The king of pizzas? We sample Domino’s pricey new luxury pizza
TOKYO —
Domino’s Pizza, one of the world’s most well-known home delivery pizza services, has recently released a new luxury pizza in Japan - an exclusive to the pizza fast food market.
Priced at 5,800 yen, however, you’d be right to think twice before parting with your cash; after all, this is essentially just a circle of baked dough with fancy toppings. Sure, after piling all of your favorite toppings onto a pizza pie, one might hit the 5,000 yen mark, but a large-sized pizza starting at 5,800 yen?!
This had better be something very special…
Regardless of price, if the product adequately tickles the taste buds, I’m sure none of us will complain. On the other hand, if it’s the same as chewing on a piece of cardboard, or is no different from a low-price frozen pizza sold at a local supermarket, even the most optimistic of us will be left frowning with displeasure, and on this occasion considering the price maybe even going so far as to boycott Domino’s Pizza entirely.
Curious food fanatics that we are, the RocketNews24 team plucked up the courage, pooled our New Year’s money and placed an order for one of the pricey new pizzas! Here’s what we thought.
Domino’s beef-infused offering is officially known as the “Kobe Beef Steak Pizza” on its menus. As many of you may be aware, Kobe is a city renowned for high quality, highly priced beef. As well as featuring Kobe beef endorsed by a dedicated organization that promotes its circulation, the pizza is topped with potato, onion and deluxe steak sauce. I’m salivating as I write this, so I can only imagine the rest of you moaning with sudden pangs of hunger.
The use of first-rate beef creates high expectations, but just how much can a pizza tantalize the taste buds? Moreover, can it really justify the hefty price tag?
Arriving in the traditional dice emblem Domino’s Pizza box, the pizza didn’t strike us as anything special at first. On peeking inside, however, we were pleasantly surprised. The careful arrangement of the generous chunks of beef alone was enough to whet our appetites, and the combination of cheese and potato buried in between the meat was a genuine sight to behold. With no further delay, we dived in.
As for the taste…
“The pizza was filled to the brim with flavor, so much so that it was almost too much for me to handle. It took me back for a while, and I was admittedly a little lost for words; such culinary expertise in a pizza has got to be a first,” exclaimed one member of staff.
He added “When taking a bite, the juices from the meat spill over into the surrounding ingredients, blending in with the oil from the cheese to create a sense of flavoured harmony. At first, the idea of mixing cheese from a junk pizza with high-grade beef may make many a little hesitant, but the combination of the two and the taste that lingers on the palate are spot-on.”
Particularly worth noting is the sheer volume and texture of the fat-marbled meat. No pizza is complete without it, and meat’s natural oils arguably adds to the taste of pizza.
“The beef here really is sublime. From the first bite, the pure tastiness of the ingredients sets off a chain reaction inside the cerebral cavity. Before you know it, you find yourself entering into a state of pizza ecstasy,” commented our reporter.
On a negative note, with the beef being the focal point of the pizza - and let’s admit it, the meat is what will be impacting on your taste buds the most – it actually detracts a little from the traditional notion of what makes a good pizza. We found ourselves swept away by the beef itself, and it is conceivable that avid pizza fans may be left feeling that they have nibbled on great beef on a pizza base rather than a great pizza with beef, if you know what we mean. It is this lack of balance between pizza and high-grade meat that could leave some feeling disappointed. Moreover, with the expensive Kobe beef given the starring role, the other ingredients seem to have been neglected somewhat and are on the modest side.
But is it worth splashing the cash?
It really depends on what you’re looking for in a pizza: for those of you seeking a new dining experience and taste bud titillation, we highly recommend laying down the extra yen. For those who prefer a pizza with plentiful toppings and the overall sense of balance inherent with traditional pizzas, it might be better to opt for something from the existing range. And if you find yourself sitting on the fence? Well that’s what half-and-half combinations were invented for.
Read more stories on RocketNews24.
—Have the Ultimate Domino’s Pizza
—How to Distribute a 10-Slice Pizza among a 6-Man Staff: A Japanese Management Guide
—Mayonnaise is EVERYWHERE in Japan
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49 Comments
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7
KariHaruka
Not a chance would I spend that sort of price on pizza from Dominos! Me and my fiancee prefer to do homemade pizzas. Much tastier and fun as we can include our daughter who enjoys helping.
4
papigiulio
5800 for a pizza? And that for Dominos, yuck. Get your extra extra large quattro formaggi at Costco for 2000.
3
Meguroman
Some people will order this but it just proves they have more money than common sense. Stopped getting ripped off by delivery pizza here in Japan years ago. Been making pizza at home a couple times a month. Sometimes we buy pre-made chilled dough that you let rise and roll out, or we make it from scratch. Then gather some decent ingredients salami, mozzarella, fresh basil, garlic, - you can make MUCH better tasting pizza for reasonable cost. We
ve done spinach and feta, ham & pineapple, smoked bacon & mushroom, etc. Except for letting the dough rise it doesnt take long either. Our 2 boys love it :)3
Probie
I tried the “Kobe Beef Steak Pizza” a week or so ago, with a friend.
It was horrible. The meat was almost flavorless, and could have been/probably was the cheap cuts from the local supermarket. The chunks of meat were too big, and they were a bit dry and even hurt sometimes when swallowing.
It was the worst pizza I have ever had.
Also, I hate it when they put potato on pizzas! If there was one vegetable that you shouldn't put on a pizza, it's potato.
This person, either hasn't eaten the thing, or has been paid a lot of money not to say how bad it is.
He added “When taking a bite, the juices from the meat spill over into the surrounding ingredients, blending in with the oil from the cheese to create a sense of flavoured harmony. At first, the idea of mixing cheese from a junk pizza with high-grade beef may make many a little hesitant, but the combination of the two and the taste that lingers on the palate are spot-on.”
I'm sure Domino likes their regular pizzas being called "junk". And the meat on the one I had, didn't have any juice in it. It was dry.
If you like flavorless hunks of meat, with bland potato on a flavorless-cheese pizza, go for it.
"No pizza is complete without it, and meat’s natural oils arguably adds to the taste of pizza.", has to be the dumbest line in this article. Even seafood pizzas, or ham and pineapple pizzas are not complete without this overpriced boring meat?
-1
LiveInTokyo
I'm with you Meguroman, no need to fork out 58000 yen for fast food that is going to disappear pretty quickly. My wife also makes a pretty good pizza, that she occasionally makes and I enjoy it more than ordering out for something.
2
mrkobayashi
Probies, you spent 5800 yen on a pizza?? No foreigner in their right mind would do such a thing.
4
LFRAgain
Know what the actually costs of making a Domino's pie is, ingredients, labor, and assiciated overhead costs included? Let's say a large pepperoni with cheese and onions: About US$4.
The actual full price of a delivery* About US$16.00
In the UK, same pie: US$19.00
In Australia, same pie: US$9.50
In Japan? US$35.00
It's beyond ridiculous. There are very few people in the world who are asked to pay the exhorbitant prices Japanese pizza delivery companies -- the lot of them -- charge for their pizzas.
That's why I make all my pizzas at home. Always hot, always on time, and I never have to fret about whether I should tip or not.
0
Probie
No, my friend did. They're not foreign.
4
y3chome
They know their market. Japan is the land of premium priced goods; for some strange reason Japanese tend to associate premium pricing with quality, and I can imagine a relatively decent amount of demand for these kind of money wasters despite the economic downturn. This kind of premium pricing psychology does indeed exist in most countries, though I find in Japan it tends to be much more prevalent.
-1
HollisBrown
When a Japanese company uses the term 'luxury' in it's product name or product description, it's usually a fair assumption that it is in fact a load of overpriced rubbish.
But then again when you have a gullible market that has been trained to say everything is oiishiiii - regardless of taste and quality, and more linked to a food's high price and often its large size - then who can blame these companies for getting their share.
-2
FPSRussia
I agree with all that pizza here is way OVER priced. How the hell can they get away with charging exuberant prices?
The answer to that is "No competition". Pure monopoly.
Ask yourself this. how many times have you been on your way home from work and can't find a place you want to eat at? How much choice do you actually have here in Japan? On your way home there are countless convenience stores that all sell the same products. No choice at all. No variety.
Keep going. Gyudon shop, gyudon shop, soba shop, raumen shop....oh wait....4 of them on the same block. What happened to variety is the spice of life. Does freedom really exist here?
Dominoes is one of the few pizza chains that mix it up. Even if it sucks it's different from what you had last night. There is no competition. That's the problem. Papa Johns would smoke Dominoes here. Everybody I know back home always loves to see that Papa Johns box.
FACT, there is frozen pizza in the U.S that is 10 times better than Dominos. DiGiorno frozen pizza with the rising crust baked in your own oven will taste better than Dominos anyday. It's cheaper too. Why isn't it here?
It's a long drawn out explanation I know but the truth is it's a game of Monopoly and protectionism. Japan is one of those countries where variety and freedom of choice is feared, not embraced.
It easy to see why Dominos would pitch this pizza at this price. It's the only choice you've got.
-2
davestrousers
HollisBrown has it right in that most "luxury" things here are a cultural quirk where you basically pay extra for the sake of paying extra. Maybe to impress someone or whatever. Nobody needs to pay 5,800 yen for a pizza.
So first of all its not expected to tip here. Also, people are converting directly here between a currently over-valued yen and various other countries. When I first came to Japan it was 220 yen to the GPB. So my usual pizza (a 3,100 yen L size Italiana with a side of fried potatoes) would work out at 14 GBP which when you consider not tipping is the same ball park as back in the UK.
0
all4faj
*FPSRussiaJan. 10, 2013 - 10:41AM JST *
You should try living in Australia and then you will be able to really complain about lack of choice,
After 9pm , think I might have a burger or a pizza, your choice is limited to either Macdonalds or Hungry Jacks ( Burger King ) or Pizza Hut , Dominos or one of a few other chain pizza delivery places , you may luck out and get a late KFC for whatever they have left from the day.
Moderator
Readers, please stay on topic. The subject is Domino's Japan.
0
Pat Fonta
i love home made pizza
-1
mrkobayashi
Then you're complaining about free pizza? Bad form, my friend.
0
Wonbatto
Protip: Get a basic fresh (or frozen) Margherita pizza from Aeon. Throw on some minced fresh garlic, sliced tomatoes, and any other veggies or meat you like. Add some extra cheese if you can find something you like, especially fresh mozzarella. Drizzle with olive oil when it comes out of the oven, and dress with fresh basil if you can find it. Much better than Domino's, easy, and < Y1000. I'd rather blow Y5800 on a decent steak.
As for the good American frozen pizzas (with self-rising crust), DiGiorno is good, but Freschetta is better. I do wish we could see those here in Japan.
0
all4faj
I do wonder why Dominos is so expensive in Japan? For the most part Japan has become very inexpensive over the last couple of decades, Hourly wages for students and part time workers is cheap .
-1
Cos
That's not the object on the photo and in the articles.
The "form" is different. I saw Americans spending even more money. A guy inviting 3 or 4 persons, friends or work relation, he orders 3 big ones at $25, plus drinks, plus sides, even ice cream, plus tips, $100, charged on the credit card. So they have a mountain of food delivered. A way to say "look how I'm generous...". Then they throw away the 75% that are not eaten. In Japan, that looks gross, but they still want to do the "look how I'm generous..." so they'll get a 5800 yen pizza and sides. In both countries, you have other people (or the same when they have no guests) that eat for 5000 yen, $50 a month.
That's what they charge in Osaka. The 5800 yen is the deluxe stuff, but they start at 1200 yen and there is not one week that you don't get a "2 for the price of one" coupon.
You hope praise for doing the same crap ? Supposing some like that kind of fast-food pizza, Costco has them for 3000 yen a dozen, authentic American pizzas.
There are 4 or 6 brands that post ads in my letterbox. Besides, there are shotengai restaurants that bake real pizzas for 800 yen.
-1
Nessie
Even pro-ier tip: Use a covered cast iron skillet. Uncover for the last few minutes to crisp up the crust. It's hard to get the same result in a wimpy Japanese oven.
-1
lationz
You basically took the words out of my mouth, I agree with this 100% and I find it to be THE MOST annoying thing about living here as a foreigner.
0
afanofjapan
Cos... Are you saying Dominos sells pizzas for 1200yen in Osaka?! Or Just that there are other chain stores offering similar pizzas at that price?
I have ONCE seen a two-for-one coupon, and you better believe i used that right away (3400yen for 2 pizzas is doable in my books). Since then the most i have ever seen is 500yen off. And thats for being a loyal spam/newsletter recipient.
I guess its just the price we pay to live in Tokyo. Luckily, unlike some of the other posters here i am happy with the food choices we have. The junkfood craving comes once in a while, but sometimes i am glad we dont have the plethora of ultra cheap junk.
But 5800 is just pushing it too far
1
mangosqueezesbanana
you mean the overpriced cheese tarts they call 'piza' in Japan...c'mon?
0
smithinjapan
Never will I EVER pay that much for a pizza that is one size smaller than it says it is, and in a land where already the cost of one medium pizza is a third more than two large ones (that are actually LARGE) back home! The cost of pizza is one of the things that still miffs me about this country, even after all these years. It's SLOWLY getting better with a lot of chains offering coupons that make it more reasonable, some offering half price monthly specials (you have to ask yourself how they can sell it at half price and still profit; then ask yourself why they would double it and think it's good business), and once in a while a two-for-one, but the best are still the ones I make at home.
0
wipeout
You can get excellent pizza in Japan, but it should cost a hell of a lot less than 5000 yen, and it won't be from Domino's - or any other bog-standard delivery chain.
0
afanofjapan
Actually Dominos is to blame for the price of pizza in Japan - they were the first pizza chain in Japan, and the guy that brought them here is a firm believer of "Japanese like to pay high costs for good quality"; and priced them accordingly (there was a section on him and the business on some TV show a while back) - the other chainss cant be blamed for using the same pricing... why go for affordable prices when you can make ridiculous profit margins!
I guess from a business perspective he is right, they are doing fine with these prices. But its not fair to consumers. Japanese people love cheap junk food too - look at how well McDonalds does!
0
cramp
58 for pizza with no truffle?...dude got jipped
0
Cos
Anywhere in Japan obviously. from 1100 yen :
http://www.dominos.jp/order/pizza/detail/99999/13001/111
They all offer the same deals. And there are many fast-food chains (Saizeria, etc) that propose a small pizza under 500 yen, in shopping malls, it's 200 yen a slice or a mini. I got some for 100 yen very often in Umeda, just a square, but that's enough for a lunch.
You'll see a "1 for 2 offer" on the same site for "take out pizzas". They often do it for delivery. When it's not a holiday or a big week-end, if you browse the pile in the letterbox, you'll find such offers. And if that's your cup of tea, go to Costco to fill your freezer. Tthey are just clones of the Dominos, you just need to throw them into a hot oven.
That's only one, all the others are cheaper. It's for the Jackies that wants to impress the gallery : "Hey look how I'm rich, baby, a 5800 yen pizza ! " and there is the price printed in huge characters on the pizza. In the US, the Jackies will gather a pile of coupon to get a $5 pizza, but to make impression, they'll order 12 of them, and not even 1/3 of that will be eaten.
0
Yubaru
58,000 yen for a pizza? I hope there are gold flakes on it!
0
KariHaruka
Should go to the UK and have the all you can eat lunch buffet at Pizza Hut. £6.99 (¥977) yes that's right, and have as much pizza as you like. There's also unlimited supply of pasta and salad.
0
herefornow
Wow, over $65.00 for a Domino's Pizza. I get any pizza I want -- hand tossed, thin, or pan -- with unlimited toppings here in the states at Pizza Hut for $10.00. And based on my ten years in Japan, can't imagine them making a pizza worth even close to that amount. Guess there really is no recession there afterall though if there is a market for this.
2
Mocheake
Potatoes (and mayonnaise) don't belong on a pizza. Costco's pizzas are bigger, cheaper and tastier than pizza from any of the chains in Japan. I can skip the Kobe beef, just give me cheese, pepperoni and some mushrooms or peppers.
0
Mike Critchley
I use Dominos from time to time...and I only do it when I get some kind of discount so that a pizza and coke is less then 2k. Anything beyond that and I feel guilty for being such a dumba$$ to spend that much for something that actually costs about 300 yen to make.
But this is Japan, and there are plenty of people out there who just don't know that they are spending too much for pizza and a host of other service-goods. A company's mandate is not to price fairly...it's to price at whatever the market is willing to pay. And the Japanese market, even in this crap economy, is still willing to pay and pay and pay.
0
caffeinebuzz
What an awfully written and pretentious article. Back to the pizza, I usually made my own in Japan but one of the chains nearby had reasonably sized and priced pizzas. I agree with Probie, potato for me has no place in pizza. I don't argue that this pizza is tasteless by any means, but one glance at the 7th paragraph where this bizarre spiel kicks into gear, puts me off wanting to eat in general for a while.
0
Serrano
Next will be matsutake mushroom pizza for only 6,800 yen.
0
TakahiroDomingo
horrible way to spoil and ruin good kobe beef, simply disgusting.
anybody been to naples? a pizza is the simplest thing on earth, and that's why it's worldwide delicious.
0
Fadamor
Yeah, but Dominoes-Japan has to deal with a much higher minimum wage than Dominoes-America does.
0
Cho88
It's all relative. If I was richer, I'd probably buy it to see what it tastes like. If it was good, I would buy it again. As a broke student, I shan't be buying one. C'est la vie.
0
southsakai
5,800 yen for a pizza coming from Dominoes = BIG Noooooo!
0
Shi Yuehan
only a Nutty Nipponese would pay 5800 yen for a pizza. .....An expensive pizza is the definition of an oxymoron in the real world.
0
m6bob
Japan is a country of extreme innovation for commercial reasons. If people are prepared to spend money in 'maids cafe' or pay to get a hug, albeit without sex, what is 5800yen for a nice pizza. There will always be choices for people who wants options and willing to pay for it.
0
humanrights
If the Domino girl would give me a hug with it, I would pay 2000 maybe..
0
DudeDeuce
Costco pizza is good for one slice. After that, it gets plain boring.
0
afanofjapan
Cos, thanks for the link to the plain pizza. I did not know about this.
i know about the other pizza shops in Japan that sell reasonable pizzas though (there is a place that sells real woodfired pizzas for 500yen near my house), but this is about the classic takeaway pizza that has little to no relation to a real traditional pizza... Dominos, Pizza Hut etc I do like the costco/supermarket/woodfired/handmade pizzas, but there is something different about these 3000yen piles of calories that I crave once every couple of months.
0
Bartholomew Harte
You couldn't give me ANY pizza in Japan,I learned all I need to know about Dominos Pizza first time out the gate!- It came to us Half Cooked & stank of curry! I get to eat Real N.Y. Pizzeria pizza ! The Missus bought a DeGiorno pizza home & loved it(Du-ohh!) 58,000 means dat pizza better moo or something in my book!
0
sensei258
It's a typo. 5,800 isn't the price, it's the amount of sodium per slice
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