The pizza industry is fiercely competitive, with major chains like Toppers and Papa John’s constantly vying for your appetite and dollars. But when it comes down to it, which pizza giant truly delivers the best pie for the price?
In this detailed comparison, we’ll analyze the key differences between Toppers and Papa John’s and see how they stack up on crucial factors like crust, sauce, toppings, specialty pizzas, sides, pricing, and more. Read on to find out if Toppers or Papa John’s deserves the pizza crown!
A Brief Comparison Table
| Category | Toppers | Papa John’s |
| Crust | Fresh, never frozen dough. Square cut pizzas for crispy edges. | Fresh, never frozen dough. Classic hand-tossed rounds. |
| Sauce | Bold, herby tomato sauce made in-house. | Straightforward tomato-based sauce. |
| Cheese | Extra generous amounts of cheese. | Real mozzarella in medium amounts. |
| Toppings | 40+ high-quality meat and veggie toppings. | 20+ classic meat and veggie toppings. |
| Specialty Pizzas | Unique flavors like Topperstix Pizza and Chicken Bacon Ranch. | Familiar favorites like The Works and Meat Lover’s. |
| Sides | Destination-worthy loaded Topperstix breadsticks. | Reliable breadsticks, wings, and poppers. |
| Price | Medium 1-topping pizza starts at $10. Sides $6-8. | Medium 1-topping pizza starts at $12. Sides $6-8. |
A Look at Toppers Pizza
Founded in 1991 in Wisconsin, Toppers Pizza has grown into a regional pizza powerhouse with over 90 locations across the Midwest. They built their reputation on generously-topped square pizzas that deliver a truckload of cheese and toppings on every bite.
Some key qualities of Toppers Pizza include:
- Fresh, never frozen dough: Toppers prides itself on making fresh dough daily in each store. This results in a soft, airy crust.
- Wisconsin-style pies: Their signature pizzas feature square-cut tavern-style pies loaded with toppings from edge to edge.
- Specialty pizzas: Menu staples like the Topperstix Pizza, Chicken Bacon Ranch, and Buffalo Chicken Pizza offer bold, craveable flavors.
- Tons of customizations: With over 40 toppings and sauces, you can build your ideal pizza masterpiece.
- Topperstix: These crispy breadsticks coated in garlic butter, Parmesan, and spices are a popular side item.
- Rewards program: Earn points towards free food with the Topperstix Rewards program.
Also Read: Comparison of Marco’s Pizza And Domino’s Pizza.
Breaking Down Papa John’s
Founded in 1984, Papa John’s has grown into the third largest pizza company in the world with over 5,000 locations globally. They built a pizza empire thanks to a superior ingredients mantra and a better pizza promise.
Here’s what Papa John’s is all about:
- Fresh, never frozen dough: Like Toppers, Papa John’s pizzas start with fresh, never frozen dough for a light, fluffy crust.
- Hand-tossed rounds: Papa John’s specializes in classic hand-tossed pizzas made with six simple ingredients.
- Specialty pizzas: Menu favorites like the Works, Meat Lovers, and Hawaiian offer familiar flavors.
- Custom pizzas: Choose your toppings to create one-of-a-kind pies.
- Garlic sauce: This boldly-flavored creamy garlic sauce for dipping or drizzling comes with every pizza.
- Rewards program: Earn free pizzas with Papa Rewards every time you order.
Key Differences Between Toppers And Papa John’s Pizza
Now that we’ve introduced both pizza chains, let’s compare them across some key categories to see who does it better.
- Crust
The foundation of any great pizza is the crust, so how do Toppers and Papa John’s base layers stack up?
Toppers hand makes fresh dough in-store daily resulting in a soft and airy crust with great rise. Their square cut pizzas also give you those satisfyingly crispy edge pieces on every slice.
Papa John’s uses fresh, never frozen dough too for decent crust quality. Their classic hand-tossed rounds have a familiar thin and lightly crispy texture.
Winner: Toppers edges out Papa John’s with their fresh, daily dough and signature square pies that optimize crispy edges.
- Sauce
A well-balanced pizza sauce brings crucial flavor and texture. How do the sauces at Toppers and Papa John’s compare?
Toppers makes their sauce in-house using vine-ripened tomatoes for a bold, herby tomato sauce.
It provides a nice acidic punch without overwhelming the other flavors.
Papa John’s signature sauce features a straightforward, tomato-based blend with modest seasoning.
It lets the cheese and toppings shine rather than dominate.
Winner: Draw. Both pizza chains offer quality sauce with Toppers being bolder and PJ’s more restrained. It comes down to personal sauce preferences.
- Cheese
Ooey, gooey cheese is a non-negotiable requirement for craveable pizza. How cheesy are Toppers and Papa John’s pies?
Toppers loads up their pizzas with extra generous amounts of cheese. From mozzarella to Provolone to cheddar, you can expect intense cheesy decadence in every bite.
Papa John’s uses 100% real mozzarella with a medium cheese layer that satisfies without going overboard. You’ll get great melty mozz but not cheese overload.
Winner: Toppers dominates in the cheese category, giving your dollar extra cheesy bang for the buck. Papa John’s takes a more restrained approach.
- Toppings
The choice of toppings can make or break a pizza. Which chain offers better quality meats and veggies as pizza toppers?
Toppers impresses with 40+ toppings to customize your pie. They’re generous with premium proteins like sausage crumbles, bacon, grilled chicken, and seasoned ground beef. Veggie toppers like onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms taste fresh.
Papa John’s offers a solid array of 20+ toppings from favorites like pepperoni, Italian sausage, banana peppers, black olives, and more. Quality is reliable if not outstanding.
Winner: Toppers. The plentiful topping options and higher quality meats at Toppers offer greater customization potential.
- Specialty Pizzas
Beyond build-your-own, the specialty pizzas provide a taste of each brand’s signature flavor combinations. How do the standout pies compare?
Toppers signature pies like the Topperstix Pizza and Chicken Bacon Ranch impress with bold, craveable flavors. The generously topped Buffalo Chicken Pizza also has a nice spicy kick.
Papa John’s offers crowd-pleasers like The Works, Meat Lover’s, and Hawaiian that deliver familiar flavors pizza lovers expect. They play it relatively safe here.
Winner: Toppers. Creative specialty pies like Topperstix and Buffalo Chicken showcase what makes Toppers unique.
- Sides
Quality wings, breadsticks, and other sides can enhance your pizza experience. How do the sides stack up at Toppers and Papa John’s?
Toppers beloved Topperstix elevate the garlic breadstick game with high-quality ingredients like Parmesan and garlic butter. Their chicken wings and cheesy bread also hit the spot.
Papa John’s offers basic, reliable sides like breadsticks, chicken poppers, and jalapeño poppers that complement the pizza without standing out.
Winner: Toppers for their destination-worthy Topperstix and standout side items. Papa John’s plays it simple and traditional.
- Price
Pricing is always a key factor when choosing where to order pizza. Which chain offers more value?
Toppers medium 1-topping pizzas start around $10 depending on location. Specialty pies cost $2-4 more. Sides like Topperstix and wings add $6-8.
Papa John’s medium 1-topping pizzas start about $12. Specialties run $14-18. Sides add $6-8 to your order.
Winner: Toppers consistently offers more affordable pizza that doesn’t skimp on quality or portions. You’ll get more value per dollar here.
Also Read: Comparison of Marco’s And Papa John’s Pizza.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Papa John’s biggest competitors are the other major national pizza chains like Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Little Caesars. Regionally, Papa John’s also competes with popular local and regional pizza brands.
There is no definitive “best” brand of pizza since taste is highly personal. Top rated national brands include Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, and Little Caesars. Top-quality local pizzerias in cities nationwide also often have passionate fans.
Papa John’s and Domino’s are two leading national pizza chains with passionate fans on both sides of the debate. Key differences include Papa John’s claim of higher quality ingredients, versus Domino’s faster delivery times and technology like pizza tracking. Overall quality is comparable between the two pizza giants.
In recent years, Papa John’s has aimied to improve recipe quality with new initiatives like: Upgraded, fresh-never-frozen original dough, New garlic sauce and parmesan seasoning, High-quality ingredients like vine-ripened tomatoes and real mozzarella.
These efforts have enhanced Papa John’s pizzas overall, though taste and quality can vary between locations. Many customers do report Papa John’s tasting better than in previous years after quality improvement efforts.
Final Verdict
When tallying up all the categories, Toppers emerges as the clear winner over Papa John’s for superior value, crust, cheese, toppings, signature items, and sides.
Ultimately, Toppers pizzas deliver an indulgent, craveable Wisconsin-style experience with tons of customization options at reasonable prices. Papa John’s offers reliable quality at a premium price point.
So if you want amazing square-cut pies piled high with cheese and toppings without breaking the bank, Toppers Pizza is likely your best bet over Papa John’s. Just thinking about those Topperstix loaded with garlic butter and Parmesan makes our mouths water!
Now that you know how Toppers and Papa John’s compare, you can make the call on which pizza chain most deserves that delivery order next time cravings strike. Whichever you choose, it’s hard to go wrong with piping hot pizza made fresh just for you.