This National Cheese Pizza Day isn’t just about eating pizza, it’s about honoring Wisconsin dairy farmers, whose high-quality milk becomes the Wisconsin Cheese in every epic Lou Malnati’s cheese pull.

To showcase that superior quality in action, the social media Cheese Pull Challenge invites customers to order their favorite pizza from any Lou Malnati’s location for dine-in, pickup or delivery, then showcase their cheese pull skills by tagging @loumalnatis and using #LMCheesePullChallenge on Facebook or Instagram. The contest runs September 5-10, 2025, and the winner will receive free cheese pizza for an entire year.

Since 1971, the Chicago-born company has built its reputation on deep dish pizza while staying true to the original Chicago-style pizza recipe. Its legendary flavor starts with Proudly Wisconsin Cheese, crafted from the milk of Wisconsin dairy farmers to deliver the premium mozzarella that defines its family recipe.

“National Cheese Pizza Day gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate our partnership with Wisconsin dairy farmers,” said Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati’s. “While others celebrate with any pizza, we’re highlighting the specific Wisconsin cheese that makes our Chicago deep dish distinctive. That unique flavor and texture creates the perfect melt and those memorable stretches our customers love.”

Wisconsin has spent more than 180 years perfecting the art of cheesemaking. With 90% of the state’s renowned quality milk dedicated to cheese and more than 1,200 expert makers—many third-and-fourth generation—who carry forward a legacy of craftsmanship recognized around the world.

Can your cheese pull achieve the gold standard? Compare your results with Lou Malnati’s cheese pull on Instagram (@loumalnatis) serving as the ultimate stretch. Whether you’re dining in or trying the challenge at home, Lou Malnati’s commitment to premium Wisconsin mozzarella creates results other pizzas simply can’t achieve.

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CHICAGO — (August 29, 2025) – Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria invites the community to support cancer research through its 53rd Annual Cancer Research Benefit on Saturday, September 27, and various fundraising initiatives throughout September.

The annual benefit continues more than five decades of commitment that began in 1971 when Lou Malnati first organized a benefit to honor his friend who battled cancer. What started as a small gathering has grown into one of Chicago’s longest-running charitable events, raising $4 million in the last five years alone for the Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Gilda’s Club of Chicago, and Pickles Group.

Ways to Support:
Dessert to Donate Campaign (August 29 – September 30): Lou Malnati’s will donate $1 from every dessert purchased to Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Foundation.

In-Store Donations: Guests can purchase Donation Circles at all Lou Malnati’s locations throughout September or round up their bill to the nearest dollar when checking out.

Annual Benefit Event: The 53rd Annual Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Benefit will take place on Saturday, September 27, at The Matrix Club in Naperville. The evening will feature dinner, entertainment, silent and live auctions, and raffle prizes. Event tickets must be purchased in advance, and raffle tickets and donations are also available at www.LMCB.org. Raffle winners do not need to be present to win.

“For 53 years, our customers and community have helped us support vital cancer research,” said Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati’s. “Every donation, whether through our dessert-to-donate program, in-store giving, or attending our benefit, makes a difference in the fight against cancer. This cause has been close to our family’s heart since my father started this tradition.”

The Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Foundation has funded research at leading institutions and has contributed to advances in cancer treatment and patient care. All proceeds benefit cancer research efforts. For more information about donation options and benefit tickets, visit www.LMCB.org, loumalnatis.com, or any Lou Malnati’s location.

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CHICAGO(March 19, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC announced Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria – Chicago’s Legendary Pizza – as the proud deep dish pizza partner for the team. The Chicago collaboration will combine the delicious delicacy of Lou Malnati’s pizza with the heat of the Chicago Fire and will offer hungry fans the ultimate soccer experience. There will be various activations, game day deals and unique offers for guests while serving signature specialties and friendly hospitality to the Chicago Fire FC Team to support the staff.

To kick off the partnership, Lou Malnati’s is thrilled to offer two lucky guests a unique VIP experience, Center Circle, at the May 10 game vs Atlanta United FC. Guests who join Lou’s Rewards by May 1, 2025 will get a chance to win 2 VIP tickets at Chicago Fire VIP Ticket Giveaway which includes going on center pitch mid game to hold the Center Circle Deep Dish Pizza. Additionally, Lou’s Rewards members will receive surprise and delight treats to celebrate the season and create memorable moments. It will also provide catering for the Chicago Fire club with deep dish pizza for the players, coaches, office and staff to fuel up all season. For more fan engagement, guests can join Lou’s Rewards loyalty program for all the inside scoop here.

Lou Malnati’s will be present at Soldier Field throughout the season with game day activations and fan friendly experiences. Slice of Victory will provide unique Lou’s offers for fans to celebrate each Fire win. The home game on April 13 versus Inter Miami CF will be the Club’s most anticipated and highest attended match of the season, providing both the Fire and Lou Malnati’s the opportunity to engage and interact with a large and diverse audience. Lou Malnati’s will be bringing the heat to the Fire game with a new hot menu collaboration, game day activations and prizes at Soldier Field. Also, attendees will be able to partake in a variety of tailgate-style games, Lou’s swag and receive special offers for the pizzeria’s Chicagoland locations. For post-game treats, Lou Malnati’s will be serving up their newest collab that is so hot it is on FIRE! Tickets for the April 13 match versus Inter Miami are available starting at $79 and can be purchased HERE via Ticketmaster and 888-MLS-FIRE.

“Chicago Fire FC is thrilled to continue our partnership with legendary Chicago brand Lou Malnati’s,” said Chicago Fire FC Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Goyo Perez. “Lou Malnati’s is an incredible organization, with deep ties to the Chicagoland community, and we look forward to working with them on fun – and delicious – activations for our fans.”

“We are excited to partner with an iconic Chicago brand and legendary team like Chicago Fire FC,” said Marc Malnati, Owner of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. “We want to bring friends, family and fans together for an exclusive experience through pizza and sports. Lou Malnati’s is proud to be the official deep dish pizza partner of Chicago Fire FC and serve the team with our food, family and hospitality. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate with fans, connect with the community and support the home team.”

Additionally, Lou Malnati’s is proud to partner with the Chicago Fire Foundation as a supporting sponsor. The Chicago Fire Foundation operates a first-of-its-kind program called P.L.A.Y.S., an acronym for Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer. The Fire gives back to the local community by developing programs that reach out to the Chicagoland area. Lou Malnati’s is happy to support this program and extend their tradition of generosity to make positive contributions to the community.

For additional information on Chicago Fire FC, including information on the 2025 MLS Season, please visit: chicagofirefc.com. For regular Club updates, follow Chicago Fire FC on Twitter (@chicagofireand @vamosfire using hashtags #CF97 and #VamosFire), Instagram ( @chicagofire), TikTok ( @chicagofire), and Facebook at facebook.com/chicagofire/.

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Louve is in the air this month! To celebrate, we launched our ‘Will Lou Marry Me’ contest on social media in search of one lucky couple who wanted to cement Lou’s as a part of their love story. This included the proposal in the restaurant, including candles, rose petals, and a heart-shaped pizza, as well as an engagement party with their loved ones and late-night bites on their wedding day.

We received hundreds of heartfelt entries, all of which explained the significant place Lou Malnati’s holds in their relationship and love story. One, however, stood out above the rest: Mitch Rozwat. Two weeks after being told he had been selected, Mitch took his girlfriend Lisa out for dinner at their favorite pizza spot. Completely unaware of what was to come, Lisa entered a room filled with candles, rose petals, a camera crew, and of course that heart-shaped pizza. Mitch got down on one knee and asked Lisa to marry him, to which she said “Yes!”. She may have thought the surprises were over with at that point, but little did she know that there was an engagement party waiting for her upstairs. A room full of friends and family ready to celebrate an unforgettable moment for Mitch and Lisa.

This magical evening proved once again that love and pizza truly go hand in hand. You can visit our Instagram to check out the full video of the engagement as it unfolded in the store. Also be sure to read below why Mitch and Lisa’s story stood out amongst the rest and made them the perfect couple to Dish Out Some Love to:

“I’ll never forget that fateful evening at Lou Malnati’s. My buddy had invited me to join him for dinner, along with a few friends. As we waited for everyone to arrive, I noticed a girl walking towards us, smiling at the group. She had this radiant energy about her.

As we introduced ourselves, I learned her name was Lisa. We started chatting, and I was surprised to discover we had something in common – we’re both one of six kids in our families! It was crazy to think that we shared that experience, and it sparked a fun conversation about our childhoods.

But what really got us going was our shared love of food. We geeked out over our favorite dishes, restaurants, and cooking techniques. I was impressed by her passion for trying new foods and her encyclopedic knowledge of Chicago’s culinary scene. And, of course, we bonded over our love of loud, boisterous meals with family and friends.

As we dug into Lou’s famous deep-dish pizza, the Chicago Classic of course, I declared it the best pizza ever. Lisa agreed, and we savored every bite of the flaky crust, tangy tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese.

As the night went on, I realized that I had found my own Chicago Classic – Lisa. Just like Lou’s pizza, she’s a timeless treasure, a true gem that makes my life richer and more flavorful.

Looking back, that chance encounter at Lou Malnati’s was the start of something special. I’m grateful for that night, for Lou’s, for my friends, and for the opportunity to meet the love of my life – my Chicago Classic, Lisa.”

The post Proposal Held at Lou Malnati’s West Loop appeared first on LouMalnatis.com.

Celebrate with friends, family or loved ones all month long with Lou Malnati’s heart-shaped pizzas and support Feeding America® local food banks to spread the love in February

CHICAGO, January 17, 2025 – It’s time to dish out some love, and Lou Malnati’s – known for its legendary deep dish pizza and a beloved Chicago brand – is serving heart-shaped pizzas for the month of February at all locations in Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Phoenix. Lou’s fans can also ship these unique Chicago-style heart shaped pizzas and other sweet eats from the Windy City nationwide via Tastes of Chicago. Whether guests are looking for something special to enjoy with their loved ones at home or at a Lou’s restaurant or want to send some love to friends and family across the country, Lou Malnati’s’ provides a way for all to give a pizza of their heart and give back.  

“We believe in dishing out the love and Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to gather together with friends and family to share Lou Malnati’s heart-shaped pizzas” said Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati’s.  It’s our second year doing this campaign and we’re excited to partner with the local food banks.  We raised over $35k in the past and look forward to increasing that donation this year.  As many loyal fans know the best way to a foodie’s heart is through their stomach and nothing says I love you more than our legendary deep dish.  To help dish out some love this month we will donate $1 for every heart-shaped pizza ordered from one of our restaurants to support Feeding America® local food banks in our markets.  In addition, we’ll donate a pizza to a local Chicago-area food pantry with every purchase of a Spreading Hearts package through Tastes of Chicago.”  

For the month of February to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Lou Malnati’s is offering its 9-inchheart-shaped deep dish pizzas in cheese, sausage or pepperoni – along with other sweet specialties and activations, including:  

• Dish Out Some Love: Lou Malnati’s Legendary Heart-Shaped Deep Dish Pizzas, Gift Cards and Valentine’s Day Eats & Treats have got you covered! Check out the Louve mobile and see if you can find it spreading the love all month long in Chicago!      

• Pizza Proposal – Fall in Love with Lou’s: Lou’s wants to make your proposal unforgettable!  We’re searching for one lucky person to help Dish Out the Love and create the proposal of your dreams. To be considered, enter at http://zolbeach.com/proposal/ with, your love story, and why you want Lou’s to be part of your big day. One winner will be selected on Tuesday Jan 28th to receive an epic engagement package, including a professional photographer, an engagement party hosted at Lou’s, and late-night bites for your future wedding! Additionally, three runner-up winners will receive late-night bites for their wedding celebrations. It’s the ultimate proposal and love story!  

• Lou Malnati’s Gift Cards: Gift Lou’s to Your Love – From your sweetie to your pals, gift them with Lou’s virtual gift cards and spread the deep dish love all month long.     

• Lou Malnati’s Heart-Shaped Deep Dish Pizzas: Lou Malnati’s is teaming up with Feeding America® local food banks, to donate $1 for every heart-shaped pizza ordered from one of the locations from February 1 – February 28, 2025. The $1 donation will help provide 10 meals to neighbors in need.  It’s a special way to share a slice with your sweetheart at one of the restaurants or in the comfort of your own home and give back.  For guests looking to avoid the Valentine’s Day rush, half-baked or frozen heart-shaped deep dish pizzas can be picked up from each location to take and bake at home.    

•  Tastes of Chicago – Spreading Hearts: Spread the love with this special Spreading Heartspackage and share a gift of love in more ways than one.  The package includes one heart-shaped Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza, one heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie and two tiny pewter hearts, so your recipient can keep one and share one. Lou Malnati’s will donate a pizza to a local Chicago-area food pantry with every purchase.  Please visit https://www.spreadinghearts.org/ for more information.    

• Tastes of Chicago – Heart-Shaped Cakes, Cookies & Valentine’s Day Popcorn: Fan favorites will be available for shipping Valentine’s Day gifts nationwide – with love from Chicago.  From savory to sweet, delicious hometown favorites and iconic eats including Lou’s heart-shaped pizzas and cookies, Garrett Popcorn Petite Pink Tins, Eli’s Heart-Shaped Cheesecakes and Portillo’s Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cakes are the perfect gift tobe shared with those you love nationwide and can be shipped directly to their door through Tastes of Chicago.  Lou Malnati’s assortment of Chicago-style pizzas are available in combination packs that can be mixed and matched to satisfy everyone’s cravings.   

The post Lou Malnati’s Dish Out Some Love Campaign appeared first on LouMalnatis.com.

Don’t be afraid there’s no tricks only treats. Come see for yourself it’s just down Main Street! If you’re looking for candy you’re sorely out of luck, but the smell of deep dish pizza will have you awestruck!

The post Celebrate Halloween Malnati Style appeared first on LouMalnatis.com.

On Monday, December 31st, enjoy a family-friendly Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party at your local participating Lou Malnati’s. Toast the New Year, celebrate with the kiddos, and dig in to a delicious meal.

All without delaying bed times!

Participating restaurants include: Buffalo Grove,Elk Grove Village,Lakewood,Lincolnwood,Oak Park,Phoenix, and Scottsdale.

See information for each party below!

Buffalo Grove (847) 215-7100 | 85 S Buffalo Grove Rd, Buffalo Grove, IL

• Two seatings: 4:30pm & 7:00pm (reservations required)
• Full order must be placed a week prior to the party (by December 24th)

Elk Grove Village (847) 439-2000 | 1050 E Higgins Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL

• Two seatings: 4:30pm & 7:30pm (reservations required)
• Set menu includes deep dish and thin crust pizza, soft drinks, and coffee (adults $10.25, children $9.95 plus tax & gratuity)

Lakewood(815) 477-8100 | 8515 Redtail Dr, Lakewood, IL

• Two seatings: 4:00pm & 7:00pm (reservations required)
• Full order must be placed a week prior to the party (by December 24th)

Lincolnwood(847) 673-0800 | 6649 N Lincoln Ave, Lincolnwood, IL

• Two seatings: 4:30pm & 7:00pm (reservations required)
• Full order must be placed by December 28th

Oak Park (708) 358-0800 | 1038 Lake St, Oak Park, IL

• Two seatings: 4:00pm & 7:00pm (reservations required)
• Full order must be placed by December 28th

Phoenix(602) 892-9998 | 100 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ

• One seating at 6:00pm (reservations required)
• Full order must be placed at the time of reservation

Scottsdale(480) 681-3400 | 17787 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ

• Two seatings: 4:00pm & 7:00pm (reservations required)
• Full order must be placed at the time of reservation

All parties will feature fun favors for kids, entertainment, and more! Contact your preferred location by phone for full details and to make a reservation.

Happy New Year!

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Are you a Malnati history buff? Test your knowledge!

Celebrate 47 years of delicious deep dish by enjoying a slice (or two…or three) of your favorite Chicago pizza!

The post Looking Back at Lou Malnati’s Opening Day 1971 appeared first on LouMalnatis.com.

On Saturday, December 31st, enjoy a family-friendly Kid’s New Year’s Eve Party at your local participating Lou Malnati’s. Toast the New Year, celebrate with friends and family, and dig in to a delicious meal. The best part?You’ll enjoy all of this without delaying bed times! 

Participating restaurants include: Phoenix,Buffalo Grove,Elk Grove Village,Lakewood,Lincolnwood, and Oak Park.Reservations required.

Check out individual party information for each restaurant below:

Please contact your restaurant directly to make a reservation!

The post 3…2…1…Happy New Year! appeared first on LouMalnatis.com.

What was the total? Upwards of $280,000!

These much needed funds will be donated to cancer research and treatment programs at the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute,Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Gilda’s Club. We are proud to continue to support these organizations!

The Cancer Research Benefit took place on Saturday, September 17, 2016 and guests embraced the theme of the event by donning Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts for a “Lou’au.” We also held our first ever online auction after the event, raising even more money for the cause.

Thank you again to all of the supporters of the 46th Annual Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Benefit…we’ll see you next year!

Learn more about the Annual Lou Malnati’s Cancer Research Benefit ›

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How are we celebrating? Join our Lou’s crew, along with Mason, Remy, and Alabama from the Big 95.5 morning show at Lou Malnati’s Gold Coast between 12-2pm! We’ll have FREE deep dish pizza(of course), some great tunes, and…

Have you ever heard of pizza box Jenga?

You probably haven’t because we definitely just made it up, but there will be prizes. Lots of prizes.

Get ready to play on April 5th between 12-2pmatLou Malnati’s Gold Coast! And come hungry!

The post National Deep Dish Pizza Day! appeared first on LouMalnatis.com.

In honor of our anniversary, we’ve compiled a complete history of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria by decade, from opening day 45 years ago, all the way to present day! You may think you know all there is to know about us, but we’ve included quite a few new tidbits. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find:

• 1970s – bet you didn’t know a car crashed through the wall of the main dining room on opening day… Read more ›
• 1980s – The Taste of Chicago started in 1980, and we’ve been a part of it since the very start! Read more ›
• 1990s – We have a long history of giving back to our community, and we opened a pizzeria in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood in 1995 with just that goal. Read more ›
• 2000s – Ever heard of “Pizzas4Patriots”? In 2009, our Tastes of Chicago division donated thousands of deep dish pizzas to the cause. Read more ›
• Present Day – you might already know this one, but… Lou Malnati’s is headed to Arizona! Read more ›

Have we piqued your interest? Check out the full history of Lou’s here.

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