Domino's American Legends Taste Test
by AOL Food Editors

Domino's recently introduced American Legends pizzas, based on famous regional dishes like Philly cheesesteaks and Buffalo wings. We asked AOL Living staffers native to or familiar with each cuisine how their pie stacked up against the original. Read their reviews in the slide show below and click on the video to see their reactions first hand.


Dominos American Classic Pizzas

    Dominos's American Legends: Philly Cheesesteak
    Grade: B

    "When Domino's coupled the pride of Philadelphia with one of my favorite late night snacks I was eager to try. Unlike most Philadelphians, I'm not a fan of onions on my steaks, but on the Domino's slice it wasn't that bad. It gave the pizza just a hint of extra flavor that made me want more. Sure it lacked the traditional Cheez Whiz, but other than that it was a pretty solid slice. Kudos, Domino's. I'd definitely sample again." -- Keith M.

    Rachel Been

    Dominos's American Legends: Honolulu Hawaiian
    Grade: A

    "It was delicious! The bacon was a surprise. I've had it before with shrimp, but I find I prefer the bacon and I'd order it over a local pizzeria. The crust was crunchy and the pineapples weren't dry. Thumbs up." -- Tania P.

    Rachel Been

    Dominos's American Legends: Fiery Honolulu Hawaiian
    Grade: B-

    "As a fan of sweet pies for some years I figured that coupling it with a little bit of spicy couldn't hurt. Domino's Hot Hawaiian gave my stomach a little tingle but still brought a smile to my face with the perfect amount of jalepenos. Had there been any more I probably would've been walking around sweating bullets. Sure there could've been a tad more pineapple or even a sprinkle more ham, but it still worked for me. I'd definitely go back for seconds." -- Keith M.

    Rachel Been

    Dominos's American Legends: Pacific Veggie
    Grade: C

    "I'd definitely be satisfied grabbing it in an airport if my flight was delayed, but probably wouldn't go for it normally. The taste was better than a frozen pizza, but it's still too much fat and carbs for an everyday lunch." -- Marissa G.

    "The sauce was nice, smooth, and tasty. However, the tomatoes lacked crispness and the olives and the mushrooms weren't tender. It tasted like every other pizza franchise's veggie pizza. No freshness here." -- Dana O.

    "I would imagine anything dubbed "Pacific" to have seafood. Is that just me? Despite the fact that my slice did not have a bit of shrimp on it, I thought it was delicious. I was also expecting it to be a bit more salty. Other than that, I would have a second slice." -- Wajma Y.

    Rachel Been

    Dominos's American Legends: BBQ Chicken
    Grade: A

    "I loved it. The BBQ sauce was sweet, but not too sweet, with a touch of spiciness that makes the BBQ taste stand out. The big pieces of tender chicken and grilled onions really add to the flavor of the BBQ sauce. I also always love their not too crunchy, not too doughy crust. The BBQ sauce stands out and makes the chicken taste so good but isn't overwhelming. I would definitely order this again." -- Lindsey S.

    Rachel Been

    Dominos's American Legends: Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch
    Grade: B+

    "Big toppings and lots of them. As a native, this really reminds me of a California artisanal pizza right out of the oven. It would be nice with a glass of wine." -- Ernie K.

    "I really enjoyed it. It definitely had that thick pillowy crust that pizza chains have and pizza parlors don't, but the flavor was great. The bacon was cooked just right and the slice was pleasantly creamy. The chicken was fine, but completely overpowered by the bacon. It didn't need to be there." -- Josie S.

    Rachel Been

    Dominos's American Legends: Buffalo Chicken
    Grade: B-

    "This had nice big chunks of chicken, but really didn't pack the spicy punch of buffalo chicken. I wanted to throw some Tabasco or Frank's red hot on there, but as I didn't have any, I had to make do." -- Ernie K.

    Domino's Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl
    Grade: C-

    This turbo-carbed heart stopper, bubbling over with cheese and penne pasta, was everything we expected it to be. We commenced chowing our way through the center, which was stuffed with a satisfying, if not especially adventurous take on mac 'n cheese and eventually tore apart the puffy crust. No kid in the world could pass this up. Our recommendation -- cut the pie into four pieces and enjoy a small portion. Sure, you could skip the extra starches altogether and order it without the bread bowl, but where's the fun in that?

    Rachel Been

    Domino's Chicken Alfredo Bowl
    Grade: D-

    We are grateful in a way that we ordered this bowl, as it led to a period of unexpected introspection. Where in our lives, we asked ourselves, or perhaps in some past life, did we commit offenses against humanity so grave that we were now being made to consume this? We'll give the consistency of the central, gummed-together pasta glob the benefit of the doubt as it may have suffered during transit, but did the journey also cause an entire shaker of garlic powder to upend over the sauce? It sure tasted that way even after the tenth time we brushed our teeth later that afternoon. There's a small mercy found in the outer ring of pleasantly puffy crust, but it just gets more wicked the further in you dare to tread.

    Rachel Been

    Domino's Oven Baked Chicken Parm Sandwich
    Grade: C-

    Each half of the sandwich is spread with a thin layer of pizza sauce, barely enough to wet the bread. This is followed by a layer of cheese half as thin as you'd expect on a pizza. Then 3 tiny chicken strips are neatly arranged laid parallel to each other, giving the illusion that they're actually giving you some chicken. It tastes like pizza, only with the cheese and sauce mostly scraped off. Only order this if you just really hate pizza.

    Amber Porter

Click the video to see what more AOL Living staff had to say about these regional pizzas.



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      Recent Comments

      1 - 10 of 119
      119 comments

      yackfoo4u 02:57:53 PM Oct 17 2009

      If I ate those items given an A or B rating daily, how much weight would I gain in one year. The photos drip fats! Yikes! I've had the "New" KFC grilled chicken. The texture, and price do not justify hurting my health, even if I'm in a rush.

      artisanshadow 07:05:06 PM Aug 29 2009

      I absolutely DESPISE KFC grilled chicken, it's just the same spice mix they use on the fried, but with the benefit of saving money on breading and oil. The meat was dry and tasteless and I felt so misled about how "delectable" it was supposed to be. I hate it for how the heard mentality drove us to believe it was great, taste-wise (ha!), what can I say? Can't criticize what isn't there.

      bradcraig 02:19:51 PM Aug 17 2009

      I deliver Domino's on the weekends, a few hours a week. Our store would throw away everyone of those pizzas pictured!!! You would think it would be easy to make a nice looking pizza, (and it is) but those are the worst looking piles of horse plop I've ever seen. When the American Legends(or any other) pizzas are made properly by someone who actually gives a damn, you'd be surprised at how good they can be.

      karensocag 01:53:17 PM Aug 17 2009

      read the review on the pacific veggie!!!! I order without the mushrooms and black olives--yuck extra garlic and on the thin crust and WOW!!!!! I am not a pizza eater-think it is desperation food but I actually crave this pizza- I think it is stupendous-for pizza--almostt heonly kind I eat now-would recommend to all of my friends!

      joed1667 11:13:30 AM Aug 17 2009

      Domino's is garbage pizza, no matter what they try to do to it. Pizza Hut uis even worse. Unfortunately, a really great pizza no longer exist. It's extinct. Most Americans have never tasted one. You used to be able to easily find it in the metropolitan NY area but no more. They all sold out, switching from quality ingredients made in that area or imported from Italy to cheap domestic ingredients like the Grande cheese they get from Wisconsin.

      vicvlvic 10:14:54 AM Aug 17 2009

      You can take bread dough and shape it anyway you like, place any type of crap on it you want-That does not make it a Pizza for Italian Purists. Its mayo on fries, chile on a hot dog-crap your mom gave you so you 'd eat a cheap dinner! IF I am not mistaken- when you toss dice in vegas- A One and a Two is craps -I think it means the same in Pizza lingo as well-Domino's is Crap Out! LOL

      marswv 07:09:03 AM Aug 17 2009

      I think the pictures that are shown of Domino's pizza are disgusting looking! Grotto's pizza in Delaware is the absolute best, along with Mack's pizza at the Jersey shore. You can keep Domino's....all that junk on top? Just give me tomato sauce and mozzarella.........that's Pizza! sausage and or pepperoni work too...LOL

      whitefiero 06:31:54 AM Aug 17 2009

      Yulk, won't eat Dominos pizza of any kind, not after that guy was stuffing cheese up his nose and putting it on the pizza. And isn't it run by some religious nut ? No thanks, there are plenty of other places to get better pizza.

      wizozbear 05:42:07 AM Aug 17 2009

      I was born and bred in Philly for my first 30 years of life. Being a huge fan of Philly cheesesteaks, I cannot understand how someone could give Domino's Philly cheesesteak pizza a rating of "B". It isn't even close to a Philly cheesesteak. It sucked. At best, I would rate it a "C minus". Try getting people that really know what they are supposed to be reviewing next time.

      briezenthru02 05:32:19 AM Aug 17 2009

      Make your own Pizza..its cleaner.

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      119 comments

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