Whether you love it or hate it, Japanese pizza exists. McDonald’s manages to provide homesick foreigners in Japan with a similar (and arguably better) product from back home, but somewhere along the line, chain pizza stores in Japan got it all wrong. We’re sure there are those who enjoy the typical Japanese-style pizza, but after reading through internet forums of hungry foreigners, those who joyfully eat a slice from Japan are in the minority.
Let’s take a look at 10 pizzas that can be purchased in Japan, some sprinkled with corn, others topped with seaweed and many of them drenched in mayonnaise, so much mayonnaise!
- Scallop Butter Soy Sauce Pizza – Pizza-la
This seafood pizza is topped with soy sauce-marinated scallops, clams, and shrimp in a deluxe butter sauce. No tomato sauce to be found on this one, those fruits of the sea are resting on a cloud of cheese and mayonnaise. Just be sure to take the clam meat out of the shell before enjoying this pizza…and scrape off some of that mayonnaise while you’re at it.
Price: Medium – 2,340 yen (US$24), Large – 3,480 yen ($35.74)
- Teriyaki Chicken Pizza – Pizza-la
Here’s another one that comes with “mayonnaise sauce.” The Teriyaki Chicken pizza from Pizza-la is topped with teriyaki chicken, cheese, onions, corn, mushrooms, parsley, and seaweed. Take note, mayonnaise is a reoccurring theme in our trip down Japanese pizza lane.
Price: Medium – 2,100 yen ($21.57), Large – 3,150 ($32.35)
- Cheese and Honey – Pizza-la
You read that correctly – Cheese and Honey Pizza. Part of Pizza-la’s “Adult Pizza Series,” this sauceless pizza comes topped with gorgonzola, cream cheese, mixed cheese, parmesan, cherry tomatoes and parsley. Once all of that delicious cheese gets baked in the oven, acacia honey is poured on top to add a “fine quality sweetness.” Pizza with honey instead of sauce? We’re not quite sold on that idea.
Price: Medium – 2,280 ($23.42), Large – 3,420 ($35.13)
- Sausage and Thickly-sliced Bacon Meat Sauce – Pizza-la
Welcome to the sausage party! This pizza features a bed of meat sauce topped with cheese, onions, thickly sliced bacon, diced tomatoes, “tomato fancy sauce,” black pepper, parsley and more mini sausages than a person has fingers.
Price: Medium – 1,980 ($20.34), Large – 2,980 ($30.61)
- Spicy Bulgogi – Pizza-la
Chili threads are sprinkled over a smattering of vegetables, chili oil, chili peppers, and bulgogi beef in this pizza influenced by the flavors of Korea. Pizza-la also snuck in some pieces of potato for good measure.
Price: Medium – 2,340 yen (US$24), Large – 3,480 yen ($35.74)
- Mayo Potato – Domino’s Japan
Yes, there are lines of mayonnaise running proudly atop this pizza. In Japan, it’s actually common to eat a baked potato with mayonnaise, so we guess this mayo, potato, sausage and corn concoction isn’t too far off.
Price: Medium – 2,240 yen ($23), Large – 3,480 ($35.74)
- Avocado Shrimp – Domino’s Japan
This tomato sauce pizza only has four toppings: pancetta, shrimp, mayonnaise and avocado sauce. Because the only thing missing from a shrimpy mayonnaise pizza is fake guacamole.
Price: Medium – 2,400 yen ($24.65), Large – 3,400 yen ($34.92)
- Crab Seafood Special – Domino’s Japan
Those aren’t little bushes sprouting from this pizza’s cheesy base, it’s broccoli! Snow crab and shrimp also join the party, creating an interesting three-topping combo.
Price: Medium – 2,500 yen ($25.683), Large – 3,750 yen ($38.51)
- Spicy Deluxe – Domino’s Japan
Even though super spicy flavors aren’t so popular in Japan, this Spicy Deluxe pizza packs a pungent punch. Onions, pepperoni, spicy Italian sausage, and jalapenos combine to give your mouth a little fire. Don’t forget to add the hot sauce!
Price: Medium – 2,120 yen ($21.78), Large – 3,280 yen ($33.69)
- Anchovy Potato – Domino’s Japan
The Anchovy Potato pizza is on Domino’s Japan’s “Adult menu” and was made as a collaboration with women’s magazine, with. Potato, mushroom, fresh mozzarella and anchovies are in this crispy crust white sauce pizza that costs over 40 dollars! Would you pay that much for a pizza even if it was backed by a popular magazine?
Price: Medium – 2,778 yen ($28.53), Large – 4,068 yen ($41.78)
This concludes our list of 10 crazy pizzas you can find in Japan. How many of them sound appealing to you? Have any of you ever tried any of these interesting pizza concoctions?
Images: Pizza-la, Domino’s Japan