(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)

Travel + Leisure readers picked Phoenix as the nation's top city for pizza in 2016.

(Photo courtesy of Pizza Power 2017)

Pizza Power 2017 - A State of the Industry Report 2017 Quick Facts.

(Photo courtesy of Pizza Power 2017)

Pizza Power 2017 – A State of the Industry Report PMQ's Top 20 Chains.

When it comes to food favorites in Phoenix, Mexican often comes to mind. But the Valley’s reputation as a pizza place is rising. In February, "Travel + Leisure" readers picked Phoenix as the top spot in the country for pizza. Our variety of choices is a big reason why.

When Pizzeria Bianco opened in downtown Phoenix more than 20 years ago, many people considered Chris Bianco’s handmade crust, locally grown ingredients and wood-fired oven revolutionary.

“It’s funny when people would say, ‘Oh, I like your concept’ or ‘That’s a great concept,’ and I was like, ‘I didn’t know if I ever had a concept,'” he said.

Valley chef and food journalist Gwen Ashley Walters said Bianco brought pizza to a whole new level. The national exposure for Phoenix really heated up in 2003, when Bianco became the first pizza maker to win the regional James Beard Award for Best Chef. 

“I would say up until that point most James Beard winners were highfalutin chefs in fine-dining restaurants,” Walters said.

There’s no pomp or pretense when Bianco talks pizza. Just plenty of passion. A few years ago, health issues forced him to cut back on time around the oven, but Bianco still puts in regular shifts, “spinning circles," as he calls it. 

“It’s where I’m most happy,” he said. 

Five miles away, Peter Piper Pizza is changing its game plan. Chief Marketing Officer Jason Greenwood said the Phoenix-based chain is rebranding to focus more on food.  

“People like to have fun, they love a game room when they’re ready for it, but when it intrudes on everything with no order, no wayfinding, it becomes chaos, and that’s not parent-friendly,” Greenwood said.

So far, about half the company’s 41 Arizona restaurants have been redesigned with different layouts and materials. The company also replaced its logo, dropping the purple and gold pizza slice for a new color combination and shapes that convey various foods. 

“We rolled out fresh spinach this year, we rolled out loaded tots, we rolled out new dessert, a new specialty pizza, we rolled out a new salad,” Greenwood said.

Peter Piper recently reported 25 straight quarters of same-store sales growth. They’re looking to add restaurants in Phoenix and Queen Creek, they just entered the Oklahoma and Nevada markets, and, eventually, the company wants to see Peter Piper coast to coast.  

“There are so many opportunities to grow today,” Greenwood said. Like increasing carryout orders, holding school fundraisers and attracting more diners like Rick Rodriguez.

“I don’t know what the hell they do back there, but it’s good,” Rodriguez said. He and his co-workers are regulars at Peter Piper’s all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.

“Ninety-three percent of Americans eat pizza at least once a month,” said Steve Green, publisher of "PMQ Pizza Magazine."

He also publishes an annual state of the industry report. Green said the hottest segment in the country’s $44 billion pizza market is fast casual. 

“They’ll be limited toppings on them,” he explained. “But you’ll get it made right in front of you and since it takes two minutes to actually bake in the oven, it won’t be but five minutes before you're sitting down eating your lunch.” 

Walters has been watching the Valley’s pizza scene. 

“In the last two years, almost 50 new pizza places have opened,” she said.

They include independents like Saffron Jack, which started as a food truck, along with chains like Marco’s. The Ohio-based company wants to franchise about 30 locations in the Valley, while Papa Murphy’s, the largest take 'n’ bake brand, hopes to open another 24.

And, you can thank our neighbors from the Midwest for the recent additions of Chicago deep-dish favorites like Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s and Gino’s East.   

“Oh, yeah, I love all of those,” Green said. 

But, can they all survive? Green said independents make up 55 percent of the pizza industry, but only 42 percent of total sales. To compete with the big chains, he said indies need to up their technology games and focus more on digital ordering and social media, areas where delivery giant Domino’s dominates. 

“They’ve had a tremendous rise in their stock prices over the last eight years,” he said. 

“Here’s some breaking news for you. Great restaurants rarely make a ton of money,” Bianco said. “That’s just a fact."

He explained that supporting organic growers and local food systems, while paying people good wages, is not cheap. But, it’s his way, and he’s sticking with it. 

“What makes good things good is up to you,” Bianco said. “I don’t really believe I need to kinda put anybody else down.”   

Pizza, it seems, can spark as much emotion as politics and sports. But, here’s an important distinction. Most pizza lovers — while disagreeing about the best style, chain or chef — usually agree that even average pizza is still pretty good.

.@TravelLeisure says #Arizona is a pizza destination (https://t.co/QLKKOQfffT). So, we wondered, what's your favorite kind?

— KJZZ 91.5 (@kjzzphoenix) March 8, 2017