Lakeview Area= Pizza Heaven

Chicago has always been widely considered to have some of the best pizza in the world. With the traditional deep dish and stuffed pizzas that have become must eats for tourists, it's hard to argue against the claim.

If you're living in the city, though, getting those huge, greasy slices can put a damper on your health as well as your wallet. That is why the north side of city, in the Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville areas, is the best place to live for a pizza lover (college student).

When I first moved to the city back in 2007, the only pizza I ate was Giordano's, which by no means was a bad thing, but as my time here passed I found other places with their own takes on the American tradition of pizza baking.

Here are my top choices for pizza in the Lakeview area:

Giordano's- Whenever I meet up with someone who is visiting the city and wants to experience Chicago food, this is one of the first places I'll point them to.

Giordano's stuffed pizza is ungodly when in the right mood. You can taste the freshness of their ingredients in the sauce, crust, cheese, and whatever else you decide to put in it. I usually stick with either sausage or pepperoni, but don't let that stop you from trying other toppings like pineapple or peppers.

The only negative thing about Giordano's are the prices, which in all honesty are fair, but you're not exactly stretching your dollar when you eat there. It's usually worth it, though.

Chicago's Pizza- I would consider this place to be a step below Giordano's only because their pizzas can be hit or miss. Sometimes it's fantastic, other times it's still good, but nothing great.

Their slices aren't as thick, but that actually works out pretty well if you're not looking to pig out. Their prices are more reasonable, too.

They have basically the same menu options as Giordano's, so I don't really know what else to say except that if you're looking for a late night deep dish delivery, Chicago's is your best option.

Lou Malnati's- I would consider Lou's to be the best competition against Giordano's in the deep dish/stuffed realm of Chicago's pizza chains.

I know some people who prefer Lou Malnati's over Giordano's, and some who don't. It's comparable to how the people of Chicago are divided when it comes to baseball season: you're either a Cubs fan or a Sox fan.

Okay, maybe it's not that intense, but wouldn't it be entertaining if people started fighting over the topic of which place has better pizza?

Lou Malnati's brings a more urban feeling to their restaurant, while Giordano's seems like more of a traditional Italian restaurant.

I guess it's just a matter of a person's taste. All I can say is, try both!

Ian's Pizza- Although Ian's is originally from Wisconsin, it still has a place in Chicago pizza.

They're more of a pizza by the slice, walk-in place, but it doesn't take away from the quality and imagination of this place.

These guys will throw anything on a pizza. Literally, ANYTHING! I've seen so many crazy styles, from BBQ chicken and ranch (no sauce), s'more pizza, to Cajun shrimp toppings.

Every time I go there, which is probably twice a week, there are never the same options as the last time. I have discovered tastes for toppings that I never would have dreamt about before I found Ian's.

If you're visiting Wrigley Field and need a quick bite, I recommend Ian's.

Bacci Pizza- Oh, how I remember the first time I walked into this place. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw how big the slices were.

They say their slices are as big as your head, and they're not joking. You'll need two hands to eat a single slice because they're over a foot long and pretty wide (that's what she said). Good luck finishing one in a single sitting. If you do, don't plan on moving much for the next hour.

Bacci's is a walk-in pizza place with your basic options: cheese, sausage, or pepperoni. Although it would be nice to see more options toppings-wise, it's a place everyone should have at least once while being in Chicago.

From stuffed pizza to the abnormally large slices, Chicago offers a wide variety. Whatever your preference, you're bound to find a slice you'll enjoy every time.