RAVENSWOOD — A trio of influential pizza critics ranked Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe as one of the top places for a slice in the nation.
Jimmy Kang’s restaurant at 2434 W. Montrose Ave. is known for its New York-style pizza by the pie and the slice, as well as for morning beignets and coffee.
While locals are quick to sing praise of Jimmy’s pizzas, this year is the first time Kang has been recognized by Italian food critics Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro and Albert Sapere.
Since 2018, the trio has put out a yearly list of the best pizzerias in Italy and around the world, without any preference to style. For this year’s guide, Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe was ranked number 9 in the guide’s list of 50 Top Pizza Slices in the USA for 2024.
“They’re kind of like the Michelin of pizza,” Kang told Block Club.
The critics go incognito to unsuspecting pizza joints across the world to see if the restaurant qualifies for the influential list. This is the first time the critics ranked individual slices as a separate category from full pies, Kang said.
“They never reveal who they are. I didn’t even know they came by to eat until I got an email from them at the end of April. It was a huge honor. The awards ceremony was all the best pizza-makers in the nation in just one room,” Kang said.
Kang headed to New York City Tuesday to receive the honor during an award’s ceremony hosted by Scott’s Pizza Tours founder Scott Wiener.
“On its face, it’s a useful guide for pizza lovers. But more importantly, it’s a unification of the pizza community sitting in this room today. By identifying pizzerias and individuals such as yourselves, 50 Top Pizza is presenting to the world examples of pizza’s incredible potential,” Wiener said during the ceremony. “Everyone in this room exhibits that potential. This is not just a fast food. It is a great food, made fast.”
The guide’s description of Jimmy’s highlights its “spacious and warm environment” due to the fireplace, wooden tables and brick walls that invites customers to stay, especially during the winter, while enjoying the fragrance of freshly baked pizza.
“Perfect consistency for this New York Style pizza, very popular in Chicago for its unique taste and high-quality ingredients. The french fries and garlic knots are also excellent,” according to the guide.
Kang opened his shop in 2011 in Lincoln Square. Loyal fans followed him to Ravenswood when he was pushed out of his original location at 5155-5159 N. Lincoln Ave. by a developer’s plans.
During the early days of the pandemic, Kang’s pizza was so popular among its fans that the shop was running out of dough. That hasn’t been an issue since he relocated to Montrose Avenue with a larger-capacity oven in 2022.
Jimmy’s wasn’t the only Chicago pizzeria recognized by the critics this year.
The 50 Top Pizza USA list for 2024 also ranked Streeterville ’s Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company at number 10 ; Ravenswood’s Spacca Napoli Pizzeria at number 23; and Lakeview’s Coda di Volpe at 47.
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