Job Discussion Forums

luckyloser700 · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 308 Location: Japan

This one's for you, A. Prime.

I know the Italians invented it (Do I know that for sure? Guess not) and the Japanese are free to go for whatever bastardization of real pizza they see fit, but I'm looking for a place around the Tokyo/Yokohama area that has real American-style pizza. Preferably New York style.

Anyone know of any places?
I already know about Domino's and Pizza Hut. Ain't interested.

Whoever coined the phrase "There's no such thing as bad pizza" probably never knew about ebi-mayo or pizza with eggs and squid on it. I get enough of that in the regular Japanese food I eat, don't put it on my f'ing pizza, please.

Ai · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 154 Location: Chile

Costco in Makuhari, Chiba has the closest thing to good american pizza I've found.

Like a Rolling Stone · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 872

some American dude tried to patent the word pizza and he said Italians don't know how to make pizza. how funy!

wolfman · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 189

wintersweet · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:43 pm Post subject:

I suppose it could be worth a look here:
http://bento.com/r-ital.html
and here:
http://bento.com/r-amer.html

ctrl-F for "pizza"

Weirdly, after many mayo-corn-shrimp combos that I couldn't eat when I was in Taiwan, I had the best pizza I've ever had in my life there, too. It was an amazing thin-crust pizza margherita, and I am still looking for its equal. So good. Anyway, I hope you find something like that yourself.

cappuck · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 15

http://www.pizzakaya.com/index_e.html

It's likely the best around. However, the last time I ordered in from there, I wasn't too impressed.

Anyway, give it a go...

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Good grief! I can't believe anyone hasn't suggested Shakey's Pizza yet... Best American-style pizza this side of the Pacific (aside from the stuff you can get at Costco)....

There's one in Omotesando and another near Ikebukuro Sta. I know there are others as well but those are two that I've been to.

Hope that helps! Smile

cappuck · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 15

JD, you can't be serious! That's the lousiest, greasiest stuff you can get anywhere around! The crust is like cardboard and it's horrible. They have that all-you-can-eat special in Omotesando but it's filled with high school boneheads and the place is as gross as the pizza itself.

Try Pizzakaya. Like I said, it's quite good. Just the last time I ordered the special, I wasn't impressed as I found they seemed to get a bit skimpy on the cheese and sauce.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Everything's a matter of taste, now isn't it?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

I dont know if they have it in Tokyo but Capriccosia restaurant (in Kyoto and Osaka) makes superb pizzas.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Shakey's is not bad, but they also do Japanese style types, so the Japanese versions are hardly American sometimes (still a nice filler, and depends on the branch you go to for the kinds of crowds that go there.

There are a few Italian restaurants that do very nice pizza in Tokyo, I'll see if I can dig up the names for you.

As to pizza's origin, it actually originated in the Mesopotamia area some time ago. Though I doubt it shared much similarity with today's different versions, which are all different and make for enjoyable eating (including some Japanese versions Wink

).

cappuck · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 15

If you like Shakey's, you haven't eaten much really good pizza. That's all I'm gonna say!

kevinyam · Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 31

Try Nicola's pizza. They have a few franchises in Ueno, Shimbashi, and Roppongi. Decent pizza but worth checking out just for the colorful history of the franchise.

If anyone has read "Tokyo Underground" you know what I'm talking about.

bshabu · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 200 Location: Kumagaya

Chris21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 366 Location: Japan

Pizza Hut is good... but I always go with the custom-made pizzas, none of that Seafood Special with shrimp and crab. Order a basic large pizza, and throw on some toppings (bacon, green peppers, mushroom), as good as any pizza back home. I love the thick crust, but I'd stay away from that cheese-crust or wiener-crust. Anyway, Pizza Hut is at the top of my list.

Dominoes and Costco pizzas are pretty good too. For all-you-can-eat, Shakey's is the place to go, but it's not that good (good bargain though). I'm definitely not a fan of the thin-crust pizzas with cut-up hot dogs and ketchup. La Pausa is one of the worst.

Probably the best pizza I've had in Japan was at a restaurant just south of Motomachi station in Kobe, but sadly it's gone now.