Starch Madness: Pie Squared Brings Detroit to Chaoyang

Marissa Kennedy | Jul 31, 2013 1:00 pm | 2 comments | 2648 reads

Let’s do word association: Wudaokou: students, Sanlitun: entertainment, Shunyi: suburbia. The longstanding stereotype of Shunyi as a diaspora expat pocket of the northern capital turns out to be true, but it’s not as far as you might think. While Maquanying is a stop on the shiver-inducing Line 15, it still technically lies in Chaoyang district and contains oases only a few subway stops away from civilization.

One establishment of this ilk is Pie Squared, a Detroit-style pizza parlor located in Cathay View Plaza. What is Detroit-style pizza? Imagine a chewy deep-dish crust layered with toppings ranging from fresh basil and jalapeños to hand-mixed, Motown meatballs and BLT fixings.

If that wasn’t enough, it’s square, creating crispy corners you and your dining companions can fight over. Co-owners Asher Gillespie, Michael Fan and Patrick Jen also roll out a grilled thin and traditional round crust, which they also use for their stromboli (RMB 55), flatbread and cheesy breadsticks (RMB 19). It’s truly a veritable pantheon dedicated to the gluten gods.

Besides its quadrilateral Italian treats, Pie Squared offers salads and unique condiments, including homemade vinaigrettes for antipasto and Greek salads (RMB 38) and silky garlic cream cheese dipping sauce for their stromboli appetizer (RMB 40). In the coming months, they will be serving pastas and sandwiches as well, and fresh sauces for pasta will be joining the carb party.

From the small town pizza parlor decor, the cold case packed with Dr. Pepper and Cherry Coke (RMB 20) to the flat screen TV displaying HBO movies and ESPN sporting events, all signs point to the American Midwest. You even leave with that classic American dairy and carb-induced food coma – right before you’re shocked back into Chinese suburban reality.

Pie Squared
1/F, Bldg 1 (next to SWITCH! Cafe), Cathay View Plaza, 6 Xiangjiang Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区香江路6号观唐广场1号楼1层

Also Try: Kro's Nest, La Pizza

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Photos: Sui

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Re: Starch Madness: Pie Squared Brings Detroit to Chaoyang
Posted Sep 23, 2013 5:31pm by BowToTheRobots

Wow. All I can say is wow. Best pizza in Beijing, hands down. A little out of the way, but well-worth the trip. Now, I am a little biased--I am from Detroit and I went in there wanting to love the place. And I was not disapponted.

Beijing has some good pizza, but my complaint has always been the same: not enough sauce and greasy, dry cheese. Not so with Pie Squared! This is how pizza should be made.

This is one place where you don't have to adjust your expectations and add "pretty good for China" when you're talking about it. It's just damn good.

So here's a little help to find it: Take line 15 to Maquanying SOUTHEAST EXIT. Take a right out of the station and walk about 80 feet to the main road--from here you can take a right and just start walking. About 1/4-mile down the road, you'll see the outlet mall across the street on your left. You're heading in the right direction. It is very walkable from here and you'll want to build a nice appetite. In about ten minutes, you'll see 'Cathay View Plaza' on your right--there you are! Walk to the back of the plaza and look right.

Plenty of taxis usually around the station too if walking is not your thing. But GET THERE!

"Sha bee" must be a compliment because they say it to me all the time.

Re: Starch Madness: Pie Squared Brings Detroit to Chaoyang
Posted Aug 2, 2013 1:41am by cch

I grew up in Detroit and I have never seen this in my life! What the heck is "Detroit style" pizza? Detroit's real claim to pizza fame is, unfortunately, Domino's and Little Caesars..