Yeongdeungpo restaurant with chili pastry-crust pepperoni pizza: Mela

I was craving Western food for the first time in a while, so I headed to Mela (MELA) at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo. Mela already has a big reputation as a brunch spot, but its pizza and pasta lineup is great too, so it works just as well for dinner or a nice Western meal. This visit was clearly about pizza and pasta, so I went in excited.

Where is Mela Times Square, and what's the vibe?

Mela Times Square is on the ground floor of Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, so it's very easy to get to.

Will there be a wait? A reservation gives peace of mind

Inside, Mela has plenty of seats and a spacious layout. But it gets a lot of visitors too, so you may have to wait at peak times. Worth knowing if you're planning a visit. We booked ahead just in case. It wasn't very crowded when we arrived, but I still felt more at ease having a reservation.

Maybe it was a coincidence, but our reserved table was right by the window, so the view is nice. We went at night, so there wasn't much to see, but I think it would be lovely on a sunny day.

Ordering is prepaid at the counter

Mela works on a prepaid system. You order and pay at the counter first, then enjoy your food, and I found that actually made finishing the meal tidy and easy. Since it's famous for brunch, I also found myself thinking I'd like to come back in the daytime and enjoy a relaxed brunch.

What we ordered at Mela: pepperoni pizza and vongole pasta

The Mela menu isn't huge, but there's enough variety that I agonized over it.

I deliberated over the pasta for a long time and settled on the light, clean-tasting vongole (clam) pasta, and for the pizza I went with the classic pepperoni. Next time I'll try something new. I really struggled to decide... The sweet potato pastry pizza looked amazing too, but today I was in the mood for something spicy and salty, so I got the pepperoni.

How is the vongole pasta?

Mela's vongole pasta had a good balance of deep clam flavor and garlic aroma, and it was true to the basics. The noodles were cooked well and the seasoning was just right, so it was a perfect partner to share with the pizza.

Pepperoni pizza (highly recommended!)

The real star of this Mela visit was without question the pepperoni pizza. The moment I took a bite, I couldn't help saying, "wow, this is really good."

Instead of ordinary pizza dough, it uses a crispy pastry dough, and that was the perfect touch. The crunch of the layered pastry came together with the saltiness of the pepperoni, so it was fun to chew and tasty at once.

A light sprinkle of chili pepper (red pepper) adds a red, spicy finish. The peppery kick neatly balances the cheese and dough that could otherwise feel heavy, so I never got tired of it and polished off the last slice in no time.

Verdict: is Mela Times Square worth it for a pizza dinner?

The vongole pasta was great too, but it was the pepperoni pizza, with its crisp pastry dough and spicy chili pepper working together, that made this a really satisfying meal.

If you're looking for a Western restaurant with a nice atmosphere at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, or want to try a pizza with a special dough, I recommend Mela (MELA) on the ground floor. It's good for brunch, and just as good for lifting your mood with tasty pizza and pasta.