Hakki Champion Pizza

I had two slices of sausage and bacon pizza for $ 2 each. This was unequivocally the best pizza ive ever had at this price point. Definitely a throwback to the elusive NYC pizza I remember from two decades ago. The crust was perfectly thin, and the sausage and bacon was so flavorful. I originally intended on getting one slice because I wasn’t that hungry but I had to get a second one. This place is on the top of my list as far as quality and value. Ill be back often since a lot of my drinking spots are a couple of blocks away from this place.

Remembered this place from my last trip to NY 2 years ago & it did not disappoint. Delicious & cheap. If you’re in the area definitely try out one of their awesome, tasty slices.

I was so drunk when I came here after La Caverna kitty corner to here. I didn’t even know the name of La Caverna or Hakki Champion Pizza. Why do I know it now?
I remember absolutely loving this pizza. Images of Hakki with celebrities on the wall came into my mind. I ordered the pepperoni and in my drunken daze, I enjoyed it like I was having a dream. I really wanted to come back here, but I needed to know where I was. Not knowing my whereabouts on this NYE night, I googled «Bar that looks like Cave in New York». Went to google maps and did a nearby search for «pizza» and there you have it. I looked at the pictures of the establishment to confirm the celebrity pics, and I knew I found it. Then I watched Hakki’s touching video on youtube, thanks to google again, on his story.
This is a great place for a slice, drunk or sober. I will be going back.

$ 1 for an amazingly delicious slice of pizza. The dough was soft despite looking a little burnt on the outside. The sauce tasted different, perhaps a bit sweeter than other pizzas? Regardless, this place serves cheap, yummy, soft, thin pizza and aka my kind of pizza.

One of my favorite pizza so far everybody really loved a buffalo chicken pizza I think it’s a little too spicy I wish that could make you a little less but still is my favorite!!! I think the cheese slice is too sweet

Just walking along the streets of new york and noticed that almost everyone is have a slice of pizza, so when to the source and went to this location and decided to give it a shot,(this is after lunch). Just for 2.50 you will get the most amazing crust you have ever tasted (if your not from new york i guess). Mind… Blown. I actually went back and got a whole pizza to take on the flight back, so i could prolong it more. now its finished and i miss it, i miss it so much. thinking of going back to NY just for Pizza, perhaps this one.

Went to grab some food to soak up some booze. The reg slice was $ 2 bucks but read on other Unilocal reviews that it was a dollar before 10pm. The place gets super busy at night, there was a crowd of drunk, pizza loving partiers out front. It’s just a counter and you eat in front of the place.
The food:
Reg slice– Pizza really is the food of the gods lol it’s also perfect with booze. I was kinda surprised how much I liked the slice, not really sure how my previous choices in the night affected my judgement lol the slice was $ 2
Sausage, bacon slice– it was pretty good, the slice was $ 3.50 but I think I was happier with the reg.

Holy cow, I stumbled upon gold!
I’m not a New Yorker, so maybe my view of pizza is biased. But walking by and took one slice of this pizza, and only for $ 2.50 by the way, I was blown away. It was soo frickin delicious I couldnt believe it. We actually went back and bought a entire pie to take on the plane. This place is amazzzzing.

$ 1 slice of cheese pizza before 10pm, a dollar more after 10pm. Few bucks more for a specialty slice… Champion pizza is awesome! For a grab and go pizza stop, its my go to if im in the neighborhood.
I dont think you could complain if you got punched in the face with your $ 1 slice but whats the old saying? «You cant please everyone all the time» Some people were just born to find something to complain about.

Saw almost 4 ½ star average review and was like whoa. Came here yesterday after seeing a play nearby. Maybe it should get 3 stars? I mean $ 2 for any topping pizza & $ 1 for any regular slice before 10 p. m is pretty awesome. That is the best part but the slice is on the smaller side and very thin. Didn’t taste bad at all but obviously don’t expect an out of this world slice w/​quality ingredients. lol… I think it said $ 3 and a little over (for toppings) after 10 p. m which I’m sure if you are drunk nearby during the late hrs of the night you won’t give a rat’s ass about much. However, there are a lot of pizza joints in the area as other options. Yes, I would go again if funds were low and needed something fast while in the area but not go out of my way to go here.

So delicious. 2 dollars for a slice w pepperoni during the day. 1.00 can of beverage. Where else
Can you get a lunch that cheap? Highly
Recommend and suggest a stop.

I happen to like mine a bit on the wetter side, and so this was the place for me. Delicious, foldable, and a dollar (I went before 10PM). What’s not to love?

Just grabbed a forty of Miller High Life from the bodega and a slice of Barbecue Chicken and a slice of Chicken Bacon Ranch from Hakki Champion Pizza on the corner of Essex and Rivington. Dinner of champs on a Chilly Tuesday night. Both slices were awesome. My only critique is that I prefer my crust a bit thicker. Otherwise these slice were the perfect complement to ‘The Champagne of Beers’.

The sign says «Champion Pizza.» Unilocal adds the word «Hakki.» So don’t get lost coming here.
While staying in our Airbnb apartment a few blocks away we twice picked up cheese slices from here. If it was in my neighborhood it would be my go-​to pizza place. However, while it worked nicely as a last minute lunch or late night snack, it’s not worth going out of your way for because you’re in New York, home of the world’s best pizza.
Slices are $ 1 during the day and $ 2 after 10 at night. These might be the best $ 1 slices in New York.
4 stars + 1 star for cost = 5 stars
My Greater NYC Pizza Rankings:
1) Grimaldi’s, Fulton Landing (Brooklyn)
2) Patsy’s, East Harlem
3) L&J’s Spumoni Gardens, Bensonhurst (Brooklyn)
4) Lombardi’s, Little Italy
5)Star Tavern, Orange (NJ)
6) HAKKI CHAMPION PIZZA, LOWER EAST SIDE
7) Via Tribulani, Lower East Side
8) John’s, Greenwich Village
9) John’s, Upper East Side

I used to frequent the other Haki Pizza on Rivington and was very happy to find this one on Essex. Whoever took over the one on Rivington was making horrible pizza but apparently I heard it changed owners yet again but I haven’t been back to try the pizza from the latest owner.
Hakki has the best dollar slice in the area in my opinion. Hot and gooey. I tend to go here after hitting up some bars in the area for a late night snack and that makes it taste that much better. I only wish it was open 24 hours! It’s a small spot and there’s no place to eat but you can find tons of people just standing and eating right on the sidewalk in front without a care in the world. Be careful if you are trying to park in an illegal zone (in front) and just run in because the traffic cops are on patrol especially when it’s late.

I’m not sure if I buy into the hype… I know the slice is cheap… but it’s usually so poorly made and the sauce is so ridiculously sweet that it is a WEE BIT overwhelming. There’s other pizza places nearby that aren’t as disappointing.
This seems like the kind of place that you would really only go to if– A) You are SUPER strapped for cash or B) you’re wasted and it’s 2am (of course, by then, the slice is no longer super cheap– goes up by a $ after 10pm).
But it’s still better than the McDonalds down the block.

Basically the best slice around. I’ve tried almost every pizza place within 6 blocks of this place and this is the best. The slices are fresh because they go so quickly and aren’t sitting around for hours. Definitely recommend the margarita slice… You won’t want to eat pizza anywhere else!

Nice place located in Essex where the people who are working there are so nice and amazing. The place is small but this give a particular charm to this pizza that I happen to visit couple of times. By the way, they do a daytime special until 10 pm with a regular slice at $ 1. Good place if you want to have a good slice of pizza at an affordable price.

One dollar a slice hole in the wall. Great to soak up all this booze when out wandering the area on a drinking binge!
Pretty much just a walk up spot to get a cheapo one dollar slice. A small bench out by the front to take a seat and watch all the freaks come by for a slice or two.
I do have to admit I did enjoy the sweet sauce they use here. Went back for a second slice. It was also fun to look at all the celebrity pictures that adorn the walls of this little place of those that have dropped by for a slice.
Cash only. If you can’t afford a dollar then no pizza for you!

I’ve been going here for about six months now, since my girlfriend lives in the area– so this review has been a long time coming. And thank god. I’m currently the Duke of Hakki, Champion Pizza; unfortunately, I’m the Duke of the wrong one…
I happened to notice the other day while walking in the neighborhood, that there was another Hakki a few blocks away; naturally I knew that I had to try it. When I went to Check-​in I realized that, much like Bush after the 2000 election, I was unrightfully the ruler– I was the Duke of a place for which I had never even been. That’s when I figured out that this location (on Essex), wasn’t even on Unilocal.Even though I was ill from the guilt of having duped my loyal constituents, I felt that I owed it to them to at least try a slice while I was there. But I digress, as this isn’t a review for the Rivington location…
The Essex location (like the other) is owned by Hakki Akdeniz, who was in fact a member of the US Pizza team in 09′ & 10′, even winning the pizza-​stretching contest one year. Just take a gander at the celebrity-​photo-​adorned walls of this small establishment if you don’t believe the hype. Then try a plain cheese slice for $ 1 and you will bow down to the champ.
That’s right, I said $ 1 cheese slice. But better yet, any of the combo/​specialty slices are only $ 2; that’s unheard of:
They have a buffalo chicken pizza that’s overflowing with chicken, in a zesty sauce, mixed with a touch of blue cheese. It’s not really my style, but if you’re into this kind of pizza, I’m sure you’ll love it.
But the chicken, bacon, ranch is really good.
There’s the bacon and pepperoni (my personal fave, aside from the plain), which is loaded with swine.
The lasagna pizza, topped with hamburger, sauce and ricotta cheese in sporadic piles, tastes just like its namesake.
The Margherita is good, but it could use a little more sauce in my opinion.
Which brings me to my favorite part, the sauce. It has just the perfect amount of sweet for me. Some people may not care for it, but they’ll never be a champion. That’s why the cheese slice is just so wonderful, because there are no other flavors to take away from their delicious sauce. I always ask for it crispy.
No matter what you choose, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Oh– sorry to disappoint you, but Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights after 8pm, the cheese slice doubles to $ 2 and the others go up as well.