Sokcho Saemaeul pizzeria: 18-inch pepperoni pie & ranch, Gagas Pizza

I never expected to crave pizza on a trip to Sokcho.

But walking through the Saemaeul alley, a big bold "PIZZA" sign on a white wall caught my eye. It was Gagas Pizza (가가스피자), a New York-style big slice pizzeria. When I think of Sokcho Beach food I only think of seafood, so I was so curious to find a place like this that I couldn't just walk past.

Why did I pick Gagas Pizza in Sokcho?

Dinner on this trip was already set as seafood, and I wanted something light for lunch, so I stepped into Gagas Pizza. The line "New York-style big slice pizzeria" tugged at me more than I'd like to admit.

Honestly, I never thought I'd end up eating pizza all the way in Sokcho. But as I wandered around near my accommodation, Gagas Pizza was what caught my eye. Then I read that the dough is cold-fermented a second time for over 48 hours and the mozzarella is hand-grated, and it was already saved in my head as a Sokcho pizza place.

Gagas Pizza location and opening hours

Gagas Pizza is in the Saemaeul alley of Sokcho, inside the Saemaeul restaurant street. Once you turn into the alley, the PIZZA sign on the white building is right there, so it's not hard to find.

• Name: Gagas Pizza (가가스피자)
• Address: 10 Saemaeul 9-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea (search "가가스피자" on Naver Map)
• Hours: 11:00–22:00
• Regular closing day: every Tuesday

It's closed every Tuesday, so if a Tuesday falls in your Sokcho itinerary, check ahead before you go.

What's the atmosphere like at Gagas Pizza?

Gagas Pizza is a two-story building, and inside it feels more open than I expected. You order on the first floor, carry your drinks and pizza upstairs, and the second-floor hall is full of big windows.

White walls and large windows show the alley scenery of downtown Sokcho, and it has a quiet travel-vibe charm.

There's an olive tree on the way up the stairs, and a framed collage of drink cans from around the world hangs on the wall, which works as a decor highlight in itself.

Drinks, cans and bottles of Jack Daniel's line the counter area, and you order right at the counter.

Gagas Pizza menu and prices

Gagas Pizza sells its NY pizza as 18-inch whole pies and by the slice, with slices starting at ₩4,000 for cheese. The menu board is fun to read.

NY PIZZA (18-inch whole pie / slice)

• Cheese: slice ₩4,000 / whole ₩30,000
• Margherita: slice ₩4,500 / whole ₩34,000
• Pepperoni: slice ₩5,000 / whole ₩38,000
• White Mushroom: slice ₩6,000 / whole ₩46,000
• Super Combo: slice ₩6,500 / whole ₩50,000

SPECIAL PIZZA

• American Chili: slice ₩6,500 / whole ₩50,000
• B&G Olive (coming soon)

SIDES

• Ranch sauce ₩800
• Chili cheese fries ₩12,000
• Buffalo wings & drumsticks: 6 pcs ₩8,000 / 18 pcs ₩20,000
• Bolognese pasta ₩11,000

DRINKS

• Budweiser draft beer ₩6,000
• Canned drinks (Coca-Cola, Sprite, etc.) ₩2,500
• Americano ₩3,500 / café latte ₩4,500

A slice or two is an easy meal, and if you're with others, a whole pie to share makes a pretty filling lunch.

Why did I order the whole pepperoni pizza?

At Gagas Pizza I ordered a whole pepperoni pie for ₩38,000 and added ranch sauce for ₩800. When you visit a pizza place for the first time, you have to try the pepperoni first, right?

The menu says they use real American pork pepperoni, and I wanted to taste how good a back-to-basics NY-style pepperoni pizza could be. Since the dough gets a second cold fermentation of over 48 hours, I also figured a simple topping like pepperoni would let me really taste that dough.

How does the pepperoni pizza at Gagas Pizza taste?

The whole pepperoni pie at Gagas Pizza is 18 inches and comes in 8 slices, and the chewy fermented dough went really well with the salty pepperoni. The moment it arrived, the sheer size was overwhelming.

The 18-inch pie comes in an aluminum pan and it's quite wide. It's cut into 8 slices, and each one is long and bigger than my palm, true New York style.

48-hour fermented dough

Let's start with the dough. The golden crust with a light dusting of flour is the first thing you notice. Fold a slice and take a bite: the edge is a little crisp, and the further inside you go, the chewier and stickier it gets. There's a faint tang that's typical of fermented dough, and it pairs with the salty pepperoni better than you'd think.

American pork pepperoni

Maybe because it's American pork pepperoni, the fat was evenly spread, the edges curled slightly with the heat, and oil seeped out moist. It isn't greasy-heavy; it's salty with a subtle smoky aroma.

Tomato sauce and mozzarella

The sauce is said to be based on fresh California tomatoes, and it supports everything without any sharp sourness, a clean, mild feel. The mozzarella is hand-grated, and it definitely stretches well without being heavy. Here and there lightly toasted basil leaves sit on top, and a quick herb aroma comes up as you chew, which was a nice touch.

What goes well with pizza at Gagas Pizza?

Adding ranch sauce (₩800) at Gagas Pizza was a really good call. You can also change up the flavor with the toppings and sauces set out on the table.

Dipping the end of the crust into ranch adds a rich, mellow flavor and makes you want one more slice. I never imagined dipping would work this well.

Each table comes set with pickles, jalapeños, pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese and Louisiana hot sauce, so you can eat it your own way.

I sprinkled pepper flakes and Parmesan over my pizza, and it lifted the flavor a notch, so I highly recommend it. Piling jalapeños on top adds some heat, which makes it perfect with beer too.

For drinks I got canned Sprite and Coke Zero, and the fizz cut the richness of the pizza nicely.

Gagas Pizza's second-floor window seats and self-serve bar

Eating at the second-floor window seats at Gagas Pizza changes the mood. It's a real plus that wasn't in the place info.

Through the big windows you can see the Sokcho alley, and slowly eating a slice while looking out on a trip was a lot nicer than I expected.

The self-serve bar is well stocked, so nothing was inconvenient during the meal. There's a stainless steel water tank with cups beside it, and spoons, forks, knives, pickles, jalapeños and napkins, all yours to take as much as you want. Whether you come alone or in a group, it's set up so you can eat comfortably.

At 18 inches it can be a lot to finish alone. But every menu item can be taken away, so you could carry the rest back to your accommodation for a late-night snack. Next time I'll bring company and order two kinds to compare.

Who should visit Gagas Pizza in Sokcho?

If you're looking for a good spot in Sokcho's Saemaeul area, stop by Gagas Pizza. When you want something different from seafood or dakgangjeong (Korean sweet crispy fried chicken), or a light solo meal on your trip, even a single slice is plenty satisfying here.

The chewiness of the fermented dough and the salty American pepperoni came together better than I expected. I think it'll stay in my memory as a Sokcho pizza place. If you're craving New York-style pizza on a Sokcho trip, do visit Gagas Pizza once.