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Thunderbird Pies, the pandemic-era pop-up that earned a cult-following for its cheesy Detroit-style pizzas, will open its first permanent location in East Dallas today.
The pizzeria announced via Instagram on Sunday that it would open its doors at 7238 Gaston Avenue on Monday, August 30. As previously reported by Eater, Thunderbird Pies got its start as a takeout-and delivery-only pop-up inside Addison pizza favorite Zoli’s, and quickly became a hit. Shortly after Thunderbird Pies made its debut on UberEats, the thick pizzas frequently sold out within an hour of orders opening up for dinner service.
For those who aren’t familiar with Detroit-style pizza, the style was popularized by Detroit pizzeria Buddy’s, who first baked its pies in steel pans commonly used in the automotive industry. It’s characterized by its thick, focaccia-like crust and the melty Wisconsin brick cheese that extends all the way to the edges, which creates a crunchy, caramelized finish.
At Thunderbird, pies like the Connie, loaded down with cupping pepperoni, await, along with more creative topping combos including the veg-packed Savage Garden, topped with “schmutzy” spinach, caramelized onions, sweety drop peppers, herbed mushrooms, and crispy artichokes. Pickle dip, cheesy pesto sticks, and saucy meatballs round out the menu, plus a burger and chicken sandwich doused in truffle hot sauce.
In addition to the pizza, Thunderbird Pies will also be home to an outpost of its sister sweet shop Cow Tipping Creamery, known for its creative sundaes (called “stackers” on the menu) topped with everything from chunks of brownie and birthday cake to rum caramel sauce, lemon curd, and hot fudge.
Thunderbird Pies will kick open the doors at 4 p.m. on Monday. The Fort Worth location, which operates out of Zoli’s, will stay open, but it looks like the Addison outpost will stick to New York-style pies now that Thunderbird Pies has its new home in East Dallas.
