Pizza Kevelos in Shibuya, Tokyo

On our list of the best pizzas in Tokyo is this place, Pizza Kevelos in Omotesando, just off of Cat Street in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Of all of the pizza places I have eaten in Tokyo, I have eaten at Kevelos the most. But when people talk about great pizza in Tokyo, Kevelos is strangely over-looked.

The proper name for this spot is Kevelos Meijijingūmae – which is a romaji blur of “Meiji Jingu Mae”, or “in front of the Meiji Shrine,” which is not even an accurate description of the location (it is a 10 minute walk from the Meiji shrine).  Perhaps that is why it is not more well known (?); there is no mention of “pizza” in the name online, and most gaijin would think of the Meiji shrine area as Shibuya or Harajuku (not “Meiji Jingu Mae”).

I am not generally an advocate of Neapolitan pizza.  Although I have had some really excellent Napoletana pizzas, the category is way over-rated in Japan, with the Japanese almost slavishly thinking of “brick oven” as the best pizza (when many are derivative, entirely average, soggy, or worse).  But, Kevelos makes a genuinely fantastic pizza, that sort of breaks through my prejudice.

The pictures I have are not the same quality as my usual reviews of pizza restaurants, because I took these pics before I started blogging about pizza in Japan.  The pizza shots here are casual “tourist” shots from old trips… but as I get serious about trying to show the best pizza in Japan, Kevelos deserves a mention (and yet another visit).

I’ll go back at some point, and get better shots.

Tokyo’s Kevelos Pizza is a proper Italian bistro.  There are a few kinds of pizza available, as well as small menu of other dishes.  I seem to recall some (grilled) octopus (what the Japanese call “taco,” but that is just a coincidence) – which was often sold out.  I know I have had some garlicy broccoli there, as well.  This is all from memory, so forgive me for not saying, and showing, more.

Another thing I know about Kevelos in Shibuya is that it can be busy, reservations for Kevelos are recommended.  Weekends, especially.  When I lived in this neighborhood, my Japanese wasn’t strong (it still is not), so I’d walk over and make my reservations in person.

As always, if you’re just two (or if you’re by yourself), I recommend sitting at the counter. At Kevelos Pizza in Shibuya, that means you have an intimate view of the fiery maw of the oven.  That corner seat, with one of you on each side of the corner, is a fantastic perch (and a perfect set up for date, as well).

It was while sitting at one of these seats at the counter that I first noticed the pizza chef toss a little salt into the oven before he slid the pizza in (on those long, wooden tongues that all the Naples pizza places use).  There may also be salt specifically put on the pizza (I’ll be sure to take note next time), but I did occur to me that the salt added something to the flavor…

Now, as the Official Hakujin Pizza Czar of Japan, I know that “salty” is an adjective that is attached to many Napolitano pizzas.  We’ll review PST (in Ropponji) soon enough, and they are known for their salt.  All these many years later, as I make my own pizza, I intentionally add some nice salt to the mix – Kevelos was an original source of some of what I know pizza.

Good spot. Recommended.

For more Tokyo Pizza see:

— Pizza Marumo in Ebisu, Tokyo
— The omakase pizza at the Mandarin Oriental’s Pizza Bar on 38th in Chuo City, Tokyo
— PST Pizza Rippongi, in Minato City Tokyo
— Tokyo’s Savoy Pizza in the Asabujuban district
— Pizza in Rippongi at Pizzakaya in Minato City, Tokyo
— Devil Craft Pizza in Kanda, in Chuo City, and DevilCraft Gotanda near Gotanda Station
— Sabasu Pizza in Akasaka, Tokyo
— Frey’s Pizza in Rippongi, Tokyo
— Pizza Seirinkan in Meguro, Tokyo
— Pizza that is shaped like a star at Peppe’s Napoli Sta Ca in Komazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo
— Chicago pizza in Tokyo at Butcher Republic in Ebisu

Pizza Slices in Tokyo

— Rocco’s Pizza slices in Tokyo in Ojihoncho, Kita City, Tokyo
— Saturdays and Sundays only at NY Tonyz Pizza Slices in Koto City, Tokyo
— Tokyo pizza slices at Nim’s Pizza in Asabujuban in Minato City
— Unremarkable pizza at Pizza Slice in Shibuya, on Cat Street