Four-variety pizza earns global acclaim and long queues in Buenos Aires

In the Núñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires, a pizza place called Kalis Pizza is drawing significant crowds, with lines forming daily. The establishment's success stems from its focused menu: just four varieties of a thin, crispy, yet juicy pizza. Served by the slice, the pizzas are prepared and delivered remarkably quickly, typically within five to seven minutes of ordering. This efficiency has propelled the restaurant's sales from 600 slices daily at its inception to around 1500 slices currently.

“

It was the decision that changed my life.

Behind this popular pizzeria is Franco Kalifon, who recently earned a spot at 45th among the world's best pizzaiolos at The Best Pizza Awards. Kalifon's relationship with food began in his childhood home, where pizza was never ordered because his mother, of Italian descent, made everything from scratch, including the dough and tomato sauce. This early exposure fostered a deep appreciation for cooking, leading him to pursue gastronomy studies after finishing school.

His culinary path included an unexpected opportunity during his studies. A former professor offered him a position as a baker in a university pastry shop. Despite the demanding early morning hours and weekend work, Kalifon accepted the challenge, describing it as a life-changing decision that ignited his passion for working with dough. During this time, he experimented with various breads, including focaccias and brioche-style loaves, sharing his creations proudly on the nascent platform of Instagram.

“

I always liked food because of my family, especially my Italian mother. When I was little, we never ordered pizza because she made the dough and the tomato sauce herself.

Later, Kalifon transitioned to a role as head chef at a new restaurant, where he was tasked with developing the bread menu. This experience led him to create his first hamburger buns, which differed from the larger, more robust buns common in 2017. Kalifon envisioned a smaller, less absorbent bun that would complement the burger. While he initially experimented with different ingredients, he now offers a popular potato-based line of buns available through delivery apps, alongside the pizzas that have made Kalis Pizza a local sensation and an internationally recognized name.

“

Look, this starts at 5 in the morning, it's different hours, Saturday and Sunday. I'll give you 10 minutes to think about it.