 years ago when we first launched our Chicago’s Very Own Eats food tournaments, the goal of Chicago Pizza Madness is to promote local businesses. While we encourage everyone to support and promote their favorite pizza places, we also highly recommend trying as many of this year’s participants as possible. A resource to help you find each pizza place will be made available soon.
Stay updated on tournament results and all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.
Recent posts
Chicago’s Very Own Eats
Chicago Pizza Madness ‘Mom & Pops’ Champion: Bartolini’s
.cls-4{fill:#000;}
Our 2026 Chicago Pizza Madness Champions are…
.cls-4{fill:#000;}
Billy Bricks pairs their pizza with award-winning Moo Joe’s ice cream
.cls-5{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}
New White Sox eats for the 2026 season
.cls-5{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}
Chicago’s Very Own Eats Episode 100 with Manny’s Deli
.cls-5{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}
Click for more