DON CICCIO – a vegan/vegetarian-friendly pizzeria using locally grown Kyoto ingredients
On March 18th, 2019, DON CICCIO opened their doors in the famous Fushimi street of Ryoma-dori. Outfitted with a traditional stone pizza oven, this up and coming pizzeria boasts the exquisite pizzas of 2014 Japanese representative to the World Pizza Championships and 2015 Asia Champion, Chihiro Togo. Known as the Sumo Pizzaiolo, Togo trained in Naples itself and is a well-known pizza purist. Through living in Naples and experiencing the day to day lives of the Neapolitan people, Togo fell in love with the Naples style of pizza.
The so-called food of the Neapolitan people, Neapolitan pizzas, are filling and nutritionally balanced, while their short one to two-minute cook time also makes them quick and easy.
Togo decided to dedicate himself to Neapolitan pizza because he felt he could bring that same delicious, yet cheap, style of pizza to the streets of Japan as well.
With Neapolitan pizza, you can order specific toppings and make your own original pizza. So, if you prefer no cheese, or want to swap out ham for tuna, then you can do so. This customizable aspect of Neapolitan pizza makes DON CICCIO an excellent spot for vegans, vegetarians and those with allergies.
One of the DON CICCIO's most defining features has to be their dough. Left to rise for close to 12 hours, the dough is chewy, noticeably salty, and filling; yet, still manages to not overpower or drown out the toppings in any way. DON CICCIO also avoids using preservatives in their dough, giving peace of mind to both parents and the more health-conscious of us.
With toppings of Kyoto grown vegetables and Fushimi brewed sake, at DON CICCIO you can enjoy the incredible flavors of the forever changing and evolving Kyoto x Neapolitan cuisine.
1Recommended
Neginara (Japanese Leek Pizza Marinara)
/ ¥1,300 (Excl. Tax)
The Neginara pizza is Chef Togo’s very own original pizza and his signature dish.
This original creation combines the tomato-based sauce, garlic and oregano of a pizza marinara with the flavors of Kyoto in the form of Kujo leeks and a mixture of spices known as shichimi.
As you make your way through each slice, you’ll get a mix of sweet and umami filled flavors from the Japanese leeks, which are then gradually followed up by a fiery kick from the shichimi. As this pizza doesn’t contain any cheese, you don’t have to worry about it getting hard when it cools down, making it perfect for take-out.
Also, the Neginara is free of any animal products, making it vegan-friendly as well!
2Recommended
Margherita
/ ¥1,300 (Excl. Tax)
The ever so popular Pizza Margherita. With a thick tomato sauce, stringy mozzarella cheese and aroma of fresh basil, this pizza may be simple, but its individual ingredients make it nevertheless, complex and delicious. Pizza Margherita is loved by all ages, so is practically a must-order for most families when they come to DON CICCIO.
Also, if you make your way to DON CICCIO at lunchtime, you’ll find that you can pick up a Margherita with a salad and a drink all for the reasonable price of ¥1,500 (Excl. Tax). For those wanting to try something a little different, there are the anchovy topped Romana and salami topped Saláme pizzas as well.
3Let's Try!
Seasonal Fruit Dolce Pizza
/ ¥1,800 (Excl. Tax)
The Seasonal Fruit Dolce Pizza is exactly that, a sweet pizza topped with seasonal fruits that changes every few months. The above photo was taken in August and is of a peach and ricotta dolce pizza. The gentle sweetness of the unpeeled peach and honey combined with the smooth ricotta is like nirvana in your mouth. The sprinkle of black pepper and saltiness of the dough gives the pizza an extra layer of depth and will have you coming back for slice after slice. Future pizzas are planned to feature dekopon, apple, banana, and even sumomo Japanese plums.
4Let's Try!
Vegetable Packed Chef’s Salad + Ham Topping
/ ¥1,400 (Excl. Tax)
The vegetable-packed Chef’s Salad is a popular dish that features fresh, Kyoto grown veggies. The original carrot, orange and onion dressing is deliciously light and goes perfectly with the cheese on the pizzas. For those who are looking for an even healthier option, you can choose to not include the ham topping and get just the salad for ¥800 (Excl. Tax).
This salad is quite substantial so we recommend ordering one to share between multiple people.