The Beloved Restaurant Behind Costco's $90 Frozen Pizza Trio

Giordano's is a Chicago staple known for deep dish pizza

When you arrive in Chicago, deep-dish pizza is never far away. Due to its immense popularity, there are numerous restaurants offering this beloved dish, but Giordano's comes highly recommended and boasts a rich history in the city. Established in 1974, the restaurant's family recipe actually traces back over 200 years to northern Italy, where it originated as a dish called Italian Easter Pie. Traditionally served at the end of Lent, this dish resembles a double-crusted quiche filled with cheese, meats, and eggs. The Giordano matriarch, however, adapted the recipe to create a pizza version.

Creating a Giordano's deep-dish pizza is quite straightforward. It begins with a thick, flaky crust that has high sides. This crust is then filled with mozzarella cheese and any desired toppings. A second layer of pie crust is placed on top, followed by a generous amount of pizza sauce. The restaurant also features the lesser-known Chicago tavern-style pizza, which is characterized by its thin crust and is typically cut into rectangular slices rather than being thick and stuffed.

While Giordano's is primarily recognized for its presence in Illinois, where it operates 46 locations, there are also several other outlets across the United States, including in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

Why the $90 trio at Costco is a steal

Now that we've highlighted Giordano's reputation, let's delve into Costco's offer. Deep-dish pizzas are substantial and require more ingredients than standard pizzas. The elevated crust forms a two-to-three-inch barrier for the toppings, which are generously stacked. As a result, this dish tends to be pricier than the average pizza. Costco's price of $89.99 includes three different 10" deep-dish stuffed pizzas from the pizzeria: a cheese pizza, a pepperoni pizza, and a sausage pizza. In contrast, purchasing a trio directly from Giordano's website would cost you $109.99. Both Costco and the website provide free shipping, but there's still a $20 price gap.

Costco is well-known for its affordability, offering large pizzas and brand-name pantry staples at reasonable prices. The store also limits the selection of each product to keep costs low, which is not the case with Giordano's. When you buy the trio from Costco, you're restricted to those three specific pizzas, while ordering from the restaurant allows for customization. This means that vegetarians can choose three cheese pizzas or mix it up with a spinach pizza. Thus, the price difference is justified. If you're not particular about your toppings, you can enjoy significant savings at Costco while still bringing home a cherished taste of Chicago!