"Not the Life Pizza, but the Life Edge!"
Jackson Pizza first opened its store in Hannam-dong in 2015 and quickly gained fame. Among the reasons for its popularity, the title of being a pizza spot frequently visited by Shinsegae Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin is definitely not to be missed. Thanks to this, they even launched frozen pizzas in collaboration with their own brand, Peacock. From SNS certification shots to the American-themed interior and the taste of the pizza itself! An editor who regularly replenishes their pizza supply brings an honest review of Jackson Pizza.
Jackson Pizza’s strengths can be summarized in two points. First, the personal size of 8 inches, which is not burdensome for single-person households to eat alone. Second, the dough, aged up to 48 hours, allows you to enjoy a crispy edge on the outside. They offer a variety of menu items such as Super Jackson, Hawaiian, Pepperoni Delight, Five Cheese, and Melting Cheese Burger (not a pizza). As pizza’s perfect companion, spaghetti is available in two types: red sauce and pink sauce. Among these, the popular menu items are Hawaiian and Super Jackson, with an additional order of Bacon Cheddar Jalapeno. Menus vary by store.
The Hawaiian pizza features a tomato sauce base topped with three kinds of cheese, pineapple, Canadian bacon, and basil. (The editor personally dislikes Hawaiian pizza!) However, the Hawaiian pizza tasted at Jackson Pizza was different from other brands. Until now, the editor thought the tartness of pineapple didn’t blend well with Hawaiian pizza. While fans of Hawaiian pizza might find that sweet and sour flavor appealing, the pineapple flavor in this pizza was not as strong as expected, making it easy to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. Please note that this may vary depending on the branch and the sweetness of the pineapple. Nevertheless, it remains one of Jackson Pizza’s popular menu items.
For those who cannot eat pizza without jalapenos or pickles, the Bacon Cheddar Jalapeno pizza raised high expectations. However, the taste of the pizza, which combined crispy bacon, jalapenos, and sriracha sauce & tomato sauce, was below expectations. The salty flavor of the bacon was not as strong as anticipated, so it didn’t come across as stimulating. Since Jackson Pizza claims to replicate the taste of American pizza, it felt less intense and somewhat bland. If you order this pizza in a large size, you might be disappointed.
The Super Jackson pizza, which is the most basic and main pizza at Jackson Pizza, is based on tomato sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, Italian sausage, crushed beef patty, crispy bacon, red onions, grilled bell peppers, oregano, Grana Padano cheese, and fresh basil. The taste was excellent, proving that basics are the key. The variety of toppings was also very harmonious.
A bite of coleslaw salad can completely wash away the greasiness of the pizza. It consists of lettuce, carrots, and mayonnaise, and serves well as a substitute for pickles or jalapenos. The homemade pickles, pickled with lettuce, and the horseradish ranch sauce are also made in-house. One horseradish ranch sauce is provided per pizza.
To sum up the overall impression of Jackson Pizza in one sentence: “Not a life-changing pizza, but a life-changing edge!” The personal size is not burdensome to eat alone, and the taste meets the basic standards. There is nothing particularly different from the franchises or individual pizza shops you can easily find around you. However, the edge was different. The texture can only be described as ‘crispy.’ Even without adding cheese crust separately, those who dislike the edge part of pizza can enjoy this edge comfortably. It is so crispy and savory that you might want to eat only the edge parts, so you can say you have found a life-changing edge.
Photo by Yoon Eun-ae
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