Known as the land of cornfields and charming small towns, the Midwest may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear 'pizza.' However, time and again, this region has evolved creating its signature style of the iconic dish. If you fancy traveling the culinary roads, then buckle up! Yelp recently disclosed its compilation of the top 100 must-visit pizzerias across the American Midwest, covering every state in this region.

Accumulating data from their customer-based reviews, the popular review site compiled a list that reflects an exciting and representative geographic ensemble. Yelp's Trend Expert, Tara Lewis, explained to Food & Wine the methodology behind their ranking, "We identified businesses in the 'pizza' category with a significant number of reviews mentioning related keywords, and then ranked them based on several indicators, such as total volume and ratings of reviews featuring these keywords." However, to maintain a comprehensive geographic spread, a maximum cap of five establishments per city has been set.

While the pizza love is strong across the Midwest, Yelp's data emphasis shows an extraordinary love for pizza, particularly in Illinois and Michigan, both contributing a whopping 16 pizzerias each, followed by Ohio with 13 and Missouri with 10 to the list. It's not unexpected as these states boast cities famous for their distinct pizza styles. Detroit is recognized for its thick, chewy-crusted, and rectangular-shaped pizzas with an unconventional technique of slathering the sauce on top of the cheese and toppings. Meanwhile, Chicago's deep-dish style, featuring its high walls and depth, is recognized nationwide.

The top spot on Yelp's assortment went to Loui's Pizza nestled in Hazel Park, MI, trailed by Futuro in Indianapolis, IN, and in third place, Pequod's Pizza in Chicago, IL. Having served pizza lovers since 1977, Loui's is known for its casual ambiance and classic Detroit-style and deep dish pizzas.

One interesting finding from Lewis was the trend of Midwest pizzerias spicing up their menus. Loui’s, though typically traditional, offers a hidden spicy family barbecue sauce for their pizzas. Other emerging patterns include pizzerias catering to dietary preferences such as gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Unique toppings combos are also increasingly in demand, like Pizzeoli in St. Louis's ‘12 South’ pizza laden with smoked gouda, tomato jam, and bacon or Brittany’s Brick Oven in Madison, Indiana's ‘Schnabel Wobble’ topped with shrimp, andouille sausage, and étouffée sauce.

For lovers of the quintessential Chicago-style deep dish pizza, Pequod’s wins hearts, having served the city's signature dish since 1970. But, for an unconventional spin, Futuro's crispy tavern-style pizza topped with bacon and basil is a must-try.

No matter which pizza joint you pick from this list, rest assured, the taste will compete fiercely with New York's best. For the top 50 Midwestern pizza spots according to Yelp, read on.

To check out Yelp's complete list, head out to their site.