Rainy-day pizza takeout in Cheonan: large Hawaiian at Clap Pizza

Clap Pizza: my regular stop every time I'm in Cheonan

Clap Pizza Cheonan-Asan Shinsegae is a pizza shop on the 4th floor of Building B at Cheonan Shinsegae Department Store, and every time I come to Cheonan I can't walk past it, like a sparrow passing a mill, so I always stop and take a pizza home. Of all the pizza brands out there, Clap Pizza is my favorite, but sadly there's no branch in my neighborhood, so I'm always pining for it, and whenever I get the chance to visit Cheonan it's the first stop, a must-do. The quality of the fresh toppings is something else, so pizza lovers, you really should keep this Cheonan favorite on your radar.

Where is Clap Pizza at Cheonan Shinsegae, and what are the hours?

• Location: in the food court, 4th floor of Building B, Cheonan Shinsegae Department Store
• Hours: weekdays (Mon–Fri) 10:30–20:30, weekends (Sat–Sun) 10:30–21:00
• Closed: same days as the department store

Cheonan Shinsegae parking: is it free if you only pick up pizza?

Clap Pizza Cheonan-Asan Shinsegae is inside the department store, so there's zero parking stress. Personally, when I head to a restaurant with cramped parking or none at all, I end up circling the alleys over and over until I'm drained, and I honestly feel like abandoning the car and walking away, it stresses me out that much. So parking inside a department store is a huge happiness and a real plus. Even beginner drivers can come comfortably without worry.

The parking discount rules are also reasonable, which is perfect for takeout customers. At Shinsegae the first 30 minutes are free by default, and the free time grows with how much you spend, like this:

• Purchases of ₩10,000 or more: 1 hour free
• Purchases of ₩20,000 or more: 2 hours free
• Purchases of ₩50,000 or more: 3 hours free

A large (L) at Clap Pizza usually costs in the ₩20,000s, so just ordering one gets you 2 hours of free parking. Every pizza is made fresh the moment you order, so it takes a little while, but I was out with my takeout in under 30 minutes, so 2 hours is plenty.

The 4th-floor food hall in Building B: can you eat in?

Come up to the 4th floor of Building B at Cheonan Shinsegae and you'll find the trendy Clap Pizza counter. It's connected in one open, stylish layout with Knotted donuts and Downtown burgers (Downtowner), and since everyone shares the same food hall, the seating is really spacious and comfortable.

If you have time, you don't have to get takeout. It's a great spot to sit down with a hot, freshly made pizza on a date or a family meal. Burgers, pizza and dessert, everyone gets what they like in one place, so it couldn't be better. Today, though, I went with takeout, which is what I usually do, to enjoy it at home.

Clap Pizza menu and prices by size

Clap Pizza comes in three sizes: personal (P) for one person, regular (R) and large (L). You can also order Half & Half to enjoy two flavors on one pizza, so there's plenty of choice.

The flavors include cheese, pepperoni, supreme, Hawaiian, NY Steak House, Clap All Meat Carbonara, cheddar potato, basil tomato mascarpone, garlic shrimp, truffle gorgonzola and more. Since I can't come often, part of me wants to order lots of small ones and try everything, but when I get to the counter my mouth automatically shouts the same one. It's my forever, undisputed number one love: Hawaiian pizza. The other menu items are great too, of course, but Clap Pizza's Hawaiian is addictive on another level.

For sides there are ragu pasta, buffalo wings and corn salad, which go nicely with pizza.

• Personal: ₩7,800–14,800
• Regular: ₩16,800–26,300
• Large: ₩23,800–36,000

The shop was running a promotion, with up to ₩5,800 off personal and ₩5,000 off regular and large, so I got a large Hawaiian pizza for ₩23,800.

Pizza takeout on a rainy day: how did the box hold up?

Clap Pizza packs takeout in a sturdy dedicated box and then wraps the outside in plastic once more, so it didn't get wet even on a rainy day. When my order was finally ready, it happened to be a gloomy day with a light drizzle, and I was a little worried the box would get soaked on the way. But true to a smart Cheonan pizza place, they wrapped it up so carefully that not a single raindrop touched it and I got it home safely. Little details of service like this really win customers over.

How does Clap Pizza's Hawaiian pizza taste?

The moment you open the box of Clap Pizza's Hawaiian pizza, the first thing you see is big pieces of pineapple generously studded all over. As soon as I opened the box with excited anticipation, a savory, fragrant cheese smell hit me, along with a gorgeous sight of huge pineapple chunks dotted across the top. Admittedly, when it comes to grilled pineapple, people often go "ugh, why put fruit on pizza?" and opinions split, right? But I can say for sure that if you try Clap Pizza's Hawaiian just once, that prejudice will be completely shattered.

Roasted pineapple and cheese on the Hawaiian pizza

When pineapple is roasted in the oven, its signature sourness softens and the sweetness gets several times stronger. The moment you bite in, the fresh, sweet juice bursts in your mouth and makes a wonderful ensemble with the richness of the cheese.

Kielbasa sausage balances the sweet and salty

And the finishing touch, the salty kielbasa sausage you bite into here and there, is amazing! Its snappy, springy texture makes chewing fun, and it strikes a perfect sweet-and-salty balance with the sweetness of the roasted pineapple, so you keep eating without ever getting tired of it.

Unlike ordinary pizzas that toss on ready-made frozen toppings, from the first bite you can fully taste "wow, they really use good ingredients and fresh toppings without skimping," and it was a high-class flavor. It isn't harshly salty or spicy, yet the flavor is deep, so it's popular and special at once, something everyone from kids' snacks to older folks' tastes, men and women of any age, would love.

Dough that stays warm and chewy even as takeout

Clap Pizza isn't made ahead of time. They stretch the dough and cook it on the spot as you order, so even though the trip home took a while, the pleasant warmth and chewy dough were still intact, and I marveled all the way to the last slice and polished it off in no time. From the comfortable department store parking to the wide, stylish food hall and, above all, the unrivaled fresh, generous toppings, it's a Cheonan favorite where all three points line up perfectly.

Will I come back to Clap Pizza at Cheonan Shinsegae?

It's a place that gives the same quality and delight every time, so whenever I have a reason to come to Cheonan I'll run to Clap Pizza at Cheonan Shinsegae without a second's hesitation and head home hugging a Hawaiian pizza. If you want easy parking and a properly trendy pizza in Cheonan, try Clap Pizza on the 4th floor of Building B~