National Pizza Day

National Pizza Day History

National Pizza Day is dedicated to honoring one of America’s favorite meals, pizza. Uniting food lovers across the nation, this Observance seeks to highlight the cultural significance of pizza, a dish with roots in Italy that has become a staple of American life. Famous for its adaptable and easily personalized nature, pizza can be enjoyed in a variety of styles, toppings, and crusts, thus making it a universal delight that caters to diverse tastes and diets.

The American love affair with pizza started with Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Immigrants from Naples brought over the classic Neapolitan style pizza, which quickly gained popularity among the masses. Today, unique regional variants such as New York style thin crust pizzas and Chicago's deep-dish pizzas stand as testaments to the degree of pizza's integration into American culture. Consequently, National Pizza Day serves as a validation of the pizza's central role in American dining and its influence on social gatherings, family dinners, and festive occasions.

In the United States, National Pizza Day is typically observed by indulging in the beloved dish in its many forms. This can involve dining at local pizzerias, hosting homemade pizza parties, or simply enjoying a carry-out from a favorite pizza chain. Social media platforms brim with photos and posts celebrating the day, reflecting the ever-popular #NationalPizzaDay trend. This nationwide spread of pizza love occurs every year on February 9th, ensuring that the depth of America's fondness for pizza is celebrated accordingly.

Facts about National Pizza Day

• The world's largest pizza, named Ottavia, was made on December 13, 2012 in Rome, Italy. With a surface are of 1,261.65 m², the pizza was made by Dovilio Nardi, Andrea Mannocchi, Marco Nardi, Matteo Nardi and Matteo Giannotte. To spread a message of good health, the pizza was made entirely gluten-free.
• If I could eat whatever I wanted every day, I would have Domino's pizza with pasta carbonara inside every slice. And at night, I would have Neapolitan ice cream until I felt absolutely toxic. And then I would drift off telling myself, 'It's going to be O.K... It's going to be O.K. you're going to train in the morning' - Robert Downey, Jr., Actor
• Pizza is one of the most popular types of fast food worldwide. On average, Americans consume 350 slices of pizza per second.
• According to 50TopPizza, the best pizzerias in the US for 2022 were:
  1) Una Pizza Napoletana – New York, USA
  2) Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, USA
  3) Ribalta NYC – New York, USA
  4) Razza Pizza Artigianale – Jersey City, USA
  5) 0’ Munaciello – Miami, USA
• According to Grubhub, In 2022, the most popular Pizza toppings in the U.S. were:
  1) Pepperoni
  2) Mushroom
  3) Sausage
• The most popular pizza franchises of 2022 were:
  1) Domino’s - 19,500 locations
  2) Pizza Hut - 18,000 locations
  3) Little Caesars - 5,463 locations
  4) Papa John’s - 5,500 locations
  5) Papa Murphy’s -1,200 locations

In the News and Trending in the US for National Pizza Day

Top things to do in the US for National Pizza Day

• Visit your favorite pizzeria. Most pizzerias will offer discounts and specials to celebrate National Pizza Day.
• Try a pizza with unique toppings. Here are some of our favorites:
  1) Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza
  2) Beer Battered Fried Calamari Pizza
  3) Butternut Squash and Sage Pizza
  4) Fried Chicken Pizza
  5) Brown Butter Lobster and Spinach Pizza with Bacon and Fontina
• Attend a pizza festival! Here are some of our favorites to consider:
  1) Cleveland Pizza Fest
  2) Phoenix Pizza Festival
  3) Pizza Festival - Los Angeles
  4) Chicago Pizza Fest
  5) Pizza Fest Seattle: Annual Punk Festival+Pizza-Eating Contest
• Make your own pizza at home from scratch. Make the dough, perhaps gluten-free or whole wheat, make the sauce using tomatoes and spices, grate the cheese and finally cover it up with all of your favorite toppings.
• Make it a pizza and a movie kind of night. Watch the Academy Award nominees for ‘Best Picture’ (2020):
  1917
  Ford v Ferrari
  Joker
  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
  Parasite
  The Irishman
  Little Women
  Jojo Rabbit