Best South Korean Pizza Places In 2024

Pizza is one of the most popular foods in South Korea, and there are a lot of great places to try it. If you’re looking for the best places South Korean pizza places to try in 2022, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the best places to order pizza in South Korea 2022, based on our research.

After the Korean War, pizza was introduced to South Korea for the first time. Pizza shops began to appear in places where the United States Army was stationed. Due to the fact that Korean pizza is a local adaptation of the pizza the Americans brought, it is frequently large, circular, and fatty, unlike the original Italian thin-crust pizza.

Korean pizza is well-known for its diverse and often unexpected toppings, delighting locals and tourists alike. The inclusion of bulgogi—a marinated beef dish—is a popular choice, offering a sweet and savory flavor profile that pairs uniquely with traditional pizza ingredients. Sweet potato, another favored topping, is frequently used in the crust or as a filling, providing a subtle sweetness and creamy texture that contrasts with the usual cheese-stuffed variations found elsewhere.

In 1985, Pizza Hut built its first restaurant in Seoul, which has since grown in popularity. Currently, the chain has sites throughout the nation. As one of the first major Western pizza chains to enter the Korean market, Pizza Hut played a significant role in shaping the country’s pizza landscape. Its presence helped introduce Western-style pizzas, such as pan pizzas loaded with cheese and toppings, to the Korean palate. Over the years, Pizza Hut adapted to local tastes by offering specially developed menu items featuring Korean ingredients, such as tteokbokki-inspired pizzas.

In South Korea, pizza, like many other varieties of restaurant food, is consumed communally. Since eating pizza in restaurants is uncommon in South Korea, the majority of pizza consumed there is delivered.

Dining out for pizza in South Korea is often a social event, similar to gatherings for Korean barbecue. Pizza is typically shared among family and friends, complementing other popular snacks like fried chicken and beer. The rise of “chimaek,” a portmanteau of “chicken” and “maekju” (Korean for beer), has influenced how pizza is also enjoyed as part of these communal dining experiences, blending seamlessly with modern Korean dining trends.

Pizza is frequently associated with inexpensive takeout or delivery cuisine. However, in Korea, pizza is unexpectedly pricey. Compared to the numerous inexpensive options. You may easily lunch out for less than $5 per person, while a large pizza typically costs over $30. Pizza is becoming increasingly popular as a result of the recent emergence of several new, less expensive pizza establishments, such as Pizza School (a cheaper pizza franchise) and Pizza Mall (a pizza buffet).

Evolution of Pizza Chains in South Korea

The pizza chain scene in South Korea has evolved with local brands such as Mr. Pizza and Pizza Etang emerging strongly. These chains have created firm footholds by developing flavors tailored to Korean preferences, offering pizzas that don’t shy away from using toppings like seafood, kimchi, and even corn. Their marketing strategies often highlight local celebrity endorsements and innovative menu items, which appeal to younger, trend-conscious consumers.

Paulie’s Brick Oven Pizzeria

Address: South Korea, Seoul, Jongno-gu, Cheongjin-dong, Jong-ro 3-gil, 17 D타워 2층 5호

Located in the Gwanghwamun neighbourhood and owned by American and Canadian proprietors, this restaurant serves authentic American pizzas.

Paulie’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, which caters to more than just pizza enthusiasts and the local scene, may be the next big thing in the pizza scene for Seoulites. Their menu includes everything from cheese and pepperoni to classics like as the Godfather and the New York Supreme, as well as Paulie’s unique pizzas. The Devil’s Delight is probably their most talked-about signature pizza at the moment. It is made with fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, fresh chiles, crushed red pepper, and Mike’s Hot Honey, an import exclusive to Paulie’s, to achieve an odd but delicious combination of sweet and spicy flavours. All of the pizzas are baked in a state-of-the-art brick oven using dough made with flour from General Mills. Paulie’s, located in Gwanghwamun, maintains an elegant setting without sacrificing the casual ambiance of many pizza restaurants. From their sauces and spices to their flatware, even the smallest details are attended to, and this can be tasted in their non-pizza items. To illustrate: On their appetiser menu, the lemon rosemary wings are meaty and zesty, with a wonderful rosemary kick at the end. Paulie’s will soon be the first restaurant in Korea to offer root beer on tap, so we have a feeling you’ll be hearing a lot more about it.

In addition to the delicious pizzas, the interior of this establishment is also remarkable. If you need a peaceful night out during your trip in Seoul, this hotel is clean and cosy, with English-speaking wait staff.

Falo Pizza

Address: 394-65 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The atmosphere of this restaurant is pleasant. However, there is only one English menu in the entire restaurant. Therefore, if another table is using it, you will have to wait. The servers speak some English, so placing an order in English is not a significant problem. They are attentive and productive. By 7 o’clock, the restaurant was quite full.

The pizza is cooked on-site and baked in a stone oven. We ordered pizza as well as spaghetti. I enjoy the flavour of pizza, but the crust is a bit too chewy for my tastes. Spaghetti cooked to an al dente consistency is quite satisfying.

The price was fair. Overall, their pasta is thought to be superior to their pizza. Very pleased with this restaurant, a refreshing treat after a week of eating Korean food.

Note: the spaghetti can be rather hot. Please inform the servers if you’d prefer a milder dish.

Spacca Napoli

Address: 28 Yanghwa-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

This pizza restaurant in Hapjeong is regarded as among the best in South Korea. The pizza crust in particular is wonderful and precisely what it should be.   You can get a an  authentic Neapolitan pizza here since it is topped with a superior tomato sauce and fresh ingredients. This establishment, unlike most excellent pizzerias, offered enough seating and no wait to get a table.

The location is near the metro station but somewhat removed from the main road. Take exit 5 or 6, and you should be able to reach your destination within 5 minutes on foot. This establishment also offers a small assortment of Italian beer and pasta dishes.

The minor disadvantage is the price. Expect to pay 60000 won for two pizzas and two bottles of beer, which is more than most Korean BBQ restaurants will charge for a complete supper for two.

Ginos’ NY Pizza

Address: 46 Noksapyeong-daero 40-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

If you ask people what the most essential element of a pizza is, you will most likely hear “the crust.” A good crust may transcend a poor pizza, and together with the sauce, it is the signature of a pizza restaurant. Longtime New York City resident Eugene Kim is fully aware of this. He is obsessed with it. And with partner Yu Seong “David” Kim, they opened Gino’s New York Pizza in Itaewon earlier this month.

Eugene spent time in New York City learning the ins and outs of crusts and sauces (where he was affectionately known as “Fat Gino”—hence the name) in order to open a pizzeria in Seoul that serves “genuine” New York pizza. Each morning begins with the preparation and creation of crust dough. The dough is then fermented for 24 to 72 hours, resulting in a crust with a significant amount of “oven spring,” or airiness. Gino’s crusts are light and crispy, as opposed to deep and crunchy at most other restaurants. For the sauce and toppings, quality ingredients have been carefully sourced.

The majority are imported from the United States, while the fresh mozzarella is imported from Italy and the Italian sausage is created specifically for Gino’s. This meticulous attention to detail yields a pizza that is well-balanced in both texture and flavour. Personal favourites include the New York Supreme and the Brooklyn’s Best (a Gino’s signature pizza topped with Italian sausage, red onions, fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese, and extra-virgin olive oil).

Gino’s offers a wide variety of traditional pies for people who want meat and/or vegetable combinations with more or less of each. Probably the most intriguing pizza is Nellie’s Pie, which is delicious if you enjoy the combination of sweet, salty, sour, and peppery flavours. Order the half and half if you’re having difficulties deciding. Eugene and Yu-seong, who have over 17 years of combined experience in the service sector, are a formidable team that’s poised to make a mark in the pizza industry, and their “customer first” ethic is clear in the way they do business. Eugene stated, “I want it to have a New York flavour.” I want it to feel like home.” I’d say he’s

Western franchises like Domino’s and Papa John’s have successfully integrated local flavors into their offerings while maintaining a strong brand identity. Domino’s, for example, introduced a combination of Korean-style beef and sweet sauces, catering to the growing demand for fusion flavors. These adaptations have helped these franchises stay competitive in a market where customers frequently seek novelty and excitement in their dining experiences.

As with many Korean dishes, Korean pizza typically has sweet ingredients. Koreans enjoy challenging the conventional pizza by adding novel and intriguing toppings. There is garlic, T-bone steak, and even Wagyu meat available. You can also discover typical Korean flavours, such as bulgogi, along with a range of vegetables and sauces.

Similarly to many American pizza chains, filled crust is also prevalent. But unlike American pizza, where the crust is predominantly cheese, there are a variety of components. Among the most typical fillings for the crust of Korean pizza is mashed sweet potato.

Korean pizza has opened my eyes to new flavours, and I think it’s quite exciting to experiment with sweet and spicy flavours that you won’t find on Italian or American pizza.