Pizza Cup 2014: Where to Score Your Pizza in Shunyi

To get you in the mood for the ongoing voting in the 2014 Pizza Cup, (see our round-up of pizza meal deals here) we've sent our minions out to patrol the streets for pizza. Here's a selection of what they've found:

It’s safe to say just about everyone likes pizza. I’m partial to Italian-style pizzas, with a thin and crispy base, topped with mozzarella and Parma ham. My kids favor margherita or ham and mushroom, with a thicker softer base. Pizza wouldn’t be my husband’s first choice of take-out, but if pushed, he’d go for one with a lot of cheese.

Shunyi has more than just an airport – it also has plenty of great places to enjoy pizza, with both dine-in and take-out options available. Italian restaurants, western style restaurants and fast food joints – we really are spoilt for choice. I’m guessing most of us have a favorite go-to pizza place, where we know the pepperoni will always be perfect, and the capricciosa crispy. If you have a favorite, why not cast your vote in the Beijinger’s 2014 Pizza Cup?

Sixty-four of Beijing's best pizza purveyors are going head-to-head to determine Beijing’s best pizza. With voting already under way, there’s no time to waste: go eat pizza, lots of it, and make that vote count.

Here’s a round-up of some of the contenders that have locations in Shunyi (others are not based here but will deliver here – for a roundup of additional delivery choices, see this post).

Annie's (#1 seed in the Mid-Range Restaurants category)
Serves up pizzas and unpretentious Italian-American fare. Steady winner of Best Italian in the Beijinger's restaurant awards since 2004, their pizzas are tasty and easy on the wallet, with around 20 varieties to choose from.

Pie Squared (#6 in the Pizza Specialists category)
Gives us the “Square pizza”, a Detroit-style that can be traced back to the 1940’s. The pizzas get their shape from being baked in square pans which, at the time, were commonly used as tool trays in Detroit factories. The result is a truly unique pizza, with toppings including Motown meatball, and chicken alfredo.

Papa John's (#9 in the Pizza Specialists category)
Another US chain, serving up American-style thick crust pizzas, similar in taste and texture to those of Pizza Hut.

Loft Eatalicious (#10 seed in the Mid-Range Restaurants category)
Italian chain features authentic pizzas, using great quality fresh ingredients. Their most popular pizza is the Parma ham rucola. Dine-in and delivery is available.

Agrilandia’s (#10 seed in the Upscale Restaurants category)
Fresh ingredients are grown on site and the Italian organic farm also produces its own wine, along with authentic Italian pizzas.

Mrs. Shanen's Bagels (#11 seed in the Mid-Range Restaurants category)
A Shunyi staple, run by a Chinese-American native of Brooklyn, New York. Offering some of Beijing’s best artisan pizzas, using organic ingredients from the owner's other venue Green Cow Farm.

New York Style Pizza (#11 seed in the Pizza Specialists category)
A Shanghai-based chain serving up, as the name suggests, New York style pizza pies, with fresh toppings and homemade crusts. Pizza by the slice is also available.

Domino's (#12 in the Pizza Specialists category)
The popular American chain, serving up American-style pizzas. With classic toppings including pepperoni, and BBQ chicken, to the more unusual lobster salad and clam. Most people order delivery and indulge at home, perfect when you need deep dish pleasure.

Pizza Hut (#14 in the Pizza Specialists category) 
That very successful franchise that everybody’s tried. With an intriguing range of toppings, to suit local as well as international tastes, from sirloin steak to kungpao chicken.

Laker’s (#16 seed in the Bars/Cafés category)
Pizzas can be enjoyed at both Laker's Pinnacle Plaza and Roma Lake restaurants. The menu offers over 14 varieties of pizza, including Mexican, four seasons, and a Laker’s special. Dine-in and delivery is available.

This article originally appeared on beijing-kids.com. beijingkids' Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son.

Photos: Mohammed Alsedda, Denise Krebs (Flickr)