Hawaiian pizza has been a source of international debate, with critics often deriding the combination of pineapple and ham. This was notably seen during the Paris 2024 Olympics when the dish was used as an insult in the Italian-Hong Kong fencing final. However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended this unique creation, once tweeting, “I have a pineapple. I have a pizza. And I stand behind this delicious Southwestern Ontario creation. #TeamPineapple,” after the president of Iceland dismissed the pizza style in 2017.
The origins of the now-famous Hawaiian pizza date back to 1962, when Greek immigrant Sotirios “Sam” Panopoulos introduced it at Satellite, his restaurant in Chatham, Ontario. Meanwhile, Windsor pizza has its own deep roots, dating back to 1957, when Gino Manza and Frank Gualtieri founded Volcano, an Italian diner in Windsor.
In Postmedia’s poll, Windsor was named Canada’s top pizza city, ahead of Regina, Toronto, Montreal, and Edmonton. The city boasts the most pizzerias per capita in the country and has a fiercely loyal pizza fanbase. Reddit user “zuuzuu” shared, “Even though I’m not a die-hard convert, I love that Windsor-style is so beloved here. Windsor-style includes a dedication to using one particular local brand of cheese (Galati). You sure can’t deny that Windsor is passionate about pizza and supporting local pizzerias.”
Another Reddit user, “Comprehensive-Swan-3,” commented on the unique connection Windsor pizza fosters within the community, saying, “It evokes a passion and connection within the community that is hard to find sometimes in Windsor. We all agree on it, and will stand up for it.”
When it comes to the top Windsor pizzerias, Antonino’s Original Pizza came out on top, followed by Capri, Naples, Armando’s, and Arcata. The most popular pizza in Windsor is “The Super,” featuring shredded pepperoni, bacon, canned mushrooms, green peppers, and mozzarella from Galati Cheese, all on a cornmeal-dusted crust. But according to local enthusiasts, the best way to understand Windsor pizza is to try it firsthand.
As Reddit user “mustardtiger_14” put it, “Each place is just a little bit different. Armandos, Antoninos, Capri, Naples, Bullseye, etc. each have their own dedicated fan base that will go to their grave saying their pizza place is the best. The shredded pepperoni is the highlight — you get pepperoni in every bite.”
So, if you’re planning a pizza road trip, Windsor might just be the ultimate destination to experience some of Canada’s finest pies.
Source: Postmedia Canadian Pizza Poll
