Trust us, the best places in the world for pizza shocked the heck out of us, too. Of course, the usual suspects made it to the world's most delicious Italian comfort food, but there are many here that... well, to say "unexpected" would be an understatement. While everyone has a different definition of what makes pizza 'good,' there's no denying that change can sometimes be delicious. In the event of pizza, as long as it's hot, cheesy, and wholesome, that's good enough, right?
Of course not! We're talking about pizza here, not just an average sandwich. Pizza should be graded on three things: The amount of cheese (and cheese pull, by extension), the crust (is it crispy? Is it soggy?), and, finally, the toppings, which varies based on personal taste but should always be cooked to perfection along with the rest of the pizza. When it comes to a place such as New York, which has been voted as having some of the best pizza in the world already, its critics are unrelenting and likely to object to anything that didn't come from Manhattan. However, for the rest of the world, pizza comes in many forms and styles... some of which are pretty unfamiliar to the US.
Even the pizza in Naples is created differently than how it's made in the US, thus proving that there is no one right way to cook and eat a pie. So, what other countries have a unique take on everyone's favorite comfort food? Let's take a closer look at what pizza is served around the world.
Rome, Italy
It's not surprising that Italy is on this list. What is surprising is that Rome, specific, is mentioned, due to the fact that prior to now, Naples was the reigning champ of all pizza creation. However, it would appear that Rome has now figured out what the people want and, by extension, has come up with their own recipe for success... in the form of a delicious slice of pizza.
While Rome's pizza popularity is still relatively fresh, they've taken a high-end approach to create the dish. The trick lies in their ingredients, which are just about as fresh and high-quality as they come. Rome's unique ingredient combinations are also what makes pizza in this city so unique - visitors can find anything from pizza alla pala to La Gatta Mangiona's creation, which is a pizza topped with potatoes, salmon, parsley, and mozzarella. A cacio e pepe pizza can also be found in Rome, making the transition from pasta to pizza topping.
New Haven, Connecticut
Surprise! Contrary to many (angry) New Yorkers, New Haven has recently been voted as one of the best places to grab a pizza. While it's quite shocking, the word on the street is that Frank Pepe is the place to get a clam pie.
This pizza doesn't get topped with mozzarella cheese automatically and has a texture that dares to be slightly different from the typical crunchy, crispy crust one would expect in New York. The shape of this pizza is also more traditional, featuring an oblong style rather than the typical circular pie most people are used to.
Nice, France
France is usually a place many associates with pastries and wine but it turns out that Nice is cooking up quite the pizza. For starters, the pizzas here aren't topped with typical mozzarella but rather Emmental or Cantal, two kinds of cheese that are more native to the area.
Another thing that Nice has going for it on the pizza scene is its access to astoundingly good olive oil and fresh ingredients such as basil. The crust is crisp, the toppings are high-quality, and the seasonings are what France is known for - Herbs de Provence, pistou, and persillade.
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne's Johnny Di Francesco won the Pizza World Championship back in 2014, which is evidence enough that incredible pizza can, indeed, be found in Australia. While most wouldn't travel halfway around the world in order to try it, take our word for it - this pizza was well-deserving of the title.
The pizza being cranked out at his place is Neopolitan-style, which is traditionally thin-crusted to make for a crispy bite, and topped with some unusual, albeit delicious, toppings, such as pumpkin, gorgonzola, red onion, and even pancetta. The combination of both the high-quality ingredients that go into this pizza along with the love that clearly goes into making it are a truly (literal) award-winning flavor.