Italian pizza has a completely different flavor than American pizza, and it’s easy to make a single slice. Here are some of the best places to try Italian pizza, which is baked in a wood-fired oven for a chewier crust.
1. Bubu Pizza
The signature pizza of Itaewon’s stalwart Bubu Pizza is the Bubu Clasica Pizza. This pizza is topped with basil pesto, rucola, Parmesan cheese, and cherry tomatoes. Carefully fold the pizza in half so that the toppings don’t fall off and put it up, and your mouth will be filled with happiness.
📍 28, Itaewon-ro 55ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
2. Panello
Panello, which means pizza dough in Italian, is a pizzeria certified by the Neapolitan Pizza Association. They have a good wine selection and other Italian dishes, but if you’re new to Panello, you should start with the Margherita Buffala pizza. It’s topped with buffalo cheese in a tangy tomato sauce. If you’re feeling adventurous, we also recommend the Mare Pizza. This pizza is topped with sautéed seasonal seafood.
📍 29, Aulmadang-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
3. Gyeongilok Pizzeria
Gyeongilok Pizzeria takes its name from a seolleongtang restaurant that used to be located in the same place. The green onion pizza is a special pizza that can only be tasted here, and the flavor of the green onions covered all over the dough is good. The opal pizza with enchovies and garlic topping and lots of cilantro is also delicious, as is the marinara, a traditional Neapolitan pizza.
📍 2-1, Euljiro 16-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
4. Gianni’s Napoli
Giannis Nap oli makes authentic Neapolitan-style pizza and uses a wood-fired oven made of oak that has been dried for two years, just like in southern Italy. It is also a member of the Neapolitan Pizza Association. The Quattro Formaggi pizza, topped with cow’s milk cheese, gorgonzola, buffala, and provolone, has the tangy, deep flavor of traditional cheese. There are also branches in Gwanggyo
📍 Yeoksam Main Branch, 15, Nonhyeon-ro 94-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
5. The Corner Kitchen
The Corner Kitchen, a restaurant in Oksu-dong, is especially famous for its dope corn pizza. The pizza is made with slices of seasoned whole corn and has an amazing sweet and salty flavor. The Quattro Formaggi pizza with honeycomb honey is just as flavorful as it looks. There is also a branch in Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu.
📍 8, Hallimmal 3-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
6. Jangjanghwaduk Pizza
Blacksmith Oven Pizza uses the traditional method of baking dough that has been fermented for over 48 hours at a high temperature of 480 degrees for 90 seconds. Their signature pizzas are worth trying, not to mention the familiar basics. The Mela e Brie pizza is a sweet pizza topped with brie, apple, and pineapple compote, with the added bonus of a fire performance.
📍 42-4, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
7. Parco
Another Neapolitan Pizza Association-certified restaurant, Parco was ranked No. 1 in Korea and No. 4 in the world at the 2019 Neapolitan Pizza Artisan Competition. Parco‘s signature dish is the pungi e uovo pizza topped with mushrooms and eggs. The prosciutto rucola pizza is also popular.
📍 44, Seoul Forest 2-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
8. Marione
Marione in Seongsu-dong, which recently moved to a new location, is run by Chef Kim Joo-young, who won the World Champion Award at the Naples Pizza Artisan Competition. It is a pizzeria recognized by Italians living and visiting Korea, and it shows the essence of classic pizza such as Caribaldi and Cappello di Toto. Make sure to make a reservation to avoid disappointment.
📍 23-1, Gwangnaru-ro 2-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Naver map)