BJ Pizza Wars XI: Twilight v Bang! Bang! Pizza

Anyone fancy a burger? Don't know about you but I'm just about pizza'd out. Which is lucky, because these are the last two pizzas I'll for eating for our esteemed contest. In this week's dough derby we've got a south side battle for y’all. Two poulet pizzas raised on the wrong side of the tracks. Bang! Bang! Pizza is a rookie in the Shuangjing scene, but already boasts twice the exclamation marks of rival Gung-Ho! Twilight is the thinking man’s cocktail bar (it takes grey matter to find it down in Jianwai Soho) which just happens to bake pizzas on the side. But which one has the anchovies? Let's rumble.

In the red corner: Spicy Chicken, Bang! Bang! Pizza, RMB 60 (small)

Style Italian style crust balanced by doughy softness. It’s a hybrid look, but it works.

Crust Puffy and thin. Non-oily, with a smidgen of hot oven crackle.

Cheese 'n sauce Super-stringy cheese with generous coverage – molten mmm. Sauce a little sweet.

Toppings Chicken pieces pack a fiery, mouth-tingling kick. Generous, but coverage falls well short of the outer edge and could do with one or two other ingredients to make it more colourful.

Satisfaction? Indeed. Nice that this pie comes served with pizza slice AND Tabasco on the table. Impressed with the venue too, it's slick and stylish - oh, and try the fried squid. But please, sort out the music.

Morning after Breakfast of ... tramps. Actually, it's do-able.

Next...

In the blue corner: Grilled Chicken, Twilight, RMB 65

Style Fusion? Californian? Mini? It is certainly small for the price, but very cute ... nay, perfectly formed.

Crust Taste is great, but it's as if this crust didn't quite rise as planned, meaning there's a biscuit thing going on.

Cheese 'n sauce Tomato sauce is fresh, red and tasty, but the extra presence of halved cherry tomatoes ups the sweetness to just past perfect.

Toppings Loads of grilled chicken that has slightly sweet edge. Particularly like the sprigs of fresh rosemary, and the aforementioned cherry toms.

Satisfaction? Well it won't bust a gut, but if you think this pie as snack accompaniment to a couple of well-crafted cocktails, you're on the right track.

Morning after Provided you haven't drunk too many cocktails the night before...

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This is a tough one to call, with two different styles and approaches. Both venues are late night bar type affairs with pizza as the menu mainstay. I used to rave about Twilight's English Breakfast pizza (still on the menu), but the crust memory I have of that (yes, crust memory) was of something a little more hand-stretched and tasty than the experience this time around. I was very impressed with Bang! Bang! as a venue, with good service and decor, and generous pies, but for pure taste ...

Verdict? Twilight sneaks it.

Check us out Thursday at 2pm for our last installment in the Pizza Wars ... Meanwhile, take another look at matchups past:

Episode X: La Pizza v The Tree
Episode IX: Kro's Nest v Tube Station Pizza
Episode VIII: Alio Olio v Annie's
Episode VII: Alla Osteria v Cornerstone
Episode VI: Scott's Family Restaurant v Nasca
Episode V: Vineyard Cafe v Alba
Episode IV: Tavola v Pizza by LMPlus
Episode III: The Den v Pizza Buona
Episode II: Eatalia v Pyro Pizza
Episode I: Hutong Pizza v Pass-by Bar

For a full list of matchups, head here: http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/BJ-Pizza-Wars