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    Pizza Payaa

    4.7 (148 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Order Pizza Payaa Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    PIZZA PAYAA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Top: The hot honey badger. Bottom: The pig and the fig
    Beatrice M.

    We were on the way to UIUC admitted student day and stopped by this pizza place based on the high recommendations. It does not disappoint! Service was stellar. We asked to move tables because the our first table was by the door and I was too cold and it was accommodated flawlessly. The place got really noisy because of some really loud patrons but nothing that the restaurant could control. We tried the hot honey badger and the pig and the fig. Both were delicious!! The parmesan crust is the best. I wish they'd open one in Minnesota!

    Vodka Chicken Parm + Burrata Vodka Pesto
    Wajhi K.

    Pizza Payaa is an absolutely serious pizza joint, and it's been fun seeing their journey over the years. Everything is fresh, crispy, consistent and very creative and high quality. Awesome specials, local collabs, and some banging sandwiches on the menu all day everyday. It's a 10/10

    Bar
    Luke W.

    Wow! The pizza is, well, I guess it is this, yes, another knock out for the Blono food scene despite, yeah, read on! This is not pizza. It is a thick boy of toast lightly dusted with ingredients. The flavors are trying their best but this would confuse aliens coming from any mainstream chain. Surprisingly the sandwich my friend got was the best thing we tried alongside my Christmas ale by 3 Floyd's. It's a sublime spot. Uptown can be proud of this urban bar offering plenty of space. We had excellent staff, quick service, were comfortable, enjoyed the free Sunday street parking too. But yes, this is not pizza. The sauces are painted over the dough with restraint. Protein and toppings are meager. The fig and the pig offered exquisite savory and sweet and refined me of the proper amount of toppings it should have instead of the budget fix. My crab rangoon pizza made a strong case for mashing three cuisines together while doing neither of them well. Again, yes try it! But it is not pizza. I was confused with the prices as well. Ended up north of forty bucks for my crab pie and the beer. Quite a fat load considering I didn't need a box. Flingers came to mind: still crowned king of actual pizza and crafted values. But yes, try this place anyway!

    Brian L.

    I love this place. It was clean, it had great ambience and service was fantastic. I tried a local beer and it was cold and delicious and the showstopper pizza was outstanding. It was kind of cool to come to a small town on a work trip and find Such a gem. It's evident that Normal, Illinois is doing world class pizza.

    John M.

    Pizza Payaa: A Culinary Triumph in Normal, Illinois Located in Uptown Normal, Pizza Payaa transcends the typical pizzeria experience, celebrating community, creativity, and exceptional Detroit-style pizza. Born from owner Adam Elpayaa's pandemic-era passion project, this vibrant establishment evolved from social media buzz to a beloved local institution at 107 East Beaufort Street, radiating warmth and innovation in every dish. Culinary Highlights: Signature Dishes Pizza Payaa's menu features award-winning creations that convert first-time visitors into regulars: * Honey Badger Pizza: Detroit-style perfection with fluffy crust, spicy honey, melty burrata, and crisp pepperoni. Recognized as a Top 10 Pizza Worldwide at the Las Vegas Pizza Expo. * New thin crust pizza: available Tuesday through Thursday. (This week's special was Sausage and Giardiniera.) * Detroit style: Burrata Vodka Pesto Mozzarella, Garlic Olive Oil, Vodka Sauce, Grana, Burrata, Fresh Basil, Pesto. * TONY Soprano Sandwich: A hidden gem featuring Italian meats on garlicky Payaa dough, beloved by regulars. * Korean BBQ Wings: Double-fried for crispiness, glazed in sweet-spicy sauce, and hailed as the top appetizer. * Greek Island Salad: A zesty, refreshing complement to richer dishes. *The Spinach Artichoke Dip--loaded with pizza pieces--delivers comfort in every bite. Detroit-style pizzas dominate, with gluten-free crusts described as "clouds of Italian heaven." Desserts: * I Love You S'More Than Pizza. Nutella, Toasted Marshmallows, Graham Cracker. * Cinnamon Roll Payaa. Royal Cinnamon, Brown Sugar Butter, Nutmeg, Cream Cheese Icing Beverages: * Basil Smash * Honey I'm Hot Paloma * Pineapple daiquiri * Strawberry Margaritas ~ vote for KayCees signature margaritas in the Pantagagh Pizza Payaa Readers Choice awards in drink category. Service Excellence The staff's passion elevates dining into memorable experiences: * Adam Elpayaa (Owner): Hands-on visionary who crafts recipes and welcomes feedback. * KayCee Heinz (Beverages and Ops): Curates inventive craft cocktails with artful presentation. * Matt and Sophie (Servers): Attentive, knowledgeable, and effusively positive. * Mike (Bartender): A mixologist who expertly pairs drinks with dishes. Guests consistently praise the 10-15 minute pizza service and the team's genuine warmth, noting they "serve joy." Why Pizza Payaa Stands Out From exposed-brick charm to award-winning pies, every detail reflects local pride. The Honey Badger Pizza symbolizes both world-class quality and hometown triumph. Visit at 107 E Beaufort Street, Normal (open Tuesday-Sunday), for transformative pizza and infectious energy. As the restaurant's motto declares: "Where dough, dreams, and deliciousness collide." P.S. Inquire with Sophie or Matt about the TONY Soprano's legendary crust.

    Miranda L.

    A must try in Uptown Normal! This spot offers Detroit style pizza, salads, appetizers, sandwiches, and cocktails. There were many pizzas to choose from and neighboring table's selections made it hard to pick. We decided on the Pepperoni Burrata Be Kidding Me... Wow! The dough was perfectly fluffy, burrata amount was good and tasted fresh, the right amount of hot honey added; it just simply hit the spot. Our server was sweet and pizzas didn't take more than 10-15 minutes to come out. I Highly recommend trying Pizza Payaa out!

    Tammy Supreme

    I was able to make a reservation online for a lunch on Tuesday. Unfortunately my appointment ran late; however, the restaurant could still accommodate us, Each of us ordered our own pizza as we don't mind the leftovers. The waitress was very attentive and answered our questions and made recommendations. The restaurant as well as the restroom was clean. There is two floor levels for dining as well as a bar on main floor. I had the Maddie Aloha. The chicken was a little bland in my opinion. Fresh pineapple was used vs canned. My pizza was not ready for about 10 minutes after the other three guests in our party. The other guests enjoyed their pizzas. I will be back.

    Honey Badger

    The pizza was AMAZING! The crust was perfectly fluffy on the inside but a little crispy on the edges! The toppings were great! Service was great! Mike answered all our questions and checked on us multiple times! Very friendly. I observed him with others as well and he as awesome! Loved to vibe in the restaurant! Very fun!

    The goods

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    2 months ago

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    Adam E.

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    4 months ago

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    1 day ago

    Burrata pizza was yummy & so were the cauliflower wings. Toni was a great bartender & server. She made me a yummy margarita!

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    1 month ago

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    1 month ago

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    Adam E.

    Wajhi, thanks so much for the awesome review!

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    1 month ago

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    5 months ago

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    Adam E.

    Luke, thank you so much for leaving us a review!

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    9 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Long wait time. I believe they dropped the ticket It typically isn't that slow there

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    Thanks for the great review, Shannon!

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    2 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    Thanks so much for the amazing review, Jean!

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Always delicious and innovative collabs are exciting add. Looking forward to the falafel collab going on now.

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    Adam E.

    Thank you for the fantastic review, Dolores!

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    7 months ago

    Excellent service--shout out to Eva! Delicious four cheese, basil pizza. Excellent beautifully presented and tasting wings.

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    Kelly, thanks so much for the great review!

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    9 months ago

    Soooo good, if you haven't had it, you're missing out!! Best pizza in town. Easy to order online.

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

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    David, thanks so much for the stellar review!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Kinda expensive for a college campus i feel but the food is good!! The waitress was very nice too.

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Ask the Community - Pizza Payaa

    Joe's Station House Pizza Pub - Italian Beef sandwich (1/2 already eaten)

    Joe's Station House Pizza Pub

    (199 reviews)

    $$

    Love eating here. You never know what game or sport will be on which makes the stop more fun. Great…read moreplace to have a casual business meeting.

    Left Nashville early morning and looking for a spot to watch the Big 10 Tournament game between…read moreWisconsin and Michigan. Hit the door about tip off time. Place was plenty busy with kids having pizza parties. Place was not fancy nor was the food. Plenty of TVs to choose from so we parked ourselves just outside the kitchen door facing a big multi screen set up. Started with a Cobb Salad with the intention of having salad and pizza. They had several pizza options that looked very good: square, hand tossed and the cheese crusted box. Salad was plenty big but nothing fancy. Served the two of us with some to spare. Boiled egg, tomatoes, onions, green peppers and cheese, but the lettuce was cut in an odd way and actually continued a core section. Blue cheese and an Italian dressing came on the side. Nevertheless, we ate it during the first half. We had every intention of ordering pizza but got tracked by the chicken fingers on the menu. Nana's giant chicken fingers were huge, the size of a chicken breast. There were 4 of them in the order. We decided on the hot-spicy herb Parmesan sauce. Well, that was a lot of chicken. The coating was heavy breading covered with hot sauce. That actually worked for us because the coating came off without much effort. We never got the pizza. That was probably a mistake. We watched the game and jumped into the car very satisfied for the rest of the trip. I can't make a recommendation based on the food, but I can say the staff was friendly and attentive. Would return for a kids party and stick to the pizza.

    Pizza Payaa - pizza - Updated May 2026

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