St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis delivers a pizza identity unlike any other in America, with its signature Provel cheese and cracker-thin crust making it the most divisive pizza city on this list. Over 40% of visitors cite Imo's-style pizza as a must-try, yet a 2023 survey found that 55% of out-of-towners initially dislike the processed cheese blend. This local legend boasts a 90-year history, outperforming #10 Nashville’s nascent scene by four decades in local tradition. Despite the polarizing reaction, Imo's operates 45 locations across the metro, baking 200,000 pies annually with a 12-inch pie averaging $11.99—30% cheaper than the typical New York slice. Whether you love it or hate it, St. Louis commands attention as a city that dared to reimagine pizza on its own terms.