The Best Pizza in Windsor, Ontario (2026): A Local's Guide to Windsor-Style Pizza

Windsor people have strong opinions about three things: the Leafs versus the Red Wings, whether the tunnel or the bridge is faster, and pizza. Mostly pizza.

That's because Windsor has its own style. Food writers have called it one of Canada's few truly regional pizzas, and if you grew up here, every other pizza tastes slightly wrong. Here's what makes it different, and the nine pizzerias you should try in 2026.

What is Windsor-style pizza?

• Shredded pepperoni. Not slices. The pepperoni is shredded so you get some in every bite and no greasy little cups.
• Canned mushrooms. Yes, on purpose. Fresh mushrooms burn in the hot deck ovens, and canned ones stay tender. Don't knock it until you've tried it.
• Galati cheese. A high-fat mozzarella, much of it from the Windsor-based Galati Cheese Company. It's why Windsor pizza stretches like a cartoon.
• A spiced, oregano-heavy sauce and a medium crust, baked on cornmeal in stone deck ovens.

The style grew out of the Italian and Greek families who came to Windsor to work in the auto plants. Who served it first is still argued about. Volcano Pizzeria, which opened in 1957 and closed in 1986, is usually credited, but Sam's and Mario's also have claims. Pick a side and defend it at Thanksgiving.

The classic Windsor pizzerias

1. Antonino's Original Pizza

Where: 4350 Howard Ave (South Windsor flagship), 5410 Wyandotte St E (Riverside) and LaSalle

Antonino's says it has been making Windsor-style pizza since 1957, and it was named Top Pizzeria in Windsor at the Top Choice Awards. When a food writer from Toronto ate their way through Windsor's pizza scene, Antonino's came out on top: "no contest". It's cheesy, generous and exactly what Windsor pizza should be.

What to order: the classic with shredded pepperoni, canned mushrooms and green peppers, or the Angry Hawaiian if you like heat with your pineapple.

2. Armando's

Where: 300 Cabana Rd E and several other Windsor locations

Armando's is the competition-tested choice. Its Windsor-style pizza placed third at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, and its chef Dean Litster was named Canadian Pizza Magazine's Chef of the Year in 2018. It has won local Best Pizza awards several years running.

What to order: a classic Windsor combo, or the wood-fired Rustico personal pizza at the Cabana Road location.

3. Capri Pizzeria

Where: 3020 Dougall Ave

Capri was already listed in Windsor's 1960 city directory, which makes it one of the city's oldest pizzerias still running. It's a no-nonsense, well-loved local institution.

What to order: a classic, or the California Fusion if you're feeling adventurous.

4. Arcata Pizzeria

Where: 3021 Dougall Ave

Arcata is directly across the street from Capri, which is the most Windsor thing imaginable. Two classic pizzerias, one road, decades of friendly rivalry. Arcata is one of the city's oldest takeout spots, and it's famous for a very Windsor mash-up: shawarma pizza, with chicken marinated for 48 hours on a garlic toum base, finished with pesto.

What to order: the chicken shawarma pizza, or the Greek pizza with gyro meat.

5. Sam's Pizzeria & Cantina

Where: 2215 Wyandotte St W

One of the contenders for "Windsor's first pizza", Sam's has been part of the west end since the 1940s. Beyond the classics, it does a sauceless Bianco with olive oil, herbs and parmesan that has a crispy, almost crostini-like crunch.

What to order: a classic Windsor pie and a Bianco to compare.

6. Vito's Pizzeria

Where: 1731 Wyandotte St E, near Walkerville

A family-run favourite with a long menu of pizzas and pastas. Save room, because the apple pizza pie for dessert is the move.

What to order: any classic, then the apple pizza pie.

The Italian-style pizzerias

7. Remo's at the Caboto Club

Where: Giovanni Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave

Pizza in the basement of an Italian social club sounds like a secret, and it kind of is. Remo's crust is chewy with a perfectly blistered edge, and it's one of the best Italian-style pies in the city.

What to order: the Lombarda with zucchini and salami, and the Nutella pizza for dessert.

8. Terra Cotta Pizzeria

Where: 318 Pelissier St, downtown

Terra Cotta bakes thin-crust pizza in a wood-burning oven, a few steps from the downtown theatres. Great for lunch or a pre-show dinner.

What to order: the Margherita, the salsiccia, or the house Pizza DeCasa.

9. Oven 360

Where: Grand Marais Rd, plus Walker Rd and LaSalle

Oven 360 does fast, Neapolitan-inspired pizza with a crust unlike the rest of the city's. A good pick when the group can't agree on toppings, because everyone can get their own.

What to order: the Miranda with spinach, ricotta and prosciutto.

How to order like a local

• Say "pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers". That's the Windsor combo. In Windsor, the pepperoni comes shredded unless you ask otherwise.
• Don't fight the canned mushrooms. This is a hill Windsor will die on.
• Order the size up. Leftover Windsor pizza is better than most fresh pizza elsewhere.
• Visiting from away? Many Windsor pizzerias will tell you about people driving pizzas back to Toronto, or even flying them across the country. That's normal here.

How we picked

We combined pizza history from the Windsor Public Library and local food writers with current listings, awards and reviews, and checked each pizzeria is open in October 2026. We included both classic Windsor-style shops and Italian-style pizzerias. No pizzeria paid to be included. Ready to argue? Tell us your favourite.