15 Best Pizza Places in Knoxville, TN (2023 Updated)

Without an ounce of doubt, Knoxville takes pride in bustling restaurant scenes in the South. And this makes it overwhelming to choose the comfiest pizza spot.

To make matters worse, there are more than ten pizzerias located a few miles from the University of Tennessee alone.

With that being said, you’ll need some guidance from experts to avoid barking up the wrong tree in your quest to find the best pizza spot in Knoxville, TN.

Remember, only a handful of pizza joints can be considered a cut above the rest. Well, enough with the blabber.

Let’s now take a sneak peek at the 15 best pizza places in Knoxville, Tennessee:

 

Brenz Pizza Co. Knoxville

• Address: 1705 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916, United States
• Phone: +1 865-525-2882      

There is one crucial thing I learned about Brenz Pizza Co. Knoxville. It’s all about fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and recipes spanning over a hundred years ago.

These guys are professionals at what they do. Even though they use hundred-year-old ingredients, their pies still highlight a modern taste.

Can you guess one more thing that makes Brenz Pizza stand out? Oh yeah, they hand-craft their bread dough on their premises.

Sauces and dressings are carefully made here as well. And they support the community by buying ingredients locally.

Try one of their award-winning specialty pizzas, and you’ll get an accurate picture. They are so flavorful!

Actually, they have generous portions of premium preservative-free provolone and mozzarella cheese. It’s this combo that elevates the taste.

 

Dazzo’s Pizzeria

• Address: 710 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902, United States
• Phone: +1 865-525-2105

Located at 710 Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, this quaint restaurant serves much more than authentic NY-style pizza.

At Dazzo’s Pizzeria, you’ll also find Neapolitan pies, Sicilian, and Grandma’s pizza. And there’s no commitment – you can have the pie by the slice if you wish to.

I wasn’t impressed to learn that Dazzo’s Pizzeria is currently not welcoming customers into their dining room.

It continues to be a takeout and delivery-only restaurant. Because the dining area is small, the decision is in the best interest of its customers and employees.

I totally understood their decision, of course, due to the ravaging pandemic. Gladly, I placed a pickup order online, which was a simple and straightforward process.

My order was supposed to be ready by 7 PM, but they were running late. I arrived shortly after 7 but waited about 10 more minutes for my order to be completed.

The staff was really apologetic. And they were courteous and very friendly. They appeared to be quite busy with carryout orders.

 

Hard Knox Pizzeria

• Address: 4437 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, United States
• Phone: +1 865-602-2114

Want to savor in the hand-crafted wood-fired pizza? Then head over to Hard Knox Pizzeria in Knoxville, Tennessee.

You can call in, order online, or order to go in person. At the moment, their dining room is open 50% capacity, so book soon if you’d like in-person dining.

This local, Knoxville-based, woman-owned, artisan pizza restaurant specializes in the authentic old-world art of making wood-fired pizza.

Everything here is ever fresh, developed in-house every day. At Hard Knox, pies are cooked at over 750 degrees in a wood-fired oven.

A 12-inch pie usually serves one hungry person or two not-so-hungry people. Besides hand-crafted, wood-fired pizza, there are calzones, salads, and desserts.

Above all, Hard Knox Pizzeria offers quick service and reasonable prices. As if not enough, lunch specials with discounted prices are on their menu!

 

Sergeant Pepperoni’s Pizzeria – Bearden

• Address: 4618 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, United States
• Phone: +1 865-247-0380 

Sergeant Pepperoni’s is a local pizza restaurant owned and run by three best friends. Located in the heart of Bearden, this place serves fresh, homemade pizzas, calzones, salads, sammies, and desserts.

They also offer dine-in with a robust selection of beer, including draft specials. Need delivery or takeout? Don’t worry. Order online or give them a call!

Sergeant Pepperoni’s crust is light, with lovely big bubbles and great taste. It’s never too salty, so it’s the perfect crust for pizza and calzone.

I was impressed with their mozzarella; it’s divine, and the sauce is rich yet not acidic. It’s awesome. You can’t ask for more!

Even better, Sergeant Pepperoni’s has now introduced gluten-free pizza for those diagnosed with celiac disease.

Although a bit outside of the city of Knoxville, this is worth a try. And especially so if you’re a health-conscious eater.

 

Pizza Palace

• Address: 3132 E Magnolia Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914, United States
• Phone: +1 865-524-4388

This is one prominent parlor dating back to 1961. It has remained a Knoxville staple for more than 50 years – and it’s still going strong!

Made-from-scratch pizzas and hand-breaded onions are just a few menu items that have made Pizza Palace a landmark in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Not only that, their famous Greek salad is to die for. This is topped with feta cheese, ripe olives, egg wedges, anchovies, and pepperoni; served with Pizza Palace’s house dressing.

Note that this place is mainly a drive-in, and they have a table-like bar inside to eat on. The drawback? It can get hot in summer, and you might want to eat in your car.

I suggest going down the street to Chilowee Park and eat at the picnic tables. Anyways, you have to stop in and eat at Pizza Palace. Their pizzas are mouthwatering.

In fact, Pizza Palace has been featured on the Food Network’s hit show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

Go to the show’s YouTube channel and see the place and the food. Simply put, it’s incredible!

 

 

Elidios’s Pizza

• Address: 6714 Central Avenue Pike STE J, Knoxville, TN 37912, United States
• Phone: +1 865-687-1002

Elidios’s Pizza is a casual Italian eatery serving pizzas and slices, plus calzones, sandwiches, and pasta.

Their pieces are big and prices reasonable, way better than a chain pizza place. If you’d love to eat with your family, this is the place to be.

When I gave this place a try, I wasn’t ready for surprises, considering it’s a relatively small shop. I was wrong!

The pizza itself was delicious, and the sauce had a hint of sweetness. It was easy to fold the slices, too!

And the best part is, their pizza was not greasy at all. The crust appeared to be undercooked, but it was actually cooked to perfection.

Remember, Elidios’s Pizza is not open late into the night. So be sure to get in there early and check them out.

 

Gavino’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant (Bearden) 

• Address: 5211 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, United States
• Phone: +1 865-200-5571

Great food. Great service. Great smile. That’s precisely what summarizes Gavino’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant in Bearden.

When I visited this pizza place, I ordered pizza by the slice for lunch. Although it was a bit pricey (at $3.20 a slice), it was yummy.

Honestly, that was one of the best thin crusts I’ve tasted in years. And for those opting for the whole pie, it measures 18 inches in diameter – more than enough for a family of three!

Here, the team uses the best of the best ingredients to make a hearty and authentic N.Y. pizza with Italian touch in Knoxville. You’ll feel that the moment you have a bite.

With an excellent reverence for family, the community, and authentic N.Y Italian feel, Gavino’s Restaurant & Pizzeria is likely to be a Knoxville staple for eons to come.

 

South Coast Pizza

• Address: 1103 Sevier Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920, United States
• Phone: +1 865-200-5818

It’s such a chill pizza place, and the South Coast Pizza in Knoxville is everything you’d expect from a California pizzeria.

Their pizza is phenomenal, especially their specialty options, all of which are made using fresh ingredients. They also have unique toppings. All you need is to explore their menu.

I love how the South Coast Pizza also offers a fantastic selection of beer, hard seltzer, and cider. The spot is so relaxing, particularly their picnic tables, which makes the experience unforgettable.

To make things even better, South Coast Pizzeria is owned and run by native local, who always comes up to see if you’re okay. The staff members are equally friendly.

 

Rosati’s Pizza

• Address: 234 Brookview Centre Way Suite 109, Knoxville, TN 37919, United States
• Phone: +1 865-602-2211

Rosati’s Pizza in Knoxville is an Italian chain eatery whose pizza is Chicago-inspired. It’s a deep-dish pizza that’s handmade and dough well cooked.

Everything about Rosati’s Pizzeria is authentic, and they allow more than four toppings to choose from. The place has a great location, which is next to a casual pint.

The slices are large too. And I highly recommend giving the spot a try.

I like that they also offer frozen pizza, which is a great addition for those who prefer cooking their own pizzas at home.

The only downside with Rosati’s Pizza is their pricey factor, but you’re getting services and pizza worth your money. So, no worries there.

I was impressed by how the person behind the counter was amicable and attentive.

 

Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria

• Address: 200 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915, United States
• Phone: +1 865-521-0092

Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria is a perfect spot for those who love cool music playing in the background while chomping down a flavored pizza.

The pizza place has a comfortable atmosphere, and the service is excellent — and very memorable.

I love their pizza, which is not only unique and with great taste, but it’s also fairly priced. I’d recommend trying out their Caribbean Pizza. Their Chicken Alfredo is also worth trying.

Other than background music, the Barley’s Pizzeria in Knoxville is known for occasional live bands, which play as you eat. It’s also a great place to catch up with the latest sports.

Don’t be alarmed if their services are a bit slow on weekends, especially because of the long queues. That’s an indication of its popularity amongst the locals.

 

Pizzeria Nora

• Address: 2400 N Central St, Knoxville, TN 37917, United States
• Phone: +1 423-737-0760

I absolutely love Pizzeria Nora, which is no doubt one of the best pizza spots in Knoxville.

I mean, their pizza is of high quality, and the ingredients are ever fresh. The crust is crispy, and the Caesar dressing is truly divine.

You should definitely try their Panacotta pizza; it will make you giddy!

The Pizzeria Nora has a great neighborhood feel and a fantastic vibe. And I was impressed by their hospitality.

The owner is super friendly, and the staff very attentive and professional.

To make things even better, Pizzeria Nora also lets you order beer as you devour your pizza.

 

Blaze Pizza

• Address: 228 N Peters Rd, Knoxville, TN 37923, United States
• Phone: +1 865-225-1839

Only gluten intolerant folks know the difficulty of traveling, trying to find the best spot offering gluten-free pizza. It’s always a hassle.

But, luckily, the Blaze Pizza in Knoxville has been designed with vegans and people with celiac disease in mind.

This pizza place has three crust options for gluten-free. And the pizza is loaded with toppings, which, as expected, are made using fresh ingredients. I recommend the green stripe and their veg out, which are very calorie smart.

I suppose you’ll also like their drink options. This includes their soda fountain, as some of the drinks are organic while others canned.

Best of all, after all this hard work in coming up with amazing, tasty pizza, Blaze Pizza in Knoxville is reasonably affordable. You’ll be blown away by their prices.

Whenever you’re in Knoxville, you should look them up.

 

Pizza Inn Buffet

• Address: 5420 Clinton Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37912, United States
• Phone: +1 865-357-7499

I love the pizza options on their menu. You’ll love their hospitability, which makes the Pizza Inn Buffet a perfect eatery for a family eat-out.

The waitresses are very friendly and patient with stubborn kids. The staff is willing to go the whole nine yards to make sure you’ve had a great experience.

The atmosphere is relaxing, laid back, and classy at the same time. I liked their clean bathrooms, which have cute little quotes on their walls and doors.

The Pizza Inn Buffet also features a small arcade where kids can have some fun while you wait for the pizza to be ready.

Better yet, Pizza Inn Buffet offers rewards for free dinner if you order using their app, which is very impressive.

 

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza

• Address: 2052 Town Center Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37922, United States
• Phone: +1 865-692-2426

If you love building your own pizza, you better try Uncle Maddio’s Pizzeria in Knoxville.

You have all the freedom to pick and customize a pizza of your choosing, and they’ll have it cooked within no time.

Their prices are fair, and Uncle Maddio’s Pizza is an excellent spot for a family dinner eatery.

The only downside is that they take long cooking the pizza, which I guess is because they want the dough and the crust to cook perfectly. So, I advise ordering ahead of time.

Uncle Maddio’s Pizzeria also takes vegans and vegetarians seriously. They understand the importance of preventing cross-contamination in their kitchens. Hence the need to have a separate and clean kitchen for baking gluten-free pizzas.

I recommend trying their Margarita pizza, which has tomato, basil, and mozzarella.

 

Wrapping Up

Now, with the aforementioned best pizza places in Knoxville, you’ll never go wrong with any of them. They offer the tastiest pizzas in Knoxville.

So, which of these pizza places have you tried? How was your experience? Please take a few minutes off your time and share with us in the comments section.