David Shen and Sheralyn Tay have transformed their five-room flat in Yishun into a cozy private dining spot, serving handcrafted pizzas to small groups while balancing full-time careers and home life.
- Home-based pizzeria serves multi-course pizza dinners in a 5-room flat
- Couple juggles day jobs and pizza preparations with no external help
- Creative space and time management to offer fresh, handcrafted pizzas
What happened
David Shen and Sheralyn Tay launched PXZA, a private dining pizza business from their five-room HDB flat in Yishun. Over the past two years, they have invited paying guests to enjoy multi-course pizza dinners that showcase creative flavors like their new Coney Dog pizza. Operating from home has meant working within tight kitchen space and handling all aspects of the business themselves due to regulations that prevent hiring outside help.
Their venture started during the pandemic out of a shared desire to replicate freshly baked Neapolitan-style pizza, which does not travel well as takeaway. After numerous trial-and-error baking sessions, they began hosting private dinners for friends, which eventually grew into a formal business. Their evenings are a balancing act of managing last-minute guest additions, coordinating prep work, and seamlessly combining their distinct working styles.
Why it feels good
PXZA is much more than a pizza business for Shen and Tay—it’s a passion project fueled by the joy of creating and sharing. Shen finds delight in crafting perfect dough and baking pizzas, while Tay treasures the art of cooking and feeding others. Together, they have cultivated a warm community of like-minded pizza enthusiasts who appreciate the care and freshness served up in their home.
The couple’s meticulous attention to detail, from ingredient sourcing to meal timing, reflects their love for the craft and connection with their guests. Despite the stress that occasional last-minute changes bring, the shared satisfaction of building something unique and personal from their living space helps balance the challenges. Their story highlights how passion and partnership can transform everyday spaces and routines into rewarding ventures.
What to enjoy or watch next
Those intrigued by PXZA’s unique home-based pizzeria experience can look forward to upcoming shows like On The Red Dot’s “Hustle In My HDB” Season 2, which follows Singaporeans balancing family life and business in compact living environments. David and Sheralyn’s story is a shining example of the creativity and resilience required to build a thriving enterprise under these conditions.
For fans of artisanal pizza, trying innovative homegrown flavors like PXZA’s Coney Dog offers a delicious glimpse into Singapore’s evolving food scene. Keeping an eye on similar intimate dining experiences and pop-up events can provide opportunities to enjoy fresh, handcrafted foods that celebrate community, craftsmanship, and local passion.