Chianti - A Hidden Italian Gem in Sasazuka | MK Eats

Some restaurants attract you with their food, others with their atmosphere. And then there’s Chianti in Sasazuka, which does both effortlessly—with a touch of magic. From the moment you step inside, the soundtrack sets the tone. Connie Francis’s "Second Hand Love", The Dixie Cups’ "Chapel of Love", and Eddie Cochran’s "20 Flight Rock" hum through the speakers, creating a playlist that takes you to another era. It feels like stumbling into a family-run trattoria on a quiet Italian street, where locals sip wine at their favorite table and life unfolds at a relaxed, unhurried pace.

At first glance, the salad dressing looks simple, poured from a bottle shaped like a genie’s lamp. But one taste reveals why people are eager to take a bottle home. The pasta? Unforgettable. A straightforward yet perfect dish—garlic-infused with fresh Hokkaido clams, the kind of meal that makes you slurp up every drop of sauce until the plate is clean. The steak? Incredibly tender. It melts like velvet, making a knife almost unnecessary.

And then there’s the balsamic—thick, gel-like, utterly addictive, the kind of thing you didn’t realize you needed more of until you’ve tried it once. Even the fries, golden and crispy, evoke memories of lazy afternoons in the Mediterranean—a side that stays with you long after the meal ends.

A brick oven stands proudly in the kitchen, producing beautifully blistered pizzas that fill the air with the aroma of fire-kissed dough and bubbling cheese.

The décor has a relaxed retro vibe, with plush sofas and chairs that invite you to settle in for hours. An old pink rotary phone sits in front of a wine fridge stocked enough to make royalty jealous.

Beyond the food and ambiance, what truly makes Chianti special is its people. The staff wear their smiles like an extension of the restaurant’s warmth, and the hostess—one of the most personable I’ve met in Japan—has a way of making you feel like an old friend from the moment you walk through the door.

She jokes with guests, keeping the atmosphere friendly and lively, a reminder that a great restaurant isn’t just about what’s on the plate but also about who serves it to you.

And then there’s the bathroom. Without revealing too much, it might be one of the most entertaining I’ve ever seen. You won’t want to leave until the song inside finishes—a small but meaningful sign of the care put into every aspect of this place.

You don't have to go to Shinjuku or Ginza for great Italian when a gem like this quietly sits in Sasazuka.

Whether you’re planning a romantic gourmet date or enjoying a laid-back weekend treat, Chianti delivers. The weekend lunch special, which includes salad, coffee, and dessert, is the kind of deal that feels like a well-kept secret among those in the know.

And then there’s the tiramisu. The kind of dessert that makes you pause after the first bite, rich yet impossibly light, with the perfect mix of espresso, mascarpone, and cocoa. If I had followed my instincts, I would have ordered two without hesitation. It was a close call.

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M.R. Lucas is a writer living in Japan.