Gongti Beimen,Gongti,Inside Gongti Beimen, next to Vics
工体北门,工体,Vics旁
Open Sun-Thu 11am-12am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am
Price Y100-Y199
Accepts International Credit Cards
Though decor's a bit sparse, this place is rocking what is hands-down the biggest pizza pie in town. Pair up the delicious, gigantic pizzas with golden crunchy fries, and, at two pints, some of the biggest, strongest mixed drinks in town, and you've got the ingredients for a Beijing institution.
Average pizza base dough,average cheese and average quality ingredients. average taste.
It was the BEST pizza I've had in Beijing. I will go back before I leave.
Their service is beyond horrible. Took months for my group's beers to arrive and we had to get out of our seats just to get the waiters attention. We were served pizza and ended up just using napkins as plates because after repeated requests, no plates or silverware arrived at our table. Pizza was good, but the fries and wings were really nothing special. Truly a frustrating experience for all of us. Definitely not worth the hour wait it took for them to make the pizza. Avoid this place like the plague.
The pizzas dont taste so good. There are fewer people people than what we had visited 1st time so looks this pizza joint is not a hot favourite anymore.
Was one of my favourites, now among the most hated. For some of us that are aware about the situation this place is passing trough (Kro, the foreign partner rudely and impudently expelled out the business by the Chinese Partner, a guy named Yuan jie)is just unacceptable. After a complete series of muggy events and shoddy behaviours and the fact of using crappy ingredients (as a local website pointed out) is unacceptable. I believe in Honour and that old story about the foreigner partner being stabbed in the back by the Chinese counter part is just awful. I won't support the kro's nest anymore or any other bussiness with similar stories.
i've been enjoying walking in the front with my mates and or wife, looking at that female smut standing at the door smiling, and asking for Kro. "Kro is not here." turning around and walking back out. at least just for the sheer show..
I'm with you hatethissituation - we should all boycott Kro's Nest now that that Kro has been so rudely expelled. I hear he's going to fight this for all expat partners out there. Go Kro!
How could the Chinese partner just throw out Kro? The reason people go to eat pizza there is because HE IS THE OWNER. I can no longer go to eat at Kro's knowing this. I bet the pizzas are gonna be crappy soon, after all the partner fired all the good employees!
Ok but not great. Quality and taste is so-so.
Went for a school party, and we all ordered a variety. Definitely big, and good taste though some were nothing special. But overall good pizzas
The best pizza I've eaten in Beijing. Huge pies, great prices, and a good restaurant design. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Didnt like the pizza taste as many have liked here. The base is too thick .The cheese was not so good. I am not a big eater so not a place as the pizza is too big and tasteless.
Looks like costs have trumped all here (or, as my dining companion at a recent dinner here observed, "it's Chinese-managed now"). Ordered a medium sized Kro's special. The thing came with such a paltry provision of toppings that I felt compelled to count the pepperonis (there were 11, on a pizza with eight slices). Plus, the pie itself isn't nearly as thick as I remember back in Kro's heyday. "Plastic" is the word that keeps popping up to describe the cheese on the pizza here. Sadly, finally, I gotta say I have no choice but to agree. Whatever they're using on the pizzas here now, it's not the kind of real cheese they used to. After our pizza had sat out cooling for awhile on our table, you could see the individual strands of cheese starting to separate out, never a sign of quality cheese. I hate to say it, but what with all the new places in and around Gongti that serve good pizza, and with the backsliding on quality that's been going on for awhile here, I don't think there's any reason for me to go back to Kro's for pizza. Hopefully they'll get things turned around and give me a reason to change my mind.
good fun and reasonable value if you are a group (especially as Chinese women eat very little!) Agree it has gone down a bit but still a good and reasonably unpretentious place and the staff are usually very helpful (telling a friend how to find the place AND going into the car park to make sure she got there ok!) Good place to fill up before going on the town
I would rather have one small bite of something delicious than a belly full of plastic cheese and boxed bread. The fried cheese sticks and ketchup were truly awful, the onion rings were straight out of a box from Costco. The size of the pizza is only impressive if you don't plan to actually eat it. Another pizza place crossed off my list.
I agree completely. Once Kro's tried to charge me for water, I vowed to never return. Who doesn't give free WATER?????
Yes, Kro's nest pizzas are huge but at nearly 100kuai a piece, the least they can do is give out some free sky juice. We - family of 4 had lunch there and were blatantly refused when we asked for a couple glasses of water for the kids. Not everyone will like to have a beer or soda to top off that humongous pizza you know. Needless to say we never went back.
You can never have enough with just 1 piece
different promotional offers at different locations around town, not all the same
The pizza is great. The service is mostly great. The atmosphere is fun. You really can't ask for much more!
it's juicy it's big lol
The best thing of this place is the size of the pizza and me with my friends go there and eat and is best place to practice english and meet good students. One can know the different countries culture by talking to foreign students. The foreign students come here a lot and I like to communicate with them. At 50 rmb/ dinner for each person we can have a good time here.( we share the pizza,the other foods) like the chinese dinner and it suits us.
Kro's > insurmountable wall .......> Annie's > Tree's > "Pizza" Hut. Full disclosure: I am an American, therefore I am not entirely impartial to "American" (read: thick crust pizza). However, I also like "real" Italian pizzas and I can tell you that while both styles have their merits, Kro's comes closer in terms of authenticity as defined by the game that they're playing (recreating American pizza). Once I find a place that serves up decent "real" Italian pizza I will gladly patronize that place (I've heard good things about Sureño's oven-baked pizzas and will try it soon). Until then, I pledge my allegiance to Kro's. And, if you are a cheapskate like me, you can die happy knowing that Kro's lunch time specials are a steal, as well as free Kegger of Tsingdao's on Tuesdays. Just make sure you get there fast (at last count they start giving away the free beers at 6pm). There's a lot of us in the welfare line.
Students favourite place. Our group seniors had recommended this place. Though the pizza may not be so delicious we like going there as it works economical and there is a good student crowd. The best part is no one bothers you if your group sends more time unlike at other restaurants. Dont go if you are just two girls or the girl group is smaller. There could be some super guys make some advances so you need to handle this kind of stuff especially on weekend nights. Better go in bigger groups.
I've been reluctant to go to Kro's for two reasons: the American version of pizza seems more like a gigantic loaf of bread with any type of topping over it than the real thing. Also, the promises of 10 kuai beer scared me off; if I ever get the compelling urge of stumbling across drunks, I'll take a walk around Sanlitun instead of doing it at a restaurant. However, a friend convinced me to try it before bitching about it. Fair enough. Something about the laminated wood everywhere made think I was in some bizarre 70s hunter cabin. The waitress was rude and seemed mentally incapable of getting a drink order right at first try. The pizza was just what I expected, an over sized monstrosity with a taste that vaguely resembled pizza. The drinks are nothing to write home, you get the same in any mediocre bar. It does get one star for the external area, it looked pleasant. Vini, vidi, bitchi.
The pizzas are huge but somehow the delicate aspect of cooking is missing here. The chinese boys doing the dough as one can see is not pleasant to me. It looks awful. They are huge and economical considering the size and when we are 3 or 4 of us we go there . The prices are not that cheap , but for the size it works out fine. There is something good about the place that it has a decent crowd on the weekends. But you miss out the good aspect of dining, as the chinese waiters dump the pizza when it arrives.They dont talk to you as they are so bussy. May be the price is for the food, service is free!! I love the french fries though! they are well done!
awesome pizza, reasonably priced beer, and awesome atmosphere. can't go wrong! AND the new chicken wings are off the hook. try the southwest or something ones.. amazing!
Ah... and that'd be a 3 star rating. Duh. Wish there was a way to edit posts after the fact.
I've been a Kro's fan for awhile now, but the shine's off this place... The price's seem to have been creeping higher for the last year or so, and the portions of anything but pizza are creeping lower. Cocktails used to come in a big pint glass, and the bartender had a wicked heavy hand, making them some of the best deals. I had two jack and cokes at Kro's a year or so ago and was completely hammered. Now, though, they come in highball glasses, and seem to cost about 10 kuai more than they used to. The pizza's still decent, though I've always found it to be undercooked by about 60-90 seconds. Just a bit more crispiness would do it some good. When I first moved here I'd have given this place a phat 5 star rating, but now I think its clocking in at about a 3, due primarily to the devaluation of drinks (that free beer promotion lasts for about an hour before the keg's kicked) and "supporting" menu. Waitstaff are about as mediocre as they've always been. To be fair, Kro and Damian are both great guys. I hope this place gets its mojo back.
Pizza was FANTASTIC and comes just the way I like it: heavy, dripping with sauce and cheese, plenty of toppings and many to choose from. And piping hot. They just got some cute new waitresses it seems and it's really adorable when they try and speak English to you! Unforteuntly they didn't have bottled beer when I was there (fuckin China!) but they said they should have some new ones coming in next week, so I'm looking forward to that! Cool place, really laid-back, awesome place to hang out with friends. Also, Qingdao is only 10 kuai!!!!!
well, I just typed a long review and this stupid freakin' website made me re-login and then lost what I typed. So ... overall, 3 stars Pizza: 4 out of 5 stars. crust and toppings are ok. sauce was lacking but recently seems better (need to herbs/spice/italian flavor) Service: 2 out of 5 stars. frequently sub-par. staff seems to not care. beer from tap has been warm and flat several times. Price: 3 out of 5 stars. Not cheap, but not too expensive. if go on cheap beer night, might run you about 50 or 60 RMB per person. 70 and 90 RMB for a big cocktail is outrageous (but beijing has a lot of this "up-pricing" that i refuse to accept)
Kro's pizza seems to have some amazing beer absorbing properties that allow eaters to keep drinking long after they would have normally reached their limit.
THANK YOU KRO!!
best pizza in town! and great location!!
Went back to Kro's recently after a few months and the only people I would recommend this place are desperately hungry fellas... I was a lover of this place last year but after having seen again and again my burnt pizza coming without salt in the dough and with a completely wrong topping, I seriously started to doubt that this place cares of clients. I believe that considering the price for a Stella & Co. it actually should. Definitely out of my list of pizza places in our city guys.
I went to the new spotz, still good! New beers as well man, i liked. its at Bei tai ping zhuan, near beijing normal university. my friends live near there so i went wit them, i have the chinese address, but i dunno if its right. hehehe 北太平庄桥东南角的kros nest. beijing jia you!!!
i signed in just to recommend the perfect pizza: its their 'fat greek mama' + add pepperoni (10 RMB) + extra delicious (they put stuff on the crust, another 10 RMB) + lots of chili pepper. i love that they are flexible about pizza toppings. i hate that they are closed down for the olympics. is the haidian branch open?
went there quite a lot of times. good pizza. but never until make me whooaaaaaa.... its ok. service is ok too during not so crowded hours, but getting really bad when its crowded. once a fuwuyuan sort of throwing the menu to my table and quickly head to other table to get their maidan. i was like, 'what the?'. i had an experience like that in chinese restaurant, but kro's nest is not. so big turn off there. very pricey... but yea our group doesnt eat a lot so we usually order one or two gigantic pizza and share. so the bill is still ok for us. but yea, place is fun. music is good. i always go there with friends so its nice. the formula is 'ok pizza + ok beer + so so service + GREAT friends + good laugh = will come back again'.
ok. agree. Pizzas are huge and delicious, however they make me seriously flatulent.
If anyone else has free beer on any day of the week then I want to hear about it....but until then, I'm Kros Nation for life!
Had a bottle of the Brooklyn Pale Ale last night, RMB35, with a personal sized pepperoni pizza. Excellent stuff.
I went to Vics the other day and they were closed, so my mates and I stoped into the next door pizza place for a beer. and instead we got a HUUUUUUUUUGE PIZZA! mmmmm i couldnt finish a large one with 2 of me mates! got a Greek Mamma, i recomend it to nebody. and that Kro guy is super friendly, look for tatttooos!
oh and by the way, 4 stars.
I must say that Kro's nest suprised me after reading some reviews. I had heard good things by word of mouth from expats and Chinese alike, and my experience there was totally pleasant. The outside area was a bit rawkus (I went on a tuesday, which I guess has a beer special) but the music was great, pizza was huge and def the best pizza I have had in Beijing. the service was fine, not SPECTACULAR, but fine. All and all, I will continue to go there for "the real shit" pizza, because frankly, the rest of the pizza is beijing is just, shit. -real dude
I used to go to Kro's Nest, then they jacked up the prices. Making pizza is not rocket science: If you have an oven(which most of us don't), then the rest is fairly elementary. I eat pizza about twice a week, but I haven't been back to Kro's Nest since a couple of months ago. I switched to Pizza Buona--the place is decorated nicely and the pie is fine. Buona delivers a large 'za in the 80 kuai range. I guess Kro's is for those who think in terms of dollars, Buona for those who think in Reminbi.
Indeed, on of the best pizza places in Asia. They're allright, not superb - but it does taste like proper pizza. And yes, the portions a huge - which is good. I hope they don't charge 100 RMB for the entrance?! Was that just for the May holidays?
Hi nomi, 100Kuai per entry? You kidding right? sounds like Kro's gona change their business strategy to a discotique selling pizza??? ha ha.. I do agree with you(nomi) that "It was a sin for the waitress to smile or something. They always gave an air of utmost impatience. " What the hack! A local fren told me that he saw the boss of Kro's on TV saying that there are short of staff man-power thus their staff maybe too stress and busy...does that justify for the "discount on service??? I guess this is worth for all of us to ponder on whether to bring our business clients to Kro's...
Sorry forgot to rate it.
Okay, normally I'm a HUGE kro's fan and almost agreed with Cityweekend that I might consider naming my first child Kro. That's before I hit the place yesterday. We weren't allowed in, my four friends and I, before the two waiters said that we each had to pay 100RMB. That's 500 total. Umm, from memory, our meals cost about 50 kuai per person, when we're really hungry. Obviously, the person on the phone conveniently forgot to tell me that. I called to make sure that the restaurant was open on May 1st. So, fine, Labour Day and all that. But really! 100 kuai entrance fee? whaaaaat? We turned and left. Sorry for the ranting, some serious stuff now: the pizza's definitely worth it. However I AM wondering if it's just because its selling point is its size. the service was never great. It was a sin for the waitress to smile or something. They always gave an air of utmost impatience.
Hi "the_roosters_wife": lucky u. No one bother to show me a table...I got to walk in the restaurant like my home...I was allowed to "roam " around to search for my own table last nite. I cant believe it...no host to show me a table... "ratatouille": Maybe u r right...i went there on a bad day...real bad...sad enuff i will not go there again...how can u break someones heart on "a 1st date"?My 1st and last visit to Kro's Nest : (
Forgot rating...it gets only four stars because it needs room to fulfill its potential and bring us an anchovy pizza (that one's for Kro if he's reading this)
Big pizza. Great Crust. Great Cheese. How are they able to pull this off in China?! There's no need for verbosity on my part when talking about this restaurant - just go here, and you'll be satisfied if you are really craving a true New York pizza..
Okay, so I was skeptical when I came to this place, but right when I walked in this tattooed guy (who ended up being Kro, the charming, sweet, owner of the place) came up, said hi, correctly said Id never been there before, and helped me find a good table. ANd its not like the place was empty, it was packed, and he was from the looks of him just finished making pizzas. Anyway, the food came, and my Hawaiian BBQ thincrust was to die for! (you can choose thincrust, chicago, or regular as well as a calzone). So ill be back probably every week. //D
While I've agreed with Kelvins review of Rickshaw, I think he went to Kro's Nest on a bad day. I went there for their Tuesday beer night, and not only did all the beers come on time, but the pizza was most definitely delicious. The only other pizza Ive had here is the Tree, and while good, Kro's is the just a beer guy's pizza. The crispy crust, the great music (who else plays panthera AND classic dr.dre back to back), and the generally fun atmosphere make this an awesome awesome place. The manager there said the outside will be open soon, and with all the trees in bloom it looks great out there. 5 stars.
I agree to the above reviews that "Kro's"is selling their pizza on size/quantity not quality.Their Ingredients maybe fresh however the way the make their pizza spoil everything.The whole crust was done badly;almost impossible to be slice by my dining knife.My gf & my jaw were sore after chewing half of our 1st slice(I nearly got choke to death- despite that I am 29yr old male strong & fit, healthy teeth & gums).Some of the meat were charred. Luckily due to the dim lightings,not many customer can complained much(cos they cant see how badly their pizza were charred).Its almost Tasteless(pardon me but I think Pizza Hut taste better)I had to add tomato ketchup to soften the pizza and make up for some flavour(tabasco sauce was not enuff).Their service staff dun even know how to smile.Its sad that street-side local eateries' "Fu wu yuan"(service staff) can fair better.Oh, they also do not know how to say "Thank You".They sent me a wrong beer and took them 6minutes to send me the correct one; despite the restaurant was not crowded and that the bartender have immedately tap a new beer when the waitress return him the "wrong" beer.She jus walk off to chat wif her colleagues instead of taking the beer immediately to my table.I need to "call" for my beer 2 times b4 they bring it. I ask for serviettes(which is just next to the waitress) she ask me to wait and took a menu to a table that is further away from my table.(I cant understand what she is thinking)and I need to ask her again as she have forgotten! Really dunno why the big "who-ha" about this place....I really wonder.Ice water is chargeable(they only serve bottled water) Oh and jus fyi, parking fees are at 5RMB per hour(no valet parking and its an open -air parking!??). Will not want to go back there again unless I have frens who wana see big pizza, dim lightings restaurant that serve pizza and enjoy the "pumping" effect of the music coming from their neighbour(Club VICS) . For the taste only, I really dun think its worth the money & trip...really!
If you like pizza--go to Kro's Nest! The pies are delicious and they have a great selection of beers. But make sure to save up your cash before you go! It's pricey!
Were open again starting Tuesday, April 22. We were closed, along with the rest of Gongti, the week of April 14th due to a soccer match at the workers stadium...or something.
what's the deal? i tried to go last night (Sunday, April 20, 2008) about 9pm and it was closed. What's up with that?
i have been their yesterday eve but unfortunatly it was closed.also vics and mix were closed.
The pizza is, in fact, huge. But then again, so is the price. I really enjoyed the expansive, dimly-lit interior, but I have to agree that the selling point on Kro's Nest is much more the quantity than the quality; I personally prefer the thinner crust, Italian-style pizzas at The Tree. Nevertheless, the dining experience for me is much more about being able to get together with friends and have a nice evening out, so the availability an enormous, satisfactory pizza that lots of people can share and a few large cocktails makes me willing to return.
Best Pizza right now is at Ciros Pomodoro. thin crust and delicous. Kros is just crust, American style heartburn.
Agree with the previous review, if you want to get stuffed with fat crust pizza, mediocre toppings and horrible cheese then you'll get the quantity, not the quality... Avoid this place if like me you're an amateur of real pizza or italian pizza
I fear that this place is more about quantity than quality. I am not very impressed with their pizza, not only because I prefer the Italian style. Also, I think the place is rather expensive. The place is quite nice though and the vibe pretty good.
Manager from Kro's here - if you don't know, everyday from 11:30am to 3 p.m. Kro's is running a can't beat lunch special. One personal pizza, a hand tossed house salad, and either a tsingtao, tea, or soda for 50 RMB. Pick any pizza on the menu, except for the garbage pail. Come down and check it out, tell your friends, tell your loved ones, tell all the pizza loving citizens in Beijing.
While the pizzas are amazing, I think the calzone is definitely better - best in beijing! I prefer the Haidian location though, this new location jacked up all the prices! It's just not as good of a deal anymore.
I've been to Kro's a couple times... i agree that their pizza is really HUGE... (good for 5-6 ppl!!) The crust is relatively thick. Real Italian pizza is not like that. The wings are very fatty... perhaps they can pick some leaner wings for a slightly healthier taste :)
Maybe I'm more used to eat real Italian pizza, but the 2 different pizzas I tried in Kro's were very average in taste. OK, I agree their pizzas to be huge in size, but so is the price for such an average quality. On top of that, they charge for water. Somebody needs to explain why Kro's is getting so many good reviews.
A-W-E-S-O-M-E! They will even do half meat and half vegetarian! I suggest we all go now.
best pizza in town.Don't need to say anything more.Warning! if it's first time these, if you are alone;Pizzas are HUGE and Delicious
best pizza in town as well as cocktails.we could not their pizza becouse it was so huge as they are going in compitition for bigger pizza.we had fun.its was great.
The pizza is impressive in size. We tried hald smoked salmon and half kro's special and both were a bit salty. That's probably why they offer huge drinks to go with the pizzas. Love the ambiance.
This is my favorite pizza place in Beijing, and I've tried quite a few places around town. It's definitely more of a New York style pizza than Italian and it makes me feel like I'm home again!
The pizza is absolutely awesome. This is my second time going back in one week! Reasonable prices too! Indeed, a medium fed two hungry lads. Don't hesitate just go.
Best Pizza in Beijing! Everyone MUST go. Big, fresh, value for money, Fantastic!!
There are times when you eat something at a restaurant and realize that your life has improved by virtue of being able to return whenever you want. Such was the case last night. Thank you Kro and your nest.
Really good, really huge pizza! Well worth a visit but make sure you bring an appetite.
My mind kind of boggled when I saw 70 kuai for a gin & tonic, or 90 kuai for a jack & coke. After I ordered it I understood why, though. They're huge and they're mixed strong. Order with care, or you're probably going to find yourself down for the count.
When we say huge, we mean it. A large is enough to feed four people. If it's just two people, GET A MEDIUM!