Eating out every day in pursuit of visiting 100 famous pizza restaurants. Today, I visited Alangarshi, a pizza shop in Ueno. It's one of the top 100 pizza places. I arrived around noon on a weekday. I had made a reservation, so I was able to enter the restaurant smoothly. It was quite difficult to make a reservation at this place. The restaurant was about half full. It seemed to be run by a couple, with the man baking pizzas and the woman serving in the dining area. When I mentioned that it was hard to make a reservation, the friendly woman explained that they had always avoided fully booking the restaurant even before COVID, and they stopped taking reservations altogether due to the pandemic. Their lack of commercialism was somehow appealing. I ordered the Pizza Lunch set for 1,430 yen, which includes an appetizer, a pizza (Margherita or Napoletana), and a drink. Since there were two of us, we ordered both Margherita and Napoletana pizzas and asked if they could make it half and half. While the pizzas were being baked, I asked about the pizza oven, which turned out to be a Gianni Acunto. It's a well-known pizza oven manufacturer run by brothers. The oven's distinctive feature is its slanted chimney. The pizzas that came out were indeed delicious. The crust was crispy and fragrant. Although I'm not very knowledgeable about pizza, I could feel the craftsmanship just from the crust. It might be the most delicious pizza I've ever had. I asked if they could bake another pizza because it was so good, and they kindly agreed. This time, we had a Bianca pizza. I was very satisfied. They mentioned that there are more options for food and drinks if you come at night. I would like to come back in the evening to enjoy more!

I visited a pizza restaurant near Yushima Tenjin for lunch. Lunch is reservation only with a limit of 20 people. The set lunch includes appetizer, pizza, and a drink for 1400 yen, with a choice of two pizza options. I ordered the Margherita pizza. The crust was chewy and thick, with a strong basil flavor, and it was very delicious.

This is my first visit to this restaurant located a little up the hill from Yushima. They are known for their pizzas baked in a Naples-imported pizza oven. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and offers pizzas ranging from tomato-based to cheese-based ones. The anticipation was high with the Naples pizza oven, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded expectations with its deliciousness. Despite being flavorful, the pizzas were surprisingly light. The slight char on the crust added a nice touch. The wine selection was extensive and reasonably priced. This restaurant truly lives up to its reputation as one of the top 100 restaurants. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

[Ordered Dish] Pizza lunch - Napoletana [Visited Date] Around 12:00 on Thursday [Busy Level and Impression of the Restaurant] The restaurant was closed for reserved customers. I made a reservation three days in advance. [Dish Impression] The pizza set with appetizers and coffee was delicious. The crust was chewy and easy to eat. The saltiness was slightly strong, but the garlic flavor was not overpowering. It was tasty and easy to enjoy.Visited: 3.68

I visited this place a short walk from Hongo-Sanchome Station. The interior of the shop has a relaxed atmosphere with soft Western music playing. I ordered a "Napolitana" and an "Iced Latte". The Gorgonzola focaccia for the appetizer was delicious. The Napolitana arrived in about 20 minutes. It had a thick crust and was in the Neapolitan style. The tomato sauce was not too acidic and had a spicy kick.

It had been a while since I met up with a friend, so we decided to go out for drinks. We were in the mood for pizza and wine, and found a place in Yushima that wasn't too far away. We made a reservation and went there together. The place was run by a friendly master who handled everything by himself. We started with a mixed appetizer plate for two, which cost 1000 yen each. We asked the master for advice on red wine and he recommended one that was less than 5000 yen. It was wonderful how they had such good wine at such a reasonable price. The wine was delicious, and the master had recommended it based on our preferences. The pizza was quite large, so we were able to order two different types on one pizza. We chose one with a white base and one with a tomato base. The dough was incredibly chewy and delicious, with a slightly salty flavor that we both enjoyed. Everything we ate was delicious. The pizza came in halves, so we each had two slices. We also ordered some cheese on the side, along with the wine. We left feeling satisfied and only spent around 10,000 yen for the two of us. We will definitely be back.

I made a phone reservation the day before and when I arrived at the restaurant, I was informed that the lunch was fully booked. The scent of burnt firewood spread throughout the restaurant, enhancing the pizza experience. The lunch set, limited to 20 servings on weekdays, includes an appetizer, pizza, and a drink for 1300 yen (excluding tax). You can choose between Margherita or Napoletana, and if there are two people, you can also choose a Half & Half option. The pizza had a nice burnt and chewy texture, which I liked, but the Honey Cafe Latte was delicious. However, I wish the taste of the drink had matched the cute latte art. Unfortunately, the appetizer seemed like it came from a different restaurant. The service over the phone and in person was straightforward and efficient. The lunch service seemed to have two rounds. If it were up to me, I would have packed in more seats and served 30 lunches. There was no sense of trying to sell or make a profit. Thank you for the meal.

This was the most delicious pizza I have ever eaten. The hot pizza from the oven was thin, with a puffy crust, and the cheese was incredibly tasty. I wasn't a big fan of pizza before, but this one was really good. The anchovy pizza had a great balance of flavor and saltiness. The cafe latte had a cute art on top, exceeding my expectations for Italian post-dinner coffee. I seriously want to go back again.

This is a super popular pizzeria in the Yushima area. The lunch set is only 1430 yen, but you almost can't get in without a reservation. The anchovy Napoletana flavor was amazing, and I quickly finished it with garlic. The appetizers were also delicious.

I made a reservation for lunch and visited the restaurant. I have been here a few times before and I think it's best to make a reservation for lunch as they tend to be busy. The weekday lunch set includes an appetizer, pizza (Margherita, Napoletana, or half and half), and a drink for 1430 yen (1300 + tax). I always order the half and half as I want to try both. I ordered a Honey Cafe Latte for my drink. The pizza here is slightly smaller but the crust is chewy and crispy. Dinner is also reasonably priced so I recommend it!

I'm not sure if it's strictly by reservation only now, but I was able to get a table with a phone reservation just an hour before. The pizzeria has a chic atmosphere with black tables and dim lighting, which is quite unusual for a pizzeria. The owner's voice is a bit high-pitched, which is a bit strange. - Red wine Sangiovese (550 yen) was delicious! It's reasonably priced, with a good balance of fruitiness and not too strong tannins, which is my preference. - The complimentary bread was soft and chewy, with a lingering taste of wheat that I enjoyed more than the bread at trattorias. - The appetizer (1100 yen) included crostini with meat sauce, Italian-style frittata, shredded cabbage and calamari rings, and prosciutto with potatoes and arugula. It was homemade and had a warm and delicious taste. - You can have half and half for some pizza varieties, and I tried that option. - Margherita pizza had a crispy and chewy crust, with a strong salty flavor that enhanced the overall taste. The mozzarella was milky and elastic, with a slightly condensed flavor from being baked in the oven. The tomato sauce added a refreshing taste, and the generous amount of olive oil assisted in enhancing the flavors. - Napoletana pizza had a good amount of garlic spiciness, anchovies with a strong salty flavor and aroma, and oregano with its distinctive flavor. It may look simple, but the taste was bold and delicious, with the garlic flavor as the main focus. - Lemon sorbet (440 yen) had a balanced level of sourness supported by milk, which was a good choice to cleanse the palate after the oily pizza. The service was a bit challenging as the pizzaiolo was handling everything alone, but I was very satisfied with the pizza.

A small pizzeria located on a hill just a 4-minute walk from Yushima Station exit 1. I heard that their weekday lunch, limited to 20 servings, is particularly difficult to reserve, so I made a phone reservation about 2 weeks before the Obon holiday. When we arrived right at 1 pm, there were no other customers, yet a sign said that reservations were full. They are known for not filling up the seats, which is a common practice among top-notch restaurants. The lunch set costs 1,430 yen and includes an appetizer, pizza, and a post-meal drink. The appetizer was surprisingly generous in portion size. The Zeppole covered with prosciutto was freshly fried and had a nice chewy texture. The cabbage salad with squid, and the baguette with beans and tomato sauce were also well-prepared with a special touch. We ordered a Margherita and a Napoletana pizza, and they kindly made it half-and-half for us. The pizzas baked in the oven had a thin crust that was both crispy and chewy. We thoroughly enjoyed every bite, even the crust. The Margherita had a strong basil aroma and a good balance with the mozzarella cheese, a classic style. The Napoletana was a bit salty with accents of anchovies and garlic. The post-meal drink was a bit average. I was hoping for more with the honey latte, but honestly, the quality and taste balance of the milk made me think that the latte from a convenience store might be better. The owner and his wife, who are apparently from Osaka, were very kind and even gave us dates as a dessert. Thank you for the delicious meal!

There is a famous pizza restaurant in Yushima. I visited on a weekday night after making a reservation by phone. It seemed like the owner was running the place alone, and there were only two other groups in the restaurant. The atmosphere was very calm. I ordered the Caprese with buffalo mozzarella, Salsiccia e verdure saltate all'arrabbiata, and a half & half of Napoletana and Lunard. Personally, my favorite was the Lunard. It is a slightly unique pizza with half of it rolled up with cheese and ham inside. The pizza crust was crispy and slightly chewy, very delicious. I found a really great restaurant.

Today, my wife and I both worked from home, so we decided to have lunch together with pizza. My wife occasionally checks in on what I'm eating for telework lunch, and she often envies the Suzukino Nobara Chirashi and Aranjarsu pizza, as well as the forest soba that I have had in the past. So, today, I called ahead the day before and visited the restaurant for lunch. The other day, we went there for dinner and had a great time eating, which my wife seemed particularly envious of. The owner and I have become familiar faces, so I just open the door marked "Close" and enter the restaurant without any hesitation. We were seated at the central table, and we enjoyed our usual calamari salad, zeporine, prosciutto with garbanzo bean tomato sauce bruschetta. As for wine...I have to resist today since I have work in the afternoon. Just as we finished the antipasto, the pizza was placed in the wood-fired oven. It's always fun to watch this process. In less than a minute, the pizza was ready and taken out of the oven. My wife ordered Margherita, and I ordered Napoletana, but they were served as a half-and-half, knowing that we would probably want to switch. Thank you for the consideration. The crispy yet chewy pizza was delicious as always. It made me feel like I was in Naples. My wife and I chatted about the "best in the universe" spaghetti Napoletana we had in a remote area, the best coffee in the world in Naples, and the taxi driver who confidently sent us to a different hotel and said, "If you come three days in a row, this will be your table every night" at the restaurant's waiter. We ordered a Bianchetti and Quattro Formaggi half-and-half for the second pizza. The anchovy flavor with oregano and garlic was fantastic. The cheese-packed Quattro Formaggi pizza was also a delight to have for lunch. Drizzling the homemade chili-infused olive oil enhanced the taste even further. I devoured it in no time. My wife said she was full, so I ordered a third pizza, which was a Bismarck. The mozzarella and black pepper with a soft-boiled egg on top was delightful. It was rich but also light, with a simple yet strong flavor. This one also disappeared quickly...oh, my wife took a slice! All three (or five varieties) of the pizzas were absolutely perfect. They were all unbelievably delicious...even though they were lunch-sized, after having three, my stomach and mood were completely satisfied. I finished with an espresso, and today's lunch came to an end. It only took 30 minutes...I still feel like I want to eat a hearty meal at night, but I also enjoy the casualness of lunch. Thank you for the meal!!!

The threshold was surprisingly low for the nearby pizzeria, Alangiarushi, that I thought was intimidating. The pizza here is authentic Neapolitan pizza and really delicious, so if you feel like having pizza, just call them immediately. However, unfortunately, if you call when you feel like it, there is a high chance they will be fully booked, so it's best to predict when you might want to eat pizza and call a couple of days in advance. Today, since I was told yesterday that lunchtime was not available, I visited today. It's very humid today (almost the rainy season), so I'll start with a Moretti to quench my thirst. Next, the usual antipasto with prosciutto & zepoline, bruschetta with chickpea tomato sauce, and cabbage with squid. I haven't asked yet why they put squid on the cabbage, but I'll ask later. The Moretti and squid are a bit strange, but they go perfectly with the chickpeas and zepoline. Today, the zepoline seems small, or maybe it's a bonus, but there were two, which made me happy. They start making the pizza after seeing me finish the antipasto, so I'll also ask for white wine to go with the pizza. The Trebbiano from Abruzzo, just like last time, is crisp and refreshing. First, the Margherita. As always, the dough is sweet and chewy, with rich tomato and mozzarella blending perfectly. It's a masterpiece. It's so small that I finished it in about 10 seconds. Next is the Marinara. Garlic and anchovies emphasize the richness of the tomato pizza even more. Oh, the wine keeps flowing. The second glass is Falanghina. The Marinara also disappeared in about 15 seconds. For the third one, the owner asked to leave it to him and made a white pizza. I thought it was a Bismarck without eggs, but it had plenty of cheese and oregano, with a wonderful aroma and flavor! This calls for the third glass of Trebbiano. The white pizza also disappeared from the plate in about 22 seconds. I finished with an espresso. I enjoyed incredibly delicious pizza from noon again today. Telework is great! I'll do my best in the afternoon!! Thank you for the meal!

A small pizzeria in Yushima. I made a reservation by phone for their limited 20 lunch sets, but I had the wrong date. When I arrived, they didn't have my reservation, but thankfully they let me in until 1 PM. The lunch set costs 1430 yen and includes an appetizer, pizza, and coffee. You can choose between Margherita and Napoletana pizzas, and I got a half-and-half. The appetizer was more luxurious than expected, with freshly fried zeppole that was light and delicious with the prosciutto. The pizza had a chewy crust and was perfectly cooked. The Margherita was well-balanced, and the Napoletana had a strong accent of anchovy and garlic, which was great. Lastly, I had coffee, and I chose Americano. It was rich and aromatic, a perfect ending to the meal. Thank you for the delicious meal.

The other day, I enjoyed a delicious Napoli pizza for lunch, and now I plan to enjoy it with wine for dinner. Starting off with some antipasto, I ordered a full-sized pizza after summoning my inner big eater. Let's begin with the wine and antipasto. The wine is a Sicilian Cusumano Insolia. Sicilian white wines are known for their clear sweetness and vibrant aroma, making them perfect for easy drinking. As I sip on the wine and enjoy the focaccia and zepolline, the Mozzarella di Bufala Caprese arrives. It's a perfect combination of sweet tomatoes, creamy buffalo mozzarella, and fresh basil. Next, a Cotzza-style wine-steamed octopus dish is served, which is rich in flavor. Moving on to the main event, the Margherita pizza is quickly prepared in the wood-fired oven. The cheesy, tomato, and basil flavors are perfect on the soft and rich dough. Moving on to a sausage and vegetable sauté for the contorno, I cool down before diving into the next pizza. The Napoletana with anchovies is a flavorful choice, with a crispy crust and a generous amount of anchovies. A fish broth soup is served to cleanse the palate, followed by the Napoletana pizza with extra anchovies. I cool down with some fritti before indulging in another pizza, the Quattro Formaggi. With each bite, my excitement grows, and I continue to enjoy the delicious food and wine.

Recently, I've been craving pizza. While there are quite a few decent pizza places in Tokyo, it's hard to find one that serves a delicious, chewy Neapolitan pizza with a tasty crust. The only ones that have really impressed me so far are Toyoshimaen and Ko-Denmacho, with Ebisu also being good but the one in Hiroo has closed down. Before the pandemic, I used to visit Italy every year. I usually base myself in Rome and travel to various parts of Italy, but no matter how many rough spots I encounter, I always end up revisiting Naples about 80% of the time. The reasons are, of course, the pizza, sfogliatella, arancini, zeppole, and coffee. Naples has completely won over my stomach, I can't help but go back. Especially the coffee roasted with wood in Naples is really delicious. There are many serious pizzerias in Japan, but they tend to be located in places with high costs, so they are very eager to increase the average customer spending. Pizza is the taste of the Italian common people, a familiar and easy-to-eat snack that fills the stomach, so it's surprising to pair it with expensive wine. Of course, if you want to drink, go ahead, but I want to say that pizza is not something to be eaten with airs! With that in mind, I came to Alanchiarushi for the first time in about 10 years. I often pass by the front of the restaurant, and there is always a sign saying "Fully booked by reservation only," so I thought I had no chance. Suddenly, I thought I might be able to go for lunch, so I called and, as expected, they were fully booked today. Undeterred, I gave it one more shot and asked about tomorrow. It's okay for tomorrow! So I came. The restaurant is located near Yushima Tenjin, at the beginning of Kiridouzaka. Oh, a fried chicken place has opened here. There are already four fried chicken restaurants near the intersection of Hongo-Sanchome, but it seems that more and more are opening. The popularity of fried chicken is amazing (although I think frying it yourself is the best). So, while waiting in front of the still closed restaurant, I heard a voice from inside saying, "Please come in!" Oh, they only allow reserved customers in, so it's okay to stay closed, huh. I sat at a table in the back. The pizza oven was already burning red with fire, all set. The smell of this burning wood is the taste of the pizza. For lunch, you can choose from Margherita or Napoletana with an antipasto and a drink for 1,430 yen. I chose Margherita and espresso and ordered a glass of wine. If there's an antipasto, you have to have a drink, right? The wine is a Trebbiano from Abruzzo. It's crisp and well-chilled, and with the strong sunlight today, it's a perfect taste. The slight bitterness in the aftertaste is nice. The slim restaurant owner is making the antipasto in the kitchen. Since no other customers have arrived yet, I have the quiet space all to myself. The sound of the wood crackling occasionally is just pleasant. The antipasto includes bruschetta with chickpeas in tomato sauce, cabbage with squid for some reason, zeppole, and prosciutto. Hmm, I don't know why there's squid, but it goes well with the cold white wine, so it's okay. The zeppole is chewy and very delicious, so I have high hopes for the pizza. The owner looks at how I'm eating and starts baking the Margherita. It arrives in front of me in less than a minute, which is nice. But it's small, about 25cm in diameter. If it only takes a minute to bake, it only takes a minute to eat. The crust is chewy as expected, and although it's small, the tomato sauce is rich, the mozzarella is slightly sweet, and it's very delicious. Most importantly, the cornicione (the crust without sauce) is delicious. If the cornicione is this tasty, the wine will run out quickly. So, I ordered another glass of wine and the Pizza Napoletana. This time, it's a Falanghina. It's also well-chilled, and the unique acidity is clearly felt.