Toronto pizza chef Ryan Baddeley ranks 59th in world's best, joins elite Canadian list
Pizzeria Badiali's owner made the 2026 Best Pizza Awards ranking, one of only two Canadian chefs on the global list of 100 elite pizzaiolos.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ryan Baddeley of Pizzeria Badiali in Toronto has been ranked 59th among the world's best pizza chefs in the 2026 Best Pizza Awards—one of only two Canadians to make the global list of 100.
Baddeley opened the neighbourhood pie joint in Toronto's west end in 2021. The Best Pizza Awards praised his approach, noting that "at Badiali, Ryan and his team deliver a refined yet nostalgic approach to pizza by the slice, blending the bold, comforting spirit of New York-style classics with the finesse of Italian-inspired specialty pies." The restaurant has become so iconic that it has partnered with major brands like Miss Vickie's and Shake Shack.
The other Canadian on the list is Cédric Toullec from Lou Pécou Artisanal Pizzeria in Halifax, who placed 92nd. Toullec was born and raised in Marseille, France, where his grandparents taught him to cook with high-quality ingredients. At Lou Pécou, the dough is made with 100 per cent organic flours, topped with local vegetables and cured meats.
The Best Pizza Awards panel votes for the pizza chef, not the pizzeria, and to be eligible, a chef must actively work at a venue where their pie can be tasted. The awards describe themselves as "the only accreditation platform that stays true to culinary standards, free from commercial agendas."
