New Restaurant: The Pizza Factory

By Matthew Bossons, October 21, 2016

Picture this: you and your significant other roll up to a pizza parlor. He or she wants the seafood delight and you want the Hawaiian with extra pineapple. The problem? Your partner hates pineapple and you detest squid anywhere outside a Japanese eatery.

The solution? Head to The Pizza Factory and build your own damn pizza!

Located in Haizhu’s Icon Mall near Jiangnanxi station’s Exit B, this new eatery offers patrons the option of designing their own pizza complete with unlimited toppings (yes, you read that right – unlimited).

According to proprietor Matt Slack, the concept behind The Pizza Factory was one he borrowed from the growing fast-casual dining scene in Los Angeles. His aim is to offer customers high-quality food and a cozy atmosphere, while keeping the service casual. The shop’s Guangzhou debut also holds personal significance to Slack, whose grandfather owned 10 pizza parlors back in Pennsylvania.

When arriving at The Pizza Factory, you will have the option of selecting one of its specialty pizzas or, as we would recommend, building your own.

Start by nailing down a size, 9-inch (RMB58), 12-inch (RMB78) or 14-inch (RMB98), before choosing your desired sauce (tomato, pesto or white) and cheese. Once you have the pie’s foundation, it’s up to you to decorate it with delectable toppings – of which there is no shortage.

Fruit and vegetable options include tomatoes, onions, spinach, chili peppers, olives, zucchini, bell peppers, red beans, pineapple and more (the list could fill the rest of this article).

Protein wise, The Pizza Factory offers pepperoni, Argentine beef, chorizo, smoked chicken, bacon, calamari, sausage and shrimp.

As we mentioned earlier, Slack’s pizza shop allows unlimited toppings, so it’s okay if you want a pie piled high with every available meat option. You can also opt to make a ‘half-and-half’ pizza – aka the solution to our date night predicament mentioned earlier.

Once your toppings are selected, your pizza will be baked and ready to eat in just two minutes.

While it’s easy to liken The Pizza Factory’s model to Subway, it’s a comparison Slack strongly dislikes.

“The quality of our ingredients really sets us apart, as does the fact that we will give you as many toppings as you like with no extra charge.”

If pizza isn’t your thing, order one of the several pasta or lasagna dishes (RMB48-58), or generous salads (RMB38-48).

For dessert, we recommend the Oreo peanut butter milkshake or the birthday banana shake (RMB32), both perfect for washing down a plentiful plate of pizza.

A hat tip to Slack and his team for offering a pizza experience unlike any other we’ve had in Guangzhou!