Best Pizza in The Woodlands, TX: Pizzerias by Style

The Woodlands has more serious pizza options than most Houston suburbs give it credit for. Nine pizzerias are currently open, from a coal-fired Brooklyn transplant overlooking the Waterway to a family shop that has made New York-style slices here since 1996. This guide organizes them by style so you can match the pizza to the craving.

For boundaries: we cover the master-planned Township of The Woodlands (ZIP codes 77380–77385 and 77389), roughly Hardy Toll Road to the east, Spring Creek to the south, and Grand Parkway (99) to the north. One entry, Zalat Pizza, sits on Research Forest Drive in Shenandoah — a separate city that shares the Town Center corridor — and is included for its proximity and late-night hours.

How we chose

Every pizzeria on this list has confirmed open hours on its official website or official social page as of October 2026, with an address verified in The Woodlands or immediately adjacent Shenandoah. We organized by style because that's how pizza decisions actually work. Chains with no editorial story and places whose sites no longer show current hours were left out.

Coal-fired pizza

Grimaldi's Pizzeria

20 Waterway Ave Suite 100, The Woodlands (Waterway District) · open daily

Grimaldi's is the only coal-fired-oven pizzeria in The Woodlands. Coal fires reach temperatures that wood and gas ovens can't match — the result is a thin crust with a char that's crackling at the edge and chewy in the center. The two-story Waterway location has one of the better pizza-eating rooms in the suburbs, with views over the waterway from the upper floor.

What to order: The classic Margherita — fresh-sliced mozzarella, tomato sauce, basil — is where a coal oven earns its keep. The White with Garlic (fresh mozzarella, olive oil, no red sauce) is the second-best test. By-the-slice service runs until 3pm daily.

Hours: typically Sunday–Thursday 11am–10pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–11pm. Check the official site before you go.

New York-style pizza

Brothers Pizza Express

6700 Woodlands Pkwy Suite 100 (Sterling Ridge) and 2260 Buckthorne Pl Unit 173 (Grogan's Mill) · closed Mondays

Brothers has been making New York-style pizza in The Woodlands since 1996 — longer than most of the community's current restaurants have existed. The pies are hand-tossed and come out as large rounds; slices are cut from 20-inch pies made to order. The Meat Lovers and classic pepperoni are the reliable calls.

The insider note: Brothers pizzas take 45 minutes or more from order to table. That's because they're made from scratch. Call ahead or plan for a long sit.

Hours: typically Tuesday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–10pm, Sunday noon–9pm.

Russo's New York Pizzeria

3335 College Park Dr Suite 300, The Woodlands · open daily

Russo's has been a Houston pizza institution since 1978, and the College Park location brings the full New York-Italian treatment north: dough made with premium flour and Sicilian extra virgin olive oil, pastas and sauces made in-house, and a menu that goes well past pizza. The Truffle Burrata & Prosciutto pizza and the Vodka Sauce Shrimp (made with Gulf shrimp) are the upgrades worth choosing over a standard pepperoni pie.

Hours: typically Sunday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–10pm. Check the official site before you go.

Multi-style and specialty slices

RC's NYC Pizza & Pasta

501 Sawdust Rd Suite 1, The Woodlands · closed Tuesdays

RC's is the most underrated pizzeria in The Woodlands, and the one most likely to stop a pizza nerd in their tracks. The menu spans hand-tossed New York thin, a double-proofed two-inch Sicilian square, a Grandma pie, New Haven–style apizza (thin and heavily charred), and a Chicago deep dish. Five styles under one roof in a suburban strip mall is unusual; RC's has entered national pizza competitions, which makes the range less surprising once you know it.

What to order: Try the New Haven apizza or the deep dish on your first visit. The Meaty New Yorker (pepperoni, Italian sausage, smoked ham, meatballs, bacon) is the move for a hand-tossed pie. Slices are cut from 20-inch pies made to order.

Hours: typically Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 11am–8pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–9pm.

Chicago-style thin crust

Crust Pizza Co.

Three locations: 4775 W. Panther Creek Dr (Panther Creek), 8000 Research Forest Dr Suite 340 (Alden Bridge), 26400 Kuykendahl Rd Suite A120 (Creekside) · open daily

Crust makes a style that Houston pizza conversations often skip: Chicago thin crust, also called tavern-style. This is not deep dish — it's a flat, cracker-crisp crust that's rolled (never tossed), cut into squares, and lighter than it looks. The dough is made fresh multiple times daily and never frozen. With three locations spread across The Woodlands, it's also the most convenient option when you want something different from hand-tossed.

What to order: A classic pepperoni on the thin crust to understand what the style does. The Chicken Alfredo is a reliable non-red-sauce option; the Hawaiian is a top reviewer pick.

Hours: typically Sunday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–10pm.

Independent hand-tossed

Pizza Tonight

27190 Glen Loch Dr, The Woodlands · pickup and delivery only · closed Mondays

Pizza Tonight is a no-frills neighborhood shop — no dine-in, just pickup and delivery. The pies are made from dough prepared fresh daily and the creative toppings go well beyond the standard red-sauce menu. The D's Greek Pizza (olive oil base, spinach, artichoke hearts, feta) and the Texas BBQ (BBQ sauce, chicken, red onion, three-cheese blend) are both worth trying as an alternative to a plain pepperoni.

Hours: typically Tuesday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–10pm, Sunday noon–9pm.

Zoner's Pizza

8000 McBeth Way, The Woodlands · dinner only · open daily

Zoner's is an evening-only neighborhood spot where you can watch the dough being stretched through a window from the dining room. The detail worth noting: Zoner's makes 24-inch pies, four inches larger than a standard large, which is noticeably more pizza for a group. The Taco Pizza and the Chicken Alfredo are regulars on local best-of lists; the 24-inch Margherita is a clean way to see what the crust does.

Hours: typically Sunday–Thursday 4pm–10pm, Friday–Saturday 4pm–11pm.

Craft and bold-flavor pizza

Zalat Pizza (Shenandoah)

1620 Research Forest Dr Suite 200, Shenandoah · late nights Friday and Saturday

Zalat is technically in Shenandoah, the small city bordering The Woodlands Town Center on Research Forest Drive. The Dallas-based chain makes hand-tossed pizza with flavor combinations that lean heavy: the Pepperoni Masterclass uses all-beef pepperoni for a deeper, beefier bite; the Elote pizza translates Mexican street corn onto dough; and the Pho Shizzle plays with Vietnamese-inspired flavors. The menu rotates, so check the site before going for a specific pie.

The gimmick worth knowing: The Reaper Roulette Challenge buries one unmarked nuclear-spicy slice in a box of otherwise normal pizza. With a group, this makes dinner memorable.

Why it's on this list: The late-night Friday–Saturday hours (open until 2am) are the main reason. After the bars close in The Woodlands, options narrow fast.

Hours: typically Monday–Thursday 11am–11pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–2am, Sunday 11am–10pm.

Save this: The Woodlands pizza route and checklist

• For coal-fired char: Grimaldi's on the Waterway; by-the-slice until 3pm.
• For NY-style by the slice: Brothers Pizza Express (call ahead — pizzas take 45+ minutes).
• For deep dish or New Haven apizza: RC's NYC on Sawdust Rd; the deep dish has a national competition placement.
• For tavern-cut thin crust: Crust Pizza Co. — three locations across The Woodlands.
• For pickup or delivery only: Pizza Tonight on Glen Loch Dr.
• For 24-inch pies: Zoner's on McBeth Way, dinner service only.
• For late-night (after 11pm): Zalat Pizza on Research Forest Dr, open until 2am Friday–Saturday.
• For families: RC's, Crust and Zoner's have the most relaxed family settings.

A short evening route: Start at Grimaldi's for a pre-dinner drink and a slice (until 3pm) or a full pie. Walk the Waterway, then end at one of the bars listed in our best bars in The Woodlands guide.

More eating and drinking in The Woodlands

For the full dining picture, the best restaurants guide for The Woodlands covers everything from Tex-Mex to steakhouses. Weekend brunches are in the best brunch in The Woodlands guide. If you're visiting with kids, kid-friendly restaurants in The Woodlands has the full list.

The Woodlands is also covered in our things to do in The Woodlands guide and the broader best restaurants in Houston guide if you want to compare across the metro.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pizza in The Woodlands, TX?

The best pizza in The Woodlands depends on the style: Grimaldi's Pizzeria on the Waterway is the only coal-fired option; RC's NYC Pizza on Sawdust Rd covers the most styles (NY thin, deep dish, Sicilian, New Haven); Brothers Pizza Express has been the neighborhood's top-voted NY-style shop since 1996; and Crust Pizza Co. is the go-to for Chicago-style thin crust.

Is there a coal-fired pizza place in The Woodlands?

Yes. Grimaldi's Pizzeria at 20 Waterway Ave in The Woodlands Town Center is the only coal-fired-oven pizzeria in The Woodlands. It is open daily, typically 11am–10pm Sunday through Thursday and until 11pm on Friday and Saturday.

Does The Woodlands have deep dish pizza?

Yes. RC's NYC Pizza & Pasta at 501 Sawdust Rd makes a Chicago deep dish that placed fourth at the 2022 US Pizza Cup in Chicago. RC's also offers New York thin, Sicilian, Grandma, and New Haven-style apizza.

What pizza place in The Woodlands is open late?

Zalat Pizza at 1620 Research Forest Dr in adjacent Shenandoah is open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights, making it the only late-night pizza option in the immediate area.

Which pizza restaurant in The Woodlands has been open the longest?

Brothers Pizza Express has been operating in The Woodlands since 1996, making it one of the oldest continuously operating pizzerias in the community. It has two locations: Sterling Ridge and Grogan's Mill.

Does The Woodlands have NY-style pizza by the slice?

Yes. Brothers Pizza Express and RC's NYC Pizza & Pasta both offer NY-style slices cut from full 20-inch pies made to order. Grimaldi's Pizzeria also offers coal-fired slices, but only until 3pm daily.