2023 Cheesy Pizza Cup Recap: BJ's Top 16 Pizzas, as Voted by You
After weeks of competition, with readers narrowing down a list of 99 Beijing pizza spots all the way down to one, the 2023 Cheesy Pizza Cup has finally come to its conclusion.
This year saw a first for Beijing pizza with our Pizza Cup kicking off around the same time as our inaugural Cheesy Pizza Month, which saw 15 participating pizza brands across the capital take part in what’s essentially an extended Pizza Fest: guests can try a select pizza at the restaurant, get a sticker in their passport, and win prizes while at it.
Our Cheesy Pizza Cup also culminated in a Final Taste-Off. Similar to the 2021 Pizza Cup in which weekly taste-offs took place from the Sweet 16 onward, this taste-off was for the Final Four only, bringing together four drastically different styles of pizza for guests to taste before voting for their favorite.
What follows, then, is the overall results:
16
La Platea
Taking its name from The Place, the shopping complex in which its original location resides in near Central Park, La Platea is perfect for after work or weekend happy hour Mediterranian style, with an ample selection of Spanish tapas, spritzes, pastas, and two pizza options – the pizzetta (RMB 68-98), a small rectangular pizza cut into thin slices for sharing; and the trapizzino (RMB 48) which is like a cross between a sandwich and pizza, with a variety of fillings stuffed inside a triangular bread pocket.
15
Kro's Nest
Our original Pizza Cup winner (2011) is still soaring along with their no-nonsense American-style pizzas. Considered the best back in the day, the pie – as well as the customer-favorite sides and appetizers – still contend with the best of 'em. Kro’s pie to try is the Pepperoni Explosion (RMB 88 for 12-inch, RMB 168 for 16-inch, and RMB 198 for 23-inch, pictured).
14
COMMUNE RESERVE
Coming from the juggernaut that is COMMUNE, a restaurant chain with branches across China, COMMUNE RESERVE is like the upscale older brother of the bunch, offering imaginative craft beers and a ton of food options in a relaxed, slightly formal space. Their pizzas are surprisingly good, too, and they’ve got two to try: the Calabrian Sausage Pizza (RMB 108, pictured), smothered with San Marzano tomato sauce then covered with slices of Calabrian sausage, mozzarella cheese and mascarpone cheese; and the Tartufata (RMB 128), featuring a creamy bechamel sauce base topped with rich black truffle paste, mozzarella, mushrooms and fresh basil.
13
La Pizza
These stalwarts based in Liangmaqiao and Shangdu SOHO are a force to be reckoned with. Even though their longtime chef Giuseppe De Stefano returned to Italy after battling a severe illness, the place is still going strong (as is De Stefano himself, thankfully). Come here not just for the Neapolitan-style pizza but for the little bites like arancini – deep fried balls of saffron-cooked rice (RMB 48) – fried seafood, and baci – which means "kiss" in Italian – a sort of mini pizza roll stuffed with a variety of fixings, such as ham (baci Sorrento, RMB 90) or bacon and mushrooms (baci Ischia, RMB 90).
12
Jing-A Brewing Co.
When these brewmeisters put pizza on the menu at their Longfusi Taproom back in 2019, it certainly got people’s attention, especially for the bold choice to use sourdough for their pies. Left to sit overnight before cooking, the sour flavor of the dough cuts through thanks to the long fermentation time, lending Jing-A’s pizzas a nice crunchy consistency.
Jing-A’s pie to try is their Beijing Meat Lovers (RMB 110, pictured), which sees an Italian tomato sauce base combined with cured Guizhou sausage, Sichuan sausage, house-made Mala sausage, roasted cherry tomatoes, red onion, fermented green beans, chili flakes, and mozzarella. Another to try is their one-of-a-kind Happy Clam Pizza (RMB 110), a white sauce pie topped with parmesan and mozzarella cheese, garlic, crispy bacon bits, and apple cider-steamed clams – reminiscent of pizza toppings commonly found in New Haven, Connecticut.
11
Q Mex Bar & Grill
Q Mex isn’t without its fair share of skeptics, especially when they reached the Ultimate Final in Pizza Cup ’21, but the voters had spoken: This Mexican joint makes solid pizza – and in fact has done well in every Pizza Cup they've entered. Two to definitely try are, the Chipotle Chicken Pizza (RMB 75 for tortilla crust, RMB 80 for regular) – roast chipotle salsa, grilled chicken, corn, beans, and more – and the Spicy Chorizo Pizza (RMB 75 for tortilla crust, RMB 80 for regular) – which sees a classic tomato sauce and mozzarella base topped with chopped jalapenos, cilantro, veggies, and spicy chorizo sausage.
10
Great Leap Brewing
This capital favorite for beers and burgers also slings good pizza that’s of a decidedly New York variety. Big with a thin crunchy crust, Great Leap’s use of a sourdough base really shines through, lending a crispy sour hit with each bite. Go for the Brooklyn Supreme (RMB 105, pictured), upon which tomato sauce gets topped with toasty cheese, red peppers, olives, house made sausage, and red pepper flakes.
9
The Pizza Show
The Pizza Show plies its trade at the trendy Parkview Green Mall and features pies that come out of the oven as fast as they’re assembled – an Italian-style of pizza cooking that, while it doesn’t translate as well to waimai and takeout, is perfect for dining in-house. Try the Meat Lovers (RMB 89, pictured) which comes topped with ham, pepperoni, meatballs, basil, and pesto.
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8
Pyro Pizza
While Pyro offers up solid variations of American pizza classics – their cheese and pepperoni pies come to mind – two you should definitely try are the Nacho Beef Pizza (RMB 45-92, pictured) and the Spicy Beef Pizza (RMB 35-72). The former is like a build-your-own-burrito in pizza form: ground beef topped with olives, jalapenos, and onions with the addition of fresh cilantro, diced tomato, and sour cream drizzle. The latter is Italian with a spicy bent, seeing beef and cheese over arrabiata-style sauce and a chili oil brushed dough base.
7
Tube Station
A favorite of ours, part of a previous menu revamp by American chef Jeff Powell, is the Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza (RMB 65 for 10-inch; RMB 155 for 19-inch; RMB 215 for 24-inch), loaded with all the fixings of a bacon cheeseburger – bacon, ground beef, minced onions, dill pickles, burger sauce, and honey mustard.
6
Bottega
The winners of Pizza Cup 2020 are favorites among the Italian community here in Beijing, and they’ve even made a name for themselves in Shanghai and on the global stage as well, ranking 14th in the world on the 50TopPizza list. The reason is clear, of course: Bottega serves up what can be described as the best Neapolitan-style pizza in the capital. Go for the Bottega (RMB 139), featuring San Marzano tomato sauce, basil, heirloom tomatoes, and three cheeses: mozzarella, whole burrata cheese, and a dusting of Pecorino Romano.
5
Annie's Italian Restaurant
What can we say that hasn’t already been said about this homegrown Beijing institution? Dependable pizza, unfathomably fast delivery, and classic Italian tastes add up to pizza that hits all the right notes. Annie's also has a touch of community, comfort, and common happiness to boot. Try their Four Cheese Pizza (RMB 58 for 9-inch; RMB 68 for 12-inch) or, if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, go for their Calzone (RMB 55 for 9-inch; RMB 65 for 12-inch) – a folded pizza loaded with fresh chopped tomatoes, ricotta cheese, salami, and ham with marinara on the side for dipping or drizzling.
4
Forno
From the team behind Bottega comes Forno, a Rome-centric restaurant which first graced the capital with rustic pizza done the Roman way in 2019. While Forno originally did Pizza al Taglio – aka pizza by the slice – they’ve since switched things up and serve Pizza in Pala – pizza of the paddle. Try their Diavola (RMB 89, pictured), which consists of a more rounded and crunchy focaccia base topped with mozzarella, red chilli flakes, and spicy salami.
3
Gung Ho!
These pizza makers from New Zealand have been turning heads since they first opened in 2010 thanks to their striking black, pink, and white logo and boxes, as well as their inventive and quality pies. This is perhaps what allowed them to take home the Pizza Cup title a total of three times – 2014, 2015, and 2018 – and keeps them going strong today. Try their Lord of the Lambs pizza (RMB 49 for 7-inch; RMB 119 for 11-inch), featuring the typical red sauce and cheese combo dialed up with pieces of lamb, arugula, and dabs of punchy Greek-style sauce.
2
Pie Squared
Pie Squared, the winners of our 2017 and 2021 Pizza Cup, make solid American pies with a Detroit twist, rectangular pizza with a thick, focaccia-like base that’s lightly burned and crisped on the underside and edges, topped with a hefty helping of tomato sauce and cheese. Their pie to try is the Motown Meatball, a square pizza with an airy base topped with tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, slightly sweet caramelized red onions and Italian-style beef and pork meatballs. Get it on two squares for RMB 55 or six for RMB 98.
1
Joe’s Pizza
Having won over pizza lovers and foodies in the capital since they arrived in Beijing last year, Joe’s Pizza cemented their growing fame with a victory in this year’s Pizza Cup. People can’t get enough of their big New York-style pies, pizza-by-the-slice, and inventive snacks. While there are a few good slices available on the menu, the two to go for are their Classic Pepperoni (RMB 27) or Cheese (RMB 22). They’ve also recently added 10-inch personal pan pizzas to the menu, with our favorite of the bunch being the Brooklyn (RMB 85), which comes topped with mozzarella, pepperoni, mushrooms and garlic spinach.
Beyond the Top 16, here are the rankings for best pizza in Beijing from 17 to 99:
17. COMMUNE•X
18. Pizza Saporita
19. Domino's Pizza
20. Pizza Marzano
21. The Local
22. Turkish Feast
23. Georgia's Feast
24. Home Plate BBQ
25. EATALIA
26. Yummy Box
27. The Cheesecake Factory
28. Peter PanPan
29. Plan B
30. Hulu
31. The Rug
32. IL Fuoco
33. Canotto by The Pizza Show
34. PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA
35. Paddy O'Shea's
36. TIAGO
37. Pizza Hut
38. Tavola Italian Dining
39. Frasca
40. Scott's Family Ristorante Italiano
41. Citywalk Red Oven Pizza Bakery
42. Saizeriya
43. Nine Road Pizzeria
44. BUONA BOCCA
45. MIO, Four Seasons Hotel
46. Mr Pizza
47. TIGERS
48. Brotzeit German Bier Restaurant
49. Wobbit Bistro
50. Ponte
51. NBeer Pub
52. Laker's
53. Assaggi
54. Big Pizza
55. Mao Mao Chong
56. Xian Bar
57. Kitty & Daniel's Hollywood Bar & Grill
58. La Mezzaluna
59. Champion Pizza
60. TOWNSQUARE CAFE • ARTYZEN HABITAT BEIJING
61. MOJAR
62. Lilys
63. Barblu
64. EATA
65. La Cucina
66. Via Roma•Kempinski Hotel
67. Fufú
68. LMPLUS
69. SIGMORE
70. Grandma's Kitchen
71. Groovy Schillers
72. Yum Yummy
73. Tomcado
74. Eudora Station
75. MOBIUS
76. FELICHITA
77. FLYPIZZA & HOODADAK CHICKEN
78. Jazz-Ya
79. Tribe
80. Bene
81. Pizza Now
82. Atta BJ
83. Steam Pizza
84. Festin Table
85. Agrilandia
86. Legend
87. QS
88. Casalingo
89. The Veggie Table
90. Get Pizza
91. German Restaurant
92. Long Table Restaurant Bar (Qianmen)
93. Wine Bistro by Bacchus
94. CUP ONE
95. Sesto Senso
96. Nasca Cafe
97. CHAPTER, CONRAD BEIJING
98. Byone
99. Olive Restaurant & Bar
READ MORE
Joe's Pizza Crowned Beijing's Best of 2023 at Cheesy Pizza Cup Final
Images: courtesy of the restaurants
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