Little Italy Pizza Proves You Can Get Good Pizza in K-Town

Little Italy Pizza

I don’t know if 33rd Street and 5th Ave. is technically considered Koreatown, but if it is- than the Little Italy Pizza situated on that corner is the best pizza in Koreatown. I found it very difficult to travel down to that neck of the Midtown Lunch’ing woods for something other than bi bim bap and bulgogi, but after reading Ultraclay’s report on Little Italy Pizza– I knew I’d eventually have to give it a try.

Little Italy Pizza

I’ll admit I know next to nothing about pizza. Oh sure, I love the stuff… but I couldn’t tell you what makes a truly great slice of pizza. I know what I don’t like. I don’t like a crunchy crust, and I don’t like canned mushrooms. I prefer the thin, giant slices of what people tend to call “New York Style” pizza, more than deep dish pizza. I really liked Una Pizza Napoletana (a Slice favorite), but don’t think I appreciated it enough to spend the money on it more than once. Eventually I will make the trip to DiFara’s (who wouldn’t like fresh basil put on their pizza by some old Italian dude?) but I thought the pizza at John’s on Bleecker Street was great too. Oh, and I don’t mind 99 Cent Fresh Pizza (two locations). A pizza snob, I am not.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, when I write about pizza in Midtown it tends to be more about value than taste. Sure, even I know that the 99 cent pizza at 99 Cent Fresh pizza is better than the 99 cent pizza at Z Deli (on 8th Ave. btw. 47+48th).  But I still eat (and enjoy) 99 cent pizza. So if you are a pizza “aficionado” you shouldn’t really care about my thoughts on pizza (and I won’t care about your thoughts on Chinese food.) Even so, I do like pizza- and for the sake of being thorough… here is the official Midtown Lunch post on the Little Italy Pizza on 33rd & 5th Ave.

Little Italy Pizza

The best deal is by far the $5 special. Two slices and a fountain soda. It’s not the pizza that Ultraclay raved about (that one had fresh mozzarella, and basil on it) but it was still better than average. And at this point in time (2009) the price is about as good as you are going to get for this style of pizza in NYC.

Little Italy Pizza

Being a fat man/non-pizza-purist, I am often drawn to pizza loaded with toppings (like I was at the Little Italy Pizza on 45th, no relation) but the canned mushrooms (my pet peeve) steered me away from that option. Instead, it’s pretty clear just from looking at it that the square and round margharita pizzas are clearly where it’s at. Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Looks good. Tastes good. A little pricey (for me, even thought it’s the going rate) at $3.25 but the square slice I had was pretty damn good.

Little Italy Pizza

I can’t tell you if the sauce was tangy, or homemade, or whether or not the char on the bottom was adequate (does it sound like I know what I’m talking about, because I don’t) but I can tell you this much more important fact: I put it in my mouth… then chewed… then swallowed… then thought “this tastes good enough for me to come back.”

Would I travel far out of my way for this pizza? Not in New York I probably wouldn’t. But, if you’re in the area, and for some unknown reason would rather have pizza than Korean food (never happens to me), then this is clearly your best option. Then again, what do I know? (Next time I’m draggin Adam Kuban along with me…)

THE +

  • Best pizza option in the area
  • Their fresh mozzarella slices (with tomato and basil) are really tasty
  • Two slices of cheese and a fountain soda are $5

THE –

  • My cheese slices they put back into the oven (to reheat) for just a tad bit too long
  • For the most part, it’s pretty standard New York City pizza
  • If I’m on 33rd & 5th, I’m walking one more block for Korean food!

Little Italy Pizza, 333 5th Ave (actual location is on 33rd just East of 5th Ave.), 212-481-5200

11 Comments

  • Ugh, canned mushrooms are my pet peeve too. How hard is it to put fresh mushrooms on a pizza?

  • Wow thanks Zach. I always got these mushroom slices by NYU that I loved, but never could put my finger on what type of mushrooms they were. It was an almost sour taste. I supposed they were button but when I would cook them I could never get it like that. You just solved the mystery. They’re canned! Man can we get a list of all the places that serve these canned mushroom pizzas? They’re awesome.

  • This is right around the corner from me. I pass it all the time when I walk my dog. I will have to stop in and sample.

  • Thanks for the review, Zach! I work in the area, and am always on the lookout for good pizza. Pizza Suprema (out of bounds on 8th and 31st) has a good grandma slice too.

  • Anyone got a sore throat…feeling achy?

  • canned mushrooms…Mmm!

  • Good point, Mayor McBagel… Zach, let us know when and where you start to feel sick after your pork interactions… you’re our canary down the mineshaft.

  • can hold you over till Bon Chon is over. You can also grab a few slices whilst trying to get into 230 5th.

  • The counter guy at Little Utaly Pizza refused to give me a (free) cup of water, even after I asked nicely. He said we only sell bottled water! This was after I had bought 2 slices and a soda.

  • try sonali (the old famous kebab and curry) on east 31st between 5th and madison if you want something good for lunch; so sick of the k-town lunch options. sometimes the cart E&G pyramids is set up on 5th ave, just south of 31st and that cart is pretty damn good too.

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