Ever since a Neapolitan baker recreated the Italian flag in dough form, we humans have been devising ever more fabulous toppings for pizza. Get a load of these Beijing originals.
Apricot Chicken – Nasca Café RMB 49
This deep-pan pie boasts mighty hunks of chicken, pine nuts, rosemary and mildly tangy apricot sauce. Not wacky enough for you, eh? Sounds like you’re game for a New Zealand dessert pizza – wholemeal base with banana, chocolate sauce and "special custard."
Daily 9:30am-11pm. 105B, 38 Zaoying Beili, Maizidian, Chaoyang Park West Gate (opposite Yongan Hotel), Chaoyang Park (6592 4537)
Caesar Salad – The Pomegranate RMB 48 Shunyi
residents will get a kick out of this funky pie. The name says it all – this pizza is a Caesar salad on baked dough, which is both a neat and delicious concept. The croutons might be
overkill, though.
English Breakfast – Twilight RMB 49
Part-owned by the brains behind cocktail bar Apothecary, Twlight is equally discriminating about its pizza. This wood-fired wake-up call is loaded with real sausage, bacon, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and a fried egg, and the hand-stretched dough is some of the tastiest in town.
Mon-Sat 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-2am. (Behind Starbucks) 3/F, 0102, Bldg 5, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District. (5900 5376) 暮光, 朝阳区东三环中路39号建外Soho5号0102单元3层
Mexican Pizza – Amigo RMB 58
Take one large flour tortilla, cover in spicy sausage and cheese, and fry. This Gulou hot spot is best visited sans kids, and this pizza is best enjoyed with friends and a margarita or two, which incidentally, are half price on a Saturday night.
Daily 11am-11pm. 95
Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District. (8403 3981) 阿眯哥, 东城区鼓楼东大街95号
"Hutong" Pizza – Pass By Bar RMB 60
Grizzled expats get all starry-eyed at the mere mention of this classic, selling by the oven-load in the days when Pass By was the only western joint on Nanluogu Xiang. Though its heyday has passed, cumin-spiced yangrou chuan’r on a pizza is still as delicious as ever.
Daily 9.30am-2am. 108 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District. (6400 6868, 8403 8004, bar@passbybar.com) 过客, 东城区南锣鼓巷108号
