.webp?width=1200&height=800&name=Best-Pizza-in-Kansas-City-Minsky_s-Pizza-%20(1).webp)
Kansas City is full of opinions—especially when it comes to pizza. Thick crust or thin? Classic red sauce or a barbecue swirl? Everyone has a favorite, and at Axcet HR Solutions, so do we.
As a Kansas City-based business since 1988, we’re proud to support the restaurants and other local businesses that help make our city great. That’s why we launched a very important in-office initiative: finding the best pizza in Kansas City.
We tasted our way through 17 Kansas City-area pizza restaurants, debated crust styles and toppings, and cast our votes. Minsky’s Pizza earned the top spot, Waldo Pizza finished as runner-up, and three other local favorites received honorable mentions.
RELATED: View the Best Kansas City Barbecue Restaurants >>
Our office pizza showdown included longtime Kansas City institutions, neighborhood favorites, and restaurants representing several different pizza styles.
The final results were:
Founded in Kansas City in 1976, Minsky's is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Five decades later, the company remains rooted in Kansas City and committed to the gourmet approach that has defined the brand from the beginning.
Minsky’s pizzas start with hand-rolled dough made fresh throughout the day, followed by house-made tomato sauce, premium toppings, and Wisconsin mozzarella shredded in-house. That commitment to generous toppings and quality ingredients earned Minsky’s the top spot in our team’s poll.
Go full KC and order your pizza “Kansas City style” by substituting barbecue sauce at no additional charge. Or stick with one of Minsky’s longtime favorites, such as the Prime Cut, Combo, or Cheeseburger Pizza.
Gluten-free and cauliflower crust options are also available.
Founder Gregg Johnson opened the first Minsky’s location at 5105 Main St. in 1976. Today, Minsky’s has 17 locations across the Kansas City metro and Lawrence, Kansas, while continuing to describe itself as the home of Kansas City-style pizza.
Minsky’s also supports local schools and nonprofit organizations through fundraising nights, restaurant collaborations, and other community initiatives.
Minsky’s doesn’t just serve one of the Axcet team’s favorite Kansas City pizzas—it continues to show up for the city it has called home for 50 years.
RELATED: Outdoor Attractions That Will Make You Fall in Love with Kansas City >>
Waldo Pizza has been a neighborhood favorite since 1988. Located in the heart of the Waldo district, it offers handmade dough, fresh toppings, and an extensive selection of crusts, sauces, cheeses, and specialty combinations.
Its customizable menu and neighborhood atmosphere helped Waldo Pizza earn second place in our office poll.
Waldo’s menu includes classic favorites and creative specialty pizzas. Diners can choose from original, honey wheat, or gluten-free crusts, along with numerous cheese and topping combinations.
The restaurant also offers vegan and allergy-friendly choices, a salad bar, dessert pizzas, and options for private parties and group gatherings.
Waldo Pizza opened at 7433 Broadway St. in 1988. Phil Bourne purchased the restaurant in 1993, and longtime employee Steve Kingery—who began working there as a dishwasher—later became its owner.
In December 2024, Kansas City-based W. VinZant Restaurants acquired Waldo Pizza. Kingery remained involved during the ownership transition, helping the longtime neighborhood favorite begin its next chapter.
For diners craving Kansas City pizza with plenty of choices and a strong neighborhood identity, Waldo Pizza continues to deliver.
Minsky’s and Waldo Pizza earned the top two spots in our office poll, but three other Kansas City-area restaurants also stood out during our tasting.
Founded in Overland Park in 2005, SPIN! Pizza serves hand-spun pizzas inspired by the Neapolitan tradition. Its menu also includes fresh salads, sandwiches, panini, and gelato.
With several locations throughout the Kansas City area and options for different dietary preferences, SPIN! offers a lighter, artisan-inspired alternative to a traditional neighborhood pizza.
Pizza Shoppe began in Platte Woods, Missouri, in 1967 and has grown into one of Kansas City’s longest-running family businesses.
Its signature pizzas feature a distinctive thin, cracker-style crust topped with house-made sauce, meats, fresh-cut vegetables, and cheese. That crisp crust and familiar neighborhood atmosphere have helped Pizza Shoppe remain a Kansas City favorite for generations.
Il Lazzarone brings traditional Neapolitan pizza to Kansas City’s River Market. The family-owned pizzeria opened its Kansas City location in 2015 after launching its first restaurant in St. Joseph, Missouri, the previous year.
Its pizzas are prepared using traditional methods and baked quickly in high-temperature, wood-fired ovens imported from Naples. The result is a soft, lightly charred crust that offers a distinctly different experience from the other restaurants in our tasting.
RELATED: Best Coffee Shops in Kansas City | Local Picks from the Axcet Team
Kansas City may be nationally known for barbecue, but Italian immigrants also played an important role in shaping the city’s restaurant culture.
Many Italian immigrants settled in the North End neighborhood now known as Columbus Park. The area developed into a close-knit community with Italian markets, Catholic churches, family businesses, and restaurants that helped shape Kansas City’s culinary identity.
Restaurants such as Garozzo’s Ristorante, Cascone’s, Jasper’s, and Lidia’s continue that heritage. Its influence also can be seen throughout the city’s pizza scene, from traditional Neapolitan pies to loaded gourmet pizzas and thin-crust neighborhood favorites.
Since our founding in 1988, Axcet HR Solutions has been more than a provider of the full suite of professional employer organization (PEO) services; we've been a steadfast participant in the Kansas City community, committed to uplifting and supporting the people and pets that make our city vibrant. Our dedication goes beyond business—it's a heartfelt pledge to contribute positively and meaningfully to the community we call home.
Our community initiatives are diverse, reflecting our comprehensive approach to local involvement. From the Dog Days of Summer event, which supports area pets through donations, and Pill Bottles for Puppies, to local rescues like KC Pet Project and The Rescue Project, to providing essential supplies to veterans and the elderly with pets, our team is deeply engaged in making a difference. But our commitment doesn’t end there.
We've mobilized our workforce to contribute to various causes, addressing a wide range of community needs. Food drives for Harvesters, winter coat collections for the homeless and gift-wrapping sessions at KidsTLC for families facing mental and behavioral health challenges are just a few ways we’ve lent a hand.
Our employees have also packed diapers for HappyBottoms, organized food donations at Veterans Community Project, and supported Newhouse KC’s gala to aid individuals fleeing domestic violence.
Furthermore, Axcet extends its support to the business community by providing free training on the latest HR issues and laws, and sponsoring local Chamber of Commerce and National Women in Construction events. These initiatives are a testament to our belief in the power of community engagement and the positive impact it can have on our city.
At Axcet HR Solutions, we’re not just another local business. We’re an award-winning company with a big heart, committed to making a positive impact in Kansas City every day. Our employees are at the forefront of this mission, dedicated to organizing and participating in efforts that support our community in myriad ways.
As we continue to serve the Kansas City area, we remain passionate about discovering new opportunities to give back and support the city we love. Join us in our ongoing journey to enrich our community, demonstrating the true spirit of Kansas City through action and compassion.
Written by
Jo McClure, CPP, is the Director of Payroll Administration at Axcet HR Solutions, where she has been a pivotal leader for over 20 years. With more than two decades of experience in payroll outsourcing and professional employer organizations (PEOs), Jo specializes in helping small to mid-sized businesses navigate payroll administration, employee benefits, and compliance.
Her strategic leadership at Axcet focuses on implementing best practices in payroll management, compliance auditing, and risk mitigation. Jo obtained her Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation in 2006 and has held numerous leadership roles in the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Payroll Association, including President, Vice President, and Chapter Coordinator. A frequent speaker at the Midwest Regional Payroll Conference, she has also contributed articles to publications such as Thinking Bigger Business and Kansas City Small Business Monthly.
Jo’s expertise has been recognized through industry publications. She co-authored the article “High-Touch in the Age of High-Tech: How PEOs Can Embrace AI Without Losing Their Humanity” https://peoinsider.org/articles/high-touch-in-the-age-of-high-tech-how-peos-can-embrace-ai-without-losing-their-humanity/ for PEO Insider (March 2026), alongside Jeanette Coleman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, and authored “PEOs in the Community: Axcet Making Philanthropy Part of the Company’s Culture” https://peoinsider.org/articles/peos-in-the-community-axcet-making-philanthropy-part-of-the-companys-culture/ (November 2025). These contributions reflect her perspective on balancing technology-driven payroll and HR processes with the human experience, as well as the role of community engagement in building strong organizational cultures.
Jo's specialties include payroll implementation, compliance auditing, and crafting best-practice payroll solutions that ensure businesses stay compliant while optimizing their processes.
Published in: PEO Insider
.png){kind=logo}
.webp)
.webp)
Let us know what you think...