What is Your Favorite Pizza Chain?

[IagoZazu]

What is your favorite pizza chain?

I really don't have a true favorite, but I've been liking Papa John's lately.

[Margos]

Pizza hut! That crust is like, the only crust that I like to eat. It's like fried bread!

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Papa John's and LaRosa's. They are both quite delicious. My family and I never eat Pizza Hut because my mother got food poisoning after eating it several years ago (and I'm talking more than a decade ago). My family, except for my mom, did eat Pizza Hut a year or two ago because it was the only place we could find to eat that was open in some random location on the way home from Florida. My mom had to go out and wait in the car because the smell brought her back to however many years ago. Plus it wasn't anything special, it was just okay. And we don't really eat at Domino's or Little Caesar's, but my family and I have both eaten them before. Yeah, so Papa J's and LaRosa's!

[DarthPrime]

Papa John's

The recent $10 deal has been fantastic. I hope they keep it.

[Aqua]

I'm going to say Domino's only because I've tried their Pizza again and I fell in love with it. But to save on $$$$, there's this local Pizza chain called Blue Jean's so yeah, I'll also include that one.

[Disney Duster]

It will always be Pizza Hut for me! It tastes different from regular restaraunt pizza, it's what I think of when I think of a pizza chain. It's the best of the chains! I have always loved it, and they have so many varieties now. It's pretty fattening, and so it tastes really, really good!!!! Hey, it's the taste that matters. It's my favorite taste when it comes to any pizza ever, especially their pan pizza. Hellz yea.

[Disneykid]

Pizza Hut for me. There's something about the way it's prepared that makes it feel more...polished? classic? than other pizza chains. I don't know how to describe it. Like Disney Duster, they're what I think of when I think of franchise pizza. Plus, it doesn't hurt that they're the only ones who do stuffed crust pizza.

I'll admit, though, that I don't eat there often since there are several privately-owned pizza chains in my area that have a fresher, more homemade taste to them (Portofino, Nasbar, Mamma Mia, Steve's). Steve's is my favorite place for pizza, period. Totally worth the 20-minute drive.

[Wonderlicious]

Of those options, I chose Dominos, as for a take-away and a chain of its type, its not too bad. I have always liked Pizza Express, which is a relatively more sophisticated British chain. When I was living in Munich, I also went to a place called Call-a-Pizza, which was just around the corner from me; they appear to be a chain throughout Germany.

[ajmrowland]

Dominos. Not only has their formula improved, but they have an establishment that shares the same building as my parents' store, so we often get discounts and even a rare freebee if they have leftovers.

[slave2moonlight]

Tough question. I LOVE pizza, and I usually have it on Friday night with friends. Sometimes we get, Pizza Hut, sometimes Papa John's, sometimes Dominos, sometimes Hungry Howies,... even Pizza Patron a couple of times. I also have tried some pizza buffets, like Gattis, CiCi's, and Double Dave's, and I've tried some other places too. Then, there's the frozen stuff.

I first would like to say that, in elementary and Jr. High, they used to give us this boat shaped pepperoni pizza (french bread pizza, I guess), and I still LOVE that and wish I could get it frozen at the local grocery store or something. It was sooo good with milk (which is not what I usually drink with pizza). Last time I had that was at my little sister's birthday party at the bowling alley MANY years ago, because they actually had it there. They don't anymore though. Anyway, having said that...

I grew up with Pizza Hut, and that will always be my favorite, but you have to eat it when it's still fresh. It doesn't reheat well, and it's lousy once it's gotten cold. The exception is the stuffed crust, which reheats well enough and is probably my favorite pizza hands down. Pizza Hut stuffed crust with beef, peperoni, and mushrooms, and LOADS of parmesian cheese. I sprinkle on lots of that stuff. Of course, what I really grew up with was the Pan Pizza, not stuffed crust, but I MUCH prefer stuffed crust. For a while, they had one called the Big New Yorker, and that was pretty tasty too. Stuffed crust bumped it out though.

However, if you aren't getting stuffed crust, then my vote is with Papa John's. Their pizza is just kickass, crust and all, whatever the topping.

The other places are generally forgettable, but it's all good. Hungry Howie's does have that great crust, and they have the best wings, in my opinion (followed by the original Pizza Hut ones, not the Pizza Hut wingstop ones).

As for the buffets, I only really like Double Dave's, and mostly it's because they have these great cheese steak roll ups, whatever they're called (which thankfully have no onions and are just cheese and steak, and super delicious) and that incredible cookie pizza. Unfortunately, I only was introduced to Double Dave's a short time before our local one shut down. Hopefully, I'll get to visit it now and then when I hit Austin, and hopefully it will be just as good. Though, I'm eating less and more healthily lately, so I don't know. If I am going to frequent the Alamo Drafthouse theater as much as I want to (I LOVE the Pizza there, almost forgot; It's sooo good), I may have to cut out any other fast food places. Oh, and one time I tried CiCi's with a friend of mine, and it was disgusting. The sauce tasted like puke, literally, so everything with sauce in it tasted like puke.

[Kyle]

Used to be Pizza hut, but their just not the same anymore. it's always a greasy mess for me now. I miss the stuffed crust, but cant stand the pizza itself anymore.

I think now my fav is Cafe Milano, but its also hit or miss a bit for me.

But I have to say, I ate at Pizza Planet for the first time last year at MGM, and wow, best pizza I think Ive had in a long time. But I might be a bit biased.
I wish they would make that into a real chain. (and please, remove all mentions of Toy story, its gotta be more authentic)

[ajmrowland]

Yeah, I went to Pizza Planet once, when I was 7. They had the Toy Story videogames in arcade machines there. Can't remember the pizza or if we even had any, but I was surprised that it looked nothing like the one in the movie. that would KILL!

[stewie15]

I chose other. Even though I do love Pizza Hut and Little Caesar's (theres one right by my cottage and Little Caesar's always reinds me of summer). But Pizza Pizza and Pizza Nova were not included and I eat them the most. Also CiCi's is good too, when I'm in the states.

[Elladorine]

I'm not sure what it was, but I got sick of Papa John's several years ago after only having it a few times. We occasionally pick up Little Caesar's since it's pretty good and so cheap, and I like the thin crust at Domino's. CiCi's is ok but I like their brownies more than anything else.

As for Pizza Hut, I worked there for a few years and basically had all the free pizza I could eat between the free employee meals, leftovers from the buffet, and pizza made wrong. And amazingly, I still like PH, although I don't care for the thin crust, and sometimes the pan crust gets a little greasy. I miss some of the specialty pizzas we had, like The Edge and especially The Insider. Sometimes we'd get bored and create out own weird or unique food with whatever ingredients we had (I used to make cinnamon rolls out of the pan dough and toppings we had for the dessert sticks). The only thing is that I can't eat cold pizza at all anymore and I used to love it . . . it must be from all that time from working with the raw, cold ingredients while prepping and cooking.

Anyway, my favorite pizza has to be California Pizza Kitchen, they have typical pizza toppings plus some unusual ones, like eggplant and pear. My favorite is the Thai Chicken Pizza. We only go about twice a year though.

[David S.]

Nice thread! My favorite food in the world is cheese pizza with extra cheese, no other toppings, and light on the sauce if possible. My favorite would be "other".

Generally speaking, I like a thin crust with plenty of cheese with incredible flavor, and with so much that it stretches when you take a bite

And like enigmawing said, it has to be hot! I can't stand hot weather and dislike hot beverages, but my one exception is cooked food. I can't stand cooked food that has gotten cold! So I like to have my pizzas "made to order" rather than have something given to me that's been sitting under a heat lamp!

Also, like Disneykid pointed out, a lot of my favorites tend to be the more independent, non-chain places, which often have a really fresh, classic pizzaria-type taste.

Probably my all-time fave pizza is Tower of Pizza in New Orleans which I'm pretty sure only has their New Orleans location so that's not a chain.

I'm also a big fan of Sparros, which is a chain.

I also like Chuck E Cheese, and not just because of the free game tokens and cute animatronic Chuck E. I think the pizza is pretty tasty as well

Recent independent or rare pizzas that blew me away was the pizza place in the mall food-court on top of the quarry cliff right next to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. I don't think it was a national chain, but it was very Sparro-esque. Can't remember the name of the place, but next time I'm in San Antonio, I know where to find it!

Also, I had a personal-sized pizza in a food-court restaurant at Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, Texas, which was sublime! The restaurant was even playing some nice Italian opera arias as part of their music loop while I was eating! I wish I could recall the name; I'm pretty sure it wasn't a chain restaurant. But again, the next time I'm in Kemah, TX, I know where to find it!

In the theme park scene, I like the pizza at Busch Gardens and Sea World in Florida, which is very tasty. Mary's Spring House in Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO, has delicious pizza.

Disney World's can be pretty good, but one of the last times I had it there was waay too much sauce and not enough cheese, which left a nasty aftertaste for my tastes. This is the exception to the rule, though. It's usually pretty good; I think I may have also just got burned out on it a little from eating it so much!

Of the chains listed, my fave would be Papa Johns. I also like their "cheesebread", which is basically like cheese pizza without the sauce.

Next would be Pizza Hut. I don't think I've ever had Little Ceasars, so I need to give it a try. Dominos is improved with their new recipe, other than the crust had a strong garlic taste I didn't like. So next time I try it, I will order it without the garlic.

[pap64]

I've eaten at all of these pizza places, and truly enjoy what they have to offer. But I have to go with Pizza Hut as well.

The reason why is because the food is great and the one that we go to out of town has a great atmosphere. Whenever mom has enough cash to treat us we go to at the end of the day, and we have a blast. We talk to each other, make jokes, catch up on life. Yes, I am making it sound like we don't talk often, but there's something nearly magical about the place that makes us more jolly and just enjoy the evening.

I realize that my reason is far more personal and corny, but I like to associate things and places with the people I love and cherish. And Pizza Hut wins in that category because it reminds me of my family.

Funny story, one time we went to Pizza Hut and had dinner. It was me, my mom, my dad and my nephew. We had finished our dinner when we asked for the bill. The waitress brings it, and mom looks at it. The bill said that we owed over a hundred dollars! We were shocked, but mom looked like she was going to have a heart attack in the spot. Turns out that the waitress mixed up the bills. Ours was only 40 bucks. Boy did we all laugh at that one!

Oh, they also have great desserts. The last time we went me and my nephew ordered the cookie dough and ice cream dish... Very hot but delicious!

[AwallaceUNC]

Pizza Hut all the way. I have a healthy appreciation for Dominos too (and while I liked their old pizza, the new recipe is quite tasty too). Little Ceaser's is good but hard to come by these days -- I have fond memories of it from childhood. I enjoy CiCi's now and then (but then feel gross for a few weeks after I let myself eat there).

I do not care for Papa John's.

Of course, some of the best pizza is found at local by-the-slice pizza parlors.

-Aaron

P.S. Pizza Hut's pasta is really good too. And their breadsticks. Breadsticks are probably my favorite part of Pizza Hut.

[blackcauldron85]

Pizza Hut pan pizza is my absolute favorite. I love it.

(french bread pizza, I guess), and I still LOVE that and wish I could get it frozen at the local grocery store or something.

The brand Stouffer's makes a French bread pizza, and, well, I don't know about in Texas, but it's available on the east coast in grocery stores.

I used to make cinnamon rolls out of the pan dough and toppings we had for the dessert sticks

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

The last time we went me and my nephew ordered the cookie dough and ice cream dish

I've never seen that on the menu!!!

[dvdjunkie]

From all the choices offered I had to go with Other, because I find Pizza Hut very hit and miss with their quality of food. Domino's, Papa John's, and Little Caesar's are just sub-par when it comes to Pizza, and the worst of all is Chuck-E-Cheese, gad, that's the worst pizza in the world.

My favorite is a small West Coast Chain called Papa Murphy's, and the best thing about it is you cook it yourself, so if it isn't to your liking, it is your fault. Papa Murphy's is a Take-and-Bake. You order it with all the toppings you want, and take it home and bake it yourself. Great Pizza and I would dare any of the big guys like Pizza Hut, Straw Hat, Shakey's, or Papa John's to match their quality.

If I want a buffet, then Cici's will do, although we have four of them here in Wichita, and only one of them is tolerable as far as quality goes.

So, put me down for Papa Murphy's. Best Pizza ever!!!!

[Lazario]

Domino's has great barbecued wings by the way.

I voted "Other;"


for me.

Pizza Hut is nice, but I've had my love for them hindered by the wait I used to have to endure as a child.