Pizza in Allentown, PA: 3 Spots Compared
Quick Answer: Allentown has three pizza restaurants in our directory data: Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill on Hamilton Street, Switchback Pizza Company on West Jubilee Street, and The Crust Pizzeria and Restaurant on West Emaus Avenue. Mama's Famous and Switchback share the highest rating at 4.7, Mama's Famous carries by far the deepest review record, and Switchback is the only one with a full bar.
Key Takeaways:
- Highest rating: Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill and Switchback Pizza Company both at 4.7 in our directory data.
- Deepest review record: Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill at 928 reviews — more than the other two combined.
- Only one open every day: Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill, per our directory data.
- Only one with a full bar: Switchback Pizza Company, serving beer, wine, and cocktails.
- Shortcut: Browse all pizza restaurants in the Lehigh Valley, or see our Bethlehem pizza guide, Easton pizza guide, and the valley-wide pizza roundup.
What Are the Pizza Options in Allentown?
Pizza Allentown PA: Our directory already has dedicated pizza guides for Bethlehem and Easton, but Allentown's own three pizza spots have never had a page of their own. Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill is on Hamilton Street in the city proper. Switchback Pizza Company is on West Jubilee Street in Emmaus, and The Crust Pizzeria and Restaurant is on West Emaus Avenue — both grouped under Allentown in our directory.
Local rule of thumb: Don't assume pizza means a late-night, every-day option here. Switchback Pizza Company is closed both Monday and Tuesday, and The Crust is closed Mondays. Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill is the only one of the three open every day of the week, in our directory data.
Which Spot Has the Highest Rating?
Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill and Switchback Pizza Company are tied at the top with 4.7 stars each in our directory data. The Crust Pizzeria and Restaurant is close behind at 4.6 — all three sit within a tenth of a point of each other, so rating alone doesn't separate them much.
Which Spot Has the Deepest Review Record?
Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill stands well above the other two at 928 reviews in our directory data — more than double Switchback's 430. The Crust is second at 734, and Switchback has the thinnest record of the three at 430, despite matching Mama's Famous on rating.
How Do the Hours Really Compare?
Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill is open all seven days, 10:30am to 9:30pm Sunday through Thursday and 10:30am to 10:30pm Friday and Saturday — the longest, most consistent schedule of the three. The Crust is closed Mondays, running 10am-9pm Tuesday through Saturday and a shorter 12-8pm Sunday. Switchback has the shortest week by far — closed Monday and Tuesday, open just 4-8pm Wednesday and Thursday, 4-9pm Friday, 12-9pm Saturday, and 12-5:30pm Sunday.
What About Alcohol and Reservations?
Switchback Pizza Company is the only one of the three that lists beer, wine, and cocktails in our directory data — a full bar — and it's also the only one that accepts reservations. The Crust serves beer only, with no wine or cocktails listed. Mama's Famous lists no alcohol service at all and doesn't take reservations, consistent with its walk-in, every-day setup.
Which Spot Is the Most Casual, Family-Friendly Option?
Mama's Famous and The Crust both list a children's menu in our directory data, alongside being good for kids and good for groups. Switchback lists itself as good for kids and groups too, but without a specific children's menu. The Crust stands out as the only one of the three listed as dog friendly, and it's also the only one with outdoor seating alongside Switchback — Mama's Famous has no outdoor seating listed.
What About Price and Dietary Options?
The Crust is the budget option of the three, at one dollar sign in our directory listing. Mama's Famous and Switchback both sit a notch up at two dollar signs. On dietary options, Switchback and The Crust both list vegetarian options; Mama's Famous does not list that attribute specifically.
What About Parking and Payment?
All three list free parking lot and free street parking in Google's verified data, and The Crust adds a paid parking lot option on top of that — the widest range of the three. On payment, Switchback and The Crust both accept credit cards, debit cards, and tap-to-pay contactless payments. Mama's Famous is the outlier here — it accepts credit and debit cards, but no contactless payments are listed.
What About Delivery and Takeout?
All three offer both delivery and takeout in our directory data, so that part isn't a differentiator. Switchback Pizza Company is the only one that also lists curbside pickup, giving it one more way to grab an order without going inside. Mama's Famous and The Crust are dine-in, takeout, and delivery only, with no curbside option listed.
Are the Addresses Really All in Allentown?
Not literally, though our directory groups all three under Allentown. Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill is on Hamilton Street inside Allentown proper. The Crust Pizzeria and Restaurant is on West Emaus Avenue, still within Allentown's city limits. Switchback Pizza Company's address is actually in Emmaus, a separate borough just southwest of the city, but it's grouped with the Allentown-area pizza spots in our data rather than split out on its own. Worth knowing if you're mapping a route rather than just picking a name off a list.
How Does Allentown Compare to the Rest of the Valley?
Allentown's three pizza spots are the smallest of the three city groupings in our directory data. Bethlehem has four, covered in our Bethlehem pizza guide, and Easton has two, covered in our Easton pizza guide. That's nine pizza restaurants tracked across the Lehigh Valley in total. If you're comparing across city lines rather than staying local, the valley-wide pizza roundup puts all nine side by side.
Which Spot Fits Which Trip?
- Need pizza on a Monday? Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill is the only one open.
- Want the deepest track record? Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill, at 928 reviews.
- Want drinks with dinner? Switchback Pizza Company is the only one with a full bar, and the only one taking reservations.
- Bringing the dog? The Crust Pizzeria and Restaurant is the only one of the three listed as dog friendly.
- Need a children's menu? Mama's Famous and The Crust both have one; Switchback does not.
- Want curbside pickup? Switchback Pizza Company is the only one that lists it.
- Paying by tap or phone? Switchback and The Crust both accept contactless payments; Mama's Famous does not list it.
What Should You Know Before You Go?
- Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill: 4.7 stars, 928 reviews, open all seven days, no alcohol, no reservations, children's menu, free lot and street parking, credit and debit only.
- Switchback Pizza Company: 4.7 stars, 430 reviews, closed Monday and Tuesday, full bar, accepts reservations, vegetarian options, outdoor seating, curbside pickup, free lot and street parking, contactless payments accepted.
- The Crust Pizzeria and Restaurant: 4.6 stars, 734 reviews, closed Mondays, beer only, dog friendly, children's menu, vegetarian options, outdoor seating, free and paid lot plus free street parking, contactless payments accepted.
Bottom Line: Three Different Pizza Nights
Allentown's three pizza spots split cleanly by occasion rather than quality — all three sit between 4.6 and 4.7 in our directory data, close enough that rating alone shouldn't really be the deciding factor here. Mama's Famous Pizza and Grill is the dependable every-day option with the deepest review record. Switchback Pizza Company is the sit-down, drinks-with-dinner choice, but only five days a week. The Crust Pizzeria and Restaurant is the dog-friendly middle ground, with its own parking and a children's menu. None of the three overlap much once you factor in hours, alcohol, and pet policy, so the right pick depends less on which one rates highest and more on what the night actually requires — a quick weeknight slice, a sit-down dinner with wine, or a patio table with the family dog along for the evening. For the wider picture, see our Bethlehem pizza guide, Easton pizza guide, and the valley-wide pizza roundup.
Find the best local businesses in Lehigh Valley. Browse our curated directory of pizza restaurants and all Allentown restaurants — real businesses vetted by locals, not paid placements.
