If you asked me ten or so years ago, I would have said Pizza Hut, and then Papa John’s, and then way, way, way back Domino’s. Now, it’s Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and way, way back Papa John’s (and nothing to do with politics. I don’t mix food and politics. I just hate their dough.) Domino’s really stepped up their game in the past decade. I really, really hated Domino’s (I’m sure there’s a post from that era on the Dope where I say they and Taco Bell are my absolute least favorite fast food chains), but then they did something with their crust and it’s actually reasonable pizza now, especially for the price. I would never in a million years have thought I would one day say that I like Domino’s, but here I am.
Never had Little Caesar’s. There was one in Manoa Marketplace near the U of Hawaii back in the day, but from what I recall, even college students avoided it. Now I think they’re just elsewhere on the island and not even in Honolulu.
^What he said.
My SO is allergic to something in the red sauce virtually all pizzerias use so Domino’s white sauce is our go-to.
Round Table!
Okay, so that’s not one of the choices. Out of the “big 3” for me it’d be:
Domino’s >>> Papa John’s >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Pizza Hut
Round Table is my preferred choice for a chain. If I don’t want to spend as much money I’ll go with another chain nearby called Pizza Guys. Domino’s is about the same level as Pizza Guys for me, a cheaper one that’ll do in a pinch. Papa John’s I’ll only get every once in a long while when my bad side wants that garlic butter. Pizza Hut (or at least the one near me) is terrible and I haven’t had it in over five years. Though I do miss stuffed crust…
Did Domino’s change their recipe at some point? I recall them being horrible in the 90s but they were passable when I last had them a few years back.
Yeah, see? I think we called them the Cardboard Special in the 1980s.
Dominos had some big promotion some years ago about how they listened to feedback and changed their ingredients and formula. So if you used to hate their pizza but now tolerate/like it then it’s probably that.
Yes, they changed their recipe. I never really had it before, but it isn’t bad now.
I think Little Caesar’s is the best of the big ones, but I appear to be in the minority.
I find it odd that of the “big 3”, two of them are from Michigan, my area. I wasn’t sure they were national as a kid.
We also have Hungry Howies here in Michigan, which is better and I also used to think was national.
I’m intrigued, what’s Hungry Howies? I’ve never heard of it in my life. Is it pizza?
Which ones are from Michigan? Wiki tells me that Pizza Hut is from Kansas, Papa John’s started in Indiana but is hardhearted about 10 miles away in Kentucky, and Domino’s is from Michigan.
Not that it matters…
Little Caesar’s and Dominos.
I’m still putting LC in the big 3. Sorry for the confusion.
I actually enjoy Little Caesars. Their hot and readies for five bucks and change? Pretty tasty. For a couple bucks more, you can get it deep dish Detroit style.
The only other pizza I enjoy these days are my wife’s homemade pies.
Anyway I came in to vote for LC’s, and was surprised not to see it listed as one of the big three.
They obviously traded places. 
(Taco Bell’s once-good food was drastically reduced in quality; Domino’s once-poor food was significantly improved.)
All four of them are decent-but-nothing-special chain pizzas. There might be differences in quality, but not significant ones. And if I’m going to get a decent-but-nothing-special chain pizza, it might as well be quick and cheap, so I’m going with Little Caesar’s.
Costco but among the choices - Dominoes.
I’m thirding, fifthing, seventhing that they upped their game and are quite decent now.
Since returning to the US, I’ve found Taco Bell to be much better than before.
I have to say Papa John’s. I find Pizza Hut to be too greasy, and Domino’s to be too cardboard-y. Papa John’s strikes the correct balance between too greasy and dry-cardboard-y.
See the first line in the OP.
I love pizza and for most of my life would have said “there is no such thing as bad pizza” and would eat it any time from just about any place, including the 3 mentioned in the OP. Now that my middle aged metabolism has kicked in (or pooped out, as it were) I can’t just eat any old thing I want so if I’m going to splurge, I get a bit more choosy than I once was.
Papa John’s has a nice crust but the sauce is disgustingly sweet and the pepper that they put in the box contaminates the whole pie. Even if they manage to not put the pepper in, the whole affair still seems to have that funk.
Domino’s smells like old, dirty sweat socks soaking in bleach. Not sure if it’s due to the dough being improperly proofed or if it’d the cheese they’re using or what, but when someone here at work orders it I can smell it from the other side of the dept.
Pizza Hut is a greasy salty mess but they have a kiosk in Target so I’ll occasionally get a personal pan to take back to work if I’m running errands on my lunch break.
I’m another one who would have thought Little Ceasars would be among the top three. We had them on the west coast in the 90s and there’s tons of them here in FL so I guess I figured they were everywhere. As for their food, it’s not high quality but I’ll take it over the other three any day.