The Best Kosher Pizza

It would be hard to argue that there is a more age-old and pressing question than who makes the best pizza in the world, particularly in the booming “pizza culture” of the United States, and, in the context of kosher food, questions swirl about who makes the best kosher pizza. Tablet Magazine has gone far enough to ask whether kosher pizza is even good. Some have made it a holy mission to find the best pizza, whether kosher or not, such as El Pres (aka David Portnoy of Barstool Sports), and even created an app, ONE BITE, to track the rankings. We enjoy Portnoy’s rankings and reviews and place significant weight on them, as he is one of the most well-known pizza aficionados and has arguably tasted more pizza around the globe than anyone else. 

What The Critics Think

Dave’s reviews for kosher pizza joints to date have Pizza Time, located on the corner of East 14th & J in Brooklyn, NY, near the top, with a rating of 8.2/10. That is an impressive score since ratings above 8 are exceedingly rare. For context, DiFara Pizza, coincidentally only a block away and regularly rated by “pizza experts” as one of the top American pizzerias, has a rating of 9.4, the second-highest rating ever given by Portnoy. 

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Of note, though, as of this writing, Portnoy has rated three other kosher NYC pizza joints higher than Pizza Time. Bravo Kosher Pizza in Midtown (it has since moved a few blocks away to 378 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018) scored 8.3 out of 10, Saba’s Pizza on the Upper East Side scored a whopping 8.4 out of 10, and Benny’s on Avenue M got a 7.7 for their “regular” slice and a 7.8 for their Margherita. With that said, a whole host of food critics deem Pizza Time one of the best kosher slices on the market.

When it comes to rating the best kosher pizza, the core issue is that much of the hierarchy comes down to minutiae at the upper echelons of pizza. For example, Dave favors very crisp slices, usually made in a wood-fired brick oven. While a small number of the best kosher pizzerias are agreed to sit at the top, the true king of the kosher pizza castle is up for debate. 

An Honorable Mention For A Rising Star

As an ode to the ever-evolving landscape of kosher pizza, some newer entrants can breathe new life into the competition for the best kosher slice. One up-and-comer is Focaccia Pizza on Avenue M in Brooklyn. For a while, Focaccia was an unknown and, quite frankly, an unremarkable quantity, but there was a change in their pizza, and in a classic “slowly then suddenly effect,” the pizza spot has gone from generally empty to generally packed. We think the change has something to do with the bona fide Italian gentleman we spotted spinning pies at one time, though it is unclear if said Italian is still working his magic at Focaccia. What remains, though, is a world-class kosher slice in the heart of Brooklyn.

Focaccia Gets a 7.7

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A Note On Questionable Rankings

In addition to the OG, aka Dave Portnoy, there are certainly other opinions about the best kosher pizza. For example, The Forward overviewed kosher pizza in New York and rated the original kosher Bravo pizza location as their top pick. The runner-up was Benny’s on Avenue J (which has since closed), but they didn’t rate the original Benny’s on Avenue M. From our perspective, that ranking is questionable, as Benny’s on Avenue M holds the real claim to fame. A ranking that lists the Avenue J location while seemingly unaware that the original (and, in our opinion, way better) location is just a mere few blocks away, respectfully, throws the bona fides of the ranker and associated ranking into serious doubt.

Our Picks: Benny’s on M & Pizza Time

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Our vote for best kosher pizza is a tie between Pizza Time and Benny’s on the corner of East 18th Street and Avenue M. Benny’s is a different kind of slice with a thinner crust and a variety of cheese types. Two crucial distinctions matter for Benny’s. First, they have two kinds of standard-looking slices that confuse customers. What they call the “original slice” is, in our view, the superior one, while the “regular slice” is unremarkable. They also have a whole host of other unique and exceptional-tasting slices, such as the mushroom slice. Second, Benny’s has a location on Avenue J, actually right near Pizza Time, and in our view, it is not nearly as good as the one on Avenue M. In the summer of 2024, Dave Portnoy reviewed Benny’s on Avenue M and gave it a 7.7 for the standard slice (unclear if he reviewed the “original” or “regular” slice) and a 7.8 for the margarita slice. Of note, Benny’s was the 9th stop of the day on his pizza tour of Brooklyn, which probably isn’t ideal for maximizing the score. Interestingly, Focaccia Pizza, only a few blocks away on Avenue M, also got a 7.7 from Dave. All that said, the pizza king has spoken: Pizza Time, with an 8.2, beats Benny’s 7.7.

Ama La Vita: A Chelsea Find Worth Knowing

Chelsea is hardly overflowing with kosher dining options, which makes Ama La Vita a particularly welcome find. Located at 121 West 19th Street, by the Chabad Center for Jewish Discovery, this small kosher Italian café serves pizza that deserves attention on its own merits.

On our visit, we ordered a half New York–style, half Margherita pizza for $16.90. The blistered crust had nicely charred edges, with golden melted cheese on the New York half and pools of mozzarella over red tomato sauce on the Margherita. It was really good pizza at a very reasonable price for kosher food in Manhattan.

They also have great coffee, plus pasta, sandwiches, salads, and other Italian-inspired fare. Just bear in mind that the space is small and can get mobbed, so allow some flexibility if you plan to eat in.

For more on the pizza, menu, and what to expect, read our full review of Ama La Vita in Chelsea.

Now It’s Your Turn To Vote

But ours is not the last word on the best kosher pizza. We want to hear from you! 

Vote below on who you think makes the best kosher pizza. 

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