168 Neapolitan Style Pizza: Family-run handmade pizza hawker sells special flavours

The story behind 168 Neapolitan Style Pizza in Taman Jurong Food Centre is an inspiring one. 

It was established in 2022 by Mr Henry Teong and his wife Mylene, who wanted to create a space where Jonus, their special needs son could work in the future. The couple also has an older son Benjamin, who runs the business’s social media accounts and may one day take over the stall. 

Mr Teong has a regular job and only runs the hawker business on Thu, Fri and Sat after he finishes there, and Mrs Teong joins in when she has the time. It was just him and 2 other staff members present at the stall the day I visited. 

I waited while the pizzas were freshly made to order, and I couldn’t resist sneaking a peek into the kitchen. Mesmerised by the process, I was thrilled when Mr Teong allowed me to step inside to capture it up close.

He explained to me that he’d been taught how to make pizza by an Italian friend, and went on to perfect his own process and then experiment with his customised recipes. His friend was also the one who provided him with the unique gas stove he currently uses.

168 Neapolitan Style Pizza’s menu highlight is their Weekly Special Pizza – a series of limited edition flavours that rotate weekly. This time, it was a homemade Italian Sausage Pizza topped with kale when I visited but they also have mouthwatering variations like Truffle Mushroom or Salmon with Kale Salad.

What I tried at 168 Neapolitan Style Pizza

We ordered two of their bestsellers, Smoke Duck Pizza (S$12) and Chicken Mushroom Pizza (S$15). Of course, the Weekly Special Italian Sausage Pizza (S$15) was also a must.

As simple as it looks, a good dough requires much time and thought. After all, the dough is the component that ties a pizza together. Mr Teong ferments each batch of batter for 3 days before kneading and stretching it out to form a base. He then adds tomato sauce, cheese and the respective toppings. 

The result of this process is a fluffy, chewy base reminiscent of a rougher bread-like mochi doughnut – in a good way! Each pizza crust is thin and stretched in the centre with puffy thick edges and a browned char. Despite the absence of actual burning, it resembles wood-fired pizza, especially the light smokiness that comes with each bite. 

Each slice was rather flimsy and a little soggy in the centre, which wasn’t a huge problem but did result in us eating pretty messily. At one point, I even joked about considering bringing a set of cutlery to scoop up the bits that dropped off.

My top pick would be the Smoke Duck Pizza. The tender duck slices had a distinctly smoky flavour that matched the crust. 

Pineapple-on-pizza haters, not a single peep out of you! Small chunks of golden fruit dotted this pizza, adding a fruity sweetness to go with the rich and fatty duck. They didn’t taste very tart after cooking, but still retained a nice juicy tang.

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168 Neapolitan Style Pizza’s Chicken Mushroom Pizza was quite nice. If you’re a fan of roast chicken, you’ll definitely like this one. While saltier than the duck, the chicken shone with hints of rosemary. The button mushrooms had a strong earthiness but didn’t dominate the dish, rather they blended with that of the chicken to create a toothsome pairing.

I would’ve liked it if the Italian Sausage Pizza came with more sausage. The meatiness was so satisfying that if I had the chance to recreate the pizza, I would’ve liberally tossed the minced pork sausage pieces all over the dough before baking it.

The fresh shredded kale that topped off the dish tasted slightly astringent and nutty compared to the rest of the ingredients. I’m glad I managed to catch this limited flavour because it was a good experience!

I don’t usually enjoy cheese, but pizza is an exception. Besides, how could I give up a treat like this? 

Every pizza contained a mix of mozzarella and burrata cheese, which created a creamy and decadent texture. When hot, it resulted in an insanely melty cheese pull that could convince even the most nonchalant “just eat it already” people to whip out their cameras. The classic tomato sauce base wasn’t the strongest, but I could still taste its sweet herby tartness under every bite I took.

What’s one thing that’ll make a veggie lover smile? Free vegetable add-ons. 168 Neapolitan Style Pizza offers the option to top up any selection with extra capsicum and onions free of charge! You know I had to do it with all three orders.

Visually and taste-wise, the capsicums contrasted the milky cheese by adding a refreshing light crunch and an enticing pop of green. Meanwhile, the unique profile of the onions enhanced the flavours of the meat, especially the chicken and Italian sausage.

Final Thoughts

Consider me a fan of 168 Neapolitan Style Pizza, because their delicious pizzas won my heart! I had also brought my family along for dinner, and they too enjoyed the cheesy slices of yumminess. The 10-inch wide pizzas are perfect for sharing among a small group, but I suggest you order 2 or 3 because you’ll start craving more after your first slice.

I’m convinced I’ll come back again next time to try their other flavours. Imagine a Friday night pizza feast – a great way to kickstart the weekend! 

Expected damage: S$12 – S$15 per pizza

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