Iibadashi Italian and Pizza in Japan

By Kurt Davis | June 20, 2015

Iibadashi Italian and Pizza

The Japanese way of Pizza + Restaurants

Pizza is one of the most popular and loved dishes around the globe and as such, new recipes are being developed frequently to make it more delicious and appetizing. The Japanese have infused a few their local ingredients in pizzas to increase its edibility to locals. Iidabashi in Kagurazaka is a location where the Italians and French settled in Japan after the Edo Period. You can learn more about the area here.

Being a country that is rich in culture and wide variety of local delicacies, Japan is not left out in the exploration of new ideas for pizzas. There are so many great spots where you can enjoy both conventional and new recipe pizza around the country. One of the most popular location for pizza culture that you should visit when you are in Japan is a small district in the city of Tokyo called Iidabashi.

#1 IIDABASHI ITALIAN: ZARPA

Zarpa is in Iidabashi – the neighborhood where French and Italians settled years ago. I went there with my Coto Language Academy friends Amelie and her husband, Satoru-San.

Zarpa is a French style restaurant. The atmosphere was cozy and romantic. The food was delectable. They made a steak dish that was wrapped in pistachio leaf. The tomatoes were somehow marinated overnight to bring out the taste.

At last, the dessert was something I’ve never tried. The ice cream palette was an actual palette that one could dip ice cream into different sauces. The green tea / spinach creme brulee ended our adventure.

Follow the link below to discover this place.

http://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13169502/

Iidabashi is sprawling with different hidden gems in the form of pizzerias and pizza studios. Some of these pizza spots offer conventional pizza dishes like Chicago, New York, California and some of the tastiest Neapolitan style pizzas in the world. Yes! In the world!

#2 IIDABASHI ITALIAN: THE BEST PIZZA – Itariansakabapi

My Coto Language Academy friends and I toured another great Iidabashi Italian place – Itariansakabapi. The atmosphere was quaint and the food delicious. So far, it’s the best value, tastiest pizza, and a great Sangria – with many flavors.

Therefore, this secures the 2^nd position in my list.

http://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13120395/

Funnily Before now, when we think of Neapolitan pizza, Japan is one of the last place we would think of, our mind wanders to Naples, Italy. The place of origin of the amazing pizza made with the combination of tomatoes and Mozzarella. Although in recent times, Japan has become one of the top home for the Italian style pizza. This style of pizza can therefore be enjoyed with a hint of Japanese ingredient in Libadashi.

#3 CHICHUUKAIUOMARU: ITALIAN SEAFOOD IN IIDABASHI AT KAGURAZAKA

Walk up Kagurazaka and you can’t miss this place. One of my favorite spots in Iidabashi that mixes fresh seafood with Italian style dishes. Amazing thing is it’s not pricey but for sure it’s filling.

http://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13101721/

There are also spots in this pizzeria filled district where you can get and enjoy Japanese pizza with local toppings like shirako, Mentaiko, shirasu, kombu seaweed, fish fillet and sakura ebi pizza.

#4 PIZZERIA DA MICHELE: ONE OF THE BEST PIZZERIAS IN NAPLES THAT CAME TO JAPAN

http://www.damichele.jp/
This pizzeria in Ebisu is fantastic. It has great ambience and amazing pizza. They only serve two kinds and they can’t be shared ! During dinner the waiters dimmed the lights and sang a song in a deep opera like voice. Take a look at the video below or here:

I learned from my friend Marco that Pizza is not meant to be shared and the Margarita pizza was named after Queen Margherita. History below..

An often recounted story holds that on 11 June 1889, to honour the Queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy, the Neapolitan pizzamaker Raffaele Esposito created the “Pizza Margherita”, a pizza garnished with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, to represent the national colours of Italy as on the Italian flag.