Not Papa John's, Not Pizza Hut: The Best National Pizza Chain In 2026 Is This Hidden Gem
The website Reviewed released the results of its 2026 survey of readers' favorite pizza chains, and the winner was a pizzeria you may only know if you're from the East Coast. The site is a for-profit take on the non-profit Consumer Reports and is part of the USA Today network of websites. The group's yearly survey selects a list of nominees for its readers to vote for in many different categories.
The pizzeria to come out on top was a chain based in the Northeast and Florida: Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza & Wings. The restaurant uses a coal-fired oven, similar to what is used when making New Haven-style pizza. The oven bakes the chain's pizzas and wings at 900 degrees Fahrenheit, giving them a distinctive, coal-fired char.
The runner-up was Ohio-based Donato's Pizza with locations in 29 states — including some based out of Red Robin restaurants. It's unclear how many people vote in the contest. A win is not an endorsement by Reviewed.
What is Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza & Wings?
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza & Wings was first opened in 2002 in South Florida by Anthony Bruno. Bruno grew up in Long Island, New York with his father working in multiple restaurants, and Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza still uses his family recipes today. Former NFL quarterback, Dan Marino, is an investor and friend of Bruno's with a pizza and appetizer named after him, the Eggplant Marino. The company uses Italian tomatoes for its sauce, and prioritizes freshness with grated Pecorino Romano (which is different from regular parmesan!) as well as fresh vegetables and herbs. The pizzeria landed on our own list of America's favorite pizza chains thanks to these factors.
The chain is now owned by Florida Burger Inc, a company that owns franchises of Burger King and Round Table Pizza. Bruno still owns the first restaurant he originally opened with his late father in 1982, called Anthony's Runway 84. Located by the Fort Lauderdale airport, the restaurant serves Italian-American classics in swanky, airline-themed decor and encourages its diners to dress up for a night out.