Pizzeria Banco Busan: Authentic Wood-Fired Pizza in Myeongji

Great Neapolitan pizza is still hard to find in Korea outside Seoul — so Pizzeria Banco (방코 화덕피자) in Busan is a genuine find. It sits in an unlikely spot in Myeongji, Gangseo-gu — a reclaimed-land new town on Busan’s western edge near Gimhae Airport — inside a striking round, donut-shaped building you’d never guess hid one of the region’s best wood-fired pizzerias. Locals call it the best 화덕피자 (wood-fired pizza) in west Busan, and after eating our way across the menu, we agree. Visited 2026.

What makes it work is that Banco takes the fundamentals seriously. The dough is proper Neapolitan — soft, airy, with a puffy, leopard-spotted charred cornicione from the wood oven — and the kitchen uses imported Italian ingredients (Molini Pizzuti “00” flour, whole peeled Italian tomatoes) rather than cutting corners. There’s even Peroni on tap. It feels like a little piece of Italy dropped into a Busan new town.

The Setting: A Round Building in a Busan New Town

Half the charm is the room. Banco occupies a curved, donut-shaped building with a planted garden out front and a glass-walled inner courtyard — the tables curve around the space so it feels both intimate and open, and the lighting is lovely in the evening (though reviewers note it’s just as pretty by day). It’s a genuine “how is this here?” spot in the middle of Myeongji.

Where Is Pizzeria Banco? (Map)

Banco is in Myeongji, Gangseo-gu, on Busan’s western edge — easiest with a car, about 15 minutes from Gimhae International Airport.

What Should I Order? (You Can’t Go Wrong)

The honest answer: anything. We ordered broadly and every plate landed. If it’s your first time, build around the Margherita (the benchmark of any real pizzeria) and add one “fancier” pie — the Quattro Formaggi, 프로슈토 & 루꼴라 (prosciutto & arugula), or the 무화과 블루치즈 (fig & blue cheese) — plus one pasta to share.

The Pizzas — The Reason to Come

This is where Banco shines. The pies come out of the wood oven blistered and chewy, with that faintly smoky, nutty char on the crust that only a real 화덕 (wood oven) gives. Across the menu — the classic Margherita, the rich Quattro Formaggi, a fig & blue cheese that balances sweet and funky, a fresh prosciutto & arugula, and lighter white (bianca) pies — the balance of sauce, cheese and crust is spot-on, and the toppings are restrained in the Italian way rather than piled high. If you’re a crust person, you’ll be very happy here.

The Pastas — Proper Italian, Too

While the pizzas are the headline, the pastas hold their own. We liked the 라구 볼로네제 딸리아뗄레 (ragù bolognese tagliatelle) — slow, meaty and savory on wide ribbon noodles — and the 트러플 머쉬룸 크림파스타 (truffle mushroom cream) for something richer. The 엔초비 오일 링귀니 (anchovy-oil linguine) is the clean, garlicky, umami choice, and regulars swear by the 비스크 링귀니 (bisque linguine). Portions are generous and the noodle type can sometimes be swapped — just ask.

To Drink: Peroni on Tap

Completing the Italian touch, Banco pours Peroni (Nastro Azzurro) on draft — crisp, cold and exactly right with a blistered Margherita. There’s wine too, but a cold Peroni and a wood-fired pie is the move here.

Practical Notes for Visitors

• You need a car. It’s in Myeongji, Gangseo-gu (west Busan), ~15 min from Gimhae Airport — handy on the way in or out of Busan. Park in the nearby streets.
• English is easy here. There’s English-speaking staff on site to walk you through the menu — rare and very welcome.
• No-kids zone. Banco does not admit children — plan accordingly if you’re traveling with family.
• Order the Margherita first to judge the kitchen, then branch out — genuinely no misses on the menu.
• It’s authentic, not Koreanized — imported Italian flour & tomatoes, restrained toppings, real wood oven, Peroni on tap.
• Cards accepted (Visa/Mastercard); reservations possible; weekends can get busy (no mid-afternoon break, so off-peak is easiest).
• More Busan: make a day of it with Naedang (Korean fine-dining hanjeongsik) and Derban, a Dalmaji-gil drip cafe.

The Verdict

If you want real Italian wood-fired pizza in Busan, Pizzeria Banco is the answer — and the best we’ve found in the western part of the city. The dough is properly Neapolitan, the ingredients are imported and honest, the pastas are a genuine bonus, and the round-building setting is a joy. Add English-speaking staff and Peroni on tap and it’s an unusually easy recommendation for international visitors. The only catches are the out-of-the-way Myeongji location (bring a car) and the no-kids policy. Order the Margherita, trust the menu, and pour a cold Peroni. One of Busan’s best pizzas.