Tokyo's Popular Restaurant Takes Top Spot! Japanese Dominance with 14 Entries in “50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific 2023” Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jan 22 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Tokyo's Popular Restaurant Takes Top Spot! Japanese Dominance with 14 Entries in “50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific 2023”

The "50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific" awards, which select the best 50 pizzerias in the Asia Pacific region, were held in Japan on May 30, 2023. Japanese pizza shops, including those in Tokyo and Kyoto, secured an impressive 14 spots in the rankings! Japan boasts numerous world-class pizza establishments, especially in Tokyo. Tokyo is completely a must-visit for gourmets!

See full listings of Italian restaurants found in and around Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

What is "50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific," the event held for the first time in Japan?

On May 30, 2023, the highly influential pizza specialist guide "50 Top Pizza" held its first-ever event in Japan, the "Award Ceremony 50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific," at the Italian Cultural Institute. During the ceremony, the ranking of the top 50 pizzerias in the Asia Pacific region for the year 2023 was announced.

At the prestigious 50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific 2023 awards, the top honor was claimed by "Pizza Bar on 38th" at Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. This renowned restaurant is known for its popularity and difficulty in securing reservations, so it came as no surprise that it was rumored to be the undisputed number one even before the announcement.

Upon receiving this award, Chef Daniele Carson, the Executive Chef of Pizza Bar on 38th, expressed his gratitude by saying, "It is truly an honor to receive such a wonderful award. I have only been making pizza for ten years, so it is a privilege to be recognized alongside seasoned veterans who have been crafting pizza for much longer."

In second place, we have "Bottega" from Beijing, and in third place, "Pizzeria da Peppe - Napoli sta' ca" from Tokyo. "Pizzeria da Peppe - Napoli sta' ca" also received the "Source of Inspiration 2023 - Stefano Ferrara Forni" award, which was presented to the owner and chef, Giuseppe Elichiero.

Moreover, the title of "Pizza Maker of the Year" went to Salvatore Fiata, the chef of "Fiata by Salvatore Fiata" in Hong Kong. The "Pizza of the Year" award was claimed by "Crosta Pizzeria" from the Philippines, while the "Made in Italy" award went to "48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar."

The Asia Pacific region is composed of 15 countries. In this year's ranking, Japan received the highest number of awards with 14 establishments making it to the list. Australia follows with 10 entries, and Thailand with 5.

India, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Israel all made their debut in the rankings this year. It is evident that Tokyo is a prominent hub for excellent pizza in this region, with over 10 pizzerias featured in our guide.

What we have come to realize through this process is that Japan, particularly Tokyo, boasts numerous pizza establishments that can be considered world-class. It is a rare opportunity to experience top-notch flavors within the country. We highly recommend visiting some of Japan's delicious pizzerias and savoring their offerings.