HRI is a great Chicago staple. I remember coming here (since I just lived a block or two away) and having the best pizza ever. Now 20 or so years later, things have changed. The prices, the clientele, the service, it all changed. Now, of course I know things are going to change over the course of 20 years, but those three things are what made me come back! Chicago is huge and if you're a native Chicagoan, you know a ton of different places to have pizza. What deters me from going in to HRI and having pizza is the fact that it's expensive and you can buy a pretty close clone of their pizza from the freezer section in the supermarket. Don't get me wrong, everything was good and I had a blast with my friends when I went, but those times are far and few in between. If you're from out of town, then I would strongly suggest going in to HRI and having the experience. But if you live here...you can take it or leave it. I choose to leave it more times than I choose to take it.
(3)
Panda R.
First of all. This place has couple health code violations. Serve is decent. Perhaps the server should refrain from chewing & popping her gum or just NOT chew any. The Super fries were less then super. They messed up our super fries order and brought us a blob of nacho cheese and some fries with NO toppings. When the server asked her helper/food runner to fix it all they did was throw bacon bits on it...STILL missing the other toppings. If they can't get this right then the cooks need to work on kitchen skills. The only think that semi made up for all the flaws was the pizza. I won't ever go back for dine in but pizza pick up, sure why not. I hope management does something to correct these problems.
(3)
Megan M.
Just had my first frozen Home Run Inn pizza last night- purchased at Whole Foods Austin. Fantastic!! Best frozen pizza EVER and better than most from restaurants here. I'm a huge fan and wish you had a restaurant in Austin. Either way, I'll be buying only your frozen pizza from now on which amounts to at least 5 a month for my family!
(5)
Mark G.
Why is Home Run Inn so underrated? On second thought, it's completely fine. I don't want touristy ass hats ruining Home Run Inn for me. I can't even get a table for two at Vito & Nicks on a Friday night anymore without standing uncomfortably in a line, staring at a bunch of idiots drinking and eating their pizza, with a look on their face like they have no intention of leaving anytime soon. Guy Fieri, you're a total boob. Home Run Inn is nostalgic to me. My parents raved about it, as they used to frequent this original location when they were youngsters. This pizza was hard to obtain, even when I was a kid, when you lived in the suburbs. Unless you were willing to drive a decent mile, of course. It was before the frozen pizzas they now have at your local grocer, and the few suburban locations they've opened up since. So it always a relatively special occasion when we got to enjoy this magic. It's all about the crust here. Rich and buttery. Or is it all about the toppings? The sausage and pepperoni is flavorful and hearty. I can't really decide. All I know is the taste is one of a kind. All the other Chicago pizza giants are easy to duplicate. Despite how original they claim to be. But I've not tried any other pizza in this city that comes close to the very distinct style and taste they possess here. It's quite a thing. Try this bad boy. You wont be sorry.
(5)
Adam K.
I dig it like a garden. Cheeseburger pizza. Don't come here a lot if you want to live past 40, there is so much bad food here you should sign a wavier before entering. Go here after your doctor told you you have 2 months to live. Because you will slice that in half after 30 minutes in here. But the food... Oh man. Yes, Cheeseburger pizza. Again, my fav. Classic cheese? Awesome, it rocks so hard. Its kind of funny that they have salads here, having salads at a pizza buffet is like giving people the option to shit your pants at your wedding. Nobody will take it. But they are good. Try them. For real, come here, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Elizabeth R.
I was completely disgusted by the service. I have been going to Home Run Inn for at least 25 years. It is some of my favorite pizza and my family and I will drive all the way over to this specific location to dine in. We sat down and were given menus. Our server did not come over for at least ten minutes. When she came over she wanted to take our drink orders as well as our food order right away. She did not address any specials with us or greet us in anyway. They were NOT busy. We all hit the bottom of our beverages before our pizza came out. Then when bringing us our pizza, she turned to leave without asking us about our drinks. We had to ask her for refills. She was not attentive and never came to check on us during our meal (not once). I wanted to tip terribly but I am a better person. I spent $69 in your restaurant and feel like that may be the last time that happens. I can not fathom how your business keeps going with service like that. I support your take out counters at other locations. I moved out of the city but every time I come home, I go to your venue. My husband had never been there and his first impression was terrible!
(1)
Shannon G.
I have just spent 1 HOUR AND 7 MINUTES ON HOLD to place a phone delivery order. My staff of 24 employees cannot even eat pizza for lunch because it would take far too long to make and then deliver. I am very dissatisfied with the service, and cannot even see how this is possible even with 1 person answering phones. Now I will need to come up with a different plan and go get it myself in order for people to eat. Thanks for nothing.
(1)
Chantil S.
I just signed up on their website and received an awesome $2.00 off coupon when I try to print it, it tells me its NOT available!!!! WTF!?!?! Why even send me a coupon if I cant have it and use it!?!?!?!
(1)
Ericka L.
One of my favorite pizzas period. They aren't super cheap but everything from the crust to the cheese to the toppings is wonderful. I've eaten at this one a few times but always order take out from the one closest to my house in Addison. Great great great pizza...cant say enough about the crust.
(5)
Natalie S.
As we're walking into Home Run Inn for the first time in like 20 years, my brother starts rambling on about some Michael Jackson video game that used to be in the entry way that I guess we liked to play when we were shorties. Something about having a special Thriller move where he tosses his hat and kills the zombies. He did a little dancing demo on the street that was too awesome for words. I just nod and agree with him. It's best. So Mom wanted to go here after the Sox game today and since she's Mom, we agreed. I haven't been to this location since I was like 12 years old... but it looks exactly as I remembered it. We were sat upstairs and, well, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. The four of us ordered a big appetizer combo platter, cheese garlic bread AND two large pizzas. We weren't playing around. The appetizer platter was good. I only tried the potato skins (made with cheese sauce vs real cheese and I appreciate it) and the cheese sticks, both were yummy. However, the real star of the first course was the cheesy garlic bread. WOW. I'm going to be craving that for a while now and this place is just too far to indulge such cravings. It is basically a loaf of soft, delicious bread covered in garlic and mozzarella cheese. Hea-VEN. The pizzas came out and we were already stuffed. However, my Dude and I put a bigger dent in our pepperoni and jalapeno with garlic butter crust than my mother and brother did in their sausage, olive, onion, blah, blah blah (I dunno what they ordered). Both pizzas were yummy but we were kinda defeated by the apps and so we took most of it home. The most awesome part: at one point we were watching clips on the TV of the Sox retiring Frank Thomas' number at the game we had just come from and the waitress overheard us talking about how emotional it was. She asked if one of us had a ticket stub to prove that we had been at the game, which of course we did. She said we would get a discount. Great! When we got the bill, it turns out that discount is 25%! That's an AWESOME discount! We had no idea they did such a thing and thanks to our lovely waitress for looking out for us!
(4)
Edith M.
the best pizza in the universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would go here every single day if i could, but once a week suffices just fine.
(5)
Tony T.
Still a good one after all these years. I haven't lived in Chicago in years, so when I had the chance to hit Chi-Town and eat a good ole pie, I wen to Home Run Inn on west 31st. A good pie and one that I wish we had in Los Angeles. I took one star off because it took them so long to give me my order after I telephoned it in. They told me 30 minutes to wait, I got there in 30 minutes and had to wait an extra 50 minutes. But when I got the pie it wasn't as tasty as it used to be...still a good pie but not like it used to be. Ahh the crust is still great...
(4)
Sharon L.
I've never been to one of the sit down restaurants but the frozen pizza is the very best... I've tried them all... once in a while I'll try a different brand and I should just stick with Home Run Inn... It really is great for a frozen pizza!
(4)
Jerry W.
EXCELLENT! Simply the BEST Chicagoland pizza! No one serves it better! Okay Home Run Inn at 31st street is my favorite pizza destination. And they did not let me or my family down at all yesterday. We ordered two 16" pizzas. One was Cheese and Sausage and the other one was Cheese and Pepperoni. We polished them off, they were sooo good. The only negative was some confusion around a $10 credit that I had. But after some discussion this was resolved and we were able to use our $10 credit. So our bill came to $39.51 for our two truly OUTSTANDING pizzas. I can't stress enough dear Yelpers how you have to stop over at 4254 west 31st Street and order up some GREATEST pizzas in the entire Chicagoland area.
(5)
Mark R.
Having enjoyed the frozen grocery store Home Run Inn pizza for years and living on the North Side I finally decided to make the trek to the South Side to compare the fresh version at the 31st St. location. I was in no way disappointed. Best crust, best sauce(not too sweet or too tangy), ample toppings and cheese with efficient and friendly service. One small thing is that I prefer my toppings under the cheese where as Home Run Inn places them on top of the cheese. This being said, the difference between the fresh and frozen are negligible. They're both great. If you're looking for restaurant ambiance then you're not missing anything. So, in conclusion...If there were a Home Run Inn closer to me on the North Side it would be my go to for take out pizza. It's still my favorite frozen pizza. North Siders that love Home Run Inn pizza will want to try the thin crust at Pete's Pizza at Western Ave & Grace or the thin crust at La Villa on Pulaski just north of Addison. My 2 favorite North Side Chicago style pizzas.
(4)
Dan C.
I love this place! Pizza is true chicago thin crust as it should be. Great staff, awesome lunch buffet! Love the new menu items too...we added a mozzarella stuffed meatball to our buffet for kicks and it was outstanding! Made in house - love it!
(5)
Carmella P.
Funny thing here..... I went back to the original HRI after a 35 year absence and declared to the manager how much better the pizza was than any of their other restaurants! He let me down gently by telling me that since all the dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings are exactly the same (even on the frozen pizza!) that only my memories were making 31st Street taste better! Whatever it is, this place is still the best. And thanks for the great dessert, Jerry. We enjoyed every minute we spent at your restaurant and hope to return soon.
(5)
Tobias C.
Vastly overrated pizza. I live around here and the people that frequent this place are outsiders from different neighborhoods over the city. Quite frankly I have no idea what they find in this pizza. It is very expensive and no better than many other local pizza joints. I only had delivery and ate some from friends and have not entered the building so I can only comment on the pizza itself.
(2)
Sterling Cooper V.
Great thin pizza and good hot wings. Good local spot for traditional Chicago style.
(4)
Andrea M.
The pizza is really good thin crust. The sauce has great flavor, a little tangy, but not overpowering, and just the right consistency. The two stars are for the pizza because it is really tasty. It is however a little expensive, I know it's more gourmet than say Pizza Hut, but $70 for a pizza dinner for 5 people is a bit high. The staff and service at this location is not good, they act like you are a burden. They don't want to serve you, take your order, or deal with you for that matter, you are taking away from their texting time. The place is not clean either, from the restrooms to the dining area, they need to start scrubbing and clean the tables, floor, etc, I can't even imagine the kitchen. I know it's an original, but just because something is old, doesn't mean it has to be dirty. The cocktails were not good either, no alcohol in it, and the cranberry juice alone wasn't even that good. Home Run Inn has great pizza, but I would definitely choose a different location.
(2)
Dave G.
Youngest daughter and I visited there after a trip to Brookfield zoo. First time for her. I thought she'd been there before. We looked at the menu and noticed a picture of some of the original people making pizzas WAY back when. I found an old timer that was working there and asked "what does it mean when you recognize someone in the menu picture?" His answer: "it means you're old." Once again, the pizza was great. So was the guy's answer !! While waiting for your pizza, try the potato skins. They've been in business for over 60 years. They're doing something right.
(5)
Edward W.
Got some take out here for the millionth time the other night. Got a Garlic Fireball - Sausage, Jalapeño Peppers, & Giardiniera on Garlic Butter Crust. Spicy and delicious. Brought it back to the office and everyone gave it five stars.
(5)
RICH R.
I have been coming here for years. To me being from the North-side its worth the drive to the south. The pizza is always good and it has the perfect thickness. The ingredients always feel fresh. I recommend anyone not living close to take a trip and try it yourself. I have also checked out the Home Run Inn pizza in Addison, IL but it doesn't compare to the original. It must be the oven! If you enjoy the frozen Home Run Inn pizza from the grocery store then you have to come down to 31st and get it live. Its a must for Chicago.
(4)
Tina K.
I've been going to Home Run Inn since I was a kid. It's my family's favorite pizza place because they serve the BEST pizza in the city. Trust me, I know pizza... I grew up on the southwest side of Chicago and there were at least 25 pizza places within a mile of my house. (And for those of you who are not Chicago natives, the specialty at all of them was thin crust because that's what we eat in Chicago. Not deep dish, which has become a crazy tourist attraction. But I digress...) I've eaten more than my fair share over the years and even worked at a pizza place for a while when I was a teenager. Anyway, HRI has the best pizza because: - The crust is thin (but not too thin), crispy and has an amazing flavor; - The sauce is perfect... not too sweet, not too spicy; - The toppings are fresh; and - Each pizza has just the right amount of cheese. I haven't been to the original in a few years, but have been to some of the other locations more recently. Lately, we've been getting take out pizza from the new HRI Express in Melrose Park. (It's no longer in the Jewel next door, it's now a small, stand-alone restaurant.)
(5)
Abigail B.
I can not eat another pizza without thinking of Home Run Inn and how good it is. This is Chicago at it's best. I rarely ever eat pizza crust (being from Cali and all) but there is something about their buttery, lightly salted, flaky, crispy crust that I just can't get enough of. Toppings are fresh and tomato sauce is one of a kind. Setting is like that of a bar. Servers are nice. Wish they still served Old Style beer there but they don't. They also send out frozen pizzas so check out their website to place your order.
(5)
Hitashi D.
Love this Pizza place. Their crust is flaky, crispy and taste's like heaven. Love their Sauce as well. My favorite is "Laura's Spinach and Plum Tomato Pizza". Their Buffet's is a must go.. amazing pizza and appetizers... This restaurant is on my list - every time i go back to Chicago.
(4)
Lila G.
Home Run Inn is my favorite pizza hands down!!! I love this location since I have been going to it since I was young. It very dark inside but what do you expect its been like this for years and years! Pizza is amazing the crust is my favorite part! Staff is friendly, but sometimes you may get someone who isnt as friendly. Best Pizza in Chicagoland!!!
(5)
Maria C.
I don't care what anyone says but this is by far Chicagos best pizza... What's not there to love about it. I went in w/ a group of 40 people and they had cleared space for us upstairs. The wait was not long at all, maybe because it was a weekday. The waitress, by the way who's getting married next week was really sweet and attentive even thought there were a lot of kids. I know that's a lot to handle. We had really good salad w/ tomatoes, peppers blah blah blah, then the appetizers came out. I love basic food... Mozzerella sticks and chicken fingers which were a tad spicy but yummy. Then the pizza came. OMG... That pizza was gone in no time. The waitress still came out and gave us doggy bags in case we wanted to take any of the leftovers home. I cannot wait for my next trip here. The building itself is a decorated w/ tons of pictures of what the old home run inn used to look like. There are pics w/ the mayor and all kinds of important people.
(5)
Annie W.
I think the frozen pizza in the box tastes better.
(3)
Gabriella G.
Amazingly delicious pizza!!
(5)
Danny M.
Home run inn is good I live a couple of blocks away from this place so I've been eating there since I was a child.I usually order an xlarge sausage pizza with garlic butter crust mmmmm.... My only complaint is they're not consistent with there quality of food. Also don't go on a Friday or Saturday night because the service is bad ,,,over and out...
(4)
Michael W.
Home Run Inn has the best crust. As a child, I loved eating the frozen pizza. The only thing I love (outside of real people) more is the White Sox. Then it happened last night, two great tastes tasted wonderful together. Through a preseason deal, I bought a pizza, potato skins & a 2-liter Pepsi & i got two White Sox tickets good for any April or May game. I did take-out. It tasted remarkably like the frozen kind in the supermarket. It makes you think... But hey. WHITE SOX TICKETS. If necessary, I will play the infield if the whole Chris Getz thing doesn't work out. Let's go, go Go-Go White Sox. Chicago's proud of you.
(4)
Lizbeth G.
I went with my hubby here for a date night the service was great!! and the pizza oh my god a piece of heaven it was delicious!! highly recommend this pizzeria
(5)
Jeff G.
i can't believe i rated this a 3, but i have too. i have eaten from/at this joint for my entire life, and it was likely the first pizza i ever ate when i was 2 or 3 years old in the mid 70s. for my early life i have nothing by fond memories of how great the pizza was and especially the crust which was so golden brown and buttery. we always use to get garlic and sausage and it was amazing. however, something seemed to happen to the taste perhaps in late 90s and early 00s. the crust quality went down and the pizza has not been as good. it is still decent, but not like it used to be. my dad grew up over there and played 16" across the street for many years. He has been eating HRI since he was a kid and he is even more worked up about it than i am and has corresponded with them about the above subject and they swear they have not done anything different. they did say though they put in a new oven a few years ago. by the way dave, i recall that dog playing cards wallpaper, as a kid i used to LOVE looking at every time we went there! they got rid of it a while back when the remodeled/expanded.
(3)
Fernando K.
This is NOT the Home Run Inn pizza you grew up with. It's absolute crap now, not to mention expensive! I couldn't believe my eyes or senses when I took a bite into a piece of mushroom and realised they were canned mushrooms. The crust was bland. Are there new owners or management? After growing up on HRI pizza and now 2 bad experiences I'm done. Unfortunately, times have changed.
(1)
Ieesha M.
This was the pizza of my childhood. I had a birthday party here, several honor roll celebrations, many fond memories and cheesy bites of pizza. I love that after all these years, when I convinced the fam to have dinner here during thanksgiving break, HRI was just as I remembered it. I wish them many more years of success. Keep packing those sausage on that pizza from end to end and you'll have an eternal fan in me. :) I wish you has a location in Cali! Thanks for the memories.
(4)
Sarah S.
So I know I will make some enemies... BUT I have to be honest. Pizza was good, but not worth the hype. It was a Sunday afternoon.. I ordered to go and it took an extra 25 minutes.. they weren't that busy. I got 2 specialty pizzas and was not impressed. I wouldn't go out of my way for this place, but if there was nothing else open... I heard the lunch buffet is good.. maybe I will go back for that Best part was playing old school video games while I waited
(3)
Craig H.
This is the best Chicago Pizza on the West-Side. The quality is amazing, not a great to watch sports but the pizza is the best ever.
(5)
Dominique L.
I have been going to this Home Run Inn since I was little. I loved the feeling of knowing that I was going. I have never had a bad experience until yesterday. Me and my best friend went yesterday evening around 7 pm. It wasn't that busy. When we walked in we were promtly greeted and given a ticket number and told to go upstairs and sit there. Since the tables don't have numbers when we got upstairs we looked around confused for a minuet until someone asked to see the ticket. I gave it to her and she showed us our seats and gave us menus. As me and my friend sat and made our decision as to what we were going to order, I noticed that two seperate groups of people had been seated across from us and that someone has already come to take their order. We had been sitting there for 20 MINS !!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to call over the lady who was sitting some other people and tell her that the people who got seated 20 mins. after we did were already getting their appertizers. So I asked for her to send over our server. She finally shows up and takes our order. We get our drinks and our appertizers. Then it takes another 30 mins ton make 2 8" pizzas. When our pizzas finally come, my friends' pizza is missing one of her ingridents, she only asked for three. So then it was another 20 mins to get the new pizza. We finally get the new pizza and the cook decided to give us a 12' one for the mix-up, which is okay. Then, when we ask our server for a box and then she tells us to just eat some of the pizza and then she will bring us a box,. Im like are you serious? Finally we get our bill, we pay, we leave. Noone told us goodbye thanks for coming, come again, anything like that. Needless to say, I was very disappointed in the lack of customer service. Had it not been for the terrible customer service, Home Run Inn will always recieve 5 stars. The food was delicious, their food is always delicious. I will probably continue to go to this Home Run Inn considering this is the only one I know, I just hope that they can fix this problem and I can continue to have enjoyable eating experiences their.
(2)
JAMIE M.
Great tasting pizza and a nice venue!
(5)
MyOpinion C.
Every home run inn has become very ghetto and the food is just OK...nothing spectacular at all :( so if your starving I guess this will have to do.
(2)
Tiffany A. P.
Yummm...went based on a friends Yelp review and was not disappointed! We had the cheese pizza with garlic butter crust, very tasty. Also had the Harvest salad and the cheese garlic bread, portions are huge so plan on leftovers ;) Would recommend all 3 dishes...
(4)
Lee D.
Best pizza in town. No question. Try the cookie monster for desert and thank me afterwards. Just writing this review is making me hungry for HRI.
(5)
Stephen H.
My girlfriend lived by HRI when I was 17 she introduced me to the greatest pizza in the world a awesome handmade open kitchen cheese and sausage pizza. I am 62 now the pizza is cooked on a conveyor belt in a closed kitchen with a machine that spits out round balls of sausage on the pizza.Do not waste you're time with this pizza which at one time was so great but is now average. Other Pizza restaurants that use to be great but have fallen so far from their glory years under different owners and changed ingredients and cooking ways are Pizzeria Uno and Due, Giordano's (Stuffed Pizza was incredible when they were by 63rd & California later moved by 63rd & Kedzie) ,Gino's East Pizza. 162 E Superior St Chicago, IL (another conveyor belt pizza). So sad, we miss you. RIP.
(1)
Javier B.
My dad ate here 32 years ago. And on our trip back in town, we stopped to enjoy some good pizza.
(4)
Marcos R.
Hands down the best pizza in Chi-town. A very original flavor composed of a natural sauce blend, perfect flaky crust, and very distinct mozzarella cheese. They offer a lunch buffet on certain days depending on location/season but I always prefer a fresh singled ordered large pizza. Choose between cheese, sausage, or pepperoni for the simplest and best aroma. Go to the original location if you can; very low key and classic atmosphere.
(5)
Iveliss G.
I have grown up on Home Run Inn pizza and still love it. The crust is great and so is the sauce. The garlic cheese bread is the best appetizer ever. This place is too busy on the weekends but the staff does a great job of seating big parties immediately. My only issue is that I'm always extremely thirsty for water after eating this pizza. I think the cheese might be too salty.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Im a pizza-holic and I love this place. I would say it can get pricy but the food is more then well worth it. The postato skins are great. The cheesy garlic bread is awesome and the pizza... not for words!!! If you havent been here.. you need to check it out.
(5)
Nycole H.
Nothing spectacular. Thin greasy pizza. It was good but I wouldn't make this a regular place. Crust was pretty good, but there is so much more in Chicago that is much better!
(2)
Grace L.
What a happenin' place. It looks small from the inside, but it is one hoppin' pizza party on the inside. I had the Pizza Lite (the cheeseless pizza that's topped with fresh veggies), which I am assuming is far from the most popular menu item, but boy was it tasty. It was topped with diced pieces of zucchini and yellow squash, which seemed weird to me at first, but that combined with the fresh basil dispersed throughout ended up adding a deliciously crisp and fresh Californian vibe to the pizza. This, of course, was offset by the buttery crust, but I suppose that's what makes it unique. In any case, I loved it. This place was packed on a Friday night and beer pitchers and cocktails were flowing. Go here if you want to have the kind of fun that you don't expect to find at a seemingly family-oriented pizza restaurant. Such, perhaps, as party girls making obscene gestures between mouthfuls of big sausage pizza.
(4)
Somchai S.
not a big pizza fan but my boyfriend is a fan. service was quick. i ordered the signature salad. the smallest size was huge like a big cereal bowl. there was a strange hair in my salad...and they gave me a new one... but didnt give me a discount. we ordered the appetizer platter w/ hot wings, mozz sticks, potato skins. they give u enough sauce for all. we had a large pizza w sausage, peperoni, and bacon bits. i liked the dough but not the topping. too salty. they are kind of pricey.
(2)
Paul F.
Neighborhood loyalty makes it hard for me to call this better than nick and vito's on 83rd, but damn I love it so and crave it far more frequently. The crust is so buttery, savory, delicious. An earlier reviewer was beside himself disgusted by its alleged once frozenness. I don't necessarily believe it, but don't care. This is some of the perfect chicago thin crust. They generally use a higher grade of toppings then most competitors and imitators (I'm looking in your direction, though it is a pretty good look, Falco's on Archer). I particularly recommend their sausage which is well seasoned with caraway seeds. I would recommend paring it with hot giardinara and old style. No delivery keeps it from that coveted fifth star.
(4)
Jeremy W.
Would have given this 5 stars several years ago but something changed with the Home Run Inn recipe. They changed the sausage!!! You can't fool us, we know good pizza! Seriously, we noticed a few years ago that the authentic Italian Sausage that they used to put on their pizza was replaced by a cheaper sausage. This place used to be the bomb back in the 90's, specifically the one on 31st and Kostner. Not as good as in the "oldern" days, but still fills a void.
(3)
Charity M.
Order the "Chicago's Best" pizza if you want to get satisfied....Sausage, pepperoni, and bacon!!! The service is ok. For once I don't want to get seated upstairs, those large groups up there don't know how to stay put and control their kids. Other than that I love the pizza the crust is awesome.
(4)
Amy H.
I love Home Run Inn pizza. There is something about the crust that I adore. It's thin with just enough around the edge to hold on to. It's crispy and buttery. Mmmmm-mmmmm, good!
(5)
Adam H.
Home Run Inn has the best frozen pizzas money can buy. They're delicious. And because of this fact, eating at a Home Run Inn Pizzeria has been on my "to do" list for awhile now. Finally did so last night and sadly my long awaited visit was a dissapointment. I don't know how this is true, but the freshly made restuarant pizza that I ordered wasn't as good as any Home Run Inn frozen pizza I've had in the past. The restaurant pizza was greasier, not as crispy, and the sauce seemed unevenly placed on the pie. The taste was still good, didn't have any trouble eating it, but the pizza wasn't as good as a store bought pizza baked in my own oven. Add in the fact that I had to sit in a loud, busy, dinning room crammed full of strangers, eat a iceberg lettuce filled mediocre salad, and have to constantly wait for my server to pay any attention to my table, it just doesn't make sense for me to come back. I can easily buy a frozen Home Run Inn pizza, bake it exaxtly how I want it, eat a Salad Express salad, have as many drink refills as I want, and eat it all in my comfortable home in total bliss. That epxerience will be cheaper, better tasting, and more convenient. And for now on, when I want Home Run Inn pizza, that's what I'm going to to do.
(2)
Michelle H.
One phrase: Extra cheese and sausage with a garlic butter crust. The best tasting pizza I know. Maybe a little high on the price, but really well worth it. The delivery time can be a little sporadic, because the place is always packed, but the time is worth the wait.
(5)
Adonis L.
Great...Great...Great Chicago Pizza
(5)
Anpan W.
Joined a group for pizza. We had a sausage and pepperoni, and a veggie lover's pizza, all regular crust. It was my first time in the actual restaurant (had the frozen pizzas in the past). Food and drink service was prompt. There were a lot of families, but they seated us far enough away that mutual co-existence went well.
(3)
Frank L.
I've been going here for 45 years. Went to the original when it was only a corner bar with 10 table. The sausage has change some lately but the crust and sauce more than overcome that. This is the best pizza not only in Chicago, but anywhere.
(5)
tony r.
i like pizza. and I've had it from a lot of places. This place violates one of my cardinal pizza rules. DO NOT FREEZE THE DOUGH. yep, home run inn has that weird translucent dough that only comes from a freezer, and it ruins a pizza. to be honest, if a place has pizza as it's showcase dish, and can't even do that right, i won't bother with the other stuff. they might have some kick-ass wings or cheese sticks, but the focus should be pizza. oh well, peizano's is right down the street........
(2)
Justin L.
Great spot. A bit of a distance for us to get to but we absolutely loved the pizza. My gf is a pizza snob. She likes her Gino's without exception and it gets tiring trying to convince her that Chicago has so much more to offer than Ginos when it comes to pie. However being that we were fans of the Home Run frozen variety, we just had to give the actual restaurant a shot. And boy did it deliver. The place is big but completely packed. There was a loud and boisterous feeling in the air. People were there with date and families and just having a great time over some Chicago pie. Everyone talks of the crust. This is what makes the quintessential Home Run Inn pizza. It is the greatest pizza crust ever to be made in all of time. It does result in arterial clogs but so well worth it. One thing I must stress is keep this pie simple! The more you put on it the heavier it gets and the more difficult it is for the xl pizza to maintain its structural stability as you work toward the center. Even with a lot of toppings it is most excellent but I personally dislike eating pizza with a fork and knife. I got so excited I just jumped into the pizza review without mentioning the awesome starters. We paired the pizza arrival with a side of fries (just average) and some of the best chicken fingers in town. I know it does not take a lot to be an excellent chicken finger but it was as if they hand battered these in house with a special batter that had hints of peppers and spices you would find at Gus's World Famous (Memphis, TN). If you are a pizza lover this is a must stop. You obvious will have tried the Ginos and Lous as well as Pizza Duo and others but this one has its own flavor and character and stands apart from the others. It will remind you of everything great about throwing a classic HR frozen in the oven but with so much more in variety and options and everything wonderful.
(4)
Laura P.
I used to love this place. In fact, I used to crave it. But lately, I feel the quality has declined as I know the family is focusing on their frozen pizzas. There was something lacking from the fresh, and I'm not sure I'll go out of my way anymore.
(3)
Mike B.
The best Chicago-style thin crust pizza around. The buttery crust is incredible and would be good enough to eat on it's own. Add the generous amounts of cheese and toppings and this is seriously addictive.
(5)
Martha Z.
Home run inn pizza tastes like it should be followed up with a game of "bags'. Which is a good thing. It consists of a thin crust and mounds of cheese. Our service on the other hand was the pits. It's a tossup. A highlight of my night consisted of overhearing a little girl in the bathroom tell her younger sister that she smelled like old collard greens. Next time I think I will try and do the lunch buffet so I wouldn't have to deal that much with poor service.
(3)
Diane M.
The pizza here is cheap and they don't skimp on the toppings but it was so greasy that it kind of made me nauseous. I love pizza and no other pizza has ever had this effect on me.
(3)
Koizumi Y.
I forgot who dragged me here many years ago. Suffice to say I wasn't too thrilled with the location, but the buttery thin crust on this pizza is to die for.
(4)
G ..
Yuck. It tastes one of those Chef Boyardee kits you made when you were little.
(1)
jay d.
ive lived around the corner from this spot like forever, we would get a two pizzas at a time one with everything, and another with everything and hot peppers, i still go there now, i went for my birthday last year, and had a mushroom, sausage, pepparoni, green peppers, bacon, is your mouth watering yet, with a buttery crust, soooo good, i remember before the renovation, when i was a kid 20+ years ago, you could hear Galaga, and Pacman arcade in the background, to this day when i hear those arcade games it reminds me of HRI, everbody knows chicago for its deep dish pizza but this place is a good example that reguler crust pizza can be spectacular tasting, looking and smelling, if you have never been here try it before the other locations, all the people talking about the neighborhood need to get out more, its fine ive never had a problem or have heard of a problem, theres parking everywhere, great spot try it.
(5)
Claudia S.
Not Me: I decided on a frozen pizza from HRI for dinner. Me: Will you please pick up some cheap brand pizza for me? Thanks! Not Me: ....... I got home and proceeded to eat half of the HRI pizza and now I never hear the end of it. You see, I had tried HRI pizzas a few different times in the past and never liked it, so I was just being a brat that day. Since then, I have been begging to go to an actual location for awhile and while on the way to booze it up (naturally) we drove past this location and I exclaimed "I know what we're having for dinner!!" The pizza was delicious. I was tripped up by the fact they cut it in squares, because you just don't see that too often, but for being told the pizza tastes just like the frozen ones, I thought it was slightly better. I insisted on mozzarella sticks, he insisted on garlic cheesy bread and we lived happily ever, at least for the rest of that evening. The place gets busy, so as expected, their parking lot fills up fast. It's not cheap pizza, but when you want that cheez-it crust taste and something different than the usual Chicago stuff, Home Run Inn is a solid choice. If you love their frozen pizzas, it's worth stopping here at least once.
(4)
Virginia T.
This is what I miss most about living in Chicago (besides family and friends of course!) ; good food. This pizza is the stuff of legends. The crust is perfection: just the right thickness and just the right consistency. The sauce is tomato-y and rich. The cheese is gooey and flavorful. And the Italian sausage... It's heavenly! The place is busy. Very, very busy. So the service is slow. But who cares? The pizza is worth the wait.
(5)
Tina B.
I love a place that offers turkey sausage instead of pork. Pizza is so yummy! The bacon and cheddar fries are to die for! One portion feeds all 4 of our family. Everytime we visit we leave happy and full. Love the discount offers too!
(4)
Phil P.
Consistency over the years.....best pizza in the city in my mind......come to 31st, where it's made fresh....lots of places mimic this spot......but this was one of the original..
(4)
Jenny G.
Real pizza with real toppings. Service was great even accommodated us we we ordered in the carry out area to allow us to set at a table. Such a friendly place. Ask for Norma!
(5)
Calin D.
Yes, Home Run Inn makes frozen pizza. No, the review is not for the frozen pizza, which while good, is nowhere near as good as the actual restaurant! I've made two pilgrimages to the original place, and I'll go again. This is Chicago Pizza at it's finest folks, trust me.
(5)
Alejandro A.
The pizza here has changed alot over the years and not in a good way. It used to be WAY better. The spicy wings are salty as hell. Its gets loud and plenty of the customers reek of weed. The staff is also lacking and can be rude as hell at times. It has truly become a ghetto pizza place.
(3)
Michael P.
Went to Home Run Inn today (original). Had a party of 8. Was seated with no wait. Host was very friendly and servers were very friendly and attentive as well. Because it was a large group there were plenty of things to try today. Ordered a Ceasar Salad, a loaded cheese fry, mozzarella stuffed meatballs, rigatoni, cheesy garlic bread, a mushroom pizza, and a sausage pizza. Now one thing a person has to remember here is all their food here is very rich. Everything was prepared well. The salad was good, a typical Ceasar except instead of anchovies it has bacon and garbonzo beans. The cheese fries are good lots of cheese, plenty of bacon and the fries were crispy. The stuffed meatballs were tasty, soft and juicy and I love their maranara. The rigatoni is the same (maranara) and plenty of cheese. There is not much to say about cheesy garlic bread (salty, buttery and cheesy) which of course, I dip in the maranara. And pizza are great (with butter garlic crust). Now for myself they a tendency to be a bit salty, but I like it best later on at home reheated (I woukd say it just me, but everyone I know says the same). Either way the food is great, the location is nastolgic, and it is a great place for friends to hangout.
(4)
Hannah H.
Mmm, sausage and cheese on their regular crust - they give you 2 small plastic tubs of hot pepper and Parm cheese to sprinkle over; the pizza tastes even better when it's cold. Kind of salty, but just the way I like it. It is a bit pricey, though - a large sets you back at about $23. My dad and I love their pizza! :D +sausage & cheese pizza :D
(5)
Diana G.
My guy didn't feel like driving to the Archer location so we came here. Besides, it's the original so gotta try it. Service is not that attentive. She took our order and never really came to check up on us. I think the pizza here might be a little better than the Archer location, but not by much. A bit pricey and service isn't the best. They do have a parking lot. I still think their frozen pizzas is one of the best.
(3)
Bonnie G.
Im a Cicero transplant living in Southern CA. The pizza here absoultely sucks and I have to order from Lou's on line or now that I have found you, I can get my Home Run Inn Italian Sausage fix from Sprouts Farmers Market.. Who would have thunk? So happy to see it in groceries stores. I cooked mine up this weekend and it was as good as eating in the pizzeria, with that authentic Chicago Italian Sausage flavor that only Chicagoan's can do. Thanks for being in my market place!
(5)
Anne M.
One word, disappointed. We asked for water and they brought out pitcher that tasted of strong alcohol. We had kids with us and I'm thankful they only had a sip. Manager and waitress just apologized. I wish they really tasted how awful it was.....we didn't even get a courtesy credit or discount. It was a $121 tab. This was a place my husband used to go to when he was little and his dad was still alive. Not sure if we'll be back. I mean the pitcher had alcohol in it!!
(2)
Bradly J.
I brought my mentoring group of 17 teenage guys plus my staff here. The service was great! The host was pleasant and even took our picture. Our server was on the money. We ordered tons of pizza( sausage, cheese and pepperoni ) all were delicious!
(5)
sarah a.
Hi I remember the days when moms would buy Home Run Inn pizza for me and my brothers throughout the years and it made us feel so good. I live in California and have been away from Chicago for a little over 10 years in which I would always fantasize about the distinctive taste that Home Run Inn pizza had to offer. For 10 years I had that original taste still stuck in my taste bud memory bank trapped in a time capsule, I could remember the buttery edge crust like it was yesterday, the mozzarella cheese smothering the thick sausages, the heavy square slices that would literally overflow in my hand with goodness. So when I finally went to visit my parents in Chicago, This Home Run Inn was the first place on my list to visit as this was the place my mother would always get our pizza from. I took my California family who never had Home Run Inn pizza before and I was raving how this was the best pizza in the world. Finally the moment arrived, Home Run Inn pizza has made its way to our table. 10 years of yearning, fantasizing, and screaming out Home Run Inn in my sleep has now come to an end. First thing that hit me was the size of the pizza way smaller then I remember and less amount that seemed to be used on the pizza, no more thick crust edges like 10 years ago, no more thick sausages and overflowing mozzarella cheese like I remember. Okay so I told myself this shouldn't be a big deal; calm down. Finally the true moment arrived, the moment that my taste buds of over 10 years have been waiting for. I take a bite into the pizza and instantly I was in shock, something wasn't right, I don't know how to explain it but my taste buds was delaying information to my brain to figure out what was going on. The Home Run Inn pizza that I eaten on so many occasions with my mother and brothers tasted different. My natural instincts told me that this pizza was an impostor. Of course it had the distinct taste of Home Run Inn but something was off, something was not right. I mean I don't smoke and I don't drink, so I know my taste buds are not damaged. Maybe it was the less amount ingredients they used or the use of a less buttery crust I don't know but the pizza I ate here was not the ORIGINAL pizza I remember so long ago. After I left I was traumatized, my heart was literally saddened by what I had just encountered. I couldn't believe the one thing I worshiped so much and was a big part of my memory with family was somehow taken away from me. I was literally blown away at what they have done with the ORIGINAL pizza, I mean my instinctive reaction did not respond with joy which usually happened every time I would eat Home Run Inn pizza. If you are new at eating this new style of Home Run Inn then you probably wouldn't know what I am talking about but if you are someone who grew up eating the real ORIGINAL style then you definitely know what I am talking about. I will end this review with a note to the ORIGINAL Home Run Inn pizza. TO: Mr. Original (HOME RUN INN Pizza) Sorry for your early departure it was a pleasure to have known you for so many years. You were there when our family needed you the most and you always brightened up our day whenever you were around. May you rest in peace and I will carry you with me in memory. Sincerely, Sarah NOTE: The review is in regards to the pizza itself, the restaurant had nothing to do with my rating. The only complaint would be the booth. I would recommend that they design the booth separately, reason why, whenever the next door neighbor in the other booth would move our booth would move as well.
(1)
Yolanda T.
I remember eating here when I was a kid. It's not the same anymore. When my family went here 20 years and 5 grandchildren later, I don't feel the same about this place. I used to play the video games downstairs in the lobby. I used to always get the stuffed little animals in the machine that nobody else could seem to get. On to the food...I can't justify paying $18 for a SMALL 3 topping thin crust pizza. The prices went waaayyyy up, and I felt a tinge of racism! WHY did they have all of the whites on the first floor and all of the blacks in the second floor? All of those tables on the first floor, but they took us upstairs. I don't think that's right. We are paying customers just like all the others, so why was my family of 10 (me, my parents, 2 sisters and 5 grandchildren) sent upstairs to a dark corner?! It has been close to a year ago after it happen, and it still bothers me! The food is still good, but they are stingy with the toppings, and the food is overpriced. Our bill was $120 and some change. I'm not sure if we will be back again anytime soon or at all!
(3)
Pilsen C.
Good God.... you really had to go and change EVERYTHING about the original recipe, didn't you? No more butter crust, tasted something like mayo in the sauce, and subpar cheese left me with a greasy, oily mess of a cheese pizza. Will never order again.
(1)
Maxxy C.
I dined at Home Run Inn today for lunch. I had not been here for years. They now feature a buffet. Pretty smart of the owners! Unlimited pizza, very nice salad and plenty of other delicious food items on the menu. Nice beer on tap. I wanted a Seagram 7 & 7Up. They did not have Seagram and the waitress was wonderful, she did not try to push off the VO to me, so I had the Stella Artois which was delicious!!! Will dine here more often!!! Fabulous!!!
(4)
Ronald M.
By far the worst decision of my first day being 30th to attend this location the pizza came out late as well as the appetizers then when me and family asked to turn to the Bulls game when no one in the place was watching tv but the workers it was a problem for them to turn the tv then once I asked to speak to the manager no one never came to the table I have lost all respect for the place and will spread the word to everyone I know to boycott and never eat this pizza again or go to there restaurants last but not least the the waiter whom spoke loudly that she don't give a fuck what we wanted to watch and told the others workers to do not turn from Cubs game and when the the manager came to see what she told her I don't know what they wanted smiling long story short home run inn has just lost a costumer for life
(1)
Nicki P.
As a Chicago an born and raised, I know I'm supposed to love stuffed or pan style pizza but I actually don't love those styles as much as a great thin. Home Run Inn is a step above the rest, the ingredients they use are the freshest and of the highest quality. Unlike many other pizzas, I look forward to the crust as much as the rest of the pie. The crust is the best around and just as flavorful as all other bites. I live in Logan square now but if I am craving pizza, I will make the trek all the way to little village without question just for this pizza. If you haven't tried it you are seriously missing out. Also, I don't mean the frozen although it's good, but nothing compared to the real deal. One thing I don't love as much is the price, they are pretty pricey as far as pizza goes but you get what you pay for, and in this case that's pizza that is amazing!
(5)
Jovanna O.
Yummy, but kinda salty. I usually get the frozen kind from the grocery store. This is the first time I've had the real deal. I ordered the Carmel cake and it was cold and hard. Don't waste your time on the cake. Update....I tasted the cake the next morning after it warmed up and it was pretty good. The frosting was the best. The cake was more like a thick pound cake. It was okay.
(4)
Dimples B.
They are really good if your ordering an actual pizza but if you plan in going to the buffet which is like 13 dollars then be prepared for paying for frozen pizza. Don't get me wrong the frozen pizza is good but the actual one is twice as better. Been eating here all my life.
(4)
Alejandra R.
Great pizza! Food is served in huge portions! Excellent customer service!
(5)
Jose C.
If you like pizza, sports, and true Chicago culture, Home Run Inn is the place for you. If you are visiting Chicago from somewhere else, PLEASE do not go to get deep dish from one of those big shiny places downtown. Deep dish is the most overrated food in the city - I don't know anyone who eats it. Come to Home Run Inn, and mingle among the blue-collar, everyday Chicago people and have a good time. Pizza is great and the appetizers are excellent as well.
(4)
Christina S.
I'm a huge pizza person and if I want thin crust pizza this is the place to go. This home run inn has new owners because I've been here from the beginning butt the pizza is still delicious. Now the service isn't all that good last time I went I had to ask for my drinks and refills. She stood to the side and talked with another waitress the whole time and didn't ask how we were doing or if we wanted dessert
(4)
Mr. A.
Still has the best pizza in Chicago in my opinion. Went there recently after many years and pizza was the same as before.
(5)
Saúl F.
As another reviewer mentioned, "Home Run Inn is Chicago Pizza," and I wholeheartedly agree. I grew up a few blocks from here, and one thing was certain, everyone knew that Home Run was the Mecca of pizza in Chicago. Okay maybe that's hyperbole, but you get my point. Back to the pizza, the crust is soft and chewy, but crispy at the same time. How do they do it? I have no idea, but it works. There is plenty of sauce and cheese on everything, love it.
(5)
Ashley W.
The best pizza spot next to Lou Malnatis. My favorite place to go for a beer and pizza while watching whatever sporting event. Great family spot too
(4)
Kevin S.
This pizza is what should represent Chicago, not the cheesy, gooey deep dish! I live in this neighborhood and the pizza is superb top quality always. I only go here for special occasions since it's sort of pricey but it worthy of a graduation celebration or communion. It's your old school man cave with many baseball memorabilia plaque, photographs, and autographs from players of the golden age of baseball of the Go Go Sox and Cubbies! This is a baseball fans paradise and sports fan. To start off, the pizza tastes amazing. Any ingredient you want tastes as it has been picked in the garden. The cheese, sauce, and the buttery crust is a match made in heaven. There have been many people who would not pay and try to scheme the servers. For example kids being served alcohol or putting hairs in pizza when the pizza is almost all gone. It's that good. Derrick Rose has ate here too!
(5)
Vanessia M.
My family's entire dine-in experience was ruined due to staff and management. We were out celebrating my husband's 30th birthday.While we were sitting and waiting for our food, my husband and father in law was watching the basketball game. At that time the Oklahoma team was playing but they wanted to watch the Chicago Bulls. When we asked our waiter if the game could be switched she responded "I think we have to keep it on this channel for advertisement or something but I'll check." When she asked the bartender which was a man, he looked at our table with a discerned facial expression and said "what do they want to watch. I'm not turning to anything." We could hear everything that the waiters were saying about us and how they felt, all over turning the television which I might is for the consumers enjoyment and not the staff. The bartender turned the channel but turned it to the Chicago Cubs game instead, we could over her a waiter by the name of Regina say "leave it here I want to watch this, don't turn this channel." My husband proceeded to tell our waitress by the name of Claudia that he wanted the Bulls game but since he heard the other waitress by the name of Regina making a fuss and clearly stating that she didn't care what we wanted to watch, we then asked to speak to the manager. When Claudia told Regina that we were requesting the manager we clearly over heard her say "I don't give no F**k." At that time I was livid because I needed see the need for Claudia to tell Regina anything she should have went to get the manager and furthermore I didn't like Regina's response. She stormed off with a attitude and Claudia assured us that the manager was coming out. We were there for at least a hr more and the manager never came out to address our issue, no concern or even come by to talk to us period. The manager name was Judy, and she came out of her office and went to the bar to ask what happened, Regina said nothing, the bartender said something about a tv and she walked away. I have nerve ever in my history of going to restaurants waited for a manager to come out and greet the customers with concern in less than 5 minutes and then to be ignored altogether I was appalled. My sister in law went to the restroom and then to speak to the manage. She was told that the manager was on a really busy call then some guy came out and she told him what happened and his response was "how about I turn all of the tv's off then" hinting like we were in the wrong. Luckily the waitress that initially said that Judy was on the phone was there to back our story up because she had no idea that we heard everything that was being said, so fortunately she couldn't deny the truth. As my sister in law was walking back to the table, Regina was starring at her so my sister in law told her that was very rude the way we were treated over a meaningless changing of channels when we are the customers and she is staff and that she was there to work and not watch tv. Regina responded "I'm not about to argue with you, I said what I said." No one came to apologize about what took place or about our experience, there was no complimentary products offered or anything taken off of our bill in which was not the goal in the beginning. However, an apology from the manager on behalf of her staff would have been very nice and appreciated instead we got nothing until we paid the bill and then our waitress replied "you can fill out the survey about your experience, good or bad, sorry about that." I will never visit this restaurant ever again and will share my experience and concerns with my family members and friends as well who also like to frequent this restaurant and buy the frozen products. This was the worst time my family has ever experienced and due to the negativity and unprofessional-ism of the staff my husbands birthday dinner was ruined. Home Run Inn at 4254 W. 31st St. Chicago, IL 60623 is the worst and the staff there will be the downfall of the business. I've heard bad things about this particular location but never personally experienced anything until Monday, April 13th, 2015 and I will never step foot back in those doors again thanks to Regina (rude and lazy staff member who wants to watch baseball at work) and Judy (the manager.
(1)
Austeja B.
A VERY BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! I used to love Home Run Inn pizza I heard the restaurant in little village was the best. We went on a Sunday and we were greeted with not such happy hostesses. They gave us a ticket with a table # on it and told us it was upstairs. I thought the point of a hostess was to show us to our table? Not have us stand in the middle of the restaurant looking for our table. We had a great server her name was Blanca and she was serving on the whole upstairs, which was full. (probably the only good thing about that place) Once we sat down we noticed a few things right away. This place was like a cafeteria. It was VERY loud there were kids running around everywhere and being in little village we were surprised to see the majority of African Americans. What I'm trying to say is that it was ghetto. But the worst part of all was the pizza... We ordered one with black olives, muchrooms, jalapenos, bell peppers and bacon. The toppings were good but the crust was trash. I think it wasn't even cooked all the way because it tasted like straight yeast. We will never come again we had expected a lot more from a place that had such great recommendations. From reading other reviews I'm assuming it wasn't this bad before.
(1)
Rick B.
Pizza is still good and the neighborhood is still cheesy. They changed the cookie monster for dessert though - used to be a nice big cookie baked on site...now they use store bought and simply heat them up in a microwave. Not as good. Skip the cookie monster and stick with the pizza.
(3)
Jose G.
I have to admit, it's not what it used to be. I grew up in the neighborhood and this was the best pizza. I still love the thin crust and I'd give the pizza 5 stars, just this place can't deserve the perfect score. The places hires tons of young kids which in this case drops the service a bit and makes it inconsistent in my opinion. By the Italian sausage with fennel seeds, great crust and good sauce makes this some memorable pizza. Everything is pretty good here but it is on the pricy side and you'll usually have to wait for the pizza and deal with crowds. The atmosphere wasn't always the selling point here but you won't regret the pizza and it's not like the frozen ones you buy in the store so try the real thing. Note: I think the best location is their Archer location.
(4)
Carrie H.
My all time favorite pizza! I've been to the Home Run Inn Restaurants in the burbs and they're good but the original is still the best in my book. I love this place! I've been going here since I was a kid.
(5)
PizzaPaparazzi C.
Great history. Ordered XL 1/2 Italian beef and giardiniera 1/2 sausage, onion and mushroom. Thought the pizza was just ok. Food is a bit pricey. Next time would like to try lunch buffet.
(2)
Joe Ann O.
I long for the quality of HRI from the past. My last three experiences have been disappointing. Twice the pizza wasn't fresh. Thought we'd dine in this time thinking the pizza wd be hot/fresh. No such luck...stale and salty. Guess I'll have to agree with my husband and give up on HRI.
(2)
Maria G.
It ain't what it used to be. If you come here after a long hiatus (like I did), you will be longing for the days of old. The interior of this location is exactly the same as i remember it to be eons ago, very dark wood with dark furniture. The pizzas used to be bigger, fresher and packed with flavor. Now, sure their tasty but seemed to be lacking something. Our party ordered 3 Xlarge pizzas and one guest ordered a sandwich. The sandwich came out in like 15 mins while the pizzas took about 45. A little awkward as we were barely digging in to the pizza and the sandwich eater was already picking his teeth! If you're coming here, expect to wait awhile for your pie and experience lackluster service from the staff. Do get the Garlic Fireball pizza or the Nick's Super as those are my faves!
(3)
Reece R.
The pizza is always great and have never had a problem or anything to complain about until my last visit. One of the waitress's that wasn't even assigned to our area came over to change the channel on the TV while 4 tables were watching the Bulls playoff game Friday night. When I asked why she changed it she only said that management told her to do it? Management? When everyone complained she rudely walked away and ignored everyone. I told our waiter and he changed the channel but she kept mumbling every time she passed by which even resulted in her coworkers giving her the cold shoulder and leaving her on her own to look even dumber. Overall food is great but service sucked that night.
(2)
Sunnette V.
I have been eating at this restaurant for over 40 years, at this original location. I really enjoy the pizza. The crust and ingredients are excellent! I especially enjoy the chilli. I really wish I had the recipe to make the chilli at home for my family. I wish home run inn would make a cook book for some of their much loved recipes.
(5)
Daniela V.
I've gone here my whole life. I am from Chicago and I would easily choose HRI over any other place. It's far and in a shady area but it's worth it. It's so Chicago. They don't have deep dish- no, but the crust is unbelievable and buttery and made with delicious herbs. The HRI salad is great. I love getting a long island and eating the pizza. It feels so right. Don't be scared, yuppies.. just try it.
(5)
Jeremy L.
I used to go here with family all the time for birthday parties as a kid.. Haven't been in about 7 years. I went yesterday and the pizza is just as good as I remember! This place has been a south side Chicago staple for years! Went on a Thursday evening for pick-up. We got 2 XL pizzas. One Italian Sausage and the other meatlobver's. Bother were superb! Pizza was piping hot with perfect amount of cheese and meat toppings --no skimpy business here. We also ordered a pasta dish (chicken alfredo) and a side salad. Pasta was good, except they didn't put enough grilled chicken. A few pieces surbmerged in a bed of saucy pasta didn't really cut it. Overall, great food. If you have the time, definitely worth the sit-down experience. From what I could tell, good service, as the dining room was packed with families on a Thursday evening. Can't go wrong with their Italian sausage pizza! P.S. They have a buffet Monday-Thursday for $9.99 which sounds great.. If only I worked in that area of the city. lol.
(4)
Nika H.
Ok Pizza.....Overpriced drinks
(3)
Vishal S.
For some reason the frozen pizzas tastes better
(3)
Paul C.
Now I have to admit that I haven't been to this location in years, BUT, as a local neighborhood kid who grew up playing baseball across the street at Pietrowski Park, Home Run Inn (or HRI as the locals call it) is simply the BEST pizza I've ever had. I'm pushing 50 now, and I can easily recall the days when we'd go to HRI and savor the incredible sweet marinara, unctuous mozzarella, savory mushrooms and best of all that sweet fennel Italian Sausage, combined with that buttery - flaky crust and voila, you have the best pizza ever. Now I do love Giodanno's Stuffed Pizza, don't get me wrong. But when I come home to Chicago, I always try to get HRI. Next time, I'll go back to this old neighborhood location and see IF the standards have been kept. I've read some reviews which said it has not, BUT, I'm giving HRI 5 Stars because of what it represents - THE BEST. Thank GOD that I can at least get frozen HRI pizza's here in Charlotte. I'd be lost without them. Certainly not nearly as good as the fresh pies, but by FAR the best FROZEN out there bar none. Nothing even comes close!
(5)
Andre E.
Well I have never been a huge pizza fan....but when I wanted some real good Chicago Style Pizza I headed to Home Run Inn. This location was about 15 minutes from my house but I would really only stop by when I was coming home from work. Since I worked at Midway airport....if I was craving pizza I would just stop here on my way home and grab a pie. It was always pretty crowded and parking was a challenge because this location is in the "hood" so to speak....but usually it didn't take to long for me to get my food even though I didn't call it in. The service and prices were pretty decent....but the pizza was AWESOME. I kind of regret I didn't go here more often....but if your ever in Chi-town and want some good pizza give home run inn a try. Eat, Drink, and be Merry my Friends!!!!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Luis B.
HRI is a great Chicago staple. I remember coming here (since I just lived a block or two away) and having the best pizza ever. Now 20 or so years later, things have changed. The prices, the clientele, the service, it all changed. Now, of course I know things are going to change over the course of 20 years, but those three things are what made me come back! Chicago is huge and if you're a native Chicagoan, you know a ton of different places to have pizza. What deters me from going in to HRI and having pizza is the fact that it's expensive and you can buy a pretty close clone of their pizza from the freezer section in the supermarket. Don't get me wrong, everything was good and I had a blast with my friends when I went, but those times are far and few in between. If you're from out of town, then I would strongly suggest going in to HRI and having the experience. But if you live here...you can take it or leave it. I choose to leave it more times than I choose to take it.
(3)Panda R.
First of all. This place has couple health code violations. Serve is decent. Perhaps the server should refrain from chewing & popping her gum or just NOT chew any. The Super fries were less then super. They messed up our super fries order and brought us a blob of nacho cheese and some fries with NO toppings. When the server asked her helper/food runner to fix it all they did was throw bacon bits on it...STILL missing the other toppings. If they can't get this right then the cooks need to work on kitchen skills. The only think that semi made up for all the flaws was the pizza. I won't ever go back for dine in but pizza pick up, sure why not. I hope management does something to correct these problems.
(3)Megan M.
Just had my first frozen Home Run Inn pizza last night- purchased at Whole Foods Austin. Fantastic!! Best frozen pizza EVER and better than most from restaurants here. I'm a huge fan and wish you had a restaurant in Austin. Either way, I'll be buying only your frozen pizza from now on which amounts to at least 5 a month for my family!
(5)Mark G.
Why is Home Run Inn so underrated? On second thought, it's completely fine. I don't want touristy ass hats ruining Home Run Inn for me. I can't even get a table for two at Vito & Nicks on a Friday night anymore without standing uncomfortably in a line, staring at a bunch of idiots drinking and eating their pizza, with a look on their face like they have no intention of leaving anytime soon. Guy Fieri, you're a total boob. Home Run Inn is nostalgic to me. My parents raved about it, as they used to frequent this original location when they were youngsters. This pizza was hard to obtain, even when I was a kid, when you lived in the suburbs. Unless you were willing to drive a decent mile, of course. It was before the frozen pizzas they now have at your local grocer, and the few suburban locations they've opened up since. So it always a relatively special occasion when we got to enjoy this magic. It's all about the crust here. Rich and buttery. Or is it all about the toppings? The sausage and pepperoni is flavorful and hearty. I can't really decide. All I know is the taste is one of a kind. All the other Chicago pizza giants are easy to duplicate. Despite how original they claim to be. But I've not tried any other pizza in this city that comes close to the very distinct style and taste they possess here. It's quite a thing. Try this bad boy. You wont be sorry.
(5)Adam K.
I dig it like a garden. Cheeseburger pizza. Don't come here a lot if you want to live past 40, there is so much bad food here you should sign a wavier before entering. Go here after your doctor told you you have 2 months to live. Because you will slice that in half after 30 minutes in here. But the food... Oh man. Yes, Cheeseburger pizza. Again, my fav. Classic cheese? Awesome, it rocks so hard. Its kind of funny that they have salads here, having salads at a pizza buffet is like giving people the option to shit your pants at your wedding. Nobody will take it. But they are good. Try them. For real, come here, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Elizabeth R.
I was completely disgusted by the service. I have been going to Home Run Inn for at least 25 years. It is some of my favorite pizza and my family and I will drive all the way over to this specific location to dine in. We sat down and were given menus. Our server did not come over for at least ten minutes. When she came over she wanted to take our drink orders as well as our food order right away. She did not address any specials with us or greet us in anyway. They were NOT busy. We all hit the bottom of our beverages before our pizza came out. Then when bringing us our pizza, she turned to leave without asking us about our drinks. We had to ask her for refills. She was not attentive and never came to check on us during our meal (not once). I wanted to tip terribly but I am a better person. I spent $69 in your restaurant and feel like that may be the last time that happens. I can not fathom how your business keeps going with service like that. I support your take out counters at other locations. I moved out of the city but every time I come home, I go to your venue. My husband had never been there and his first impression was terrible!
(1)Shannon G.
I have just spent 1 HOUR AND 7 MINUTES ON HOLD to place a phone delivery order. My staff of 24 employees cannot even eat pizza for lunch because it would take far too long to make and then deliver. I am very dissatisfied with the service, and cannot even see how this is possible even with 1 person answering phones. Now I will need to come up with a different plan and go get it myself in order for people to eat. Thanks for nothing.
(1)Chantil S.
I just signed up on their website and received an awesome $2.00 off coupon when I try to print it, it tells me its NOT available!!!! WTF!?!?! Why even send me a coupon if I cant have it and use it!?!?!?!
(1)Ericka L.
One of my favorite pizzas period. They aren't super cheap but everything from the crust to the cheese to the toppings is wonderful. I've eaten at this one a few times but always order take out from the one closest to my house in Addison. Great great great pizza...cant say enough about the crust.
(5)Natalie S.
As we're walking into Home Run Inn for the first time in like 20 years, my brother starts rambling on about some Michael Jackson video game that used to be in the entry way that I guess we liked to play when we were shorties. Something about having a special Thriller move where he tosses his hat and kills the zombies. He did a little dancing demo on the street that was too awesome for words. I just nod and agree with him. It's best. So Mom wanted to go here after the Sox game today and since she's Mom, we agreed. I haven't been to this location since I was like 12 years old... but it looks exactly as I remembered it. We were sat upstairs and, well, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. The four of us ordered a big appetizer combo platter, cheese garlic bread AND two large pizzas. We weren't playing around. The appetizer platter was good. I only tried the potato skins (made with cheese sauce vs real cheese and I appreciate it) and the cheese sticks, both were yummy. However, the real star of the first course was the cheesy garlic bread. WOW. I'm going to be craving that for a while now and this place is just too far to indulge such cravings. It is basically a loaf of soft, delicious bread covered in garlic and mozzarella cheese. Hea-VEN. The pizzas came out and we were already stuffed. However, my Dude and I put a bigger dent in our pepperoni and jalapeno with garlic butter crust than my mother and brother did in their sausage, olive, onion, blah, blah blah (I dunno what they ordered). Both pizzas were yummy but we were kinda defeated by the apps and so we took most of it home. The most awesome part: at one point we were watching clips on the TV of the Sox retiring Frank Thomas' number at the game we had just come from and the waitress overheard us talking about how emotional it was. She asked if one of us had a ticket stub to prove that we had been at the game, which of course we did. She said we would get a discount. Great! When we got the bill, it turns out that discount is 25%! That's an AWESOME discount! We had no idea they did such a thing and thanks to our lovely waitress for looking out for us!
(4)Edith M.
the best pizza in the universe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would go here every single day if i could, but once a week suffices just fine.
(5)Tony T.
Still a good one after all these years. I haven't lived in Chicago in years, so when I had the chance to hit Chi-Town and eat a good ole pie, I wen to Home Run Inn on west 31st. A good pie and one that I wish we had in Los Angeles. I took one star off because it took them so long to give me my order after I telephoned it in. They told me 30 minutes to wait, I got there in 30 minutes and had to wait an extra 50 minutes. But when I got the pie it wasn't as tasty as it used to be...still a good pie but not like it used to be. Ahh the crust is still great...
(4)Sharon L.
I've never been to one of the sit down restaurants but the frozen pizza is the very best... I've tried them all... once in a while I'll try a different brand and I should just stick with Home Run Inn... It really is great for a frozen pizza!
(4)Jerry W.
EXCELLENT! Simply the BEST Chicagoland pizza! No one serves it better! Okay Home Run Inn at 31st street is my favorite pizza destination. And they did not let me or my family down at all yesterday. We ordered two 16" pizzas. One was Cheese and Sausage and the other one was Cheese and Pepperoni. We polished them off, they were sooo good. The only negative was some confusion around a $10 credit that I had. But after some discussion this was resolved and we were able to use our $10 credit. So our bill came to $39.51 for our two truly OUTSTANDING pizzas. I can't stress enough dear Yelpers how you have to stop over at 4254 west 31st Street and order up some GREATEST pizzas in the entire Chicagoland area.
(5)Mark R.
Having enjoyed the frozen grocery store Home Run Inn pizza for years and living on the North Side I finally decided to make the trek to the South Side to compare the fresh version at the 31st St. location. I was in no way disappointed. Best crust, best sauce(not too sweet or too tangy), ample toppings and cheese with efficient and friendly service. One small thing is that I prefer my toppings under the cheese where as Home Run Inn places them on top of the cheese. This being said, the difference between the fresh and frozen are negligible. They're both great. If you're looking for restaurant ambiance then you're not missing anything. So, in conclusion...If there were a Home Run Inn closer to me on the North Side it would be my go to for take out pizza. It's still my favorite frozen pizza. North Siders that love Home Run Inn pizza will want to try the thin crust at Pete's Pizza at Western Ave & Grace or the thin crust at La Villa on Pulaski just north of Addison. My 2 favorite North Side Chicago style pizzas.
(4)Dan C.
I love this place! Pizza is true chicago thin crust as it should be. Great staff, awesome lunch buffet! Love the new menu items too...we added a mozzarella stuffed meatball to our buffet for kicks and it was outstanding! Made in house - love it!
(5)Carmella P.
Funny thing here..... I went back to the original HRI after a 35 year absence and declared to the manager how much better the pizza was than any of their other restaurants! He let me down gently by telling me that since all the dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings are exactly the same (even on the frozen pizza!) that only my memories were making 31st Street taste better! Whatever it is, this place is still the best. And thanks for the great dessert, Jerry. We enjoyed every minute we spent at your restaurant and hope to return soon.
(5)Tobias C.
Vastly overrated pizza. I live around here and the people that frequent this place are outsiders from different neighborhoods over the city. Quite frankly I have no idea what they find in this pizza. It is very expensive and no better than many other local pizza joints. I only had delivery and ate some from friends and have not entered the building so I can only comment on the pizza itself.
(2)Sterling Cooper V.
Great thin pizza and good hot wings. Good local spot for traditional Chicago style.
(4)Andrea M.
The pizza is really good thin crust. The sauce has great flavor, a little tangy, but not overpowering, and just the right consistency. The two stars are for the pizza because it is really tasty. It is however a little expensive, I know it's more gourmet than say Pizza Hut, but $70 for a pizza dinner for 5 people is a bit high. The staff and service at this location is not good, they act like you are a burden. They don't want to serve you, take your order, or deal with you for that matter, you are taking away from their texting time. The place is not clean either, from the restrooms to the dining area, they need to start scrubbing and clean the tables, floor, etc, I can't even imagine the kitchen. I know it's an original, but just because something is old, doesn't mean it has to be dirty. The cocktails were not good either, no alcohol in it, and the cranberry juice alone wasn't even that good. Home Run Inn has great pizza, but I would definitely choose a different location.
(2)Dave G.
Youngest daughter and I visited there after a trip to Brookfield zoo. First time for her. I thought she'd been there before. We looked at the menu and noticed a picture of some of the original people making pizzas WAY back when. I found an old timer that was working there and asked "what does it mean when you recognize someone in the menu picture?" His answer: "it means you're old." Once again, the pizza was great. So was the guy's answer !! While waiting for your pizza, try the potato skins. They've been in business for over 60 years. They're doing something right.
(5)Edward W.
Got some take out here for the millionth time the other night. Got a Garlic Fireball - Sausage, Jalapeño Peppers, & Giardiniera on Garlic Butter Crust. Spicy and delicious. Brought it back to the office and everyone gave it five stars.
(5)RICH R.
I have been coming here for years. To me being from the North-side its worth the drive to the south. The pizza is always good and it has the perfect thickness. The ingredients always feel fresh. I recommend anyone not living close to take a trip and try it yourself. I have also checked out the Home Run Inn pizza in Addison, IL but it doesn't compare to the original. It must be the oven! If you enjoy the frozen Home Run Inn pizza from the grocery store then you have to come down to 31st and get it live. Its a must for Chicago.
(4)Tina K.
I've been going to Home Run Inn since I was a kid. It's my family's favorite pizza place because they serve the BEST pizza in the city. Trust me, I know pizza... I grew up on the southwest side of Chicago and there were at least 25 pizza places within a mile of my house. (And for those of you who are not Chicago natives, the specialty at all of them was thin crust because that's what we eat in Chicago. Not deep dish, which has become a crazy tourist attraction. But I digress...) I've eaten more than my fair share over the years and even worked at a pizza place for a while when I was a teenager. Anyway, HRI has the best pizza because: - The crust is thin (but not too thin), crispy and has an amazing flavor; - The sauce is perfect... not too sweet, not too spicy; - The toppings are fresh; and - Each pizza has just the right amount of cheese. I haven't been to the original in a few years, but have been to some of the other locations more recently. Lately, we've been getting take out pizza from the new HRI Express in Melrose Park. (It's no longer in the Jewel next door, it's now a small, stand-alone restaurant.)
(5)Abigail B.
I can not eat another pizza without thinking of Home Run Inn and how good it is. This is Chicago at it's best. I rarely ever eat pizza crust (being from Cali and all) but there is something about their buttery, lightly salted, flaky, crispy crust that I just can't get enough of. Toppings are fresh and tomato sauce is one of a kind. Setting is like that of a bar. Servers are nice. Wish they still served Old Style beer there but they don't. They also send out frozen pizzas so check out their website to place your order.
(5)Hitashi D.
Love this Pizza place. Their crust is flaky, crispy and taste's like heaven. Love their Sauce as well. My favorite is "Laura's Spinach and Plum Tomato Pizza". Their Buffet's is a must go.. amazing pizza and appetizers... This restaurant is on my list - every time i go back to Chicago.
(4)Lila G.
Home Run Inn is my favorite pizza hands down!!! I love this location since I have been going to it since I was young. It very dark inside but what do you expect its been like this for years and years! Pizza is amazing the crust is my favorite part! Staff is friendly, but sometimes you may get someone who isnt as friendly. Best Pizza in Chicagoland!!!
(5)Maria C.
I don't care what anyone says but this is by far Chicagos best pizza... What's not there to love about it. I went in w/ a group of 40 people and they had cleared space for us upstairs. The wait was not long at all, maybe because it was a weekday. The waitress, by the way who's getting married next week was really sweet and attentive even thought there were a lot of kids. I know that's a lot to handle. We had really good salad w/ tomatoes, peppers blah blah blah, then the appetizers came out. I love basic food... Mozzerella sticks and chicken fingers which were a tad spicy but yummy. Then the pizza came. OMG... That pizza was gone in no time. The waitress still came out and gave us doggy bags in case we wanted to take any of the leftovers home. I cannot wait for my next trip here. The building itself is a decorated w/ tons of pictures of what the old home run inn used to look like. There are pics w/ the mayor and all kinds of important people.
(5)Annie W.
I think the frozen pizza in the box tastes better.
(3)Gabriella G.
Amazingly delicious pizza!!
(5)Danny M.
Home run inn is good I live a couple of blocks away from this place so I've been eating there since I was a child.I usually order an xlarge sausage pizza with garlic butter crust mmmmm.... My only complaint is they're not consistent with there quality of food. Also don't go on a Friday or Saturday night because the service is bad ,,,over and out...
(4)Michael W.
Home Run Inn has the best crust. As a child, I loved eating the frozen pizza. The only thing I love (outside of real people) more is the White Sox. Then it happened last night, two great tastes tasted wonderful together. Through a preseason deal, I bought a pizza, potato skins & a 2-liter Pepsi & i got two White Sox tickets good for any April or May game. I did take-out. It tasted remarkably like the frozen kind in the supermarket. It makes you think... But hey. WHITE SOX TICKETS. If necessary, I will play the infield if the whole Chris Getz thing doesn't work out. Let's go, go Go-Go White Sox. Chicago's proud of you.
(4)Lizbeth G.
I went with my hubby here for a date night the service was great!! and the pizza oh my god a piece of heaven it was delicious!! highly recommend this pizzeria
(5)Jeff G.
i can't believe i rated this a 3, but i have too. i have eaten from/at this joint for my entire life, and it was likely the first pizza i ever ate when i was 2 or 3 years old in the mid 70s. for my early life i have nothing by fond memories of how great the pizza was and especially the crust which was so golden brown and buttery. we always use to get garlic and sausage and it was amazing. however, something seemed to happen to the taste perhaps in late 90s and early 00s. the crust quality went down and the pizza has not been as good. it is still decent, but not like it used to be. my dad grew up over there and played 16" across the street for many years. He has been eating HRI since he was a kid and he is even more worked up about it than i am and has corresponded with them about the above subject and they swear they have not done anything different. they did say though they put in a new oven a few years ago. by the way dave, i recall that dog playing cards wallpaper, as a kid i used to LOVE looking at every time we went there! they got rid of it a while back when the remodeled/expanded.
(3)Fernando K.
This is NOT the Home Run Inn pizza you grew up with. It's absolute crap now, not to mention expensive! I couldn't believe my eyes or senses when I took a bite into a piece of mushroom and realised they were canned mushrooms. The crust was bland. Are there new owners or management? After growing up on HRI pizza and now 2 bad experiences I'm done. Unfortunately, times have changed.
(1)Ieesha M.
This was the pizza of my childhood. I had a birthday party here, several honor roll celebrations, many fond memories and cheesy bites of pizza. I love that after all these years, when I convinced the fam to have dinner here during thanksgiving break, HRI was just as I remembered it. I wish them many more years of success. Keep packing those sausage on that pizza from end to end and you'll have an eternal fan in me. :) I wish you has a location in Cali! Thanks for the memories.
(4)Sarah S.
So I know I will make some enemies... BUT I have to be honest. Pizza was good, but not worth the hype. It was a Sunday afternoon.. I ordered to go and it took an extra 25 minutes.. they weren't that busy. I got 2 specialty pizzas and was not impressed. I wouldn't go out of my way for this place, but if there was nothing else open... I heard the lunch buffet is good.. maybe I will go back for that Best part was playing old school video games while I waited
(3)Craig H.
This is the best Chicago Pizza on the West-Side. The quality is amazing, not a great to watch sports but the pizza is the best ever.
(5)Dominique L.
I have been going to this Home Run Inn since I was little. I loved the feeling of knowing that I was going. I have never had a bad experience until yesterday. Me and my best friend went yesterday evening around 7 pm. It wasn't that busy. When we walked in we were promtly greeted and given a ticket number and told to go upstairs and sit there. Since the tables don't have numbers when we got upstairs we looked around confused for a minuet until someone asked to see the ticket. I gave it to her and she showed us our seats and gave us menus. As me and my friend sat and made our decision as to what we were going to order, I noticed that two seperate groups of people had been seated across from us and that someone has already come to take their order. We had been sitting there for 20 MINS !!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to call over the lady who was sitting some other people and tell her that the people who got seated 20 mins. after we did were already getting their appertizers. So I asked for her to send over our server. She finally shows up and takes our order. We get our drinks and our appertizers. Then it takes another 30 mins ton make 2 8" pizzas. When our pizzas finally come, my friends' pizza is missing one of her ingridents, she only asked for three. So then it was another 20 mins to get the new pizza. We finally get the new pizza and the cook decided to give us a 12' one for the mix-up, which is okay. Then, when we ask our server for a box and then she tells us to just eat some of the pizza and then she will bring us a box,. Im like are you serious? Finally we get our bill, we pay, we leave. Noone told us goodbye thanks for coming, come again, anything like that. Needless to say, I was very disappointed in the lack of customer service. Had it not been for the terrible customer service, Home Run Inn will always recieve 5 stars. The food was delicious, their food is always delicious. I will probably continue to go to this Home Run Inn considering this is the only one I know, I just hope that they can fix this problem and I can continue to have enjoyable eating experiences their.
(2)JAMIE M.
Great tasting pizza and a nice venue!
(5)MyOpinion C.
Every home run inn has become very ghetto and the food is just OK...nothing spectacular at all :( so if your starving I guess this will have to do.
(2)Tiffany A. P.
Yummm...went based on a friends Yelp review and was not disappointed! We had the cheese pizza with garlic butter crust, very tasty. Also had the Harvest salad and the cheese garlic bread, portions are huge so plan on leftovers ;) Would recommend all 3 dishes...
(4)Lee D.
Best pizza in town. No question. Try the cookie monster for desert and thank me afterwards. Just writing this review is making me hungry for HRI.
(5)Stephen H.
My girlfriend lived by HRI when I was 17 she introduced me to the greatest pizza in the world a awesome handmade open kitchen cheese and sausage pizza. I am 62 now the pizza is cooked on a conveyor belt in a closed kitchen with a machine that spits out round balls of sausage on the pizza.Do not waste you're time with this pizza which at one time was so great but is now average. Other Pizza restaurants that use to be great but have fallen so far from their glory years under different owners and changed ingredients and cooking ways are Pizzeria Uno and Due, Giordano's (Stuffed Pizza was incredible when they were by 63rd & California later moved by 63rd & Kedzie) ,Gino's East Pizza. 162 E Superior St Chicago, IL (another conveyor belt pizza). So sad, we miss you. RIP.
(1)Javier B.
My dad ate here 32 years ago. And on our trip back in town, we stopped to enjoy some good pizza.
(4)Marcos R.
Hands down the best pizza in Chi-town. A very original flavor composed of a natural sauce blend, perfect flaky crust, and very distinct mozzarella cheese. They offer a lunch buffet on certain days depending on location/season but I always prefer a fresh singled ordered large pizza. Choose between cheese, sausage, or pepperoni for the simplest and best aroma. Go to the original location if you can; very low key and classic atmosphere.
(5)Iveliss G.
I have grown up on Home Run Inn pizza and still love it. The crust is great and so is the sauce. The garlic cheese bread is the best appetizer ever. This place is too busy on the weekends but the staff does a great job of seating big parties immediately. My only issue is that I'm always extremely thirsty for water after eating this pizza. I think the cheese might be too salty.
(4)Jennifer S.
Im a pizza-holic and I love this place. I would say it can get pricy but the food is more then well worth it. The postato skins are great. The cheesy garlic bread is awesome and the pizza... not for words!!! If you havent been here.. you need to check it out.
(5)Nycole H.
Nothing spectacular. Thin greasy pizza. It was good but I wouldn't make this a regular place. Crust was pretty good, but there is so much more in Chicago that is much better!
(2)Grace L.
What a happenin' place. It looks small from the inside, but it is one hoppin' pizza party on the inside. I had the Pizza Lite (the cheeseless pizza that's topped with fresh veggies), which I am assuming is far from the most popular menu item, but boy was it tasty. It was topped with diced pieces of zucchini and yellow squash, which seemed weird to me at first, but that combined with the fresh basil dispersed throughout ended up adding a deliciously crisp and fresh Californian vibe to the pizza. This, of course, was offset by the buttery crust, but I suppose that's what makes it unique. In any case, I loved it. This place was packed on a Friday night and beer pitchers and cocktails were flowing. Go here if you want to have the kind of fun that you don't expect to find at a seemingly family-oriented pizza restaurant. Such, perhaps, as party girls making obscene gestures between mouthfuls of big sausage pizza.
(4)Somchai S.
not a big pizza fan but my boyfriend is a fan. service was quick. i ordered the signature salad. the smallest size was huge like a big cereal bowl. there was a strange hair in my salad...and they gave me a new one... but didnt give me a discount. we ordered the appetizer platter w/ hot wings, mozz sticks, potato skins. they give u enough sauce for all. we had a large pizza w sausage, peperoni, and bacon bits. i liked the dough but not the topping. too salty. they are kind of pricey.
(2)Paul F.
Neighborhood loyalty makes it hard for me to call this better than nick and vito's on 83rd, but damn I love it so and crave it far more frequently. The crust is so buttery, savory, delicious. An earlier reviewer was beside himself disgusted by its alleged once frozenness. I don't necessarily believe it, but don't care. This is some of the perfect chicago thin crust. They generally use a higher grade of toppings then most competitors and imitators (I'm looking in your direction, though it is a pretty good look, Falco's on Archer). I particularly recommend their sausage which is well seasoned with caraway seeds. I would recommend paring it with hot giardinara and old style. No delivery keeps it from that coveted fifth star.
(4)Jeremy W.
Would have given this 5 stars several years ago but something changed with the Home Run Inn recipe. They changed the sausage!!! You can't fool us, we know good pizza! Seriously, we noticed a few years ago that the authentic Italian Sausage that they used to put on their pizza was replaced by a cheaper sausage. This place used to be the bomb back in the 90's, specifically the one on 31st and Kostner. Not as good as in the "oldern" days, but still fills a void.
(3)Charity M.
Order the "Chicago's Best" pizza if you want to get satisfied....Sausage, pepperoni, and bacon!!! The service is ok. For once I don't want to get seated upstairs, those large groups up there don't know how to stay put and control their kids. Other than that I love the pizza the crust is awesome.
(4)Amy H.
I love Home Run Inn pizza. There is something about the crust that I adore. It's thin with just enough around the edge to hold on to. It's crispy and buttery. Mmmmm-mmmmm, good!
(5)Adam H.
Home Run Inn has the best frozen pizzas money can buy. They're delicious. And because of this fact, eating at a Home Run Inn Pizzeria has been on my "to do" list for awhile now. Finally did so last night and sadly my long awaited visit was a dissapointment. I don't know how this is true, but the freshly made restuarant pizza that I ordered wasn't as good as any Home Run Inn frozen pizza I've had in the past. The restaurant pizza was greasier, not as crispy, and the sauce seemed unevenly placed on the pie. The taste was still good, didn't have any trouble eating it, but the pizza wasn't as good as a store bought pizza baked in my own oven. Add in the fact that I had to sit in a loud, busy, dinning room crammed full of strangers, eat a iceberg lettuce filled mediocre salad, and have to constantly wait for my server to pay any attention to my table, it just doesn't make sense for me to come back. I can easily buy a frozen Home Run Inn pizza, bake it exaxtly how I want it, eat a Salad Express salad, have as many drink refills as I want, and eat it all in my comfortable home in total bliss. That epxerience will be cheaper, better tasting, and more convenient. And for now on, when I want Home Run Inn pizza, that's what I'm going to to do.
(2)Michelle H.
One phrase: Extra cheese and sausage with a garlic butter crust. The best tasting pizza I know. Maybe a little high on the price, but really well worth it. The delivery time can be a little sporadic, because the place is always packed, but the time is worth the wait.
(5)Adonis L.
Great...Great...Great Chicago Pizza
(5)Anpan W.
Joined a group for pizza. We had a sausage and pepperoni, and a veggie lover's pizza, all regular crust. It was my first time in the actual restaurant (had the frozen pizzas in the past). Food and drink service was prompt. There were a lot of families, but they seated us far enough away that mutual co-existence went well.
(3)Frank L.
I've been going here for 45 years. Went to the original when it was only a corner bar with 10 table. The sausage has change some lately but the crust and sauce more than overcome that. This is the best pizza not only in Chicago, but anywhere.
(5)tony r.
i like pizza. and I've had it from a lot of places. This place violates one of my cardinal pizza rules. DO NOT FREEZE THE DOUGH. yep, home run inn has that weird translucent dough that only comes from a freezer, and it ruins a pizza. to be honest, if a place has pizza as it's showcase dish, and can't even do that right, i won't bother with the other stuff. they might have some kick-ass wings or cheese sticks, but the focus should be pizza. oh well, peizano's is right down the street........
(2)Justin L.
Great spot. A bit of a distance for us to get to but we absolutely loved the pizza. My gf is a pizza snob. She likes her Gino's without exception and it gets tiring trying to convince her that Chicago has so much more to offer than Ginos when it comes to pie. However being that we were fans of the Home Run frozen variety, we just had to give the actual restaurant a shot. And boy did it deliver. The place is big but completely packed. There was a loud and boisterous feeling in the air. People were there with date and families and just having a great time over some Chicago pie. Everyone talks of the crust. This is what makes the quintessential Home Run Inn pizza. It is the greatest pizza crust ever to be made in all of time. It does result in arterial clogs but so well worth it. One thing I must stress is keep this pie simple! The more you put on it the heavier it gets and the more difficult it is for the xl pizza to maintain its structural stability as you work toward the center. Even with a lot of toppings it is most excellent but I personally dislike eating pizza with a fork and knife. I got so excited I just jumped into the pizza review without mentioning the awesome starters. We paired the pizza arrival with a side of fries (just average) and some of the best chicken fingers in town. I know it does not take a lot to be an excellent chicken finger but it was as if they hand battered these in house with a special batter that had hints of peppers and spices you would find at Gus's World Famous (Memphis, TN). If you are a pizza lover this is a must stop. You obvious will have tried the Ginos and Lous as well as Pizza Duo and others but this one has its own flavor and character and stands apart from the others. It will remind you of everything great about throwing a classic HR frozen in the oven but with so much more in variety and options and everything wonderful.
(4)Laura P.
I used to love this place. In fact, I used to crave it. But lately, I feel the quality has declined as I know the family is focusing on their frozen pizzas. There was something lacking from the fresh, and I'm not sure I'll go out of my way anymore.
(3)Mike B.
The best Chicago-style thin crust pizza around. The buttery crust is incredible and would be good enough to eat on it's own. Add the generous amounts of cheese and toppings and this is seriously addictive.
(5)Martha Z.
Home run inn pizza tastes like it should be followed up with a game of "bags'. Which is a good thing. It consists of a thin crust and mounds of cheese. Our service on the other hand was the pits. It's a tossup. A highlight of my night consisted of overhearing a little girl in the bathroom tell her younger sister that she smelled like old collard greens. Next time I think I will try and do the lunch buffet so I wouldn't have to deal that much with poor service.
(3)Diane M.
The pizza here is cheap and they don't skimp on the toppings but it was so greasy that it kind of made me nauseous. I love pizza and no other pizza has ever had this effect on me.
(3)Koizumi Y.
I forgot who dragged me here many years ago. Suffice to say I wasn't too thrilled with the location, but the buttery thin crust on this pizza is to die for.
(4)G ..
Yuck. It tastes one of those Chef Boyardee kits you made when you were little.
(1)jay d.
ive lived around the corner from this spot like forever, we would get a two pizzas at a time one with everything, and another with everything and hot peppers, i still go there now, i went for my birthday last year, and had a mushroom, sausage, pepparoni, green peppers, bacon, is your mouth watering yet, with a buttery crust, soooo good, i remember before the renovation, when i was a kid 20+ years ago, you could hear Galaga, and Pacman arcade in the background, to this day when i hear those arcade games it reminds me of HRI, everbody knows chicago for its deep dish pizza but this place is a good example that reguler crust pizza can be spectacular tasting, looking and smelling, if you have never been here try it before the other locations, all the people talking about the neighborhood need to get out more, its fine ive never had a problem or have heard of a problem, theres parking everywhere, great spot try it.
(5)Claudia S.
Not Me: I decided on a frozen pizza from HRI for dinner. Me: Will you please pick up some cheap brand pizza for me? Thanks! Not Me: ....... I got home and proceeded to eat half of the HRI pizza and now I never hear the end of it. You see, I had tried HRI pizzas a few different times in the past and never liked it, so I was just being a brat that day. Since then, I have been begging to go to an actual location for awhile and while on the way to booze it up (naturally) we drove past this location and I exclaimed "I know what we're having for dinner!!" The pizza was delicious. I was tripped up by the fact they cut it in squares, because you just don't see that too often, but for being told the pizza tastes just like the frozen ones, I thought it was slightly better. I insisted on mozzarella sticks, he insisted on garlic cheesy bread and we lived happily ever, at least for the rest of that evening. The place gets busy, so as expected, their parking lot fills up fast. It's not cheap pizza, but when you want that cheez-it crust taste and something different than the usual Chicago stuff, Home Run Inn is a solid choice. If you love their frozen pizzas, it's worth stopping here at least once.
(4)Virginia T.
This is what I miss most about living in Chicago (besides family and friends of course!) ; good food. This pizza is the stuff of legends. The crust is perfection: just the right thickness and just the right consistency. The sauce is tomato-y and rich. The cheese is gooey and flavorful. And the Italian sausage... It's heavenly! The place is busy. Very, very busy. So the service is slow. But who cares? The pizza is worth the wait.
(5)Tina B.
I love a place that offers turkey sausage instead of pork. Pizza is so yummy! The bacon and cheddar fries are to die for! One portion feeds all 4 of our family. Everytime we visit we leave happy and full. Love the discount offers too!
(4)Phil P.
Consistency over the years.....best pizza in the city in my mind......come to 31st, where it's made fresh....lots of places mimic this spot......but this was one of the original..
(4)Jenny G.
Real pizza with real toppings. Service was great even accommodated us we we ordered in the carry out area to allow us to set at a table. Such a friendly place. Ask for Norma!
(5)Calin D.
Yes, Home Run Inn makes frozen pizza. No, the review is not for the frozen pizza, which while good, is nowhere near as good as the actual restaurant! I've made two pilgrimages to the original place, and I'll go again. This is Chicago Pizza at it's finest folks, trust me.
(5)Alejandro A.
The pizza here has changed alot over the years and not in a good way. It used to be WAY better. The spicy wings are salty as hell. Its gets loud and plenty of the customers reek of weed. The staff is also lacking and can be rude as hell at times. It has truly become a ghetto pizza place.
(3)Michael P.
Went to Home Run Inn today (original). Had a party of 8. Was seated with no wait. Host was very friendly and servers were very friendly and attentive as well. Because it was a large group there were plenty of things to try today. Ordered a Ceasar Salad, a loaded cheese fry, mozzarella stuffed meatballs, rigatoni, cheesy garlic bread, a mushroom pizza, and a sausage pizza. Now one thing a person has to remember here is all their food here is very rich. Everything was prepared well. The salad was good, a typical Ceasar except instead of anchovies it has bacon and garbonzo beans. The cheese fries are good lots of cheese, plenty of bacon and the fries were crispy. The stuffed meatballs were tasty, soft and juicy and I love their maranara. The rigatoni is the same (maranara) and plenty of cheese. There is not much to say about cheesy garlic bread (salty, buttery and cheesy) which of course, I dip in the maranara. And pizza are great (with butter garlic crust). Now for myself they a tendency to be a bit salty, but I like it best later on at home reheated (I woukd say it just me, but everyone I know says the same). Either way the food is great, the location is nastolgic, and it is a great place for friends to hangout.
(4)Hannah H.
Mmm, sausage and cheese on their regular crust - they give you 2 small plastic tubs of hot pepper and Parm cheese to sprinkle over; the pizza tastes even better when it's cold. Kind of salty, but just the way I like it. It is a bit pricey, though - a large sets you back at about $23. My dad and I love their pizza! :D +sausage & cheese pizza :D
(5)Diana G.
My guy didn't feel like driving to the Archer location so we came here. Besides, it's the original so gotta try it. Service is not that attentive. She took our order and never really came to check up on us. I think the pizza here might be a little better than the Archer location, but not by much. A bit pricey and service isn't the best. They do have a parking lot. I still think their frozen pizzas is one of the best.
(3)Bonnie G.
Im a Cicero transplant living in Southern CA. The pizza here absoultely sucks and I have to order from Lou's on line or now that I have found you, I can get my Home Run Inn Italian Sausage fix from Sprouts Farmers Market.. Who would have thunk? So happy to see it in groceries stores. I cooked mine up this weekend and it was as good as eating in the pizzeria, with that authentic Chicago Italian Sausage flavor that only Chicagoan's can do. Thanks for being in my market place!
(5)Anne M.
One word, disappointed. We asked for water and they brought out pitcher that tasted of strong alcohol. We had kids with us and I'm thankful they only had a sip. Manager and waitress just apologized. I wish they really tasted how awful it was.....we didn't even get a courtesy credit or discount. It was a $121 tab. This was a place my husband used to go to when he was little and his dad was still alive. Not sure if we'll be back. I mean the pitcher had alcohol in it!!
(2)Bradly J.
I brought my mentoring group of 17 teenage guys plus my staff here. The service was great! The host was pleasant and even took our picture. Our server was on the money. We ordered tons of pizza( sausage, cheese and pepperoni ) all were delicious!
(5)sarah a.
Hi I remember the days when moms would buy Home Run Inn pizza for me and my brothers throughout the years and it made us feel so good. I live in California and have been away from Chicago for a little over 10 years in which I would always fantasize about the distinctive taste that Home Run Inn pizza had to offer. For 10 years I had that original taste still stuck in my taste bud memory bank trapped in a time capsule, I could remember the buttery edge crust like it was yesterday, the mozzarella cheese smothering the thick sausages, the heavy square slices that would literally overflow in my hand with goodness. So when I finally went to visit my parents in Chicago, This Home Run Inn was the first place on my list to visit as this was the place my mother would always get our pizza from. I took my California family who never had Home Run Inn pizza before and I was raving how this was the best pizza in the world. Finally the moment arrived, Home Run Inn pizza has made its way to our table. 10 years of yearning, fantasizing, and screaming out Home Run Inn in my sleep has now come to an end. First thing that hit me was the size of the pizza way smaller then I remember and less amount that seemed to be used on the pizza, no more thick crust edges like 10 years ago, no more thick sausages and overflowing mozzarella cheese like I remember. Okay so I told myself this shouldn't be a big deal; calm down. Finally the true moment arrived, the moment that my taste buds of over 10 years have been waiting for. I take a bite into the pizza and instantly I was in shock, something wasn't right, I don't know how to explain it but my taste buds was delaying information to my brain to figure out what was going on. The Home Run Inn pizza that I eaten on so many occasions with my mother and brothers tasted different. My natural instincts told me that this pizza was an impostor. Of course it had the distinct taste of Home Run Inn but something was off, something was not right. I mean I don't smoke and I don't drink, so I know my taste buds are not damaged. Maybe it was the less amount ingredients they used or the use of a less buttery crust I don't know but the pizza I ate here was not the ORIGINAL pizza I remember so long ago. After I left I was traumatized, my heart was literally saddened by what I had just encountered. I couldn't believe the one thing I worshiped so much and was a big part of my memory with family was somehow taken away from me. I was literally blown away at what they have done with the ORIGINAL pizza, I mean my instinctive reaction did not respond with joy which usually happened every time I would eat Home Run Inn pizza. If you are new at eating this new style of Home Run Inn then you probably wouldn't know what I am talking about but if you are someone who grew up eating the real ORIGINAL style then you definitely know what I am talking about. I will end this review with a note to the ORIGINAL Home Run Inn pizza. TO: Mr. Original (HOME RUN INN Pizza) Sorry for your early departure it was a pleasure to have known you for so many years. You were there when our family needed you the most and you always brightened up our day whenever you were around. May you rest in peace and I will carry you with me in memory. Sincerely, Sarah NOTE: The review is in regards to the pizza itself, the restaurant had nothing to do with my rating. The only complaint would be the booth. I would recommend that they design the booth separately, reason why, whenever the next door neighbor in the other booth would move our booth would move as well.
(1)Yolanda T.
I remember eating here when I was a kid. It's not the same anymore. When my family went here 20 years and 5 grandchildren later, I don't feel the same about this place. I used to play the video games downstairs in the lobby. I used to always get the stuffed little animals in the machine that nobody else could seem to get. On to the food...I can't justify paying $18 for a SMALL 3 topping thin crust pizza. The prices went waaayyyy up, and I felt a tinge of racism! WHY did they have all of the whites on the first floor and all of the blacks in the second floor? All of those tables on the first floor, but they took us upstairs. I don't think that's right. We are paying customers just like all the others, so why was my family of 10 (me, my parents, 2 sisters and 5 grandchildren) sent upstairs to a dark corner?! It has been close to a year ago after it happen, and it still bothers me! The food is still good, but they are stingy with the toppings, and the food is overpriced. Our bill was $120 and some change. I'm not sure if we will be back again anytime soon or at all!
(3)Pilsen C.
Good God.... you really had to go and change EVERYTHING about the original recipe, didn't you? No more butter crust, tasted something like mayo in the sauce, and subpar cheese left me with a greasy, oily mess of a cheese pizza. Will never order again.
(1)Maxxy C.
I dined at Home Run Inn today for lunch. I had not been here for years. They now feature a buffet. Pretty smart of the owners! Unlimited pizza, very nice salad and plenty of other delicious food items on the menu. Nice beer on tap. I wanted a Seagram 7 & 7Up. They did not have Seagram and the waitress was wonderful, she did not try to push off the VO to me, so I had the Stella Artois which was delicious!!! Will dine here more often!!! Fabulous!!!
(4)Ronald M.
By far the worst decision of my first day being 30th to attend this location the pizza came out late as well as the appetizers then when me and family asked to turn to the Bulls game when no one in the place was watching tv but the workers it was a problem for them to turn the tv then once I asked to speak to the manager no one never came to the table I have lost all respect for the place and will spread the word to everyone I know to boycott and never eat this pizza again or go to there restaurants last but not least the the waiter whom spoke loudly that she don't give a fuck what we wanted to watch and told the others workers to do not turn from Cubs game and when the the manager came to see what she told her I don't know what they wanted smiling long story short home run inn has just lost a costumer for life
(1)Nicki P.
As a Chicago an born and raised, I know I'm supposed to love stuffed or pan style pizza but I actually don't love those styles as much as a great thin. Home Run Inn is a step above the rest, the ingredients they use are the freshest and of the highest quality. Unlike many other pizzas, I look forward to the crust as much as the rest of the pie. The crust is the best around and just as flavorful as all other bites. I live in Logan square now but if I am craving pizza, I will make the trek all the way to little village without question just for this pizza. If you haven't tried it you are seriously missing out. Also, I don't mean the frozen although it's good, but nothing compared to the real deal. One thing I don't love as much is the price, they are pretty pricey as far as pizza goes but you get what you pay for, and in this case that's pizza that is amazing!
(5)Jovanna O.
Yummy, but kinda salty. I usually get the frozen kind from the grocery store. This is the first time I've had the real deal. I ordered the Carmel cake and it was cold and hard. Don't waste your time on the cake. Update....I tasted the cake the next morning after it warmed up and it was pretty good. The frosting was the best. The cake was more like a thick pound cake. It was okay.
(4)Dimples B.
They are really good if your ordering an actual pizza but if you plan in going to the buffet which is like 13 dollars then be prepared for paying for frozen pizza. Don't get me wrong the frozen pizza is good but the actual one is twice as better. Been eating here all my life.
(4)Alejandra R.
Great pizza! Food is served in huge portions! Excellent customer service!
(5)Jose C.
If you like pizza, sports, and true Chicago culture, Home Run Inn is the place for you. If you are visiting Chicago from somewhere else, PLEASE do not go to get deep dish from one of those big shiny places downtown. Deep dish is the most overrated food in the city - I don't know anyone who eats it. Come to Home Run Inn, and mingle among the blue-collar, everyday Chicago people and have a good time. Pizza is great and the appetizers are excellent as well.
(4)Christina S.
I'm a huge pizza person and if I want thin crust pizza this is the place to go. This home run inn has new owners because I've been here from the beginning butt the pizza is still delicious. Now the service isn't all that good last time I went I had to ask for my drinks and refills. She stood to the side and talked with another waitress the whole time and didn't ask how we were doing or if we wanted dessert
(4)Mr. A.
Still has the best pizza in Chicago in my opinion. Went there recently after many years and pizza was the same as before.
(5)Saúl F.
As another reviewer mentioned, "Home Run Inn is Chicago Pizza," and I wholeheartedly agree. I grew up a few blocks from here, and one thing was certain, everyone knew that Home Run was the Mecca of pizza in Chicago. Okay maybe that's hyperbole, but you get my point. Back to the pizza, the crust is soft and chewy, but crispy at the same time. How do they do it? I have no idea, but it works. There is plenty of sauce and cheese on everything, love it.
(5)Ashley W.
The best pizza spot next to Lou Malnatis. My favorite place to go for a beer and pizza while watching whatever sporting event. Great family spot too
(4)Kevin S.
This pizza is what should represent Chicago, not the cheesy, gooey deep dish! I live in this neighborhood and the pizza is superb top quality always. I only go here for special occasions since it's sort of pricey but it worthy of a graduation celebration or communion. It's your old school man cave with many baseball memorabilia plaque, photographs, and autographs from players of the golden age of baseball of the Go Go Sox and Cubbies! This is a baseball fans paradise and sports fan. To start off, the pizza tastes amazing. Any ingredient you want tastes as it has been picked in the garden. The cheese, sauce, and the buttery crust is a match made in heaven. There have been many people who would not pay and try to scheme the servers. For example kids being served alcohol or putting hairs in pizza when the pizza is almost all gone. It's that good. Derrick Rose has ate here too!
(5)Vanessia M.
My family's entire dine-in experience was ruined due to staff and management. We were out celebrating my husband's 30th birthday.While we were sitting and waiting for our food, my husband and father in law was watching the basketball game. At that time the Oklahoma team was playing but they wanted to watch the Chicago Bulls. When we asked our waiter if the game could be switched she responded "I think we have to keep it on this channel for advertisement or something but I'll check." When she asked the bartender which was a man, he looked at our table with a discerned facial expression and said "what do they want to watch. I'm not turning to anything." We could hear everything that the waiters were saying about us and how they felt, all over turning the television which I might is for the consumers enjoyment and not the staff. The bartender turned the channel but turned it to the Chicago Cubs game instead, we could over her a waiter by the name of Regina say "leave it here I want to watch this, don't turn this channel." My husband proceeded to tell our waitress by the name of Claudia that he wanted the Bulls game but since he heard the other waitress by the name of Regina making a fuss and clearly stating that she didn't care what we wanted to watch, we then asked to speak to the manager. When Claudia told Regina that we were requesting the manager we clearly over heard her say "I don't give no F**k." At that time I was livid because I needed see the need for Claudia to tell Regina anything she should have went to get the manager and furthermore I didn't like Regina's response. She stormed off with a attitude and Claudia assured us that the manager was coming out. We were there for at least a hr more and the manager never came out to address our issue, no concern or even come by to talk to us period. The manager name was Judy, and she came out of her office and went to the bar to ask what happened, Regina said nothing, the bartender said something about a tv and she walked away. I have nerve ever in my history of going to restaurants waited for a manager to come out and greet the customers with concern in less than 5 minutes and then to be ignored altogether I was appalled. My sister in law went to the restroom and then to speak to the manage. She was told that the manager was on a really busy call then some guy came out and she told him what happened and his response was "how about I turn all of the tv's off then" hinting like we were in the wrong. Luckily the waitress that initially said that Judy was on the phone was there to back our story up because she had no idea that we heard everything that was being said, so fortunately she couldn't deny the truth. As my sister in law was walking back to the table, Regina was starring at her so my sister in law told her that was very rude the way we were treated over a meaningless changing of channels when we are the customers and she is staff and that she was there to work and not watch tv. Regina responded "I'm not about to argue with you, I said what I said." No one came to apologize about what took place or about our experience, there was no complimentary products offered or anything taken off of our bill in which was not the goal in the beginning. However, an apology from the manager on behalf of her staff would have been very nice and appreciated instead we got nothing until we paid the bill and then our waitress replied "you can fill out the survey about your experience, good or bad, sorry about that." I will never visit this restaurant ever again and will share my experience and concerns with my family members and friends as well who also like to frequent this restaurant and buy the frozen products. This was the worst time my family has ever experienced and due to the negativity and unprofessional-ism of the staff my husbands birthday dinner was ruined. Home Run Inn at 4254 W. 31st St. Chicago, IL 60623 is the worst and the staff there will be the downfall of the business. I've heard bad things about this particular location but never personally experienced anything until Monday, April 13th, 2015 and I will never step foot back in those doors again thanks to Regina (rude and lazy staff member who wants to watch baseball at work) and Judy (the manager.
(1)Austeja B.
A VERY BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! I used to love Home Run Inn pizza I heard the restaurant in little village was the best. We went on a Sunday and we were greeted with not such happy hostesses. They gave us a ticket with a table # on it and told us it was upstairs. I thought the point of a hostess was to show us to our table? Not have us stand in the middle of the restaurant looking for our table. We had a great server her name was Blanca and she was serving on the whole upstairs, which was full. (probably the only good thing about that place) Once we sat down we noticed a few things right away. This place was like a cafeteria. It was VERY loud there were kids running around everywhere and being in little village we were surprised to see the majority of African Americans. What I'm trying to say is that it was ghetto. But the worst part of all was the pizza... We ordered one with black olives, muchrooms, jalapenos, bell peppers and bacon. The toppings were good but the crust was trash. I think it wasn't even cooked all the way because it tasted like straight yeast. We will never come again we had expected a lot more from a place that had such great recommendations. From reading other reviews I'm assuming it wasn't this bad before.
(1)Rick B.
Pizza is still good and the neighborhood is still cheesy. They changed the cookie monster for dessert though - used to be a nice big cookie baked on site...now they use store bought and simply heat them up in a microwave. Not as good. Skip the cookie monster and stick with the pizza.
(3)Jose G.
I have to admit, it's not what it used to be. I grew up in the neighborhood and this was the best pizza. I still love the thin crust and I'd give the pizza 5 stars, just this place can't deserve the perfect score. The places hires tons of young kids which in this case drops the service a bit and makes it inconsistent in my opinion. By the Italian sausage with fennel seeds, great crust and good sauce makes this some memorable pizza. Everything is pretty good here but it is on the pricy side and you'll usually have to wait for the pizza and deal with crowds. The atmosphere wasn't always the selling point here but you won't regret the pizza and it's not like the frozen ones you buy in the store so try the real thing. Note: I think the best location is their Archer location.
(4)Carrie H.
My all time favorite pizza! I've been to the Home Run Inn Restaurants in the burbs and they're good but the original is still the best in my book. I love this place! I've been going here since I was a kid.
(5)PizzaPaparazzi C.
Great history. Ordered XL 1/2 Italian beef and giardiniera 1/2 sausage, onion and mushroom. Thought the pizza was just ok. Food is a bit pricey. Next time would like to try lunch buffet.
(2)Joe Ann O.
I long for the quality of HRI from the past. My last three experiences have been disappointing. Twice the pizza wasn't fresh. Thought we'd dine in this time thinking the pizza wd be hot/fresh. No such luck...stale and salty. Guess I'll have to agree with my husband and give up on HRI.
(2)Maria G.
It ain't what it used to be. If you come here after a long hiatus (like I did), you will be longing for the days of old. The interior of this location is exactly the same as i remember it to be eons ago, very dark wood with dark furniture. The pizzas used to be bigger, fresher and packed with flavor. Now, sure their tasty but seemed to be lacking something. Our party ordered 3 Xlarge pizzas and one guest ordered a sandwich. The sandwich came out in like 15 mins while the pizzas took about 45. A little awkward as we were barely digging in to the pizza and the sandwich eater was already picking his teeth! If you're coming here, expect to wait awhile for your pie and experience lackluster service from the staff. Do get the Garlic Fireball pizza or the Nick's Super as those are my faves!
(3)Reece R.
The pizza is always great and have never had a problem or anything to complain about until my last visit. One of the waitress's that wasn't even assigned to our area came over to change the channel on the TV while 4 tables were watching the Bulls playoff game Friday night. When I asked why she changed it she only said that management told her to do it? Management? When everyone complained she rudely walked away and ignored everyone. I told our waiter and he changed the channel but she kept mumbling every time she passed by which even resulted in her coworkers giving her the cold shoulder and leaving her on her own to look even dumber. Overall food is great but service sucked that night.
(2)Sunnette V.
I have been eating at this restaurant for over 40 years, at this original location. I really enjoy the pizza. The crust and ingredients are excellent! I especially enjoy the chilli. I really wish I had the recipe to make the chilli at home for my family. I wish home run inn would make a cook book for some of their much loved recipes.
(5)Daniela V.
I've gone here my whole life. I am from Chicago and I would easily choose HRI over any other place. It's far and in a shady area but it's worth it. It's so Chicago. They don't have deep dish- no, but the crust is unbelievable and buttery and made with delicious herbs. The HRI salad is great. I love getting a long island and eating the pizza. It feels so right. Don't be scared, yuppies.. just try it.
(5)Jeremy L.
I used to go here with family all the time for birthday parties as a kid.. Haven't been in about 7 years. I went yesterday and the pizza is just as good as I remember! This place has been a south side Chicago staple for years! Went on a Thursday evening for pick-up. We got 2 XL pizzas. One Italian Sausage and the other meatlobver's. Bother were superb! Pizza was piping hot with perfect amount of cheese and meat toppings --no skimpy business here. We also ordered a pasta dish (chicken alfredo) and a side salad. Pasta was good, except they didn't put enough grilled chicken. A few pieces surbmerged in a bed of saucy pasta didn't really cut it. Overall, great food. If you have the time, definitely worth the sit-down experience. From what I could tell, good service, as the dining room was packed with families on a Thursday evening. Can't go wrong with their Italian sausage pizza! P.S. They have a buffet Monday-Thursday for $9.99 which sounds great.. If only I worked in that area of the city. lol.
(4)Nika H.
Ok Pizza.....Overpriced drinks
(3)Vishal S.
For some reason the frozen pizzas tastes better
(3)Paul C.
Now I have to admit that I haven't been to this location in years, BUT, as a local neighborhood kid who grew up playing baseball across the street at Pietrowski Park, Home Run Inn (or HRI as the locals call it) is simply the BEST pizza I've ever had. I'm pushing 50 now, and I can easily recall the days when we'd go to HRI and savor the incredible sweet marinara, unctuous mozzarella, savory mushrooms and best of all that sweet fennel Italian Sausage, combined with that buttery - flaky crust and voila, you have the best pizza ever. Now I do love Giodanno's Stuffed Pizza, don't get me wrong. But when I come home to Chicago, I always try to get HRI. Next time, I'll go back to this old neighborhood location and see IF the standards have been kept. I've read some reviews which said it has not, BUT, I'm giving HRI 5 Stars because of what it represents - THE BEST. Thank GOD that I can at least get frozen HRI pizza's here in Charlotte. I'd be lost without them. Certainly not nearly as good as the fresh pies, but by FAR the best FROZEN out there bar none. Nothing even comes close!
(5)Andre E.
Well I have never been a huge pizza fan....but when I wanted some real good Chicago Style Pizza I headed to Home Run Inn. This location was about 15 minutes from my house but I would really only stop by when I was coming home from work. Since I worked at Midway airport....if I was craving pizza I would just stop here on my way home and grab a pie. It was always pretty crowded and parking was a challenge because this location is in the "hood" so to speak....but usually it didn't take to long for me to get my food even though I didn't call it in. The service and prices were pretty decent....but the pizza was AWESOME. I kind of regret I didn't go here more often....but if your ever in Chi-town and want some good pizza give home run inn a try. Eat, Drink, and be Merry my Friends!!!!
(4)