Tokyo’s takes on American comfort food can still be bewildering at times, but Philly in Nihonbashi isn’t here to serve you a Japanified version of the classic cheesesteak. Rather, it’s dedicated to offering one of the best money can buy.
Tucked away on an unassuming side street behind Tokyo Station, Nihonbashi Philly has grown a loyal fan base composed of local expats and Philadelphians alike. Step into the cosy ground-floor sports bar, adorned with Eagles and Phillies memorabilia, tags on the wall by travellers, and illustrations of hoagies, and you’ll almost be convinced that you’ve been transported to the city of brotherly love.
The signature dish (¥2,618) here features thinly sliced American beef topped with homemade cheese and encapsulated in meticulously prepared Italian rolls, which are baked daily in the basement. Due to this dedication to authentic hoagie rolls you can’t get anywhere else in Japan, the store only serves 50 hoagies daily. While sourcing some of their ingredients locally, proprietors Kosuke and Tomomi Chujo are determined to bring in the most important component – the meat – from the United States. They say its juicy and meaty flavour simply isn’t replicable in Japanese wagyu.
The tender and pleasantly savoury beef pairs harmoniously with the melty, gooey cheese poured on top, making for a truly satisfying sandwich. To replicate the hoagies sold in Philadelphia, the Chujos went the extra mile – well, more like 6,750 miles – and visited the city during the pandemic, where they engaged in some meticulous cheesesteak study. They sampled the offerings of several well-known Philly restaurants, including Pat’s – the birthplace of Philly-style cheesesteak – to refine their craft. At Nihonbashi Philly, look for the apron of the founder of Pat’s, framed near the stairwell, along with cute one-of-a-kind tags and paintings by renowned Philly muralist Steve Powers (aka Espo), a frequent customer and friend of Kosuke Chujo.