Meet your Neighbour, Pizza Kai
Meet your Neighbour, Pizza Kai
We welcome “Pizza Kai" to the Uptown neighbourhood
This week, we caught up with owner Simon Sun to hear about his journey and what inspired him to open in Uptown.
Simon studied cookery in Auckland before working his way up to a head chef role. After co-owning a café with a friend, he began reflecting on what he truly wanted to create for himself.
“Over time, I started asking myself what kind of place I would want to run if I opened my own shop one day. I didn’t want to create something flashy or overly commercial. I wanted a space that felt steady and friendly, somewhere people would feel comfortable returning to.”
Having previously worked in a senior role at a pizza chain in New Zealand, opening a pizza shop felt like the natural next step.
Uptown stood out immediately.
“Uptown made sense practically. There are offices, schools and residential buildings all around, so the customer base felt naturally diverse, from students to families to people working nearby. It felt like a place where a small local pizza shop could quietly fit in.”
But beyond the location, it’s the people who have made the biggest impression. Simon and manager Ruby both spoke warmly about the support they’ve received from neighbouring businesses.
“Everyone around us has been so kind.” With Hero For Sales on one side and IFix just down the road, they’ve already made fast friends.
“They would come over, introduce themselves, share their own experiences, and offer advice. As someone who is quite introverted, that meant a lot to me. It didn’t feel like I was opening a shop alone, it felt like I was becoming part of a community.”
Although they’ve only just opened, Simon already has a clear vision for the future.“My goal isn’t to be the biggest shop, but to be a place people feel at ease coming back to.”
In the short term, that means investing in more equipment to expand the menu with sides and continuing to refine the space. Long term, Simon hopes to introduce meal options and set menus suited to different groups, students, families, and late-shift workers alike. “I hope that anyone nearby can walk in freely and find something they feel like eating.”
So next time you’re in Uptown, pop in and try a slice. Ruby recommends buffalo chicken.
Website:
nykai.pizza
Instagram: @Nykai.pizza
Email: hi@nykai.pizza
Phone: 022 631 2135
Address: 203 Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand.
