7 Pizza Places You Have To Try in the Smoky Mountains

In search of the best pizza in the Smokies

Pizza is a culinary oasis on vacation. It is the answer to every dining conundrum. Got a group who can’t decide on what they want? Pizza. Do you have a picky eater? Tired, hungry, and need something that can be delivered quickly and still be good? Pizza. 

And many of today’s pizza joints have gluten-free, vegetarian, and allergy-friendly options. Pizza is one of the world’s true superfoods. 

And that’s why – when you vacation in the Smokies – you have 50 quadrillion options, including the traditional chain places. You’ve got Neapolitan style, New York style, Brazilian style, New Haven style, St. Louis style, Detroit style, and even Chicago style.

Which to choose? That’s a more difficult question. Some of the factors will include proximity, whether you’re dining in or getting delivery, and what you plan on doing the next day. For instance? I don’t recommend going heavy on the Chicago style if you’re planning to do a lot of hiking the next day. 

Ranking our favorite pizza places in the mountains 

Ranking pizza – like ranking anything really – is a subjective exercise. Everyone has different demands for their pizza. This is the list of our favorites, but we respect it greatly if you prefer a pizza not on the list. In fact, let us know. Also, we should note that pizza may be the greatest moving target in the mountains, pizza places are always opening and closing all over the mountains. 

1. Mellow Mushroom

I’ve been dinged before for mentioning chain restaurants above locally owned – I still like Krispy Kreme donuts, Donna, and I won’t be shamed for it. And, in previous versions of this ranking I’ve lowered the Mellow Mushroom because of it. But the truth is, Mellow Mushroom makes my favorite pizza in the mountains. It offers the right combination of “exotic” options as well as more “regular” style pizza. The vegetarian and vegan options – we have a child with dairy and beef allergies – are the closest I’ve ever had to eating that type of pizza that tastes like the “real” thing. Mellow Mushroom makes a delicious pizza and I’m no longer afraid to say it. 

Mellow Mushroom has two locations in Pigeon Forge, find them here. There is another location in Gatlinburg at 903 Parkway Ste 103. Follow the website here. Reviews are as follows: 4.3 Google/ 3.8 Yelp!

2. DŌ Scratch Made Pizza & Pasta

You ever find out you’re just a little bit basic? DŌ probably has the right to claim itself the best pizza joint in the Smokies. Located in Downtown Sevierville amongst the Sevierville foodie scene, DŌ is scratch-made Neapolitan Pizza and handmade pasta. The pizza is good, with spicy and interesting flavors – and you can order a more traditional pie. They are wood-fired and quite delicious.

The issue? When I want pizza, I want more cheese than the traditional Neapolitan-style pizzeria offers. Fancy pizzas are great. I will happily go back here again and again for a fancy, wood-fired pie. But If we’re ranking, and we are, I’d like more cheese. Turns out I’m not very fancy. Also, while we’re here, DŌ may have the best pasta in the mountains, but that’s a ranking for another day. 

DŌs is located at 160 Court Ave. in Sevierville. The website can be viewed here. Reviews are as follows: 4.2 Yelp! 4.6 Google.

3. Pizza Rio 

Pizza the Brazilian way! What does that mean? Thin, crisp crust, lots of creative toppings, and several dessert pizza options. This highly-rated pizzeria offers a variety of pizzas that stand out in the mountains. I don’t think anyone else has a broccoli, bacon, and catupiry cheese option. This is a place to go when you want something new from your pizza – though they do have more traditional varieties as well. Everything is done with fresh ingredients, including many Brazilian flavors. 

The restaurant has both a Gatlinburg and a Pigeon Forge location. Find them on the map here. You can also look over their website here. Reviews are as follows: Yelp! 4.5 Google 4.6.

4. Best Italian Gatlinburg 

In a previous version of this list, we had Best Italian at the top spot. Does that mean there’s been a drop off? No. It just means that in the subjective world of our preference, Best Italian has slid a bit through no fault of its own. Essentially, if we were to be given a choice of any pizza in the mountains right now, this is roughly the order in which we’d choose. This is good New York-style pizza and massive calzones. We remain suckers for good calzones. 

At the time of this writing, Best Italian at Elks Plaza was at least temporarily closed. But you can otherwise find them at 710 Parkway in Gatlinburg. The website is located here. Reviews are as follows: 4.4 Google 3.8 Yelp!

5. J. Dels

While we’re on the subject of pedantry, one of the Google reviews for J Dels – a five-star review – says, “The best place to eat very nice people…” Now, years of folks who tried to teach me to write with proper punctuation and the like – Hello, Ms. Bradshaw – would attest that I am not a fiend for grammar. However, even I know there’s something very wrong about that sentence. Luckily, J. Dels does New York-style pizza better than its reviewers use punctuation. We’re talking very good New York-style pies as well as sandwiches and more. 

J Dels is located at 2664 Teaster Ln. in Pigeon Forge. The website can be viewed here. Reviews are as follows: 4.5 Google 4.4 Yelp!

6. Big Daddy’s Pizzeria 

This is a change from our previous listing, but with locations in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, the local pizzeria is part of the Johnson Family of Restaurants, which includes Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que and Alamo Steakhouse. In fact, it’s probably our favorite member of the family. The wood-fired, brick oven, the homemade dough, the fresh ingredients, this is a quality pie the whole family can get behind.

Do I take issue with the website? I do. First of all, how can your pizza be cooked in a one-of-a-kind brick oven when you have three locations?  Secondly, you’re so committed to freshness that you don’t have a freezer on the premises, but you still serve ice? The pizza is good enough here that it doesn’t need the illogical hyperbole. 

Big Daddy’s locations can be found on the map here. Follow the website here. Reviews are as follows: Yelp! Rating 3.9 Google Rating 4.4

7. Smoky Mountain Brewery

Beer and pizza go hand in hand. Therefore, I recommend that you go to the Smoky Mountain Brewery, either in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, and order the Baker’s Choice and a few microbrews. Alternatively, order the T-Rex and spend the rest of the evening pretending you can’t reach the pizza in the middle of the table because of your implausibly short arms.

The Smoky Mountain Brewery locations can be found on the map here. See their website here. Reviews are as follows: Yelp! 3.5 Google 4.3

Do you agree with our list of the best pizzas? Do you have a pizza restaurant to add? Let us know in the comments and on the socials.