A Western Favorite with a Twist: Korean Style Pizza

The classic dish of pizza is usually associated with Western locations like America and Italy, but with the globalized world that exists nowadays, pizza has found its way across the globe and has taken on the local flavors of the people there. Korea is no exception, and they’ve made some surprising additions to the popular classic. There’s no better way to describe these twists than interesting.

Bulgogi Pizza

Bulgogi (불고기) may be one of the most well known Korean specialities, so it’s no surprise to find that bulgogi pizza exists. This dish, however, is not just a normal pizza with bulgogi thrown on top. The sauce is often made with wasabi or gochujang (고추장), a fermented soybean and chili paste. While that combination may sound odd, it’s one of the most common pizzas that can be found in Korea.

Shrimp and Squid Pizza

Seafood is a popular phenomenon in Korea, so it’s no surprise to find it placed on pizza. Shrimp paste is mixed into the dough, and squid is placed on top with other common toppings. Almost an incomprehensible shift from the traditional tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni, this combination is about as Korean as pizza can get.

Roasted Rice Pizza

The recognized pizza dough is swapped out for traditional nurungji, or scorched rice, for an additional Korean twist. The nurungji crust is often paired with gochujang and bulgogi, creating a perfect mix of Korean flavors.

Strawberry Pizza

Korea is known for adding a sweet twist to the traditional pizza! Rather than dough, the crust is made of cookie dough, and topped with sweet strawberries. Powdered sugar is placed on top to create the perfect dessert pizza.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese and Sweet Potato Pizza

Another popular pizza dish with a sweet twist is this sweet potato based pizza. The sweet potato dough crust is complemented by cream cheese and pumpkin mousse, creating a combination of sweet and savory that’s sure to surprise the palette.