Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash Pizza in Texas used to be a neglected art. I can remember my first slice of genuine New York pizza, thinking if only there were places at home where I could get pizza this good. If you've been craving something other than brown-box franchise-style 'za and you live anywhere near Waco, here's your list.
One
Slow Rise Slice House comes in at a solid 4 stars on Yelp and has over 100 reviews. Located just off U.S. Highway 84, near Texas Central Parkway in Woodway, Slow Rise features a choice of slices or pies in a restaurant with plenty of open space, outdoor dining, and an adequate supply of beer on tap, as well as bottled wine.
Jessica from Arkansas had this to say in her January review:
Tried out this place while we were vacationing in Waco, and we were NOT disappointed!! Pizza was delicious and the wings were the best I have ever had. Love the vibe as well.
Two
Moroso Wood-fired Pizzaria tops the Yelp list with 4.5 stars and a whopping 331 reviews, some of which are near-book length, overflowing with compliments about the atmosphere and the pizza. Moroso has been around long enough to have attracted a healthy local customer base, so reservations are generally recommended in the evenings. It's location across from the Extraco Events Center makes it popular among the horse crowd that participate in the barrage of events hosted at the center.
Lu from California had this to say:
After moving here from CA I'm so pleased to find this gem. Right when you walk in you feel at home, warm ambiance and welcoming staff. From the apps, to the entrees and not to mention the pizzas everything is just magnifico, the beverages and wine selection as well as service is all wonderful!
My husband and I have now found our favorite Waco restaurant- the owner Dan is absolutely the most inviting, genuine person we have met. We felt like he welcomed us into his home and is ready for us to be his guest. I highly recommend. Can't wait to try Brunch! Cheers!
Three
Long-time Waco favorite, Baris makes the cut with a Yelp rating of 4.5 stars and almost 400 reviews.
Jenny from Bruceville sums up the popularity with this review from January:
Baris is a Waco gem. If you like fancy Italian food, this is not your place. This is more of a Friday night sitcom pizza/Italian place from a tv show. Their red sauce is amazing and their red salad dressing is made from it. It's like simple comfort food.
Four
900 Degrees Pizzeria is among the relative newcomers in the area, but has amassed a quick 4.5 stars from 53 reviews on Yelp. Dining is available both indoors and out.
Valarie from Know, Indiana had this to say about her delivered pizza:
Had the spinach and chicken pizza on a cauliflower crust. It was excellent !! Crust was thin and crispy. Great service as well. Delivered by grub hub.
Five
Shorty's Pizza Shack is parked squarely in the heart of Baylor Bears Country. The big draw here is expansive outdoor seating. There's plenty on the menu for members of your group not interested in 'za (there's always one, right?), including salads, appetizers and even hotdogs. Pizza is all by the pie, but they have a unique item called pizza pillow that essentially do the slice fold-over for you before it's baked.
Here's what Mitchell from Texas city had to say about those in November:
This was an amazing Waco find! We needed a quick lunch option and this hit the spot! We ordered take out and it was ready in 15 minutes. I have never heard of pizza pillows before, but now, I will never forget them!! I would be 100% happier if I could sleep on one of these pizza pillows for the rest of my life. All joking aside, the food was fantastic. I would recommend the spinach n garlic pizza pillow 10/10 times. My wife got the Buffalo chicken one and also loved it!! They were so warm, so fresh, and so soft. Definitely coming back when we return to Waco!
Six
It is tempting to write off a pizza chain, but folks, if you haven't had the pleasure of wrapping your lips around a pie from Mod Pizza yet, you are missing out. The chain essentially follows the I-35 corridor, with a few exceptions to the south (like in the Houston area). The rest of the state is out of luck so far. One can only hope the expansion continues. The Waco location is at 1015 S. Jack Kultgen Expressway (I-35).
The drill at Mod is you stand in line and direct the building of your pizza assembly-line style like you would a sandwich at a deli. It then goes into the wood-fired oven and voila! Pizza.
Christina from Spring, Texas said this in her review:
Very good interesting Pizza Joint/Place....serves all you want on your pizza for that price. Tasty and can pair with a shake or their selected beers.
Seven
And what would a pizza list be without one outlier restaurant that just happens to serve pizza among it's other menu items? (Again, there's always one.) Southern Roots Brewing Company has a rating of 4.5 stars with 32 reviews.
Logan from Indianapolis had this to say recently:
Delicious pizza and a wide variety of beers. Between my wife and I, we had 2 flights with 6 different beers and not one was a dud. Games were not available due to COVID-19 pandemic, but that was to be expected. Would recommend for a good hangout while in Waco.
7 pizza joints to enjoy and support
Lucky you if you live, work, or play in the Waco area. There was definitely a time when good pizza was hard to find in own. I always thought that odd considering Baylor is the heart of the city. Thankfully, that has all changed and there are pies galore these days. Got a favorite I missed?
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