I know what you’re thinking: pizza in Tokyo? Get out of here. I was thinking it too, but I dare you to watch this video and then not immediately want to check this place out.
Apparently there’s a growing number of highly-regarded restaurants in Tokyo serving up Neapolitan-style pizzas with a Japanese flair.
I like Neapolitan pizzas enough that I spent a week in Naples almost entirely for pizza, so obviously my interest was piqued.
But I’ll admit it: when I sat down and took a look at the menu, I almost walked right back out. The place isn’t cheap. Aside from the fact that you have to order a drink (which is going to cost you a minimum of 500 yen), the pizzas start at about 1700 yen (a bit over twenty bucks Canadian).
I can definitely see why they don’t have any prices on their website. It’s a pretty intense amount to spend on a pizza, particularly for a traveller on a budget.
I really wanted to try that pizza, though.
So yeah, I ordered one. I got the namesake Tamaki pizza, which comes topped with cherry tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano, and basil.
It’s basically a variation on a Margherita pizza, and oh man. I can’t even tell you how good this was. It was easily one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in my life. Maybe the best? I don’t know, man. It’s up there.
It’s perfectly, perfectly, perfectly cooked. That crust. That char. Look at the perfect bottom of this slice.
The crust had an amazing flavour and just the right amount of chew. It’s absolutely outstanding.
And the tweaks to the Margherita formula work so much better than I thought they would. Smoked cheese can sometimes be a bit dicey — the smoke flavour can overwhelm. But the cheese here had a wonderful subtlety that rounded out the already smoky flavour you get from the blazing hot oven.
The pecorino romano added a nice hit of salt and savoriness that feels just right. And the cherry tomatoes bring little pops of sweet tomato freshness that really liven things up.
It’s all so well balanced and delicious. I can’t even with this pizza. How is it so good? How is anything so good??
Obviously, any quibbles with the price completely fade away as soon as you take a bite of that glorious pizza. They can charge whatever the hell they want for a pizza that good.
Can someone please remind me why I don’t live in Tokyo?
Location: 1-chōme-24-6 Higashiazabu, Minato City, Tōkyō-to 106-0044
How to find it: The sign says “Pizza PST,” and it’s right across from a park.