Who Has the Best Pizza Near Pigeon Forge? Here’s Our Top 5, Ranked

Pizza is always a solid go-to option when visiting the Smokies.

It’s generally hard to go wrong with bread, meat and cheese.

But when it comes to really good pizza, dare I say, the best pizza. Well, that’s going to require a much deeper dive.

And there are a lot of options to choose from in Pigeon Forge.

With that in mind, I took up the selfless burden of taste testing dozens of pizzas in Pigeon Forge, narrowing down my favorites, and ranking them for your viewing pleasure.

The struggle is real. You’re welcome.

5. Smoky Mountain Brewery

You might not immediately think of seeking out a brewery for the best pizza in town.

But the Smoky Mountian Brewery knows how to serve up a really solid pizza.

Plus, nothing pairs better with pizza than an ice-cold beer. Win, win.

Popular pies at this location include the T-Rex (with salami, sausage, pepperoni and meatballs), the Margherita (with mozzarella, tomato and basil) and the New Yorker (with pepperoni, salami and ricotta cheese).

You can also opt to build your own (in either 8″, 12″ or 16″) and choose from a variety of fresh toppings.

Bonus Tip: The Smoky Mountain Brewery is one of only a handful of area restaurants that are open late (normally until midnight). For you night owls out there, this is likely going to be your best option.

The Smoky Mountain Brewery in Pigeon Forge is located at the Shops at Lumberjack Feud at 2530 Parkway.

Read Also: These are the best restaurants open late in Pigeon Forge; our top 5

4. J. Del’s Pizza

Yankees rejoice. If you love New York-style pizza, this place is second to none.

Family-owned and operated, J. Del’s is the real deal. And it’s one of the few places you can still walk in and watch your pizza being hand-tossed and spun around in the air before your very eyes.

Popular menu items include the Meat Lovers pizza, calzones and garlic knots. But like most pizza joints in the area, they can also create almost any custom pie your pizza-lovin’ New Englander heart desires.

J. Del’s is located at 2664 Teaster Lane in Pigeon Forge.

3. Big Daddy’s Pizzeria

Big Daddy’s is part of the locally owned Johnson Family of Restaurants. Their sister restaurants include Bennett’s Bar-B-Que, Alamo Steakhouse, Mama’s Farmhouse, JOE and Pop’s Sub Shoppe, Mama’s Chicken Kitchen and Mad Dog’s Creamery and Donuts.

Read Also: Mama’s Chicken Kitchen review: How they saved me from hanger

Big Daddy’s is known for its brick oven, wood-fired pizza and fresh ingredients.

Local fan favorites menu options include the Big Kahuna and the Taco Pie.

And if you’re in the mood for dessert, you don’t want to miss out on the cannoli.

Their pizzas come in your choice of 10″ or 14″. Child sizes are also available.

Big Daddy’s in Pigeon Forge is located at 3053 Parkway.

Read Also: Big Daddy’s Pizza in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg: Is it worth it?

2. Bellacino’s Pizza and Grinders

A small chain, Bellacino’s has exactly one restaurant in East Tennessee, and it is located (technically) in Sevierville.

But it’s close enough to count.

I’m a fan of the Bellacino’s Pride, which is basically, take the seven best toppings known to man, put it on the pizza and bake it, but you can’t go wrong with the supreme or the meat-eater.

If you’re looking for a change of pace, the taco pizza is actually pretty good too, but I understand some would balk for philosophical reasons.

I also like Bellacino’s because I have a bit of a word association disorder.

It’s like there’s a filing system in my brain and if you say the trigger word – a little bit like the word of the day on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse – you’ll set off a chain reaction among the synapses in my cerebellum. One trip to Bellacino’s means I can subject my kids to days of me singing the “Lunch Lady Land Song” from Saturday Night Live.

My kids may not know the Magna Carta from Magnum P.I., but by God they will know “Hoagies and grinders, hoagies and grinders, Navy beans, navy beans and (singing like Axl Rose) Sloppy Joe, slop, sloppy joe”.

I am a simple man, and simple things make me happy.

Bellacino’s is located at 716 Dolly Parton Pkwy in Sevierville and is one of the few pizza places on this list that offer delivery.

1. Mellow Mushroom

I know, I hear you.

I picked chains for the top two pizza picks. But hear me out before you grab your pitchforks.

If you’re already opting for pizza while on vacation in the Smokies something tells me you’re not strictly adhering to only local cuisine and unique experiences anyway.

Plus, the Mellow Mushroom may be a chain but it’s not as common as let’s say … Papa Johns or Dominos.

Those of us who grew up in small towns went the better portion of our lives having never sampled Mellow Mushroom.

And let’s be honest, when you’ve been on vacation for a few days and your brain is fried from taking a group vote on every activity and every meal, Mellow Mushroom is just an easy, classic, tried and true go-to.

Their extraordinarily hippy food menu includes stone-baked pizzas, dairy-free cheese, gluten-free crusts and the largest list of ingredients for customizations that you’ll ever see.

Are you vegetarian? Or lactose intolerant? Got a pallet that only craves glazed pecan tempeh and tofu pizza?

Guess what, Mellow Mushroom has a pizza for you.

Long live the king.

Mellow Mushroom has two locations in Pigeon Forge. One is located at The Island and the other is located on the Parkway.

Where’s your favorite place to grab pizza when you visit Pigeon Forge? Let us know in the comments below!