Pizzeria Piazza: Real Italiano in Gwangju

Reviewed by Melline Galani.

Italian cuisine is generally characterized by its simplicity, with many dishes having only two to four main ingredients. It features fresh, seasonal, and simply prepared ingredients with olive oil used mostly to dress raw vegetables and cheeses such as mozzarella, ricotta, or Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan). Pizza and pasta have become global dishes that are not only cooked in restaurants but also by most home cooks. No matter where they grow up in Europe, all children are familiar with Italian dishes, such as Pizza Margherita and spaghetti Bolognese (including my family, of course).

Pizzeria Piazza is by far my favorite restaurant in Gwangju. Ever since I discovered it (more than a year and a half ago), I have kept going back on a monthly basis. This may be because I am European and love the Italian food they serve, but also because it brings back memories and tastes from home.

Piazza is located just across from the ACC’s Haneul Madang at the entrance to Dongmyeon-dong. Being on the main street, it is impossible to miss. As soon as you enter the place, you notice the kitchen, which is on the first floor, and the golden round-style authentic pizza oven. Going up the stairs, you reach the restaurant in its perfect ambience with diffuse lights, green plants, soft music, and wide windows, all creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. It no longer feels like you are in Korea. There is a third floor, too, with all the chairs facing the wide windows – a perfect spot to admire the lights of the ACC and Haneul Madang, or just to enjoy a quiet meal on a rainy day.

Being an Italian restaurant, it serves pizza, pasta, risotto, and steak. I have tried almost everything on the menu, and it was all delicious. The pizza crust is thin and crunchy, and the flavors are rich but not heavy, with few ingredients but high quality and really tasty. The pastas have either creamy sauce, tomato sauce, or olive oil-based sauce seasoned with fresh herbs, all types being equally delicious. The beef steak comes with grilled vegetables and is appetizing. Salads are always garden-fresh, tasty, and plentiful.

Pizzera Piazza offers two set menus, one for lunch and one for dinner, and menu cards are also available in English. The menus include a salad, a Margherita con Bufala pizza, and a pasta or risotto of your choice. The lunch menu is 39,000 won and comes with a grilled chicken salad, while the dinner menu is 41,500 won with a Caprese salad. These are the meals I order most often when I go with my children, but I have also tried other dishes separately. The prices vary between 13,000 to 20,000 won for the steak. For the quality and taste they offer, I would say they have reasonable prices.

After placing your order and as you wait for it to arrive, they serve an aperitif or antipasti (it changes from time to time). And after finishing your meal, they also offer tea or juice of your choice. Both are complimentary.

Eating at Pizzeria Piazza not only makes you feel satisfied but also assured that your food is both healthy and tasty. If you have not tried it yet, wait no longer. Pizzeria Piazza is a gourmet experience difficult to forget.

PIZZERIA PIAZZA (삐아짜 피자)
Address: 114 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju 광주 동구 제봉로 114 (장동 98-1번지)
Operating Hours: 111:30–22:00, 15:30–17:00 break time.
Phone: : 062-227-6100
Instagram: @pizzeria_piazza

The Reviewer
Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, who is currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic. Pizzeria Piazza is her favorite restaurant in Gwangju. Instagram: @melligalanis