All the Tomato Pie You Should Be Eating in Philadelphia Right Now

Philly is obsessed with pizza. We’re the kind of city where folks line up for hours in the cold to get a sought-after pie, even while we have a massive slate of excellent old-school and newcomer pizzerias to choose from. But what just might be the true Philly-style pizza isn’t really a pizza at all.

Tomato pie, our city’s cheeseless wonder, can be traced back to thick, tomato-topped dough slices made in Sicily that traveled here with waves of Italian immigrants — some of whose bakeries still stand as icons of the craft — a century ago. And although New Jersey has its own thin-crusted, cheese-on-the-bottom version, we like Philly-style tomato pie best, with lots of red gravy, thick and tender crust, and just a sprinkling of parmesan on top. Here are a few of our favorite spots for excellent tomato pie.

Liberty Kitchen, Fishtown, University City, and Chestnut Hill

Liberty Kitchen’s tomato pie comes with the option of adding anchovies. We’re not saying you should do this, but it is an option. Their tomato pie is so popular that they’re now selling it wholesale to markets, breweries, and bars. 1400 North Front Street, 3675 Market Street, and 8221 Germantown Avenue.

Pizza Plus, East Passyunk and University City

Pizza Plus is Dan “PizzaGutt” Gutter’s popular shop, with takeout locations in South Philly and West Philly. Just like at his first place, Circles and Squares, you can get a tomato pie on thick-crust, though at Pizza Plus it’s a round pie. 1846 South 12th Street and 4814 Spruce Street.

Pizzeria Beddia, Fishtown

Pizzeria Beddia has come a long way from the days of super-limited quantities in a tiny space. Now a full-fledged restaurant, this hot spot serves its tomato pie for $5 a slice. It’s the lowest cost item on the small plates list, which leaves you extra dough for some judion beans and burrata with pistachios. 1313 North Lee Street.

Cacia’s Bakery, Multiple locations

There are times when you want an artisanal tomato pie, and then there are other times when the comfort of tangy sauce layered on a crust that tastes like dense, white bread is all you need. You know, the kind of classroom-party tomato pie with the nostalgic taste of millennial bliss. And Cacia’s makes that kind of pie. They’ve been turning out excellent tomato pies (among other delights) from their brick ovens for four generations, so you know they’re doing it well.

Corropolese, Norristown, Audubon, and Royersford

You’ll find boxes of this Best of Philly-winning tomato pie stacked at the bakery’s three locations around the burbs northwest of Philly (and at lots of chain grocers in Delco and Montco). They offer a ton of different topping options, from white cheddar to eggplant, but it’s the plain red gravy original that’s truly iconic. 2014 Old Arch Road # 2, 2809 Egypt Road, 29 Kugler Road.

Pizza Shackamaxon, Fishtown

This Girard Avenue slice shop is one of the few new-school pizza spots in Philly offering tomato pie — and their fat, square slices with crunchy crust and zingy tomato sauce are some of the best in the city. Don’t forget to shoot them an email two days in advance (Monday through Thursday only) if you want to bring home a whole pie. 115 East Girard Avenue #3907.

Pizza Richmond, Port Richmond

From the same team that brings us Pizza Shackamaxon is Pizza Richmond, another modern take on the classic pizza parlor concept except this one is in Port Richmond on, you guessed it, Richmond Street. You can grab a slice of tomato pie to go, but it’s more fun to stick around, meet the neighbors, drink a beer (it’s a BYOB), and play some peg solitaire. 3136 Richmond Street.

Circles & Squares, East Kensington

Chewy, focaccia-style, square pies are the cult favorite at Pizza Gutt’s first brick-and-mortar location. You can get the pies with several different topping combinations each night, but they pay homage to Philly’s pizza scene by offering a classic tomato pie sprinkled with just a little oregano and olive oil. Choose between thick pan pizza and thinner hand tossed versions. 2513 Tulip Street.

Carlino’s Market, Ardmore and West Chester

Rather than the typical smooth red sauce, Carlino’s house-made pies are topped with a chunky tomato sauce amped up with fresh basil. 2616 East County Line Road, 128 West Market Street.

Sarcone’s Bakery, Bella Vista

Taste the history of Philly-style tomato pie at this century-old 9th Street institution, where each one is baked in a massive brick hearth oven until crispy on the edges and juicy in the middle. 758 South 9th Street.

La Rosa Pizza, South Philly

If you’re craving something cheese-less, this square pie destination on South Broad Street has you covered with their “gravy pie,” topped with nothing but their signature red sauce and a few glugs of olive oil. 2106 South Broad Street.

Joe Santucci’s Square Pizza Bar & Grille, Northeast Philly

Yes, everyone pledges allegiance to their favorite Santucci’s sub-chain (there are three branches of the family operating three different businesses under the name). Yes, all three of them offer tomato pie. But this one is our favorite. 4050 Woodhaven Road.

New York Bakery, South Philly

Grab slices of this bright-sauced tomato pie to go (New York Bakery is takeout only) at this long-running spot on 11th just north of Wolf Street. 2215 South 11th Street.

Marchiano’s Bakery, Manayunk

For old school, nonna-approved tomato pie, look no further than Marchiano’s, which has been making a southern Italian recipe passed down from the owners’ grandmother since 1984. 4653 Umbria Street.

Downtime Bakery, Mt. Airy

This Germantown Avenue splendor won a Best of Philly in 2025 for Best Bakery because of its delicious repertoire of bagels, breads, and sweet and savory pastries. But the tomato pie is a sleeper hit. Sourdough focaccia bread made from local grains is slathered in a chunky tomato sauce then baked until the crust reaches leopard-spotted perfection and then is coated again in that rich tomato sauce. But the best part is the big granules of flaky salt that grace the top of the pie. Everything is baked on a staggered schedule. Tomato pies are generally available around 11 a.m., but be sure to check ahead of time. 6624 Germantown Avenue.

Gaeta’s Tomato Pies, Rhawnhurst

Though it originated at a bakery called Scalea’s in Germantown more than 75 years ago before moving east under a new name and new ownership, this sweet-sauced take on tomato pie is a Northeast Philly icon. 7616 Castor Avenue.

Trio’s Tomato Pie, Glenside and Elkins Park

Tomato pie is in the name of this pizza shop with two locations in Cheltenham township. Trio’s version employs chunky tomato sauce and light mozzarella on a thin square crust. 402 North Easton Road, 939 Township Line Road.

Iannelli’s Bakery, East Passyunk

Though this long-running Italian bakery has incredibly irregular hours – they’re open on holidays and big game days, and basically whenever the Iannellis feel like it – but when you finally make it, the brick-oven baked tomato pies are worth the rigmarole. 1155 East Passyunk Avenue.

Tony Roni’s, multiple locations

Hit up one of the seven locations of this local pizza chain in Roxborough or on the outskirts of Philly for a crisp, thinner-crusted take on the classic tomato pie.

---