Gung Ho Race to the Finish to Reclaim Pizza Champ Title
The slices have been eaten and the fine people of Beijing have voted and this year, it's a familiar face that has been propelled once again to the top of the pizza pile: Gung Ho, making the first winner to have ever won three times in the competition's six-year history.
That means commiserations to La Pizza who have nevertheless shown an extremely strong showing in this year's close race, a result that sees them attain their best standing ever (compared to landing fifth previously).
The Gung Ho team celebrate their much-deserved win outside of their Sanlitun store
Gung Ho went all-in this year, launching a strategic voting campaign among their followers buoyed by a strong presence at the Pizza Festival back in October, where they showed off some of their newest innovative combos as well as kept kids and adults alike rapt with interactive games.
The win helps the New Zealand-hailing restaurant regain their crown from 2014 and 2015, putting them back on top and proving that their innovative formula is still working for the Beijing public.
Gung Ho owner Jade Gray says they've been preparing for the cup for a full year and that "it means a lot for our team to win this following a month of PR, exposure, and representing our values so as to show we're fully committed to Beijing"
In a recent interview the Beijinger conducted with Gung Ho owner Jade Gray, he had this to say about how the restaurant strives to keep customers coming back: “Every part of the experience is fresh. That includes the box, the decor, the playlist ... In Beijing, people really appreciate substance, they like to keep things simple, and really appreciate authentic experiences. You can’t bullsh*t Beijing people.”
That also means a focus on constant evolution and a menu that has scored big with vegans and even adherents of the keto, paleo, and gluten-free diets, releasing a few of the city's only pizzas to align with these strict dietary requirements and demonstrating that the team isn't shy when it comes to experimenting in the kitchen. Meat eaters, however, have long espoused Gung Ho's take on the Beijing-by-way-of-Xinjiang classic in the form of their mouthwatering lamb chuan'r pizza.
Perhaps most importantly in a world increasingly ravaged by the effects of climate change and plastic waste, Gung Ho have long been champions of the environment. Their unwavering determination to be both eco-friendly and friendly on the palate culminated in the restaurant receiving B Corp status at the end of 2016, making Gung Ho the third ever company to do so in China. Since then, they have continued to hold their annual Earth Day event as well as organize walks to the Great Wall for trash pick-ups.
All in all, these factors make Gung Ho a worthy three-time champion of our Pizza Cup and reflects their ongoing motivation to provide an experience that is healthy, tasty, and guilt-free. That effort certainly hasn't been lost on you guys.
Results breakdown
With the final results in, Gung Ho secures its spot as one of only four different champions to win the cup in the six years we've held the annual poll:
Gung Ho! (2018)
Pie Squared (2017)
Bottega (2016)
Gung Ho! (2015)
Gung Ho! (2014)
Kro's Nest (2011)
*No contests were held in 2012 or 2013.
Making for a Final Four that looks a little something like this:
Gung Ho!
La Pizza
Bottega
The Local
There are also two new members who have been added to the Delicious Dozen: Q Mex enters this year at #8 (previously 17th) and Pizza Saporita, which ended last year at #19, comes in 10th. The two displaced Pyro Pizza (previously #10) who just missed the cut at #13 and Lido favorite Ramo, previously 11th, who got knocked to 15th.
Therefore, the final Top 12 for 2018 is:
Gung Ho! (previously #5)
La Pizza (previously #7)
Bottega (previously #2)
The Local (previously #12)
Annie's (previously #6)
Pie Squared (previously #1)
Eatalia (previously #3)
Q Mex (previously #17)
Great Leap Brewing #45 (previously #9)
Pizza Saporita (previously #19)
Kro's Nest (previously #8)
Tube Station (previously #4)
Stats breakdown
For this final vote, we asked you the best excuse for not eating pizza. While most of you cited dieting as a reason, many others responded that there is in fact no good reason for avoiding pizza.
Some of the more creative responses for not having pizza included:
Being a horrible person
Death
Fear of circles
Broke
I’ve just eaten my weight in hot pot
Lobotomy
My cat has died
The volume of my backside
Madness
We also asked you in a sentence or less to describe what you saw in this photo:
While a few of you were attracted by the sight (one of you calling it the ultimate hangover breakfast), the vast majority of you found the image repulsive. A few of the responses include:
A crime against humanity
Cardiac arrest on medium crust
Heresy
Something as horrible as the crucifixion and the OJ Simpson trial combined
My arteries’ worst nightmare
Obesity on a plate
The decline of western civilization
The devil's work
The Beijinger Pizza Cup winning pizza for 2018
An appropriate Tinder profile pic of my country, Meiguo
Final rankings
And with that, we're simply left to gander at the near-100 competitors and their rankings for this year's competition. Thank you everyone who voted and we look forward to seeing next year's competitors come back swinging for another stab at the mighty Pizza Cup. Farewell, and happy eating!
1. Gung Ho
2. La Pizza
3. Bottega
4. The Local
5. Annie's
6. Pie Squared
7. Eatalia
8. Q Mex
9. Great Leap Brewing #45
10. Pizza Saporita
11. Kro's Nest
12. Tube Station
13. Pyro Pizza
14. Papa John's
15. Ramo
16. Yummy Box
17. Paddy O'Shea's
18. Pizza Marzano
19. Tavola
20. Xian, East Beijing Hotel
21. Mao Mao Chong
22. Domino's
23. La Villa
24. Lievito
25. Tiago
26. The Veggie Table
27. Lily's American Diner
28. Lakers
29. Tribe
30. Pizza Hut
31. Legend Beer
32. NBeer Pub
33. Pizza Factory
34. Stuff'd (closed after voting started)
35. VSports
36. Luga's Villa
37. Eudora Station
38. The Rug
39. Fellas
40. Grandma's Kitchen
41. Le Fromager de Pékin
42. Tim's Texas BBQ
43. Bocca Della Verita
44. Nasca Cafe
45. Mrs Shanen's / Green Cow Cafe
46. LMPlus
47. Mio, Four Seasons Hotel
48. 1st Floor
49. Scott's Family Ristorante Italiano
50. Andy’s
51. Joe’s Bar & Kitchen
52. QS
53. Mr Pizza
54. Assaggi
55. Pizza Buona
56. Flypizza & Hoodakdak Chicken
57. Peter Pan
58. Panda Brew
59. Nine Road Pizzeria
60. Buddy Bar
61. PBD Pizza Bar
62. Fratelli Fresh, Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel
63. Via Roma, Kempinski Hotel
64. 789 (A-Life)
65. Radici
66. Peiping Machine
67. Pizza Now
68. Bene, Sheraton Grand Dongcheng Hotel
69. Uno Bar & Grill
70. Passby Bar
71. Red Rose
72. Charlie's
73. Max Pizza
74. Mix's Italian Grill, Crowne Plaza Zhongguancun
75. Four Ace
76. Botany
77. Leos Pizza
78. Elisa's
79. Jazz-Ya
80. Prego, Westin Financial Street
81. Casalingo
82. Kitchen Igosso
83. Agrilandia
84. Hisewel Brew-pub
85. Pizzagram
86. Loft Eatalicious
87. Yun Brew
88. Blufish
89. Pinvita
90. Whale's Pizza
91. Miss Pizza
92. Byone
93. Jushi Pizza Just in Time!
94. Atta BJ
95. Ebeiguo
96. BK's Tavern
97. Pomona
Images: Uni You, the Beijinger
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