One of the best things about Korean fast food is budget pizza. Based loosely on a western food product of the same name, this uniquely Korean phenomenon can be found on almost every main street for as little as 5000 won a pop. Yet as with most things in life, quality among budget pizzas tends to vary. While some versions can arguably hold their own among pizzas three times the price, others appear to be little more than glorified cheese on toa-se-te.
That's why for this weeks WTF? Files: Investigations in the Unexplained, I decided to pit some of the best names in the business against eachother in a metaphorical battle royale. Read on to find out which one reigned Supreme!

First to come out punching was the Hot Chicken from Pizza School (6000 won.) This pizza boasted a well cooked, bready base and good spicy toppings. My only qualm was with the cheese. Uninspiring in flavour, it did little to add to the pizza and congealed incredibly quickly. Not the best pizza for your typical re-heater eater, but a good bet nonetheless

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Next in the ring was the Sweet Potato from 59 Pizza. At a topping - whopping 6900, this was the most expensive of the lot. Although I found the sweet potato a little excessive, the pizza was a pretty good all rounder. The cheese was stringy enough to almost convince me I was eating mozarella, and the tomato sauce wasn't bad either.

 

Next to join the action was the Volcano Hot Chicken from Pizza Maru. Weighing in at 5800 won, this young challenger was by no means perfect (the base was a little undercooked) but nevertheless showed flashes of brilliance - the crusts were incredible; thick, soft and chewy - and the surface boasted several, large sauce-encrusted bubbles to feast on. Definitely one to watch.

Also wading in was the "Korean-Italian stallion" Supreme from Alfredo Pizza (5000 won.)  Marketed as a fusion pizza with real cheese and real olive oil, this was a deep dish pizza with plenty of weight behind it.  Although filling, this pizza suffered somewhat from blandness, something only marginally alleviated by the accompanying hot sauce and parmesan sachets
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Last to join the brawl was the 2500 won Supreme slice from Costco. Born from an economy of scale, this pizza tasted substantially different from the others and had a great, slightly salty flavour to it. Immensely satisfying, the only downside to this pizza was that the location is less than convenient (though rumour has it costco pizza will put in an appearance at next month's world DJ Festival.)
Overall, however, it was Pizza School's Hot Chicken that took the title. Although Costco comes a close second, for value and convenience it's Pizza School that comes out on top.

Read more WTF? Files or visit my Street Food blog.

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