Ponder this life-altering question for a mo’: what defines a great pizza? Is it the crust, the sauce, the cheese, the toppings or a combination? What about thin crust versus deep dish versus American style with loads of crazy toppings? In our quest to find our favourite pizzas in the 852, we’ve chowed down on a whole lotta sodden crust, tasteless sauce and rubbery cheese – but in the end we’ve found this worthy selection of pies that have surpassed the rest by a Neapolitan mile.
Mother of Pizzas
Buzzy Causeway Bay pizzeria Mother of Pizzas is a new one for us – and we’re kicking ourselves that we didn’t discover the wonder of its pizza sooner. Founded in 2016 by Chef Ricky Yuen, the pies at MoP are the perfect marriage of puffy, charred Neapolitan crust (the dough is fermented for 48 hours and cooked in a wood-fired stone oven at about 425°C) and hand-crushed San Marzano tomato sauce, combined with Big Apple-style toppings (if anyone’s been to John’s Pizzeria in NYC, you’ll understand what we mean). The pizzas come in both 13-inch and 18-inch sizes, but whichever size you order, we recommend mixing and matching with a half and half so that you can try two flavours. They’re all pretty spectacular, but we have a soft spot for the Pepperoni Super Saiyan ($228/13 in; $398/18 in), topped with mozzarella, basil, bocconcini, garlic and lashings of pepperoni. Single slices are available – check out the window display – but you’ve got to arrive before 1pm to have any chance of nabbing yourself one.
Click here to learn about MoP’s inaugural pizza-eating competition!
13–19 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, 2891 2221
Ciao Chow
Photo credit: @ciaochow.hk
Ciao Chow is the first pizzeria in Hong Kong to be accredited by the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana (AVPN). For those of you not well-versed in fancy pizza lingo, the AVPN is an Italian government organisation that requires pizzerias to meet strict requirements in order to preserve the art of Neapolitan pizza making. It doesn’t get more authentic than that! Ciao Chow’s pizzas are thin and crisp with a puffy Neapolitan crust. The Margherita ($129) is a solid choice here so that you get to truly experience the fresh ingredients and flavours. Ciao Chow also offers a free-flow pizza brunch, which is certainly not for the faint of heart – you’ll be rolling out of there feeling like a dough ball.
Central: G/F, California Tower, 30–32 D’Aguilar Street, LKF, 2344 0005, book online
Kowloon Tong: Shop 19, UG/F, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, 2499 1000
Kytaly
Hailing from Geneva, Kytaly opened its first overseas outlet in Hong Kong just last year. Co-owned by master pizzaiolo Franco Pepe, Kytaly boasts a pizza that was once voted the best in the world by 50 Top Pizza. The pizza in question is the artsy Margherita Sbagliata ($208), pictured above. And the question is: does it hold up to the title? We can confirm that, yes, this is indeed one of the finest pizzas around. Whether it’s the best pizza in the world is debatable (so many pizzas, so little time), but the basil reduction (as opposed to using basil leaves) really does step it up a notch. As for the base, this has got to be the thinnest, chewiest, puffiest crust EVER. Another standout pizza is the Parmigiana (HK$278), topped with aubergine, fior di latte, Grana Padano and smoked scamorza – it’s enough to make any cheese connoisseur swoon.
5/F, Carfield Commercial Building, 77 Wyndham Street, Central, 2808 1961
Alvy’s
There’s a lot to love about craft beer and pizza specialist Alvy’s, a collaboration between The Globe’s former publican, the founders of local craft brewery Young Master Brewery and the designer of May Chow’s Second Draft. The ex-pat-heavy crowd and down-home vibe scream Brooklyn all the way, and the pizza? It’s crafted with a unique sourdough crust made with the same starter used for Young Master’s sour beers. We like the Chinese-American fusion pies the most, especially the Ma-La-Di-Da ($188), pictured above, topped with zingy Sichuan-accented tomato sauce, pepperoni, ‘nduja, bocconcini – and, in the centre, a heaping mound of whole red chillies, spring onion slivers and crispy garlic chips.
8 Holland Street, Kennedy Town, 2312 2996
Motorino
Gliding up the escalator in SoHo or walking along Wanchai’s Ship Street, it’s difficult to pass by this highly acclaimed New York import without stopping in for a cracking wood-fired pizza pie (Motorino boasts a handcrafted Stefano Ferrara brick oven from Naples). Chef Mathieu Palombino’s crust is supple with a blistering char, and his packed-with-flavour tomato sauce reaches the pinnacle of the HK pizza pack. When choosing a pie, we usually opt for the Meatball ($178), topped with Motorino’s amazing pillowy meatballs and creamy fior di latte. We also adore the signature sauceless Brussels sprout ($178) pizza, topped with sprouts, smoked pancetta and lots and lots of garlic and Pecorino.
Central: 14 Shelley Street, SoHo, 2801 8881
Wanchai: 15 Ship Street, 2520 0690
The Italian Club
Photo credit: @theitalianclubrestauranthk
With a name like “The Italian Club”, it’s no surprise that this spot serves up a mean pizza. What sets them apart is that they don’t use the traditional Neapolitan-style base – this crust is crunchier and crispier thanks to the meticulous way in which the dough is prepared; it’s made using premium Italian flour and then leavened in a cold cellar for 24 hours. The pizza that we believe best showcases the quality of the ingredients is the 20 Months Aged Parma Ham ($145). Once again, it’s all in the name. Parma ham is paired with buffalo mozzarella from Campania, Grana Padano cheese, Italian tomato sauce and extra-virgin olive oil. Bellissimo!
Central: 1–5 Elgin Street, SoHo, 2540 7988, book online
Mongkok: 19 Hak Po Street, 2506 0016, book online
Tai Po (coming soon): G/F, 38 Tai Wo Centre, 2540 7988
La Piazzetta
The super-cosy La Piazzetta has been stationed in SoHo for over two decades, and the original owner and chef, Paolo Donati, is still very much involved in running the restaurant. Nowadays, semi-retired Chef Donati is mostly found at the laid-back Cheung Chau seaside branch (pictured here). He’ll welcome you with open arms and make you feel as though you’ve stepped right into his home. The warm Italian hospitality is just as comforting as the pizza itself. The SoHo and Cheung Chau menus differ slightly, with Cheung Chau’s prices being lower thanks to the rent, but both branches deliver no-frills, homestyle pizza. Try the Quattro Formaggi ($168) for a genuine cheesy treat.
Central: 5 Tsun Wing Lane, SoHo, 2522 9505
Cheung Chau: 9D Pak She Praya Road, 2981 1140
208 Duecento Otto
Photo credit: @208do
208 Duecento Otto – much like all restaurants from JIA Group – is beautifully designed in what is described as New York meatpacking district style. However, these are not New York-style pizzas. With wood ovens sent over straight from Naples and imported Italian buffalo mozzarella, these pizzas are truly Italian. Pizza options range from the classic Margherita ($178) to unique creations such as the Rustica ($188), which is topped with mozzarella, taleggio, potato, balsamic onion and rosemary. There are vegan options too.
208 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, 2549 0208, book online
La Brata
Photo credit: @gennariflo
A bit of a hidden gem, La Brata is a casual eatery with an impressive selection of cold cuts and cheeses imported from Italy. You can sample these while you you wait for the aptly named 1 Metre of Bliss ($598) – that’s just over three feet of heavenly cheeses and hams! We highly recommend this for a group dinner, although, if you manage to eat it by yourself, you will forever have our respect. But since this is a pizza top list, let’s discuss the ultra-thin and crisp crust. This style of pizza is closer to Roman style with its thin crust and low-risen dough. With pizzas priced from $118–158 and the Metre of Bliss feeding four to six people, La Brata is definitely one of the most generous and affordable options on this list. Its sister restaurant in TST, Capo, is another highly rated pizza favourite.
11 Old Bailey Street, SoHo, Central, 2553 3602
Spasso
Photo credit: @sophronia218
Located in Tsim Sha Tsui with a large al-fresco dining space and stunning views of Victoria Harbour, Spasso is the perfect setting for a Sunday brunch or romantic dinner. Each of the eatery’s pizzas is made to order using top-notch Italian ingredients and is hand-tossed and baked in a wood-fired oven. The Piccante ($178) with spicy Italian salami is a classic, while the Burrata Cacio e Pepe ($218) is a decadent twist on the traditional pasta dish. Gluten-free pizzas are available upon request.
Shop G5–8, 12–17, G/F, Empire Centre, 68 Mody Road, TST East, 2730 8027, book online
Cafe Roma
Photo credit: @caferomahk
If you’re searching for the world’s thinnest pizza, look no further than Cafe Roma. Seriously, their pizza actually broke the world record with a base of just 0.000001mm! This little-known beachside spot is popular amongst families and locals on Park Island, or Ma Wan, a small island accessible via a quick ferry journey from Central or bus from Tsing Yi. The Peking Duck ($128) pizza, while not very Italian, is certainly a favourite amongst guests. On the other hand, puritans will be highly satisfied with the Diavola ($138) or Four Cheeses ($138). Anyone up for a ferry trip this weekend?
Shop 7–8, 1/F, Beach Commercial Complex, Park Island, 3446 1226
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