KOENJI PAL Shopping Arade: Saizeriya for the least expensive Italian in all of JAPAN! Got a few coins? Go go... Wine only 100 yen. (iPhone 12 Mini)

I started taking long walks in the evening again and occasionally need a spot to chill for a short time. So I try to find the least expensive franchise restaurant that doesnt charge the automatic appetizer Otoshi fee.

Waiting list! Can you see that Japanese write their names in Katagana?

This Saizeriya was incredibly deep!  Its huge!

If I could only eat one type of pasta it could most definitely be Penne Arrabiatta. Only 400 yen with tax!

But I wanted to try something with a little more value for my money. Most restaurants make money off salads, pasta and pizza... so went for something more hearty.

Notice Im streaming!  Just started doing some IRL on Twitch. I have 40 followers... doh.

https://www.twitch.tv/alohasteve808

I should have gotten this really cheap set for 400 yen.

But went with the side of sausages for 550 yen.  Where the 2 little sausages worth the additional 150 yen?

I this restaurant is the only place in Japan where you can buy an actual Italian red or white wine for only 100 yen!  Kinda nuts.

This is a great deal for 550 yen. 

And I was soooo surprised that the hamburger was probably made from fresh ground beef versus some spots that use that kinda processed meat with zero juiciness.  Really good!

They have free original hot sauce.  Not watery like Tabasco and a bit more thick like siracha.. but a little on the sour side. 

Located on Koenji Pal Shopping Street

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uiqTgMvzn8ZRp8SH6

See how long the restaurant is!  Even with this size I had to put my name on the waiting list.

Overall if you want a very budget friendly family restaurant then for sure check out Saizeriya.  BUT if you are Italian then maybe no... might be too critical of the food.  I think the majority of diners here were either university students or in their early 20s.  If you pick and choose the food items well there are some really good selections.  I will be back!

Restaurant: Saizeriya Pal Shopping Arcade Branch

Restaurant J: サイゼリヤ 高円寺駅南口パル商店街店

Homepage: https://www.saizeriya.co.jp/

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1319/A131904/13177713/

Address J: 東京都杉並区高円寺南4-7-10, 高円寺ﾋﾞﾙ2F

Address E: Tokyo, Suginami-ku, Koenji 4-7-10, 2F

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/irkoBxKxL3p6Xk768

ファミレス、イタリアン、パスタ, 高円寺駅, Japan, Japanese, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, yelp, iphone 12 mini, cheap, bar, pub, izakaya, italy, pizza, pasta, spaghetti, 

AKASAKA: Saizeriya Italian Franchise... cheap and cheap and just plain bad. Just go for the wine and pasta. (Sony RX100)

I was just craving 1 thing at Saizeriya and they no longer carry it! The Spaghetti Vongole was just soooo satisfying.  So I went for the Penne Arriabiata to find out it was sold out.  UGH!

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2019/05/warabi-saizeriya-ristorante-e-caffee.html

300 yen glass of beer in a very light plastic mug... Are we at a picnic BBQ?

Bottle Wines are insanely cheap... definitely drink a few if you are a wine lover. 

So went for this delicious looking Buffalo Mozzarella Pizza!

But got kind of an oval shaped supermarket quality pizza... ugh.

This hamburger steak with cheese and tomato sauce looked yum!

But this arrived and a few bites I was done.  Nothing was good here.

No longer have tabasco but the home made hot sauce was nice. 

What looked like plastic files taped without care to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (Covid19).  The partitions were just caked with dust... not 2 sh@ts given for cleanliness.  

Just couldn`t eat the hamburger dish...  tasted like microwave TV dinner or a really bad domestic flight meal.  

Overall this location is a definite NO unless you go for the pasta.  When in foodie town Akasaka avoid at all costs and explore all the delicious restaurants.

Restaurant: Saizeriya Akasaka Branch

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130801/13164259/

Homepage: https://www.saizeriya.co.jp/menu/grandmenu.html

Address J: 東京都港区赤坂2-14-33 赤坂三田ビル藤会館 B1F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 2-14-33

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/9Z7P3Uofah3DHUpx7

サイゼリヤ 赤坂駅前店 , ファミレス, イタリアン, パスタ, Japan, Japanese, pasta, italian, bar, pub, sony rx100, foodie, tokyobelly, yelp, cheap, lunch, dinner, pizzeria,