In Manhattan’s East Village, Appas Pizza reflects New York City’s Korean take on pizza. Appas Pizza is the first Korean pizzeria in NYC to present Korean versions of the conventional slice.
The name “Appa,” meaning father in Korean, comes from the founding story of this pizzeria. The restaurant was founded because Key Seo, a Korean immigrant, missed the bulgogi-packed, sweet potato crust pizza her father made back in Korea. Although her family once complained about having to eat leftovers after her dad returned from a long day of work, she started to miss the flavors that reminded her of home. So, it felt necessary to create Appas Pizza, where her Korean background met her current home of New York City.1
The restaurant offers homey pizzas with a delicious combination of flavors. It features the Kimchi Bacon Pizza, which offers kimchi with bacon atop a crispy-bottomed crust. It also has another trademark dish—the bulgogi slіce, which incorporates marinated Korean beef (bulgogi), giving a sweet-savory taste.2
At Appas Pizza, comforting Korean flavors meet the classic New York slice. Enjoy sweet potato crusts topped with kimchi or bulgogi. These unique combinations make it the city’s first Korean-style pizzeria.
Campus: Hunter College
Professor: Professor Mike Owen Benediktsson
Location: 210 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10009
References: Appas Pizza. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://appaspizza.com/.
Eng, Jess. 2023. “Appas Pizza Opens in the East Village with Korean Pizza.” Eater NY. May 17, 2023. https://ny.eater.com/2023/5/17/23725558/appas-pizza-korean-pizza-hut-east-village-nyc.
- Jess Eng, “Appas Pizza Opens in the East Village with Korean Pizza,” Eater NY, May 17, 2023, https://ny.eater.com/2023/5/17/23725558/appas-pizza-korean-pizza-hut-east-village-nyc. ↩︎
- Appas Pizza, accessed April 20, 2025, https://appaspizza.com/. ↩︎
