#19 In Every Other Universe, Gwen Stacy Falls For Spider-Man.

Editor: @nwangerd

On Saturday, February 15th, we held a small pop-up shop to celebrate the launch of the first issue of our magazine, Navigate. To our surprise and gratitude, so many people came by, and despite my initial worries, the first edition(!) sold out completely. Even now, it still doesn’t quite feel real. There are moments when emotions overwhelm me, when everything seems to blur together, and right now, I think I’m in that state. What we talked about over drinks last May has, in just half a year, truly become a reality, and so many people have resonated with YBP, offering wonderful feedback.

The scene - people gathering together at the pop-up, shouting “never compromise!” as we made the magazine and merchandise, the cool breeze at 5 AM, the personal moments and resolutions that came in between – all of these things have created a feeling that’s hard to express in words. But if I had to sum it up, I think it would be ‘happy.’

Right now, I’m in New York. In life, you’ll meet the kind of people who endlessly chant “I want to go to New York”, but if I had to pick, I think I’m more of a Tokyo enthusiast than a New York one. But still, New York holds a special place in my heart. I used to live here when I was younger. It was in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in the northern part of Manhattan that tourists would probably never end up visiting. It’s a place where many Dominicans live, and I have vivid memories of eating yellow rice and rotisserie chicken, the flavors of the Dominican Republic.

(Images of food from Malecon, a Dominican restaurant: rotisserie chicken, beef stew, and rice)

Although I’ve forgotten most of my English, my childhood here left a lasting impact. New York is where I first encountered graphic novels (it was Spider-Man),

(Midtown Comics, the holy land of graphic novels, located near Times Square)

and where I developed my unhealthy eating habits of substituting pizza and coke for meals. It seems like New York also helped shape my tendency to get obsessed with the things I love.

The reason I’ve come to New York this time is for three main reasons:

First, to personally hand a copy of the magazine to TJ, who gave an amazing interview in our first issue. No arguments accepted.

(TJ’s home looked exactly like the YBP home I imagined.)

The second reason aligns with my trip to Perth last year, where I saw a performance I’d been dying to see: The Lord of the Rings orchestra. I adore Tolkien’s works, including The Lord of the Rings. I had a long list of Tolkien-related bucket list items: visiting his grave in Oxford (which I did in 2016), going to New Zealand (which I did in 2022), and watching the Lord of the Rings orchestra performance. This performance is exactly what it sounds like — a live orchestra playing the film’s soundtrack throughout the movie. It’s an experience that, frankly, cannot be found in Asia, so I came to New York to see it.

I'll go into more detail about my Tolkien obsession in a separate article, but for now, I’ll leave it at that.

(The Lord of the Rings Orchestra performance at Radio City Hall)

The third reason? To eat delicious New York pizza. I really, really love pizza. There are two types of pizza that I categorize: Neapolitan and New York-style. And between the two, I obviously prefer New York-style pizza. New York is home to a variety of pizza options, from budget-friendly 99-cent slices to world-renowned pizzerias, with over 6,000 pizza spots in the city. Despite its history of more than 100 years, New York pizza continues to evolve with new pizzerias consistently rising to prominence. Given the notoriously high prices in New York — a single salad can cost over $20 including tax (around 30,000 KRW…) — pizza here can feel less like food and more like a matter of survival. But as a tourist, I was determined to search for the best pizza places regardless of the price.

By now, if you’ve read our first ever article, you might have noticed the pattern: a long introduction, TMI about my favorite things… Yes, this article is a guide to the best pizzerias in New York. Just like Gwen from Spider-Man is destined to fall in love with Peter Parker, I feel like I’m destined to love pizza forever.

New York, Spider-Man, love, Gwen, pizza, fate…

Now, I know this is getting a bit strange, but let’s get to it.

1st place. Lucali’s

1. location: Brooklyn
2. Signature Dish: Classic Pizza, Calzone
3. Editor’s Note: Lucali is the most popular pizzeria on today’s list, and it's also my top recommendation. It was featured on Netflix's famous show Ugly Delicious. Their pizza crust is made like Neapolitan pizza but baked in a wood-burning oven, giving it the perfect balance of chewiness and crispiness. The fresh basil on top adds an extra layer of flavor. I also recommend their calzone, which is packed with rich tomato sauce and cheese. Keep in mind that you’ll have to order a whole pizza, not by the slice, so be sure to eat quickly before it cools.
4. Note: BYOB, Cash Only, long wait times.

2nd place: L'industrie Pizza

1. location: Brooklyn
2. Signature Dish: L'industrie Pizza, New Yorker Pizza, Burrata Pizza
3. Editor’s Note: This is the second pizzeria I recommend. Similar to Lucali, they don’t serve traditional New York-style pizza, but rather a mix of Neapolitan and New York flavors. I particularly recommend the L'industrie pizza — it has a crispy texture and the sauce mixes perfectly with the cheese, making every bite a delight. The best part? You can order by the slice.
4. Note: Moderate wait times, must eat standing up, now has a branch in Manhattan.

3rd place. Mama's Too

1. location: Upper West Side, Manhattan
2. Signature Dish: Vodka Square, Pepperoni Square
3. Editor’s Note: This pizzeria serves Detroit-style pizza, which is square with a thick crust. Despite the thickness, it maintains a crisp texture typical of New York pizza. Their vodka square, topped with their own vodka sauce, is a must-try. If you’re in the Upper West Side, don’t miss it.
4. Note: Moderate wait times, must eat standing up, no tipping (wow), served by the slice.

4th place. Joe's Pizza

1. location: Manhattan (multiple locations)
2. Signature Dish: Cheese Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza
3. Editor’s Note: Joe’s Pizza is the most well-known pizzeria on this list. It’s the one where Spider-Man gets fired in Spider-Man 2. Expect a classic, greasy, crispy street-style pizza that’s iconic of New York.
4. Note: Fast turnover, decent price, served by the slice.

5th place: Lombardi's Pizza

1. location: Manhattan Soho
2. Signature Dish: Margherita Pizza
3. Editor’s Note: Honestly, I don’t recommend Lombardi’s. It’s known as the oldest pizzeria in the U.S., but the taste is nothing special. While it’s a place for the symbolism, it’s not somewhere I’d suggest unless you want to say you’ve been there.
4. Note: Not recommended.

 

My New York trip is still in progress, so I'll probably add one or two more places to the list!