I can’t think of any widely known and beloved type of food in the world other than pizza. It has been adopted in almost every nation and changed its form to fit the local people’s preferences. Korean pizza is one variation that came out of it as well – a unique adaption of the popular dish that originated in Italy.
Unlike the traditional thin-crusted Italian pizza with simple toppings, Korean Pizza often features a thick, chewy crust, sometimes stuffed with many different ingredients, such as sweet potato and cheese. The toppings are also diverse, ranging from Korean food like Bulgogi and seafood to fruits and nuts. Growing up in Korea, I never thought it was Korean-style pizza because it was eaten everywhere. But later as I grew older, wiser, and more traveled, I realized that there are certainly some unique features of Korean Pizza. So how did this Korean Pizza start?
History of Korean Pizza
Arriving in Korea from America
To be clear, the word “Korean Pizza” means Korean-style pizza. Then what is the Korean-style pizza? In the late 1980s, American franchises such as Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza began opening branches across the country of Korea, and pizza began to become very popular. These big American franchises that arrived in Korea were American-style pizza. More specifically, it was the pizza that was greatly influenced by New York Style. As time passed, this American-style pizza became localized and started to include some traditional or modern Korean cuisine, transforming it into its own kind – the Korean Pizza.
Influence from New York Style Pizza
America is a big country, therefore, there are many different styles of American Pizza. However, the New York style pizza that arrived and influenced the pizza culture in Korea was the closest to the original form of Italian pizza among American pizzas. New York had many Italian immigrants, making the original Italian style naturally more established. The New York style pizza had very thin dough that would become crispy after baking. The sauce is spread on the dough in a sparing amount, as well as the cheese is sprinkled lightly on top without any gaps. The toppings are very simple and mostly limited to cheese, pepperoni, or Italian sausage. New York pizza is thought to fall somewhere between Neapolitan and Roman pizzas.
Characteristics of Korean Pizza
What is different about Korean pizza? There are some distinct characteristics Korean pizza has. Here are five traits that make Korean pizza unique and special.
1. Sweet Flavor Profile
One of the main characteristics of Korean pizza is the use of sweet elements, such as honey, corn, pineapple, bulgogi, and sweet potato. These ingredients contrast the savory and spicy flavors of Korean pizza, creating a unique taste. I assume that is because one of the main flavor profiles in East Asian cuisine is sweet and savory, such as bulgogi in Korea and teriyaki sauce in Japan.
2. Less Salty
I lived in Italy for two years and so I ate my share of pizza in Italy. They were absolutely divine, but if there is one thing I wish different, it is the saltiness. Overall, I found pizza in Italy quite salty. Korean Pizza is noticeably less salty than the Italian or the American one. It might also be because there are a lot of side dishes and sauces that accompany the pizza, so you can balance the saltiness by adding or subtracting sauces and sides which I covered more in detail below.
3. Lots of Toppings
Korean cuisine is characterized by having many different ingredients in one food. For instance, the Korean pancake called “Jeon” uses various ingredients and very little flour to make. That part of food culture is also reflected in the Korean pizza. Also because it is less salty, it allows you to enjoy various ingredients. What are the toppings on Korean pizza? Some of the unique toppings used in Korean pizza include some Korean food like bulgogi (meat marinated in sweet Korean BBQ sauce), kimchi, and calamari marinated in gochujang (Korean fermented chili paste). Other toppings include salads, corn, broccoli, steak, seafood, and more. Some people also find it interesting that more carbohydrates such as potatoes and sweet potatoes are used as toppings on Korean pizza.
4. Different Crusts and Ingredients
As an extension of having lots of toppings, you can choose many different types of crusts with different ingredients and fillings inside the crusts with Korean pizza. The most well-known ones include cheese-filled crusts or sweet potato-filled crusts. Some people find it less exciting to have plain crusts and dough, so I believe that is how different crusts were born. You might have already noticed, but a lot is going on when you have Korean pizza. In terms of the dough, some pizza dough mixes glutinous flour with flour to achieve a chewy texture.
5. Side Dishes and Sauces
Another distinctive feature of Korean pizza is the side dishes that accompany it, such as pickles, cheese powder, and sauces. These side dishes help to cleanse the palate and add variety to the pizza experience. Koreans also love to experiment with different sauces, such as ranch, barbecue, and gochujang (a Korean fermented chili paste), to enhance the flavor and texture of the pizza. So the pizza itself can be, and should be, less salty to have side dishes and sauces together with pizza.
Korean Pizza Kinds
So now that we have learned about the characteristics of Korean pizza, let’s see what kind of Korean pizza there is. There are many interesting pizzas, to say the least, I could find in Korea. But I will introduce you to some of the most popular ones so you get a better idea of what kinds of Korean pizza there are.
Bulgogi Pizza
Bulgogi Pizza is loved by older generations in Korea and is one of the easiest Korean pizzas to try for foreigners, as bulgogi is a very popular Korean dish among foreigners. There are many variations of Bulgogi pizza, but it can be a simple pizza with bulgogi, mozzarella, and some olives. Marinated in sweet and savory soy sauce-based bulgogi sauce, I think bulgogi pizza is easy to love.
Korean Seafood Pizza
This is a pizza called “King Bread Shrimp Gold” from Mr. Pizza in Korea. It’s a seafood pizza with king bread shrimp and squid. Topped with cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and coleslaw! Other toppings include diced red bell pepper, onion slices, triple cheese spread, and alfredo sauce. I told you, Korean Pizza is heavy on ingredients and sauces! This pizza will come with even more sauces and side dishes if you order it in Korea. The menu introduces this as a seafood pizza with a nutty flavor and a little bit of sourness. Is this pizza a yay or nay for you?
Korean Cheese-Crust Pizza
In many pizza franchise restaurants in Korea, you have an option of choosing your crust to cheese crust. There are two ways to have cheese fillings in your pizza crust. One is a regular-looking crust that has cheese-filling inside, and another one is what’s called “cheese bites.” They are little bite-sized breads with cheese fillings. They look pretty funny, I admit. But if you are crazy about cheese, this might not sound like a bad idea for you.
Korean Sweet Potato Pizza
I want to finish off this blog post with a Korean pizza that has all the characteristics of the Korean Pizza I mentioned – sweet flavor, less salty, lots of toppings, different crusts, and sauces. This is a “Bacon Potato Pizza” from Pizza Hut in Korea. There are a lot of things going on in this pizza, and if you are wondering, the yellow ring in the middle is the sweet potato. This flavor profile is called “sweet and salty” in Korea, meaning you have savory and sweet flavors together in one dish. The toppings in this pizza include mozzarella, cheddar, pineapple, pepperoni, shrimp, olives, jalapeno, bacon, sausages, bulgogi, champignon, mixed meat, sweetcorn, Italian meat, onions, peppers, paprika, and finally, broccoli.
Final Thoughts on Korean Pizza
I hope you learned a few things about Korean pizza and found it interesting. What do you think about Korean pizza? Too much or intriguing? Would you want to try the new unique spin on pizza or do you think this is not pizza anymore? Korean pizza is certainly the type of food that has been localized from New York Pizza, which wasn’t the original to begin with! I love the traditional pizza, but I also enjoy the new take on things. As a vegan, I’m looking forward to developing some Korean pizza recipes into a vegan version.
- The Ultimate Korean Bulgogi Pizza Recipe (With Vegan Options) - March 26, 2024
- All About Korean Pizza | History, Characteristics, and Types - January 8, 2020