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A TALE OF TWO SQUARES: DETROIT-STYLE HERITAGE AND THE SQUARE PIZZA TRADITION
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Hungry Howie’s Detroit-Style Pizza
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Hungry Howie’s Deep Dish Pizza
Detroit-style pizza is more than just a shape. It’s a story. Born in the Motor City’s post-war era, this square-shaped pizza reflects the ingenuity and spirit of a city built on industry and community. While the world has recently discovered what Detroit-style pizza is, its roots run deep, and its traditions tell a tale of creativity and flavor.
THE ORIGIN OF DETROIT-STYLE PIZZA
It began in the 1940s when local bakers experimented with something new. Instead of using round pizza pans, they turned to rectangular steel trays from auto factories, tools of industry repurposed for the kitchen, creating the classic square pizza shape. The dough baked into a crisp, golden crust with a light, airy interior. Cheese was spread edge to edge, caramelizing into a crunchy crown (called frico). And in a bold twist, tomato sauce was layered on top of the cheese instead of underneath. This became the signature of Detroit-style pizza: square shaped, crispy-edged, and unapologetically unique.
TWO PIZZA TRADITIONS, ONE GREAT CITY
But Detroit’s love for square cut pizza didn’t stop there. Another tradition grew, one that shared the same roots but evolved differently. This style, simply called Deep Dish pizza, uses the same dough as Detroit-style pizza but changes the bake by layering sauce directly on the dough before baking. That simple change creates a slightly different texture, heartier and richer — perfect for those who crave more of a traditional pizza. Both pizza styles share the same DNA, but each offers its own experience: one is Detroit-style, with sauce on top for a crisp finish, the other is Deep Dish, with sauce baked in for a deep, comforting flavor.
HUNGRY HOWIE’S BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER
Today, these two traditions define Detroit’s pizza legacy. And in 2025, Hungry Howie’s brought them together. Our Detroit-Style pizza honors the original square shape with its caramelized cheese edges and sauce-on-top approach, while our Detroit Deep Dish pizza delivers that satisfying, baked-in flavor and caramelized cheese edges, all with our signature Flavored Crust®. Two iconic pizza styles, one proud city, and now one place to enjoy them both.
Detroit didn’t invent a new shape for pizza. It created a tradition, a story of resilience, heritage, and taste. Whether you choose the airy crunch of Detroit-Style or the hearty comfort of Deep Dish, every square slice carries a piece of Motor City pride.
DETROIT-STYLE VS. DEEP DISH: A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON
Not all thick pizzas are the same. In Detroit, two popular styles coexist: the original, airy Detroit-style, and the heartier, sauce-below Deep Dish (not to be confused with the knife-and-fork variety). Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you instantly understand the difference.
| Feature | Detroit-Style Pizza | Deep Dish Pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Square or Rectangular | Square or Rectangular |
| Crust | Thick, Light & Airy, Crispy Bottom | Thick, With Crispy Bottom |
| Flavored Crust® | Only at Hungry Howie’s | Only at Hungry Howie’s |
| Edge | Caramelized Cheese to the Edge | Caramelized Cheese to the Edge |
| Sauce Placement | On Top of the Cheese | Beneath the Cheese |
| Toppings Order | Cheese → Toppings → Sauce | Sauce → Cheese → Toppings |
| Eating Style | Hand-Held | Hand-Held |
| Overall Feel | Crisp, Cheesy, Balanced | Hearty, Chewy, Thicker, More Filling |
Both are proudly Detroit pizzas. Both are square-shaped. But now you know: sauce placement, crust texture, and cheese edge make all the difference, especially with Flavored Crust®.