[Seukon Exploration] 'Why Pay More?' No Brand Pizza Visit Review

Cost-effective Pizza?

Editor's NoteWords like ‘special·hot place·limited-time popup store’ instantly make your heart race. It’s because you’re curious about what exactly makes them so special and different that so many people flock to them. You might not want to revisit places you’ve already been, but you don’t want to miss out on the HOT spots others are going to. If you want to visit somewhere special, you’ve come to the right place. DrinKit editors explore each store and deliver the experience as it is. Introducing Scon Exploration (Special Concept Store Exploration)! Were the editors able to truly catch a ‘special scent’ at the places they visited?

An intriguing pizza place has opened at the Eunma Apartment intersection in Daechi-dong. With its eye-catching orange sign and the phrase ‘WHY PAY MORE? IT'S GOOD ENOUGH’ displayed, this is Shinsegae Food’s No Brand Pizza’s first store. Following the popularity of No Brand Burger, known for its cost-effectiveness, they have now challenged the pizza market. No Brand Pizza has landed in an area where affordable brands like Pizza School and Go Pizza are clustered. What exactly is its charm? The editor visited the store in person to find out.

Inside, the interior featuring the signature orange color immediately catches the eye. The brand mascot is ‘Fever,’ a Canadian beaver who tasted the pizza of a lifetime while studying in New York, and is used in posters and wall paintings throughout the store. The vibe is hip and trendy enough to make you feel like you’ve stepped into a pizza place from a movie or animation. Upbeat music continuously plays through the speakers, creating a young, pub-like atmosphere.

Like No Brand Burger, this place’s slogan is also ‘WHY PAY MORE? IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.’ A whole pizza costs between 14,900 KRW and 23,900 KRW. Although about 20% cheaper than overseas brand pizzas, the size is not particularly large. The pizza size is 12 inches, similar to Pizza School. Slices of pizza, which change daily, are priced between 2,000 and 3,000 KRW. Slices are sold separately at the counter and cannot be ordered for takeout or delivery. Side menus like pasta and brownies are all priced in the 7,000 KRW range.

There are a total of 10 pizza menu items available. The dough, developed in-house, is baked in a high-temperature oven at 270 degrees to maintain chewiness, and toppings are generously applied. The store uses reusable tableware, including plates. When ordering drinks, only products served in aluminum cans are provided, with no disposable cups.

On this day, the slice pizza options available were Bacon Shrimp, Sensation Supreme, and Truffle Mushroom Steak. All three were ordered. The Bacon Shrimp had plenty of roasted garlic and onions, giving a feeling similar to eating cream pasta on top. The Sensation Supreme, a classic pizza taste, was similar to a combination pizza with a strong pepperoni flavor. The Truffle Mushroom Steak was quite greasy despite a slight spicy sauce, with a strong truffle aroma.

Ordering a whole pizza alone can often feel burdensome, so having the option of slices was satisfying. The dough was chewy without being overly thick, and the generous toppings allowed for a full flavor experience, which was impressive. The size was smaller than expected. All three slices were about the size of an adult’s palm. Usually, two slices are my limit, but since the size wasn’t that big, I easily finished two plates.

No Brand Pizza is a place where you can enjoy pizza in a clean and trendy environment. Selling pizza slices in-store targeting office workers who want a quick meal or students finishing their academy schedules was appealing. However, when compared to brands priced around 10,000 KRW with similar sizes but cheaper prices, this place’s unique strengths did not stand out clearly. Although cheaper than overseas brands, it is similar or more expensive than domestic mid-range brands, making it somewhat awkward to call it a ‘cost-effective pizza,’ which was a bit disappointing.

Four-character review: SOSO

Photo by Kim Bomi

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.