“Why the Pizza Bar at Mandarin Oriental Tokyo Has a 3-Month Waitlist and Sold Out Hong Kong Pop-Up”

Would you be willing to wait three months for a pizza? At The Pizza Bar on 38th in the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, patrons willingly endure such a wait. The pizzeria is renowned as one of the finest in Asia and is notable for its three-month waiting list for a table. Indeed, the demand for this establishment is so high that its omakase-style pop-up in Hong Kong has already sold out.

The pop-up, taking place in the private rooms at Amber in the Landmark Mandarin hotel in Central, Hong Kong, is scheduled to run until January 28. However, reservations for this exclusive event were completely booked within a week of the announcement. The interest surrounding this pop-up is a true testament to the popularity and quality of The Pizza Bar.

The secret behind what makes The Pizza Bar so special lies in its dough. Crafted with an 80 per cent water to 20 per cent flour ratio and fermented for two days, the dough results in a crisp and airy crust that is then adorned with high-quality seasonal ingredients. Chef Daniele Cason, the executive chef of The Pizza Bar, affirms that the perfect pizza is made with love, high-quality ingredients, and proper equipment. By combining Japanese culinary attitudes with Italian pizza-making techniques, Cason has truly elevated the pizza experience.

A preview of the pop-up menu featured a nine-course meal, with the highlights being the seven different pizza slices. Each slice showcased the light, blistering, and charred crust that The Pizza Bar is famous for, proving that the hype is indeed justified.

Commencing with a hot stewed Japanese turnip served with thinly sliced Piave cheese and a small dollop of caviar, the set menu progressed to a series of innovative pizza creations, such as the Pizzino, which is a sandwich of mascarpone and black olives toasted in the wood-fired oven and served with black truffle shavings. The menu culminated with a six-cheese pizza of provolone, Gorgonzola, smoked scamorza, Taleggio, fior di latte and Parmesan that is balanced with truffle honey, leaving patrons with a memorable experience.

This unique omakase-style pizza experience, where each slice is served straight out of the oven and onto your plate, truly sets The Pizza Bar apart from the rest. After experiencing this, one cannot help but recognize that the majority of pizzas eaten in the past were lukewarm in comparison.

While three months might seem like an excessive wait for a pizza, the quality and experience at The Pizza Bar make it well worth it. The anticipation, the limited availability, and the extraordinary flavours truly make The Pizza Bar at Mandarin Oriental Tokyo and its Hong Kong pop-up an extraordinary culinary experience that is not to be missed.