Pizza Loves Sauce

On the stretch of East Houston Street between Eldridge and Forsyth, where the Lower East Side meets the edge of the East Village, Pizza Loves Sauce is a modern take on the classic New York slice shop. It opened in 2022 in a storefront that once held an outpost of Il Mattone, and it describes itself simply as a New York-style pizzeria. The room is clean and contemporary, with seating inside and out and a hip-hop playlist setting the pace, and it does what a good neighborhood slice joint should: hot pies, quick service and a counter that keeps the slices coming. It is a reliable, unpretentious stop in a neighborhood full of them.

New York Turk included Pizza Loves Sauce on his halal food tour of the city in 2025, which put it on the map for visitors looking for halal-friendly slices in lower Manhattan. Start with a plain cheese slice to judge the basics, crust, sauce and cheese, then try one of the specialty slices on display at the counter. If you are eating with friends, a whole pie is the better value. The Sara D. Roosevelt Park strip is right across Forsyth Street if you want to eat outside on a nice day, and the shop is an easy stop before a night out on the Lower East Side. Ask at the counter about halal toppings if that matters to you.