Haenggung-dong, Suwon pizzeria booking for two: The European

The European, Suwon, Gyeonggi

Haenggung-dong in Suwon is famous enough as a date course that it's packed with good-vibe restaurants and cafés. Among them, I found a Western-style restaurant said to be run by a chef formerly of the Shilla Hotel and had to go check it out. Today I'm writing about my visit to The European, a wood-fired pizza spot in Haenggung-dong that's great for a date.

Where The European Haenggung Main Branch is and how to book

The European has two locations — Haenggung and Gwanggyo — and the one I visited, Haenggung, is the main branch. It sits right by the craft-shop street in Haenggung-dong, so it's a great spot to pair with browsing workshops or prop shops before or after the meal.

The European, a wood-fired pizza spot in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, takes reservations via Catch Table and Naver, so I booked a 1:30pm slot and went. Maybe because it was a weekday 1:30, the place was empty exactly when I arrived — but plenty of groups showed up a bit later, around 2pm.

What does The European Haenggung Main Branch look like inside?

The exterior felt relatively Korean, but the moment I stepped inside it was like being teleported abroad. Several paintings hung on the inner walls, giving it the feel of a small gallery.

The view of Haenggung-dong through the window is pretty, so I'd recommend it as a date spot too. Since the interior is decorated in a fairly upscale way, I think it would suit not just couples' dates but also family meals, gatherings for wedding-invitation get-togethers, or anniversaries — occasions where you want a little more atmosphere than usual.

If a super-formal restaurant feels like too much, but a super-casual place feels lacking, this hits a nice middle ground.

You can also watch the wood-fired pizzas being made and baked right in front of you, which made the wait anything but boring.

QR ordering and the 31,000-won jambon truffle fungi pizza

At The European, you order by scanning the QR code on the table. The QR menu shows photos alongside each dish, which was much easier than picking based on names alone. What I ordered was The European's signature — the jambon truffle fungi pizza.

It comes with jambon (ham), button mushrooms, truffle oil, a poached egg, and truffle slices. It's loaded with mushrooms, so if you're a mushroom lover like me, you'll be satisfied. The thinly sliced jambon draped wide across the pizza like a curtain, with a poached egg sitting in the center. Mushrooms peeked out between the jambon and small basil leaves were scattered here and there — pretty enough to photograph too.

Thick dough and the saltiness of the jambon

I thought all wood-fired pizzas had thin crusts, but the dough here was thicker than I expected. It was chewy yet crisp on the outside, which paired well with the heaping toppings.

If it were just mushrooms and poached egg, it might have felt a bit bland or rich, but the jambon added a touch of saltiness that balanced the flavors out.

Eating it together with the basil brought out a slightly bitter, fragrant note. Amid strong-flavored ingredients like mushroom and truffle, the herb aroma added another layer. If you like herbs with a strong scent like basil, I'd recommend trying it together.

How many people does one pizza at The European feed?

One pizza at The European seemed just right for two people. It comes sliced into 4 pieces, and eating about 1.5 to 2 slices was exactly enough to fill me up. For two people, one pizza is enough; for three, ordering a pizza plus a pasta each should be just the right amount.

The European in Haenggung-dong, Suwon, let me try delicious, authentic wood-fired pizza from a chef formerly of the Shilla Hotel. Great for a date course or a gathering spot — if you're looking for a good-atmosphere restaurant in Haenggung-dong, I'd recommend The European Haenggung Main Branch.