A pizza topped with shredded ginger, salted egg, and corn is like an explosion of East-meets-West flavors on the tip of your tongue.

▲ Ever tried the ingenious combo of shredded ginger, salted egg, and thin Western-style crust in one bite?

Reported and photographed by Intern Reporter Qiu Yunrong / Taipei

Have you ever tried the ingenious combination of Eastern shredded ginger and salted egg with a Western-style thin crust in one bite? A customer who tried the "Ginger Superman" once aptly described it: "It's as if Eastern and Western cultures collide on your taste buds."

So Free is a specialty pizzeria that bakes its pizzas in a wood-fired oven, and all its dishes are vegetarian. The owner, Xiao Lei, says the boss is an eco-friendly, health-conscious person who focuses on vegetarian cuisine after opening the shop—there’s no meat on the menu at all. Originally, he loved the feeling of sharing medieval European wood-fired dishes with friends, so he built his own oven back in his hometown of Yilan. Later, encouraged by friends, he decided to open a shop. The original simple oven now resides at the So Free NTU branch.


▲ The atmosphere at the Westgate branch of So Free is perfect for chatting with friends.

So Free’s pizzas have a thin crust that isn’t as crispy as a cracker but has a slightly chewy, springy texture. Among the most intriguing combinations is the “Ginger Superman,” featuring mildly spicy shredded ginger paired with salted egg and corn—a true challenge for your taste buds.

Xiao Lei says that when customers see such an unusual combination, they might hesitate, but the revisit rate is very high. Even before taking a bite, you can smell the rich aroma of the shredded ginger. The first bite brings together the spiciness of the ginger, the sweetness of the corn, and the saltiness of the egg in a surprisingly harmonious blend—you’re not just tasting individual ingredients. Xiao Lei mentions that the boss insists on using organic ingredients for all these components.


▲ The second floor of the Westgate branch has outdoor seating, and the driftwood tables and chairs are also part of the owner’s collection.

Besides savory options, the apple cinnamon pizza is a sweet treat worth trying. Fresh diced apples are sprinkled with cinnamon powder and raisins, with longan honey as the base sauce. The cinnamon loses some of its spiciness after baking, filling the air with fragrance. Its sweet yet not cloying taste, paired with the chewy crust, makes for a delightful dessert experience.

Xiao Lei explains that the dough is only rolled out and baked in the oven after customers place their orders—everything is made fresh to order. A pizza is ready in just five minutes, and mastering the fire is the secret to So Free’s delicious pizzas.

【So Free Wood-Fired Pizza & Cheese Specialty】
NTU Branch:
Phone: 02-2364-3351
Address: No. 28, Lane 283, Section 3, Roosevelt Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Westgate Branch:
Phone: 02-2314-6225
Address: No. 1, Lane 50, Xining South Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City