This Buzzy Idaho Restaurant Does One Dish Really, Really Well

There is pizza, and then there’s really good pizza. While Idaho's cities may not be known for their pizza like New York, Chicago, or Detroit, it doesn’t mean you won’t find exceptional options here. In fact, located in the small town of Rexburg, in southeastern Idaho, is one award-winning restaurant that truly knows how to make a great pie. It is Righteous Slice, a pizza place in Idaho that we can't wait for you to try.

Rexburg is a small town, best known as home to Brigham Young University-Idaho. However, what many don't know is it's also home to one of the best pizza places in Idaho … and even the United States. That’s right! Righteous Slice is an award-winning pizza restaurant, receiving recognition as an “excellent Pizzeria” by one of the world’s most influential pizza guides. Only 33 pizzerias in the U.S. receive this recognition.

So, what makes Righteous Slice such a bucket-list-worthy restaurant? Well, all of the pizzas here use artisan techniques and require a long fermentation process. The pizzas are made using natural ingredients and cooked inside a brick oven until perfect.

And that’s just the beginning. The owners of Righteous Slice are one-of-a-kind and have a much different story than many other restaurant founders. Righteous Slice founder Bill Crawford once flew an F-16 fighter and B-2 Stealth Bomber for the U.S. Air Force. After leaving the Air Force, he went to Harvard Business School, but had no idea what he wanted to do after graduation. However, after working with pizza in France, he figured it out. Crawford moved his family to Rexburg, where he began making pizzas at the local farmers' market. Once word got out, people were willing to stand in long lines for a slice, and a brick-and-mortar store eventually opened in town.

Today, Crawford is still making a name for himself as a member of the World Pizza Champions, a team of worldwide elite pizza makers. And after one slice of his pizzas, you’ll immediately know why they are some of the best.

Righteous Slice serves a variety of appetizers, desserts, and salads, but its New York and Neapolitan pizzas are what this Idaho restaurant is best known for. The menu is filled with a variety of options ranging from a classic pepperoni pizza to a Che Figata, featuring blue cheese, parmesan, fresh and sliced mozzarella, and provolone cheeses, fig spread, and some balsamic.

Both the New York and Neapolitan pizzas have more than a dozen options on the menu, making it easy to find a slice to satisfy our craving. The New York pizzas serve three to four individuals, while the Neapolitan pizzas serve one to two individuals. No matter which type you choose, I recommend pairing it with cheesy garlic bread and one of the restaurant's creamy milkshakes.

The owners of Righteous Slice have traveled around the world and have worked with elite pizza professionals to ensure each slice at this Rexburg restaurant is a little slice of heaven. The pizza here is different—it’s exceptional.

Visit the Righteous Slice website for more information, including its menu and current hours. I also recommend following this pizza place's Facebook page for news and updates.

Feeling inspired? Plan your own trip to Rexburg using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.