Excellent Wood-Fired Pizza in Seattle

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Lists like this are usually headlined as “the best” of something, but pizza might just be the most subjective and debated food around. Styles, regions, and toppings all have their fans and haters, so it’s nearly impossible to say what’s best.

The beauty of a pizza is definitely in the eye of the beholder. New York, Chicago, Detroit, Neapolitan, deep dish, thin crust, loaded with toppings, or foldable, all have their adherents. Even pineapple on a pizza has fans.

This list is focusing exclusively on wood-fired pizzas, which have been around for thousands of years. A pizza restaurant in ancient Pompeii looked remarkably similar to those around now. There are hallmarks of a good wood-fired pizza. Because they’re cooked at extremely high temperatures for less than two minutes, the bottom is crispy, while the top is still chewy. There are bubbles and burnt spots and the crust is thin. The toppings are cooked, but fresher and less dry than you get with a pizza cooked in a conventional oven.

The following restaurants are chosen based on food site reviews, customer ratings, and personal taste testing. Your favorite might not be on the list, but that just attests to the excellence of wood-fired pizza in Seattle. Many only open in the late afternoon, so check the website for hours. In no particular order:

Delancey

Located in Ballard at 1415 NW 70th Street, open Wednesday through Sunday. The crust is a fermented dough made from wheat grown in Washington state that produces really good chewiness, and most of the toppings are also local ingredients. Pizza is the focus here, but isn’t the only thing that gets wood fired. Radicchio is wood fired and creates the base for an unusual and tasty salad.

Bar Del Corso

Located on Beacon Hill at 3057 Beacon Avenue South, open Tuesday through Saturday. In addition to a small selection of perfectly prepared wood-fired pizzas, this restaurant offers small plates, salads, and starters. The grilled octopus is worth a visit by itself.

Lupo

Located in Fremont at 4303 Fremont Avenue N., open every day of the week. The sourdough crust is the standout here and pizza is the star of the menu, though a very good pasta dish is offered. Reservations are recommended, but takeout is always available.

Pizzeria Pulcinella

Located at 10003 Rainier Ave S., between Rainier Valley and Renton,, open every day. This might be the most authentic Neapolitan-style pizza in the city. They import soft wheat flour straight from Italy, along with other Italian ingredients. There’s a large selection of pizzas and a full menu that includes salads, pastas and desserts, including spumoni and cannoli.

Cornuto Pizzeria

Located at 7404 Greenwood Avenue N. in Greenwood, open Wednesday through Sunday. This quintessential neighborhood joint serves up authentic Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a wood oven imported from Italy. The pizza menu is large and if you’ve never had Italian tuna on a pizza, this is the place to try it. There’s a very good bar and an outdoor deck.