Chicago-style deep-dish pizza remains a defining culinary landmark for travelers tackling the historic Route 66 highway corridor, drawing thousands of visitors to the city’s legendary pizzerias annually. According to the Illinois Office of Tourism, the historic route begins on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago before stretching 2,448 miles across the United States to Santa Monica, California, making the Windy City the ultimate starting point for cross-country road trips.
Tracing the Route 66 Origin in Downtown Chicago
The official starting sign for Route 66 is located at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue, placing drivers right in the heart of downtown Chicago near Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. Travelers embarking on this cross-country journey typically fuel up with local deep-dish pizza before heading west through suburban landmarks like the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois. Established pie shops across the city, including historic institutions like Lou Malnati’s and Pizzeria Uno, serve as essential initial stops for tourists mapping out their multi-state itineraries.
What Makes Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza Unique
Unlike thin-crust varieties, Chicago deep-dish pizza features a high-sided, buttery crust baked in a round steel pan that resembles a cake or pie mold. According to culinary historians documented by the Chicago Tribune, the style was pioneered in 1943 at Pizzeria Uno by Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo. The traditional assembly order reverses a standard pizza: layers of sliced mozzarella cheese sit directly on the dough, followed by meat toppings like Italian sausage, and the dish is finished with a thick blanket of chunky crushed tomato sauce on top.
Planning Your Route 66 Food Itinerary
Road-trippers organizing a Route 66 itinerary should factor in local traffic patterns and seasonal hours for downtown Chicago eateries before hitting the open highway. The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway organization recommends allowing a full day to explore Chicago’s architectural landmarks and sample regional pizza styles before driving southwest toward Joliet and Dwight. Visitors can utilize the official state tourism portal to locate verified historic diners, motels, and roadside attractions operating along the original 1926 alignment.
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