The debate on what makes a good pizza still stands. What really makes it worth trying? There are three important elements of a pizza but for me, the crust plays an important role as it’s the foundation of a pizza. It has to be thick enough to hold the toppings well, has a slight crunch but is also chewy, and of course, it has to be tasty even as is. There are a bunch of places where you can get a good slice of pizza in the metro but it can get overwhelming at times. Here, we list down pizzas that’s worth checking out this year:

Backyard Pugon

Started as a passion project in his backyard (hence, the name), Backyard Pugon churns out sourdough pizza in small batches. He is after all a one-man team! There are six kinds of pizzas and get this, each of them has been calorie- and macro-counted which is perfect for those who are looking to indulge while sticking to their diet. Aside from pizza-making, taco pockets and char-grilled kebabs are also available. He even asks his customers for topping ideas for future flavors at times.

What To Order: Margherita (P300), BYP Creamy Spinach (P450)
Order here.

Crosta Pizzeria

What used to be a small pizzeria tucked inside a food park in the heart of Poblacion, Crosta has now relocated to a more chic neighborhood that is Salcedo Village. I’ve tried a number of pizza places in Manila but Crosta still has my heart. Crosta only has one goal and that’s to make pizza great again! They offer quality pies with quirky names like Pepperonely, Pork You, and Everyday We Trufflin’. I remember they only had less than 10 on their menu when I first encountered them but now they have grown to 50 pies to choose from, with Vegan options available.

What To Order: Basic Betch (300), Cheesy AF (Stuffed Crust), Detroit Roni Cup (P700),
Order here.

EAPPOC Pizza

You may be wondering what EAPPOC means so to save you a Google, it means “easy as pie, piece of cake”. They’re one of the pizza places in the metro that specializes in Detroit-style with a pizza crust that’s crispy on the outside and thick and fluffy on the inside. They have classic flavors like the OG Red and Pep but they also have more unique flavors like The Russian and Piña Express. Who says pineapple doesn’t belong in pizzas?! Their offerings are on the pricey side though, ranging from P585 to P2,500.

What To Order: Ratatouille (P950), Cacio y Pepe (P1,200), The Russian (P2,500)
Order here.

Gino’s Brick Oven Pizza

It’s never a pizza list without Gino’s on it. In 2020, they landed the 34th spot on the list of 50 Best Pizzas in the World, and the second-best pizza in Asia. Their made-from-scratch Neapolitan-style pizzas are baked in-house with over 20 flavors to choose from. Make sure to get some fresh burrata on the side that’s also made in-house!

What To Order: BOMB Pizza (P455), SMEGG Pizza (P520)
Order here.

Pizzulu

A pizzeria that intrigues me the most because of how fast it grew during the pandemic, Pizzulu started as a 30sqm commissary in San Juan. It has then turned into a 600sqm one, and now they’ve recently opened a new branch in BGC to cater to more people. They specialize in brick oven pizzas with 14 kinds to choose from — ranging from the classics to more premium ones.

What To Order: Spinach & Artichoke Pizza (P670), Prosciutto & Arugula Pizza (P670)
Order here.