RAF by Roucou opened in late September as a cooler Zillennial younger sibling to its more serious, original brother in Soho.
It is many things: what Paisono’s Pizzeria may look like if it was conceptualised in 2026; a palace of hip hop music; a direct competitor to adjacent Neapolitan pizzerias; a tailor-made concept where a marketing campaign has succeeded.
The Roman-style pinza restaurant sits in a middle ground of local pizzadom – not your oily triangle slice, nor labelled with a HKD2XX price tag. I expect this to win plaudits for diners yearning for casual pizza experiences.
RAF’s rectangular pizzas are served puffy with toppings crowning a lightly-charred top. It is optimally designed for a single-hand grip, rather than a messier fork-and-knife clean up with circular versions.
Messy at RAF? Refer to the Three O Pinza (HKD168), a limited time only special lasting till November end, named after basketballer Stephen Curry’s jersey number and using neighborhood Sun King Yuen’s curry, a housemade Famima chicken, red onions, and garlic.
With a curry sauce that holds its own prestige, this pinza doubles down on aroma and salt with the paprika-powered chicken bites driving sensations on the palate. The sauce trickles down each slice with herby delight. This is the preferred option for those who seek texture.
Their Margarita (HKD128) appeases the most vanilla pizza fans with a variation to the classic with straccietalla included in the mozzarella mix for added mouthfeel and chewiness. The tomato sauce is sweet, whereas I would prefer it more vinegary to bring balance.
Conversely, I could manage two slices of the Umami bleu (HKD148) before I could not continue any longer. Those who can handle the pungent smack of blue cheese, this is up your alley. I love anchovies, a sprinkling are included in the recipe, but the cheese shocked me. Great for some, upsettingly too strong for others!
For non-pinza items, diners can order a salad – sorry, no need here – drinks, or the crispy platter (HKD98 for one, HKD178 for two). The trio includes french fries, their homemade Famima chicken strips, and AVO bomb’s, made with avocado puree and edamame.
The fries work well with RAF’s Sichuan cream cheese dip, bringing moisture to each bite. Again, the chicken is a hit and tastes similar to its real Japanese counterpart. I wish there was a mention on the menu that the AVO bomb’s contained edamame; I am not an edamame hater, I just expected a really creamy bite packed with green avo.
Our verdict of RAF by Roucou
RAF by Roucou is the brainchild of a chef and restaurant wanting to connect with diners who don’t want the fuss of fine-casual dining and just want good tasting pizza – they have won in this respect. I for one love a good pizza pie, but oftentimes I want a filling, fluffy, and doughy chunk of pizza.
RAF by Roucou, LG/F, 8 Star Street, Wan Chai
| Order this: margarita, Three O Curry, crispy platter Menu: à-la-carte menu Price for two: HKD250 – HKD300 | Atmosphere: a bit of New York but still feeling quite Wan Chai Perfect for: pizza nights without the fuss of unforgiving table service and moist pies |
This review is intended to offer an individual perspective on the dining experience and should not be considered as a definitive judgement of the restaurant’s overall quality or reputation. The views expressed in this review are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions of Foodie.
