America’s Worst Pizza Now Can’t Be Found in Rochester, MN

Rochester is the third-largest city in Minnesota and is home to many incredible restaurants, shops, and stores. But it's no longer home to the chain that's known for serving the worst pizza in the country.

Next to tater tot hotdish, pizza might be one of our favorite comfort foods here in the North Star State. However, not all pies are created equal. In fact, one chain with five restaurants here was just ranked dead last in the entire country.

The Controversial Pizza Chain Minnesotans Are Now Avoiding

If you're in the mood to make some questionable culinary choices, there are now just five locations here in Minnesota that will serve what's been voted the worst pizza in America. But Rochester isn't one of the cities where you'll find one.

It seems like just about EVERYONE both here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and across the country likes pizza, right? It doesn't just seem like it; this Harris poll confirms it. Yahoo says they surveyed over 2,000 adults last fall and determined that pizza is officially America's favorite food. (Steak and hamburgers came in second and third, btw.)

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But not all pizzas are created the same. Some are definitely better than others. And while Minnesota has a TON of really great places to get pizza, the North Star State is also home to five locations of the pizza chain that's just been called the worst in the entire country.

Why This National Favorite Ranked Dead Last for Quality

That's the word from this 24/Wall St. story about 'pizza chains to avoid.' Here's how they came up with their rankings: 'We consulted pizza reviews on five different food blogs and websites. Because pizza preferences are so subjective, we only included pizza chains that were ranked near the bottom on multiple sites,' the story noted.

So, just which pizza chain finished dead last on their list?

That's right, it's Chuck E. Cheese. The family restaurant known for its 'kids birthday celebrations, arcade adventures, a Trampoline Zone excursion, and endless activities,' according to its website, placed first on the list of pizzas to avoid, Wall St. 24/7 said.

The very first Chuck E. Cheese opened back in 1977 in San Jose, California, and offered 'pizza, animatronic entertainment and an arcade,' its website says. It wasn't until 1980 that Chuck E. Cheese himself (whose full name is rumored to be Charles Entertainment Cheese, btw) made his first live appearance.

Of course, Rochester used to have its own Chuck E. Cheese restaurant, which was located off 16th Avenue Southwest, next to Trader Joe's. According to this Chuck E. Cheese Fandom site, it first opened in 2010 but closed just 10 years later, during the pandemic of 2020, when its parent company filed for bankruptcy. The outdoor retailer, Sierra, opened a store in the former Chuck E. Cheese location in 2025.

Where to Find the Remaining Chuck E. Cheese Locations in Minnesota

However, if you want to see for yourself if the pizza at Chuck E. Cheese is as bad as some reviews claim, the chain currently has five locations still open here in the Bold North:

Chuck E. Cheese Locations in Minnesota:

• Blaine
• Burnsville
• Maple Grove
• St. Cloud
• Woodbury

So while that might be a place to avoid if you're looking for really good pizza, keep scrolling to check out some of the most popular restaurant chains here in the Bold North and across the country.