Chicho Bella Pizzeria & Subs

Chicho Bella Pizzeria & Subs is a pizza restaurant and sandwich shop located at 2342 Lancaster Pike in Reading, Pennsylvania, in the Shillington and Cumru Township corridor south of the city. The kitchen turns out a full menu of pizzas, hot and cold subs, cheesesteaks, wings, salads, pasta plates and sides, served for eat-in, takeout and delivery. The shop can be reached by phone at +1 610-816-5313.

The business operates in the mold of the independent Pennsylvania pizzeria: a counter-service dining room, a menu that runs well past pizza, and a staff that recognizes repeat customers. Food is made to order rather than held, which shapes both the pace of service and the way most people use the place, either settling in for a quick lunch or calling ahead for pickup on the way home.

The Menu

Pizza anchors the operation. Pies are built on dough that bakes to a browned, crisp-edged crust, topped with a tomato sauce and cheese blend that regulars identify as the house signature. Beyond plain and standard topping combinations, the shop handles specialty pies and larger orders for groups.

The sandwich side of the menu is equally substantial. Cheesesteaks are made in several variations, including chicken and Buffalo-style versions, and the shop also builds hoagies, tuna sandwiches, club-style subs and grilled options. One distinguishing feature is the use of soft pretzel bread for certain sandwiches, an option not commonly found at neighborhood pizzerias and one that has given a handful of menu items their own following. Fries, wings and other fried sides round out the hot food.

Italian-American dinner plates are also available, including spaghetti with meatballs and similar pasta dishes that come with bread and can be ordered as a full sit-down meal. Fresh salads are prepared to order, and the shop carries a small selection of items outside the usual pizzeria lineup, including pierogies, which reflect the Pennsylvania setting as much as the Italian side of the kitchen. Desserts are offered as well.

Small plates and shareable items are part of the menu, which makes the restaurant workable for a group splitting several things rather than ordering individual entrees. The breadth of the menu is one of the reasons the shop draws both families ordering dinner and solo customers stopping in for a single sandwich.

Dining In

The dining room is casual. Seating is available for customers who want to eat on site, and the space is kept tidy, with light background music rather than a loud sound system. Free Wi-Fi is available, which makes the restaurant usable for someone eating alone with a laptop or phone during a lunch break. Restrooms are on site, including a gender-neutral restroom.

Lunch and dinner are the busiest periods. The restaurant is also commonly used for solo dining, a reflection of its counter-service format and quick turnaround on sandwiches. Reservations are not accepted; seating is first come, first served.

Families and Accessibility

The restaurant is set up for families with children. A kids' menu is available, high chairs are on hand, and the casual layout suits parents bringing young children along. Pasta and pizza make up much of what younger diners order.

Accessibility features include a wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible seating inside, a wheelchair accessible restroom, and accessible parking in the lot.

Parking and Location

Chicho Bella sits on Lancaster Pike, also designated Route 222 Business in this stretch, which is one of the main routes connecting Reading with Shillington, Mohnton and the communities heading toward Lancaster County. The location is convenient for drivers moving through Cumru Township and for residents of the nearby neighborhoods.

There is a free parking lot on site, and free street parking is available in the area. For a takeout-heavy business, the off-street lot matters: customers can pull in, collect an order and leave without hunting for a space along a busy road.

Takeout, Delivery and Catering

Three service options are available: dine-in, takeout and delivery. Delivery covers the surrounding area and is a significant part of the business, particularly on weekend evenings. Phone orders are taken at +1 610-816-5313, and calling ahead is the practical way to time a pickup, since items are cooked to order.

Catering is offered for larger gatherings. Pizzas, party trays of pasta, wings, sandwich platters and salads are the kinds of items that typically travel well for office lunches, team dinners, church groups and family events. Because catering orders require lead time and vary by size, the shop handles these arrangements directly by phone.

Payment

The restaurant accepts credit cards, debit cards and contactless NFC mobile payments such as phone-based wallets, in addition to cash. Contactless payment is accepted at the counter, which speeds up pickup orders.

What Distinguishes the Shop

Several things set Chicho Bella apart from the general run of pizza shops along the Lancaster Pike corridor:

• Pretzel bread as a sandwich option, which gives several menu items a texture and flavor profile distinct from standard hoagie rolls.
• A menu that spans Italian-American dinners, cheesesteaks, wings, salads and pierogies rather than sticking strictly to pizza and subs.
• Owner presence on the floor and at the counter, which gives the shop a personal, conversational character that customers notice and mention.
• Made-to-order preparation across the menu, including salads and hot sandwiches.
• A clean, quiet dining room with Wi-Fi, which makes it workable for eating in rather than strictly a takeout counter.

Practical Information

• Address: 2342 Lancaster Pike, Reading, PA 19607
• Phone: +1 610-816-5313
• Business type: Pizza restaurant, sub and sandwich shop
• Service options: Dine-in, takeout, delivery
• Popular for: Lunch, dinner, solo dining
• Reservations: Not accepted
• Parking: Free on-site lot and free street parking
• Payments: Cash, debit, credit, contactless mobile
• Amenities: Wi-Fi, restrooms, high chairs, kids' menu, seating
• Additional services: Catering for groups and events

For current hours, daily specials, catering arrangements or delivery range, calling the shop directly is the most reliable approach.