My first experience with New York pizza — or more accurately, American pizza — was in the mid-1990s, when I had a chance to visit a U.S. military base in Korea. I tried American pizza at a snack bar there.
At that time, Pizza Hut was probably the most well-known pizza chain in Korea, and there were also local neighborhood pizza shops. But most Korean-style pizzas were topped with lots of vegetables, meat, and other ingredients. The pizza I had on the U.S. base was different. It had a thin crust, simple tomato sauce, and melted cheese — nothing extra.
It was only after I came to New York that I realized the pizza I had eaten back then was New York-style pizza. As I traveled more, I also learned that pizza can be very different depending on the region — from the way it is baked to the texture, toppings, and flavor.
I have tried Korean pizza, Toronto pizza, Chicago pizza, Detroit-style pizza, Italian pizza, and many others. But the pizza I suddenly crave, in the same way I sometimes crave instant ramen, is New York pizza. Of course, if I lived in Italy, I would probably say Italian pizza is the best — especially since Italy is the birthplace of pizza.
Still, pizza has become such a familiar everyday food in many parts of the world. Like tteokbokki, Korea’s popular spicy rice cake snack, it is easy to find and easy to enjoy. Just as Korea has jjajangmyeon restaurants and small snack shops, in almost every neighborhood, New York has pizza places everywhere.
And when you have memories of stopping by for a slice while walking through the city, that flavor becomes connected to the place itself. It becomes more than just food. It starts to carry a sense of comfort, memory, and familiarity.
At some point, the saltiness that stood out to me when I first tried New York pizza no longer bothered me. New York can still feel busy, unfamiliar, and overwhelming at times, but when I travel somewhere else, I sometimes find myself suddenly thinking about a New York slice. Maybe, in this energetic city that is always moving, New York pizza has quietly become a small comfort for me.
Now, I would like to introduce two pizza places.
The first one is Joe’s Pizza, one of the most famous pizza spots among visitors to New York. If you search “Joe’s” on Google while you are in New York, Joe’s Pizza often appears right away. There are several Joe’s Pizza locations, so it can be a little confusing at first.
The original Joe’s Pizza was opened in 1975 by Pino “Joe” Pozzuoli and his family. Today, there are official Joe’s Pizza locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. If you are sightseeing in Manhattan, you can visit whichever one is closest to you, such as Greenwich Village, Times Square, Union Square, or the Upper West Side.
The Greenwich Village location is also known for its connection to Spider-Man 2. In the movie, Peter Parker works as a pizza delivery guy for Joe’s Pizza. The filming location was 233 Bleecker Street, which is now a gelato and chocolate shop. Joe’s Pizza is now located nearby at 7 Carmine Street.
Joe’s Pizza is often considered one of the classic places to try a traditional New York slice. Maybe that is why it is usually busy, and there is often a line. Because of that, I do not go there often. But if you are visiting New York and want to try a New York slice without spending too much time deciding where to go, Joe’s Pizza is an easy and reliable choice.
Sometimes people walk into a random pizza shop thinking, “I should try New York pizza,” but not every slice is memorable. The crust texture, the flavor of the tomato sauce, and the balance of cheese can be very different from place to place. At some shops, I have even thought that frozen pizza might taste better.
The second pizza place I want to introduce is Fresh Meadows Pizza, located at 195-09 69th Ave in Queens.
The truth is, almost every neighborhood in New York has its own pizza place. Many people simply order from the shop near their home or grab a slice while passing by. It is not always because that place is famous or especially amazing. Sometimes it is just the best option nearby — or the only convenient one — and you happen to be craving pizza.
But Fresh Meadows Pizza was good enough to make me envy the people who live in that neighborhood. I first heard about it from a friend who was born and raised in Queens. She told me it was her favorite pizza place, so we went together. After one bite, I already knew I wanted another slice.
The shop opened in 1970, and I imagine many people who live in Queens know it well. What I liked about it was not only the taste, but also the neighborhood atmosphere, which felt very different from Manhattan.
The area felt calm, quiet, and familiar. It reminded me of a neighborhood in Korea, where in the evening, someone’s mom might call out, “Come home for dinner!” It had that kind of warm, everyday feeling.
I could imagine kids playing outside until they got hungry, grabbing a slice of pizza, and then heading to a friend’s house. Or families ordering pizza on the weekend while watching soccer, playing games, or relaxing at home.
In that way, pizza feels like one of America’s most familiar comfort foods — simple, casual, and closely tied to everyday neighborhood life.
