Final Countdown: The Pizza Cup Ultimate Final Is a Little More Than 24 Hours Away

It’s almost here folks, the moment you've been waiting for: the Pizza Cup Final!

After more than a month of polling and tasting, we’re down to the top five pizzas in Beijing.

We’d normally be down to a Final Four at this point, but thanks to a tie between Tube Station and Pie Squared in the Bracket A Taste-Off, we’ll be serving up five pies to the hungry masses tomorrow as those two face off against Forno, Q MEX, and Pyro Pizza, winners of Bracket B, Bracket C and Bracket D respectively.

But those Sweet 16 Taste-Offs weren't the only challenges these five champions had to mount. Not by a longshot.

The road to the Ultimate Final began back in November when we asked you to rank our list of 100 pizza-serving restaurants in Beijing.

You helped us hone that list to 64, which were then seeded into a NCAA Final Four-style bracket, where they were pitted against one another, head to head. The 64 was sliced to 32, and eventually to the 16 that would enter the Taste-Offs.

Now, after four weeks of sizzling taste-offs, our victors head into the main event.

Here's a quick look at the path to the finals for each of the five:

Bracket A

Tube Station and Pie Squared ended up tied for first place, scoring surprise victories over reigning champ Bottega and long-timer Kro's Nest.

Voters couldn't get enough of Pie Squared's Detroit-style squares covered with meatballs or Tube Station's cheeseburger pizza, earning both the right to fight another day.

Bracket B

The following Saturday saw Roman-style by-the-slice specialists Forno prevail.

A veritable newbie with less than two years of history in Beijing, Forno fought off two former champions – Pizza Saporita and Gung Ho! – as well as international juggernaut Papa John's to reach the final.

Forno prevailed with help from a new pie, the La Regina, a rustic focaccia-style base topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella, arugula and cured ham. Voters were also swayed by Forno's tableside service, which saw staff from the venue offering extra cheese and fixings.

Bracket C

Next came Q MEX, which has consistently risen in our Pizza Cup rankings, from a humble #25 in 2015 all the way to a Final Four appearance last year.

In the Sweet 16, they were pitted against longtime Beijing favorites Annie's, The Local, and La Pizza.

They entered the fray with an unconventional American-style pizza dubbed the Mexican Supreme, which boasted the addition of their spicy chorizo sausage. Up against two Italian-style pies and a special Yunnan Grilled Chicken pizza from The Local, it was a tough challenge.

As voting commenced, Q MEX found itself neck-and-neck with The Local. However, in the end, the Mexican Supreme took the crown by a single ballot.

Bracket D

Another surprise upset was the victory for longtime Wudaokou favorite Pyro Pizza. In the Bracket D Taste-Off they found themselves facing two popular brewpubs, Great Leap and Jing-A, as well as Parkview Green residents The Pizza Show.

Unlike other entrants who came armed with relatively conventional pies, Pyro entered their Nacho Beef Pizza, complete with tableside additions like sour cream, chopped tomatoes, and cilantro, culminating in a truly Mexican pizza fiesta.

And to the surprise of many, that Nacho Beef pie and Pyro slid past its competitors with flying colors, sending it on to the Ultimate Final.

The Final Round

The Ultimate Final takes place this Saturday, Dec 18, once again at Georgia’s Feast with beer offered by Brooklyn Brewery and a buffet table featuring cheeses from title sponsors Dinner Bell Creamery and Sartori Cheese Company.

But here’s where things get special: The folks at Brooklyn Brewery aren’t serving up the usual suspects like their Lager or IPA, but their Black OPS, a limited edition brew not for sale in China, made from a secret recipe which sees a dark beer aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels before being combined with champagne yeast for a markedly smooth sipper.

And, while Tube Station, Pie Squared and Forno will be bringing the same pies that won them slots in the final – the Cheeseburger Pizza, Motown Meatball and La Regina respectively – Q MEX and Pyro Pizza are opting for the fiery wildcard, with Q MEX offering a Chipotle Chicken Pizza and Pyro serving a Spicy Beef Pizza.

Q MEX’s entry delves deeper into Mexican cuisine territory, with chipotle tomato salsa covered in diced chicken, mozzarella cheese, roasted corn, and beans. Pyro meanwhile counters with grilled beef and onions combined with spicy arrabbiata sauce on a chili oil-brushed crust.

But it’s not just pizza to be had on Saturday, it’ll also be time for Pizzalympics glory. Participants representing countries from around the world can try their luck at air hockey, mini curling, trivia, and two new games during the event.

The Best of the Rest in Beijing Pizza

While our Top Five has yet to be decided, the final ranking is complete for all competitors who placed #6 and below. Here’s how our readers ranked them:

6. The Local
7. Jing-A
8. Bottega
9. Great Leap
10. Pizza Saporita
11. Gung Ho
12. Annie's
13. La Pizza
14. The Pizza Show
15. Kro's Nest
16. Papa John's
17. Eatalia
18. Georgia's Feast
19. Yummy Box
20. Miam Miam
21. Scott's Family Ristorante Italiano
22. Citywalk Red Oven Pizza Bakery
23. Turkish Feast
24. The Cheesecake Factory
25. Pizza Marzano
26. Hulu
27. Commune Reserve
28. Peter Pan
29. Plan B
30. Ponte
31. Xian Bar, East Hotel
32. Frasca
33. Domino's Pizza
34. Pizza Hut
35. Mr. Pizza
36. Tiago
37. Lily’s American Diner
38. La Platea
39. Laker's
40. Kitty & Daniel
41. The Rug
42. Buona Bocca
43. Tomcado
44. Green Cow City Cafe
45. Tavola Italian Dining
46. Assaggi
47. Mao Mao Chong
48. Paddy O'Shea's
49. NBeer Pub牛啤堂
50. Via Roma•Kempinski Hotel花样罗马意大利餐厅
51. Nine Road Pizzeria速度披萨
52. LMPlus
53. Steam Pizza蒸汽披萨（颐堤港店）
54. Big Pizza比格比萨
55. Lets Seafood非常创意海鲜
56. QS奎妮妙选
57. Eudora Station亿多瑞站
58. La Cucina后厨意餐
59. Grandma's Kitchen祖母的厨房
60. Bacchus Bistro酒神食馆
61. Pizza Now披萨到
62. La Mezzaluna伴月意大利餐厅
63. Volare
64. Very Sport意大利餐吧
65. MIO, Four Seasons Hotel 北京四季酒店•MIO
66. Saizeriya 萨莉亚意式餐厅
67. Brotzeit 博璨德国啤酒餐厅（国贸）
68. The Veggie Table 吃素的西餐
69. Jazz-Ya 爵士屋
70. Tribe 有机餐厅
71. Get Pizza 披萨工廠
72. Bene 班妮意大利餐厅
73. Groovy Schillers 大明餐厅
74. Pinvita Pinvita意大利美食集市
75. German Restaurant 甲丁坊.新德餐吧
76. Happy Bites 嗨派.纽约手工披萨
77. Byone 百万庄园
78. Legend 老牌餐吧
79. Passby Bar 过客
80. Flypizza & Hoodadak Chicken
81. Cup One
82. Nasca Cafe
83. Olive Restaurant and Bar 橄榄餐吧
84. Riva 意岸
85. Joe's by Yonovo
86. Hisewel-Brew-pub 海森威精酿啤酒餐吧
87. Atta BJ
88. Festin Table 佩斯汀西餐
89. Sesto Senso Se•食巳意大利餐厅
90. Chapter, Conrad Beijing Chapter
91. PBD Pizza Bar
92. Just in time 巨时比萨
93. POMONA 波莫娜咖啡厅
94. Casalingo 卡萨琳戈
95. Agrilandia

READ: Pyro Burns Downtown Competitors in Pizza Cup's Bracket D Taste-Off

Images: Uni You, The Beijingers, courtesy of the venues