Cheesesteaks in Nihonbashi, From Philly With Love
The Philadelphia Inquirer, the most well know newspaper in the city, published an article in March of 2024 about a restaurant in the Nihonbashi section of Tokyo called Nihonbashi Philly. The article described how the restaurant owners, Kosuke Chujo and his wife Tomomi, opened their little sports bar in 2012 after studying about how to create a cheesesteak online. I subscribe to the Inquirer, so when I read the article I vowed I would give it a try.
So I walked into the restaurant the other night at a few minutes before their opening time of 6pm. I was able to get a seat at the little counter space. Most of the tables were already filled. I ordered their signature cheesesteak, with fries and a root beer.
The Inquirer published two more articles on Nihonbashi Philly since that original article. One was about a Super Bowl party they were giving in February. Incidentally the TV on the wall was on a loop playing the entire shellacking of the Chiefs, which made me smile! I was not in Tokyo in February but if I had been I would have stopped by for sure!
The other article they published was about a recent trip the couple took to Philadelphia in late April for a "pop-up tour," which was an opportunity for Philly folks to sample their cheesesteak creations. They served their version at a couple of restaurants in the City, and from what I understand it went well. After I ordered I asked Tomomi about the trip to Philadelphia she just returned from, and she said they had a great time and can't wait to go back.
So, about the restaurant, well, it is small, with maybe five or six tables inside, and a couple outside. They have a few seats at the counter too. There's a ton of Philadelphia sports memorabilia on the walls, which made me feel at home despite being in the center of Tokyo.
My understanding is that they make their own cheese whiz, and the beef is American. The roll is sesame coated and a little crispy, in contrast to the soft Italian roll most shops in the US use.
So how was it? Delicious! Yes, it is different because of the bread, but the meat was top notch and the cheese whiz was at least as good as any I have had in Philly, including Pats.
After I ate, Kosuke offered to take a picture with me, and I gladly obliged. Overall a great experience. The owners are very kind, easy to talk to in English, and will take the time to hang with you briefly despite being slammed with orders.
So if you go, I'd recommend the standard cheesesteak with whiz, and on subsequent visits you can try the other cheeses and toppings. Enjoy!
