What can I say - there are only a few things I miss when it comes to being in Thailand. Real motorbikes, the gorgeous California coastline and some decent pizza. I was reminded of how bad the pizza situation is here when I saw one of the new Pizza Company ads for their latest concoction - the Italian/American pizza. It was a pizza littered with toppings, some strange sauce drizzled over the top but the sickest part of it was the crust stuffed with a stuffed cheese hotdog. Please Thailand - that is not pizza. I continue to dine around town hoping to find a decent slice.
We probably should discuss some of the structural variations of pizza otherwise we may get in a rathole discussing good and bad pizza but yet not agreeing on the types of pizza. I grew up on the Rome style pizza which was all homemade and was medium crust, light sauce and light ingredients cooked in an oven. Was not amazing but it was accompanied with a huge Italian spread so the pizza was not the main event. So check this wiki link before commenting since there are many styles of pizzas.
To be clear - for Italian style pizzas Bangkok does okay. Zanottis, Scoozi, Le Opera, Pizza Aroy and so on. I am sure someone can suggest even more options and I would love to hear what people think is the best but this is not the problem I have.
I am looking for 2 things specifically. A real deep-dish pizza. These are what we call Chicago style pizzas. They are the bomb. We had a few places in California that specialized in them. You can only eat one once a month but they are amazing. Sure - Pizza Hut might call it pan crust but it is not a deep-dish pizza. Has anyone seen a real deep-dish pizza in Bangkok?
Second - some might call it a NY style pizza but I reckon there is an evolution of it. That is a little thicker crust and more toppings. Lots of cheese. This is what I was accustomed to in California. Pizza Hut tries but the quality is not there. I guess this is just a basic pizza. Medium crust, decent amount of sauce, lots of cheese and some toppings. Still looking. Some people said Bangkok Pizza fit this description but it looks like after trying to sell themselves on Craig’s List - they have shut down. Bummer. Never got to try it.
For New York style pizza I recently tried - New York Style Pizza on Thong Lo. JD - wait, the prices are listed on their website. I was not expecting much at this place and given that I was not too disappointed. The pizza was okay. Not amazing. I think it could be pretty good but my guess is places are ill managed. The staff was just not clear on things. I tried to order a special but they did not seem to get what I wanted and it turned out they were out of things. Okay - so I went with a menu item pizza. The crust is good. The ingredients are good but as talked about elsewhere - the toppings are anemic. Both the cheese and the meat. All tasty but just a little lacking.
I will probably try Bella Napoli on Suk 31 soon. Seems to be a little thicker than the normal Italian style and I hear good mentions of it. The question is do I hit Orchid before or after?
You should give a try to the “Basilico”:
8 Sukhumvit Soi 33
Wattana, Bkk 10110
Tel: (66-2) 662-2323
(more: http://www.dininginthailand.com/basilico.bkk.asp )
Tell me how you like this one!
Cheers!
View all comments by Max
Agree with you on Pizza Co although they are way better than Pizza Hut.
A lot of people like Basilico and it is often packed. But personally I think its one of the most over rated restaurants in Bangkok. Its ok but nothing stand out.
View all comments by MSB
Try Ranees (Ranee’s?) near Khao San. Sometimes very good pizza and pasta.
View all comments by rick
Difficult topic given the American vs the rest of the world pizza styles beign so different.
It is a little known fact that Melbourne, Australia is the home of the pizza. I’d suggest however the topping rich variety found there would not be to your liking, its like a medium/thin crust but chigago style on the toppings. Mind you of course there is a wide variation.
Never seen a chicago style pizza in BKK, but have found the best pizzas in more expensive restaurants rather than cheaper ones.
Ma Be Ba (next to the tunnel) used to have good thin based pizzas. Pan Pan on Soi 31 were good (but not Langsuan). Bascillicos probably had the best.
You could also try Antonio’s never had the pizza there but he food is excellent. Its on the route between Soi 31 and 23 (makes for a good stopping point in between, but its little more classy that 23 or 31.). He’s from Adelaide, if you were to tell him you heard Melbourne had the world’s best pizza, he would go out of his way to prove you wrong…
Big Mamas on that little sub soi between soi 19 and asoke has good food, never tried the pizzas. If anybody has eaten pizza there I’d like to know.
Good luck
View all comments by Daz
PS: I agree Chicago style pizzas rock.
I once went to a famous place (I’m sure you’ll know the name) which advertised the world’s best pizza. Now I couldn’t bitch about it unless i tried it.
I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t the world’s best, but it was pretty damn good.
View all comments by Daz
hey all - thanks for the tips.
big mamas is okay but nothing amazing. I would say the dishes and pasta are better.
View all comments by smitty
Pitta = Pizza (floating consonants can be so cruelly simplistic)
Just rub some olive oil on a pitta, some sea salt and tomatoes, olives, cheese, onions, anchovies etc.
Toss a few more things on the sucker while its in there baking.
The Arabs might throw on an egg then sage and oregano when it’s just out fresh )
‘Fraid that along with that “0″ the Arabs invented the Pizza.
OK Mediterraneans people.
Actually, “Mama” invented the Pizza.
Danny Salhani’s mama.
Thank god there’s a Mama’s Pizza in every North American city I’ve ever lived in. Greek Pizzas are salty and oily but there the tastiest.
For deep dish in Bangkok?
In a pinch I’ll get a coupla double-loaded Scoozi’s and then slap one on top of the other (toppings facing or stack ‘em - depending on my mood and what’s to drink)
View all comments by thongsuk
I can highly recommend Basilico’s on Sukhumvit Soi 33.
Excellent pizza.
Excellent Service.
View all comments by Neil
i tried bella napoli on advice of a thai friend in 2006 and didn’t like it much. it was ok, but nothing special.
basilico on suk soi 33, as mentioned, is good.
limoncello, on suk soi 11, has the best pizza that i’ve tried in bkk.
there’s an italian restaurant across suk soi 8 from lolitas — i’d say its pizza is better than bella napoli & just below quality level of basilico’s.
View all comments by fountainhead
awesome folks. I gotta get trying some pizza here soon.
thx
View all comments by smitty
Try the Italian place downstairs at Novotel Siam Square. I once had pizza from Domino’s in BKK and Pizza Co (with my Korean SO) in Pattaya. Both were fine, but yes, those are Italian-American style pies.
View all comments by V
fountainhead - the place on Soi 8 is called Via Vai. Pretty decent pizza there.
View all comments by Orion
Had the garlic mushrooms from heaven, mean hawaiin (sp????) with extra chillis and a belly full of beer from ‘Oscars’ in Kings Langely, UK - weighed in at 10,000 baht
Thank fuck mother was paying
I love being spoilt
But still wasnt as good as the 400baht joint i got from madrids in patpong
View all comments by Penfold
Orion — yeap, Via Vai, that’s it! i liked their bruschetta & appetizers more than anything though.
View all comments by fountainhead
Try B Restaurant on Soi RangNam, opposite the King Power Complex. It’s actually a Thai Restaurant, but they serve delicious pizzas as well. Probably among the best I ever had. It doesn’t come cheap (200 - 350 Baht), but it’s definitely worth it.
View all comments by Christoffer Larsson
Being Italian myself i can strongly reccomend VENEZIA on suk soi 11,right beside bed supperclub!
Well cooked and large pizza served on a wooden plate,chairs are top notch!good selection of pasta and above par wine list.
quite on the xpensive side as a margherita and a beer glass sets u back at a 600 thb bill,but it is worthy.
Cheers!
View all comments by Andre
Smitty maybe this could be inspiration for P5?
View all comments by Penfold
p - u mean building a pizza joint? If so - for sure don’t want to be in the restaurant biz but thanks.
View all comments by smitty
Pizza and a brass?…………
Winning combo for me
View all comments by Penfold
btw - tried limoncello on soi 11. not bad but not amazing. FYI - it is the same owner as pizza zannottis.
View all comments by smitty
Closing this post to comments.
You can carry the thread over on the forum.
http://www.tfs2m.com/sf-forum?forum=5&topic=5&page=1
thanks
View all comments by smitty