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Pizza House is a household name in Okinawa. Since its opening in 1958, the restaurant has been loved by many locals and Americans alike. Somewhat contrary to its simple but catchy name, the restaurant has long been recognized as a restaurant for a variety of hearty dishes.
Those who are around Camp Foster or MCAS Futenma may be familiar with Pizza House Jr., which are their branches in Chatan and Futenma plus some other locations. The flagship, near Camp Kinser, is worth a visit not only for their great food, but for the dining experience, too.
Seeking a good lunch, I made my way to the flagship on a hot summer day. The last time I’d visited was at Pizza House’s old spot near Camp Kinser before it relocated in 2017 after a six-year hiatus. When I pulled into the parking lot, the new two-story yellow and Spanish tiled building reminded me of south Florida’s colorful houses.
Walking into this new Pizza House, the memories of the old location came flooding in. One of the things I remembered about eating at Pizza House was that it felt like being in a stateside diner, and the new location kept the same atmosphere.
The luxurious dining room has round tables in booths, which allows for space from other diners. The chandeliers were warmly lit over the tables. There were also white cloths draped from the ceiling like a canopy. The restaurant also has private rooms and bar lounge.
Pizza House’s lunch menu includes various plates with steak, which I remember as one of their signature dishes along with pizzas and pasta. But I went with their daily plate lunch, which was pork cutlet with tomato parmesan and brown sauce for 2,002 yen (about $14).
Like a course menu, the daily plate was served with one dish at a time, starting with soup. I enjoyed the tangy, spicy tomato soup and salad with sweet and sour dressing, while sitting in the cozy dining room.
While I waited for the main dish, I had a chance to look at each portion of the restaurant and speak with some customers.
Toshihiro Okada, a gentleman in his 70s and a regular customer for 28 years, said he keeps coming back for his favorite Pizza House dishes.
“I always order Ashitebichi no kara-age (fried pork). The restaurant’s relaxed mood is also something l always like about this place,” Okada said. The longtime customer was seated on a round sofa in the Bar Lounge along with three friends. All of them agreed with Okada and said they adore the restaurant’s stateside mood.
When I got back to my seat, my main dish arrived. The tactful service impressed me a lot. I thought this would be less heavy than steak, and it turned out to be very satisfying. The tender and juicy cutlet came coated with melted cheese and tomato sauce and was a delight to my taste buds.
After my delicious meal, I had the dessert of the day, a slice of chocolate cake, a piece of frosted sponge cake, a madeleine-like cookie, and a mango mousse. For just 440 yen, it was a very good deal. The variety of desserts were a perfect way to end a perfect meal.
It was less than an hour that I spent there, but it was a lot of fun. The tasty food, chatting with friendly servers and customers, classy interiors, and the strong sense of nostalgia are what I will return for. And I’m already planning to order the steak on my next visit!
Pizza House
GPS Coordinates: 26.26226, 127.71396
Hours: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (lunch, last order at 2 p.m.); 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. (dinner, last order at 8:30 p.m.); 5:30 – 10 p.m. (dinner on Fri. and Sat., last order at 9 p.m.)
*Closed on Tue., Jan. 1, and the last day of Bon period
Pizza House Jr. Chatan (Near Kadena Air Base and Camp House Foster)
GPS Coordinates: 26.324803, 127.754367
Hours: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (last order at 8:30 p.m.)
*Closed on Wed.
*Orders to be accepted at drive-thru until 9 p.m.
Pizza House Jr. Futenma (Near MCAS Futenma)
GPS Coordinates: 26.278741, 127.778348
Hours: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (last order at 9 p.m.)
