Review by Madison Rosenbaum & Amy Hanson
Fifty four.
We called Chico’s Pizza Parlor fifty four times before someone was able to take our order. It almost felt like when you call a radio station to be caller number nine. Everyone had their phones out as we raced through the dark to Moses Lake (almost an hour and a half drive from the Tri-Cities). Someone finally picked up the phone and everyone squealed with joy until we were put on hold. We had our order memorized at this point, like memorizing lines for opening night of a play. When the line clicked back on, we were ready.
“Two giant Hochstatters, please! And we will be there in about an hour.”
Carmel, our Moses Lake native and guide, described this pizza as something that would “flip your mind.” It was a pizza he was obsessed with and a pizza he knew well. Chico’s Pizza Parlor has been an institution in Moses Lake, Washington since 1958. However, about nine months ago a devastating fire ravaged the parlor, completely burning it to the ground. The community and pizza lovers alike mourned. Where else would they go to get their pizza fix?? According to Carmel, there is no pizza like a Chico’s pizza. Even the parlor itself touted that fact with it’s famous motto: if you can count the toppings, it’s not Chico’s
The new building had re-opened just days prior to our arrival and it was packed almost wall to wall for a Friday night. Immediately entering, you can see the window into the kitchen to watch the pizzas being prepared. Employees literally put their hands into buckets of meat toppings multiple times and plop it onto the dough. It looked exactly like a claw machine, except you’re guaranteed a very savory prize for patiently waiting.
The Hochstatter is a Chico’s specialty pizza. Mounds and mounds of pepperoni, bacon, Canadian bacon, and olives dress the cheese, sauce, and crust. It is almost impossible to see anything underneath the meat. My initial bite (I kid you not) contained eight pepperoni slices, five bacon slices, three slices of Canadian bacon, and an unknown amount of olives. (I did count for the sake of this post!) It’s overindulgent and practically a sin to consume that much meat in one sitting. Luckily, the crust is crispy enough to bear the weight of the toppings, but it doesn’t keep it from toppling over mid-bite. Grease drips down your fingers as you enjoy your meaty delight, necessitating a copious amount of napkins. Of course Chico’s napkin holders are filled to the brim, ready to service all of your greasy needs. Even their napkins are on brand, bragging, “If you only use one napkin, it’s not Chico’s.” No truer words have ever been printed on a napkin holder
Between swigs of cold IPA, I managed to devour three slices of pizza, which was a small dent in the giant pizza. Our whole group hit a meat wall early on as well, despite arriving with empty stomachs. This was true testament to their fully loaded pizzas. When was the last time you ordered a pizza and had four people eating it but DIDN’T finish it?
It is clear that Chico’s and its Hochstatter pizza are popular. During our visit, we were bombarded with Facebook messages of where we were eating and requests to bring the pizza home. The building was packed as well, which I heard is an everyday occurrence despite recently reopening. It is a well-loved establishment with excellent service and a friendly small town vibe. Everyone knew everyone and everyone loved the Hochstatter. With pizzas that will exceed your wildest pizza fantasies, it is hard to go wrong at Chico’s. I genuinely felt it was one of the happiest places I’ve been in a long time. People were high-fiving and dancing, kids running around in the arcade room, and everyone had a box or two of leftover pizza to go.
Like most adventures, it did have to come to an end with an hour and a half drive home. However, our drive home was eased with the smell of Hochstatters to-go and dreams of returning again soon. If you’re a pizza lover of any level or simply enjoy a little pizza with your meat, Chico’s is the place to be
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Chico’s Pizza Parlor is located at 530 W. Valley Rd., Moses Lake.
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