【Tokyo Dinner】Japanese original spaghetti to feel the Showa nostalgia

06.November.2016 | FEATURES / FOOD

It is famous thing that there is no “spaghetti Neapolitan” in Naples, Italy. So, where did spaghetti Neapolitan originally come from? The answer is Japan. This food is currently one of the ever popular menus in some restaurants in town. The origin of spaghetti Neapolitan is Hotel New Grand in Yokohama city. After the world war, the head chef got an idea from some Occupation Army eating boiled spaghetti with ketchups at the restaurant in this Hotel which was taken over by GHQ. This spaghetti Neapolitan that he cooked with fresh tomato’s instead of ketchup, fried onion, garlic, ham and mushroom gradually created a great sensation from Yokohama city to all over the country. The ingredients and how the pasta is boiled is different from one restaurant to another. I thought that people in Italy which is known as the home of pasta food would be offended by the fact that we use ketchup for the spaghetti. However, first time spaghetti Neapolitan came to Naples in 2009, it was well-received contrary to expectation.

This food makes Japanese feel wonderfully familiar, and people outside of the country feel new to it. If people are asked what the best restaurant for spaghetti Neapolitan is, a lot of them will name “Pont Neuf” in Shinbashi. This restaurant is very popular and there is always long line at lunch time to get their spaghetti Neapolitan (598 yen).  Thick and chewy spaghetti with home-made sauce containing ketchup has a simple and heartwarming taste.  If you want to try something richer, I will also recommend you to try the juicy hamburg steak (782 yen).

The restaurant called “Anjin” which is located inside building of “Daikanyama Tsutaya Book store” has spaghetti Neapolitan which uses carefully selected ingredients.  It has a relaxed atmosphere that is good for taking a break while sightseeing in Tokyo. The taste of this spaghetti Neapolitan is sophisticated somehow. The interesting thing about spaghetti Neapolitan is the basic progress of how it is cooked is the same, yet each restaurant has it’s own uniqueness. If you taste this Japanese original spaghetti once, you will definitely love it.

 

■Cafe Terrace Pont Neuf

Address: Shinbashi Station-Bldg. 1F,2-20-15 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

 

■Anjin

Address:(inside Daikanyama T-Site) 17-5 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

 

Keiko Kodera(Writer)

 

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    Price: 500 yen (with tax 540yen)

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    Hours: Open 24 hours a day / no holidays

    TEL:03-6233-7099

    URL: http://www.kakekomi-gyoza.com/

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