Motorino Hong Kong - Neapolitan style pizza from New York

Motorino Hong Kong exists because of the bold dream of an entrepreneur.

More than 5 years ago, a young restauranteur from Hong Kong approached Motorino in New York and asked whether they would consider opening in Hong Kong, since there was nothing like Motorino's signature Neapolitan-style pizza in Hong Kong.

Motorino knew that it took a lot of work to exactly replicate the pizzas they make in New York. However, Motorino said that if the restauranteur was willing to do whatever it took to reproduce the restaurant faithfully in Hong Kong, then they were willing to support it.

In 2013, the first Motorino opened in the Soho neighborhood of Hong Kong to much success, and a second one opened in Wan Chai a year later. It's been five years, and the two restaurants are still doing very well. We have visited several times, and we enjoy the Neapolitan style pizzas quite a bit.

All Motorino restaurants bake their pizzas in a high-end massive brick oven (imported from Italy) which cooks pizzas in just two minutes at 400+°C.

The restaurant likes to promote its own GRAGNANO dellapenisola Sorrentina D.O.C. (Piedirosso, Sciascinoso, Aglianico), a semi-sparkling red wine that they call the perfect pizza wine. (Glass HKD78, Bottle HKD358)

The Caesar Salad is fine. It's fresh and enjoyable, though not particularly memorable.

The pizzas are the stars of the show, of course. Their authentic Neapolitan pizzas spent very little time in the brick oven but still attain a decent "leopard" bottom with just a bit of char.

I always like to order a class Margherita pizza to really understand a restaurant's pizza. This classic Margherita pizza had tomato sauce, mozzarella di Bufala, basil, Pecorino, and extra virgin olive oil (HKD $148). It was delicious.

We also tried a Cremini Mushroom pizza, which came with fior di latte, Italian sausage, garlic, thyme, Pecorino cheese, Gaeta olives, and extra virgin olive oil (HKD $178). This one was quite tasty as well!

Dessert, a simple New York style cheesecake topped with blueberries, was not too sweet at all and reminded me that we were in a restaurant that started in New York.

Motorino Hong Kong - General Thoughts

All in all, Motorino Hong Kong is a great place to visit and we've gone back on multiple occasions when we feel like pizza. The restaurant makes very enjoyable and legitimate Neapolitan pies, offers decent sides, and has a nice environment. It doesn't get as crazy crowded as other places on Ship Street, so it's a nice alternative option if you don't feel like competing with the crowds.

Motorino Hong Kong (two locations)
15 Ship St, Wan Chai
14 Shelley St, Central

This is the forty-eighth post in the updated #50Postsin50Days – Take 2 Challenge. Other posts in this series will be added to the bottom of the original post.