Doughy Decimation: Pizza Cup Now Anyone's Race as Defending Champs Knocked Out

The Beijingers | Nov 5, 2019 3:00 pm | Add a comment | 468 reads

We knew things would get tough as we inch ever closer to crowning at 2019 Pizza Champion but we did not expect to be two rounds away from the end with just one lone entrant from last year's Final Four in the game. As we've come to expect from these showdowns of cheese, anything can go and this time around is no different.

Most shockingly, we've lost three-time defending champions Gung Ho!, who have been officially knocked out by Great Leap Brewing (last year's #9 seed). Despite initially selling pizza at just one of their outlets in the city, Great Leap Brewing quickly built a robust and loyal following for their classic New York-style offerings. Meanwhile, Neopolitan masters and 2016 champions Bottega (#3) have put an end to Jing-A Brewing's unmatched opening run with their wood-fired pizzas, which have only been available at their new Longfusi location in late August.

Scan the QR code below with WeChat to vote
in 2019's Pizza Cup Final Four ballot!

Tex-Mex favorites Q Mex Bar and Grill (#8) has climbed the ranks to oust long-time "bigger means better" pizza proponents Tube Station (#12), likely partly the result of their continued expansion across the city – the latest venue opening in World City near The Place – and their growing number of devotees. Finally, last year's #10 seed Pizza Saporita has ousted last year's runner-up La Pizza in a shocking turn of events for the two Italian traditionalists.

That means Q Mex will now go up against Xinyuanli neighbors Bottega for an epic battle to the crusty end, while Pizza Saporita grapples with no-nonsense Great Leap – making for one of the most exciting and open dashes to the finish line in recent memory.

Additional toppings

As a part of this round, we also grilled respondents on what their favorite cheese on a pizza was. Lo and behold, the vast majority of you like it heavy on the mozzarella, with cheddar and Parmesan in distant second and third spots respectively. You also told us that you believe RMB 60-100 is what you'd consider a reasonable price to eat pizza, with a smaller fraction happy to shell out RMB 100-120 for the luxury. 

The rankings so far

With that result, the losers of the Elite Eight then join the other 2019 knockouts for a final tally:

9. Annie's
10. Eatalia
11. The Local 
12. Baozza 
13. Turkish Feast
14, Pie Squared 
15. Oh Yeah! Brewing
16. MIAM MIAM

17. Kro's Nest 
18. Pizza Hut 
19. Papa John's 
20. 3 Little Pigs by Andy's Craft Sausages 
21. Pyro Pizza 
22. Domino's Pizza 
23. Pizza Marzano 
24. TIAGO
25. The Rug
26. Paddy O'Shea's
27. Laker's 
28. Saizeriya 
29. Yummy Box 
30. The Cheesecake Factory
31. Green Cow City Cafe 
32. Lily's American Diner
33. Plan B     
34. Luga's     
35. 1st Floor     
36. Georgia's Feast     
37. Tribe
38. Big Pizza     
39. Mao Mao Chong     
40. The Veggie Table     
41. Pizza Factory     
42. Grandma's Kitchen     
43. Xian at East, Beijing     
44. Mr Pizza     
45. Fiume     
46. Scott's Family Ristorante Italiano     
47. Legend Beer     
48. Eudora Station     
49. Tavola Italian Dining     
50. Lievito Gourmet Pizza and Bar     
51. Jazz-Ya     
52. NBeer Pub     
53. Assaggi     
54. Charlie's     
55. The Mozza     
56. Bocca Della Verita     
57. MIO, Four Seasons Hotel     
58. Fella's     
59. Pizza Now     
60. Cafe Ruhe     
61. La Cucina     
62. Pizza by LMPlus     
63. Ponte     
64. BUONA BOCCA Italian Bistro     
65. Ummm Kitchen     
66. Joe's Bar & Kitchen     
67. La Mezzaluna     
68. QS     
69. Peiping Machine     
70. Peter Pan     
71. Casa Gusto     
72. Nine Road Pizzeria     
73. Via Roma, Kempinski Hotel     
74. Red Rose     
75. Unico     
76. Dongli Brewery     
77. Nasca Cafe     
78. Jushi Pizza     
79. PIZZA FUOCO     
80. CUP ONE     
81. MustGuette     
82. PBD Pizza Bar     
83. Bene     
84. Passby Bar     
85. Pinvita     
86. Flypizza & Hoodadak Chicken     
87. Leos Pizza     
88. Hisewel Brew-pub     
89. Pomona     
90. Agrilandi     
91. Casalingo     
92. Whale's Pizza     
93. BLT     
94. Byone     
95. RADICI     
96. Tomcado     
97. Atta BJ     
98. Four Aces     
99. PIZZAgram   

Knockout Round Schedule

  • Final Four: Closes Friday, Nov 8, midday
  • Championship Round: Opens Friday, Nov 8, 3pm; closes Tuesday, Nov 12, midday
  • Beijing's Best Pizza crowned: Tuesday, Nov 12, 4pm

So what are you waiting for? Get voting before midday Friday!

Sherpa’s, the official sponsor of the 2019 Beijing Pizza Cup, are offering new users RMB 50 off (min. spend RMB 99) food delivery and RMB 10 off any movie ticket purchased through the Sherpa's App. Simply scan the QR below and follow the instructions.

Photos: the Beijinger, Gung Ho!, Uni You