Texas is Not a Great Place for Pizza Lovers

I love pizza. It might be my favorite food. But now, I'm starting to think maybe I don't know what good pizza is because I live in Texas, and apparently Texas sucks at pizza!

This one might be a tough thing to hear, because of course, we Texans think we can dominate in any food category!

A new study ranked all 50 states on their pizza game, and Texas landed way down at No. 44. According to the data, we’re near the bottom when it comes to how many pizzerias we have, how often people call our pies “great,” and what we’re paying per slice. Basically, we didn’t rise to the occasion- pun totally intended.

READ MORE: The Great Pizza Debate Continues in El Paso

Texas Ranked No. 44 for Pizza and We’re Not Taking It Well

The study came from Maine Lobster Now (yes, a lobster company judging pizza, the irony isn’t lost on me). They looked at three things:

• how many pizzerias each state has per 100,000 residents,
• how many online reviews mention “great pizza,” and
• average pizza price.

Somehow, that math placed us closer to the “microwave Totino’s” end of the chart than the “New York-style masterpiece” end.

New Hampshire topped the list. Idaho came in second. And I'm trying really hard not to take that personally!

But Here’s the Thing- Texas Doesn’t Need Pizza to Prove Itself

Sure, we love a good pepperoni, but this is brisket, taco, and kolache country.

We’ve got pitmasters who can turn smoke into art. Breakfast burritos bigger than your forearm. Tamales that deserve their own holidays. And queso so good it could heal heartbreak.

READ MORE: Reader's Digest Says this is the Best Pizza in all of Texas

If anything, our pizza problem might just be that we’re too distracted by the rest of our food greatness. When you’re constantly surrounded by tacos, barbecue, and Whataburger, pizza has a hard time standing out. But trust me when I say, the best pizza here definitely stands out (looking at you, Peter Piper!).

So, sure, maybe Texas ranks 44th for pizza. But we’re first in tailgates, road-trip snacks, late-night tacos, and friendly arguments about the best brisket spot. We’ll take our 44th place graciously.