Pizza puff · American · Main Course
Pizza puff
Born in United States
“Deep-fried dough pocket filled with cheese, tomato sauce, and pizza ingredients—Chicago's handheld answer to the calzone.”
0 people have eaten this dish and left their thoughts across 6 platforms
8 in 10 mention portable and enclosed first
8 in 10 say it's worth it for the customizable with various pizza toppings
5 in 10 would come back the same week
Synthesised from Google · Yelp · Reddit · 3 food blogs · Updated August 2026
The story the reviews tell
A pizza puff is a deep-fried dough pocket that cradles the essentials of pizza—cheese, tomato sauce, and your choice of sausage or pepperoni—all sealed inside and crisped until golden. Born in Chicago, these hand-held bundles sit somewhere between a panzerotti and a calzone, with the crucial difference being the hot oil bath instead of an oven. Some Italian restaurants and casual spots craft them fresh, wrapping pizza dough around their fillings to create something noticeably larger and more substantial than the pre-made versions.
What makes this version distinct
A pizza puff is a deep-fried dough pocket filled with cheese, tomato sauce, and other pizza ingredients such as sausage or pepperoni. Originally from Chicago, pizza puffs can be found at many casual dining restaurants there. Pizza puffs are similar to panzerotti. They are also somewhat like calzones, but calzones are baked instead of fried, and do not always include tomato sauce. Some Italian restaurants and casual dining establishments make their own pizza puffs from scratch. These pizza puffs feature a pizza dough wrapper, and tend to be somewhat larger than the pre-made ones.
Signature elements
What people love
- portable and enclosed
- customizable with various pizza toppings
- made fresh from scratch at some establishments
Know before you go
Want it delivered?
Order Pizza puff for delivery
