If you're on a quest to find the best pizza in NYC, you could do worse than to follow the lead of Colin Hagendorf. He's the guy who made a name for himself back in 2012 simply by trying a slice of plain cheese at every pizza place in Manhattan, which by his count amounted to 362. But you don't have to be a radical completionist to discover the best pizza in New York. You just have to track down these 10 New York pizzerias.

1. Numero 28

176 2nd Ave. | East Village

There's a special pleasure to watching a delicious Neapolitan-style pie come out to you on a long wooden plank. Don't believe us? Try it for yourself at Numero 28, where the brick pizza oven cooks up specialty pizzas such as the spicy Diavola with fiordilatte and sopressata and the Romeo with artichokes, truffle cream, and prosciutto.

Click to see deals at Numero 28 starting at $15.

2. Di Fara Pizza

1424 Avenue J | Midwood

When we last spoke to Di Fara Pizza manager Margaret Demarco, she was refusing to say whether her father's shop was better known for its thick, twice-baked square pies or its delicate round pies. "We're famous for both!" she said. Sounds like a great excuse to go twice—just don't forget the bottle of wine, since Di Fara is BYOB.

3. Astoria Pizza Factory

1946 37th St. | Astoria

What draws NYC pizza fans to Astoria when there are approximately one million other options in the city proper? Probably the fact that there are plenty of pies you can only get here. Take the chicken alla vodka, made with the restaurant's housemade vodka sauce, or the calamari special, a crispy round pie topped with fried calamari and a sweet and spicy sauce.

Click to claim a 25% cash-back deal at Astoria Pizza Factory.

4. Joe's Pizza

7 Carmine St. | West Village

Joe's is about as close as it gets to a consensus pick for quintessential old-school New York slice. The place is home to its share of specialty pies, but really you can't go wrong with a slice of thin cheese. For the full experience, try rolling in for a late-night snack; it's open until 4 a.m. during the week, and 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays.

5. Proto's Pizza

50 2nd Ave. | Bowery

You can order a small at Proto's, but why would you want to? The large thin-crust pie is a full 18" in diameter, so when it comes out it's almost hard to carry. (The slices are no slouches size-wise either.) Feed a party with the prosciutto di parma, made with prosciutto, mozzarella, pecorino, garlic, and arugula.

Click to claim a 25% cash-back deal at Proto's Pizza.

6. Pasquale Jones

187 Mulberry St. | Nolita

The signature pie here is the Littleneck Clam, a rightly celebrated clam pie also made with garlic, lemon, broccoli rabe, and cream. Like the rest of Pasquale's pizzas, it's made in a wood-fired oven at a hip spot that prohibits tips and proudly advertises it doesn't have a phone number (though you can text them via their site if you have a special request).

7. Big Nick's Pizza Joint

70 W. 71st St. | Upper West Side

Big Nick's isn't much for ambiance—but no one goes for the ambiance. They just come for the jumbo slices, which are just the right blend of crispy and chewy. The topping menu is extensive, covering everything from meatballs to chopped beef to zucchini to clams.

Click to see deals on Big Nick's pizza starting at $13.

8. Roberta's

261 Moore St. | East Williamsburg

The food is just as fresh as the styles worn by the notoriously hip clientele at this East Williamsburg favorite that regularly ranks among the best pizza in NYC. Herbs and vegetables from the outdoor garden lend a bright kick to wood-fired signature pizzas that the New York Times simply hailed as "marvelous things."

9. Bleecker Street Pizza

69 7th Ave. S | West Village

Bleecker Street Pizza has plenty of celebrity fans (Dax Shepard once even called it "the greatest slice of pizza I've ever put in my mouth" on Jimmy Kimmel Live). Still, the place is anything but pretentious. If it's your first time there, try the Nonna Maria, a signature family recipe simply made with fresh mozzarella, homemade marinara, parmesan, and fresh basil.

Click to claim a 10% cash-back deal at Bleecker Street Pizza.

10. Prince Street Pizza

27 Prince St. | Nolita

Prince Street calls its best-known pies "Soho Squares," but they may be better known as Sicilian- or Grandma-style square pizzas. Try the Spicy Spring Pie, a piquant mix of fra diavolo sauce and spicy pepperoni on a bed of mozzarella and an oversized mound of dough that's fluffy in the middle and crispy on the bottom.

Want to try your hand at making your own pie? Check out this 4.9-star pizza-making class at AOA Bar and Grill in Tribeca.