Coming Soon: A Top Tokyo Pizza Joint Is on Its Way, Sydney

In February, Eater announced New York’s Tokyo-style pizza era was beginning. And it’s looking like Australia’s is, too.

Japanese pizzaiolo Tsubasa Tamaki’s floppy, charred rounds are globally renowned – launching him from the little Tokyo kitchen he opened in 2017 to the world (with Pizza Studio Tamaki now found across Japan, along with outposts in Singapore, Thailand, New York and the Philippines). And Sydney’s up next.

“I first discovered Pizza Studio Tamaki by chance while browsing Instagram,” says Nixon Alex, CEO of Kaizen Food Group. “I came across a post from The Best Pizza announcing that Pizza Studio Tamaki had won the Experience Award in 2024. I also learned that Tamaki-san had been ranked ninth among the world’s best pizza chefs.”

Kaizen is responsible for bringing Mensho Tokyo to Sydney and Melbourne, and the team’s on Studio Tamaki duty too. Alex, charmed by the accolades he’d read, immediately travelled to Tokyo to get himself a slice – and meet Tamaki-san to pitch the idea of the pies heading to Oz.

“I have visited Pizza Studio Tamaki in Tokyo three times, and each experience has been exceptional,” Alex says. “The pizza is unlike anything I have tried elsewhere. I am continually impressed by the consistency in flavour, presentation and the unique ingredients on the menu.”

The Japanese pizza scene is world-class, with chefs taking perfectionism to every element of their slices. The pizzas are thin-crusted like a Neapolitan, with the ovens burning Japanese wood to give a specific flavour. “What truly sets Tamaki-san’s pizzas apart is his commitment to fundamental ingredients – especially the flour and salt,” Alex says. “The balance and quality create a flavour combination that is remarkably refined and unlike any other pizza I have tasted.”

In Sydney, expect the house Tamaki pizza, topped with smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano, whole cherry tomatoes and basil; as well as the sausage-and-egg-topped Bismarck and honeyed five-cheese round.

The project has been planned for a year, with Sydney’s incoming 78-seater undergoing a full design and fit-out. Tamaki will be here for the launch, and deeply involved with the Australian expansion – with a Melbourne outpost planned for November this year.

“[Tamaki] is passionate, detail-oriented, highly committed and a pleasure to collaborate with,” Alex says. “Tamaki-san visited Sydney last week and was extremely impressed – with both the location of the first Australian restaurant and the vibrancy of the city itself.”

Pizza Studio Tamaki is slated to open at 259 George Street, Sydney, on May 15, 2026.

@pst.australia