There are currently more than 20,000 posts on Instagram with a hashtag that translates to “Chicago pizza” from Japanese. Indeed, the Windy City’s deep-dish import is all the rage in Japan–with a bit of a twist.
What IS this? Cuz this ain’t pizza!
There, “Chicago-style pizza” is basically fondue served in a deep-dish bowl, which may or may not be made with actual crust. A local food writer in Tokyo admits that this kind of pizza exists for them more for the Instagram possibilities than for the actual taste of the pizza. Meaning: it’s just there for the stringy, gooey, cheese pulls.
For aficionados seeking actual deep-dish pizza in Tokyo, a restaurant called DevilCraft, which is run by three Americans, serves the real deal.