What's Detroit-style pizza and where do you get it? What visitors need to know.

Detroit-style pizza has a thick, yet airy, crust, cheese that goes to the edge and red sauce that's usually ladled on top of the cheese, all baked in a deep pan.

It's a square style of pizza that we've been enjoying around Metro Detroit since the mid-1900s, but only recently has it taken off and been appreciated for the culinary dynamo it really is.

Like with any regional dish, there are many debates as to who has the best version and what makes an authentic example of Detroit-style pizza. Here's a look at some of the top players in the region. This list is organized not by favorites, but roughly by distance from downtown Detroit.

Buddy's Pizza: The oldest Detroit-style pizza brand at 78 years, the original sit-down restaurant is still in operation on Conant and E. McNichols Road in Detroit. Most of the newer Buddy's locations, however, are carryout or quick service. Those downtown will find both in one at the Buddy's Pizza at 1565 Broadway near Comerica Park, which has a full bar and restaurant and a quick pick-up counter with slices. View all locations and menus at buddyspizza.com.

Michigan & Trumbull: Of the "new school" of DSP makers, this family run, sit-down restaurant is among the most authentic and craveable. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu here, from the pizza to the roasted vegetable sides. There's also a full bar. Closed Mondays. 1331 Holden, suite #100, Detroit. (313) 63-PIZZA. michigantrumbullpizza.com.

Grandma Bob's: A hip Corktown pizzeria with vegan and gluten-free options for their Detroit-style square pies. Grandma Bob's also has boozy cocktails and vegan ice cream. 2135 Michigan, Detroit. (313) 315-3177. grandmabobs.com/food.

Niki's Pizza: A longstanding Greektown hangout, Niki's is open daily for lunch and dinner and keeps going late, even past 2 a.m. on Saturdays. Besides sauce-on-top square pizza, they're also known for Greek specialties, Greek salads and flaming saganaki. 735 Beaubien, Detroit. (313) 961-4303. nikisdetroit.com.

Elephant & Co.: A project of Eastern Market Brewing Company, the Detroit location isn't open for dine-in yet, but they do deliver beer and gourmet and classic Detroit-style pizza within a 7-mile radius. They use beer to make the dough, too. 456 Charlotte, Detroit and 330 E. Lincoln, Royal Oak. elephantand.com.

Belle Isle Pizza: This Jefferson Avenue pizzeria serves Detroit-style deep dish as well as round pies, with names that are nods to the city's neighborhoods and landmarks. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 7869 E. Jefferson, Detroit. (313) 331-1222. belleislepizza.com.

Pie Sci: This cool indie pizzeria sells round and square pies, with the latter similar to Detroit-style. The specials are always changing and they do great at catering to those with special dietary needs. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 5163 Trumbull, Detroit. 8150 W. Nine Mile, Oak Park. (313) 818-0290. piescipizza.com.

Amar Pizza: Their square deep-dish pizzas are similar to Detroit-style, but what Amar is really known for is great flavors, like their ghost pepper pizza, tandoori pizza and herb- and spice-marinated spinach pizza with feta cheese. Hamtramck location is open daily for lunch and dinner. 12195 Jos. Campau, Hamtramck. (313) 366-0980. 3728 Rochester, Troy. (248) 250-6266. amarpizza.com.

Union Assembly: This new restaurant in the heart of downtown Detroit across from Comerica Park has a huge menu that includes six kinds of gourmet Detroit-style pies, including one decked out like a coney dog, Detroit's other favorite food. Open daily. 2131 Woodward, Detroit. (313) 636-6000. unionassembly.com.

Jet's Pizza: Longstanding carryout chain that was founded in the late 1970s in Sterling Heights, and has grown to around 400 franchise locations in nearly 20 states. They don't put the sauce on top, but they have those iconic crusty edges. jetspizza.com.

PizzaPapalis: Known for years for their Chicago-style pizza, this locally owned brand did their research before coming out with a Detroit-style just a few years ago. Find locations in Detroit, Taylor, Southfield, Bloomfield Hills and Toledo. pizzapapalis.com.

Shield's Pizza: Another brand that has been making Detroit-style for decades, Shield's has three locations Metro Detroit, but started as a bar not too far from the original Buddy's. There's a sit-down restaurant with bar that does dine-in, carryout, delivery and catering in Detroit, Troy and Southfield. Each has their own website: pizzarestaurantsouthfield.com, pizzarestauranttroy.com, pizzarestaurantdetroit.com.

Loui's Pizza: The best? Possibly. Loui's is definitely one of the top classic Detroit-style pizzerias. The sit-down family restaurant was founded by French chef Louis Tourtois in 1977 (and looks like it) and is still run by members of his family. Tourtois had previously worked at Buddy's and Shield's in the 1970s before going out on his own. Open for lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. 23141 Dequindre, Hazel Park. (248) 547-1711. facebook.com/louispizza.

Cloverleaf Pizza: After Gus Guerra sold the original Buddy's restaurant in Detroit in the 1950s, he took his Sicilian-style square pizza recipe and started a new legacy at Cloverleaf Bar and Restaurant in Eastpointe (then called East Detroit). His family still runs the restaurant today, and there are many carryout franchised Cloverleaf locations throughout Metro Detroit. 24443 Gratiot, Eastpointe. (586) 777-5391. cloverleaf-pizza.com.

Como's: A staple in Ferndale since the 1960s, this pizzeria has been given a second life with new ownership that changed just about everything but the name and the retro sign. In addition to expertly crafted Detroit-style pizza, they serve a full menu of Italian-ish cuisine, plus brunch. There are huge, sharable cocktails, too, and one of the most lively (and dog-friendly) patios in town. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 22812 Woodward, Ferndale. (248) 677-4439. comosrestaurant.com.

Crispelli's: It's all about the bread at this Italian restaurant group and bakery. Crispelli's serves traditional Italian-style pizza and thick, square Detroit-style. Find restaurants in Berkley, Troy, West Bloomfield Township and Clarkston, and a bakery in Royal Oak. crispellis.com.

Green Lantern: Serving pizza since the 1960s, Green Lantern has seven restaurants throughout Oakland and Macomb counties and a new one coming to Troy. Not all of them serve deep-dish square pizza. greenlanternpizza.com.

Palazzo Di Pizza: Fans of crusty, crispy corner slices will enjoy this authentic Detroit-style pizzeria that is carryout only. They have specialty pizzas (chicken pesto, buffalo chicken, eggplant parmesan, etc.) as well as vegan and gluten-free options, plus a big Italian sub. 1222 E. 11 Mile, Royal Oak. (855) 233-7872. palazzodipizza.com.

Detroit Style Pizza Co.: This carryout and delivery spot was founded in 2012 by World Champion Pizza Maker Shawn Randazzo. His crispy crust and sauce-on-top style is a fantastic 21st-century version of the Detroit classic. 28630 Harper, St. Clair Shores. (586) 445-2810. detroitstylepizza.co.

Johnny Z's: Serving both round and square pizza, Johnny Z's also has specialty pies like dill pickle pizza. Their square is similar to Detroit-style, but the sauce is not on top (it's more like Jet's Pizza). 28210 Harper, St. Clair Shores. (586) 498-8800. 428 Cass, Mount Clemens. (586) 307-5888. johnnyzspizza.com.

Square One Pizzeria: A carryout spot on the east side with square pies and crispy crusts. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 395 N. Groesbeck Hwy., Mount Clemens. (586) 213-1145. square1pizzeria.com.

Did I not list your favorite? Drop their name in the comments.

mbaetens@detroitnews.com