Your guide to the pizza styles that can be found in Tucson

If you haven’t ventured out of town yet, at least we have options for you to travel unpacked.

Tucson has many styles of pizza, from thin-crust New York slices to deep-dish Chicago pie. Travel abroad Sicilian style or explore the sights Tucson style.

We’ve rounded up a few local spots where you can sample each style.

6546 E. Tanque Verde Road, nypizzaDepartment.com

New York-style pizza, characterized by thin, large slices, is a classic, and the NYPD offers a taste of the Big Apple.

In 2011, New York native and University of Arizona graduate Mark Fontana opened the NYPD to bring an authentic New York experience to his new home in Tucson.

You’ll also find New York-inspired calzones and wings at this eastern spot.

Fontana, who grew up in Buffalo, New York, said she also wants to cater to Tucson’s east coast immigrants.

“All the New Yorkers came over and thanked me why they couldn’t even bring this back to the East,” he said.

NYPD hours of operation are Monday through Thursday: 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Friday: 10am to 9pm. Saturday: 10:30 am to 9:00 pm.Sunday: 11am to 8:30pm

Other New York-style pizzerias:

2707 E. Broadway, roccoslittlechicago.com

For authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza, look no further than Rocco’s Little Chicago Pizzeria. Opened in 1998, this family-run restaurant takes you to a windy city.

Chicago-style pizza has a thick, buttery crust layered with plenty of cheese, sauces and a variety of toppings. It is baked in a deep seasoned frying pan, so it has a thick and thick texture.

So how did this decades-old pizzeria come about? Anthony “Rocco” Di Grazia moved to Tucson after college in 1992 and couldn’t find a pizza that met his needs.

“I used to work in restaurants in Tucson and bake pizza at home until I found one that looked good. I don’t claim to be more authentic than anyone else, but our pizza is true to the style and taste I want,” he said. People seem to agree with it, and it worked for us. “

Rocco’s is open Sunday through Saturday from 11am to 10pm.

7575 W. Twin Peaks Road, twinpeakspizzeria.com

Originating from Detroit, this unique square pizza dazzles pizza lovers with its creatively arranged toppings, cheese-covered edges, and caramelized, crunchy crust.

Twin Peaks Pizzeria makes Detroit-style pies from scratch with Wisconsin brick cheese. Besides pizza, they also serve hoagie, wings and salads.

Twin Peaks hours of operation are Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 8pm

Other Detroit-style pizzerias:

2920 N. Swan Road and 12130 N. Dove Mountain Blvd. Vero Amore Pizza.com

Originating in Naples, Italy, Neapolitan-style pizza is full of authentic, culturally distinct flavors. Made with a few simple ingredients, it is traditionally served as a Margherita or Marinara pizza.

Vero Amore has been making authentic Neapolitan pizza since 2006. Authentic Neapolitan pizza is also certified by Italy’s prestigious Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana Academy (VPN).

To be certified, the Academy requires strict manufacturing standards for traditional Neapolitan pizza, to which Vero Amore has proven to comply.

Brent Smith, general manager of Vero Amore, says the pizza style is “unique with its hand-tossed dough and short cooking time in a very hot oven.” There aren’t many sauces or ingredients, but what you add should be fresh, homemade mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, and Italian stones to cook it. “

Vero Amore’s hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday, 11 AM to 9 PM.Friday and Saturday, 11am to 10pm

Other Neapolitan pizzerias:

4500 E. Speedway, 50 S. Houghton Road, and 7965 N. Oracle Road. Mama’s Famous.com

Mama’s Famous Pizza and Heros has three locations here in Tucson, each mastering the flavors of Sicilian-style pizza.

With its thick, fluffy crust and square shape, it’s no wonder this pizza inspired Detroit pizza. With reverse toppings and plenty of cheese, Mama’s has been a hot spot since opening in 1981.

You can also buy Neapolitan pies at Mama’s or try stromboli, calzones, pastas and desserts.

For Mama’s co-owner Joe Spina, it’s more than just a business.

“[Sicilian pizza]is what my grandmother always made for us. She’s Sicilian and we just started making it in our restaurant,” he said. “People who like this look think it’s the best. Not just in Tucson, but everywhere.”

Mama’s is open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm.Friday and Saturday, 11am to 10pm

Other Sicilian pizzerias:

6502 E. Tanque Verde Road, ziopeppeaz.com

Alternatively, the gastronomic city has its own unique style and has inspired several pizzerias. At Zio Peppe, you’ll find Mexican-inspired pizzas and other delicious items on the menu.

Biria tacos are hot food that can be found throughout Tucson. But Zio Peppe takes it one step further with Birria Pizza.

Dubbed El Rustico Biría, this pizza is the result of a collaboration between owner-chef Devon Sanner and chef Juan Almanza. Made with Almanza’s legendary beef virilla, mozzarella, onions, coriander and consommé.

“We source our birria from Almanza and serve it on our pizzas with consommé. We really wanted to replicate that flavor, so we also added the graça rendered beef on top of the pie to get the overall experience of a birria taco,” Sanner said. Consomme is used as a dunk and lemon wedges are also added.

“We had another idea in mind.

Sanner describes the Zio Peppe menu as “a little love letter to the community.”

“The taste profile of our pasta and other pizzas, sourcing locally from the Refugee Network and working with other chefs are all part of our ethos,” he said.

Other menu items include pastas, salads, desserts and charcuterie boards.

Zio Peppe is open daily from 11am to 8pm.

312 E. Congress, tucsonjaimes.com

Looking to get into Tucson-style pizza is downtown-based Jaime’s Pizza Kitchen, which is set to open in August.

The style of Jaime’s Pizza, which operates out of Ghost Kitchen, is the most New York-style hybrid, but with some Neapolitan flair. Owner Gabriel Moreno says his unique fabric cannot be replicated.