As part of our series on the best pizza in Kobe, we present this very favorable review of 2 Bro’s Pizza, in Chuo-ku, Kobe, near Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station. The Brothers make an excellent New York-style slice.
Pizza and beer for 670 JPY sounds like a pretty good deal? That is because it is a good deal. Low prices can be a good thing, but more than that, this is delicious New York-style pizza.
Let’s take a look at what we’re talking about:
The 2 Brother’s Pizza slice spot in Sannomiya is classic NYC-style pizza in Kobe. If you’re kicking around online, you might find a listing for 99 Pizza in Kobe – this is the same place. (My guess is they want more than one listing for delivery apps, 99 Pizza is probably a “ghost kitchen.” Kinda shady behavior, actually.)
By whatever name you want to call it, Kobe’s 2 Bro’s pizza is located almost directly under the Hanshin and JR lines, just to the east (slightly downhill) of those two stations. It is a very small shop, in a busy walkway, not a particularly relaxing place to sit; but they offer really excellent slices, and are absolutely convenient if not perfectly comfortable.
Of all of the pizza slice restaurants in Japan that I have been to (and as the Official Pizza Czar of Japan, I have been to almost all of them – I’ll say more below), this shop is the most like an actual NYC shop. It has that “right on the street” feel, which is how they do it at American pizza slice shops.
For my first visit, I had just arrived in Kobe Airport by boat (I took the Bay Shuttle Ferry from Osaka’s Kansai Airport). From the airport, I took the Portliner train from the Bay Shuttle terminal to Sannomiya Station. As I arrived I was hungry, and my first stop in town was the 2 Brother’s shop.
2 Bro’s Pizza Shop is popular, and the shop was crowded as I arrived. The few small tables were full, and there was a a line.
Looking past the crowd as I waited, I could see some pizza; in the New York traditional way, Two Brothers keeps all the pizzas on display in a glass case.
The day I arrived, that 2 Brother’s Pizza case was fully stocked with several kinds of slices. Everything looked fantastic.
It is a great part of the New York pizza tradition that you can see what you’re getting before you order. You can’t always tell what the pizza will taste like (many pizzas look good, but aren’t that tasty – Nim’s Pizza in Tokyo has a case full of good-looking pizza, but their pizza is mostly pretty average). Generally speaking though, a good looking case is a fun part of the pizza slice experience, and your first clue you’re about to have a good time.
While the pizza in the case is the best indication of what is available, there is also a menu.
On the printed menu, you’ll see: the Cheese Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, Jalapeno Pizza, their Supreme Pizza, and a “weekly pizza” (which is like a special). There are also several attractively-priced “beer sets;” pizza combined with beer (choices of Corona or Budweiser).
The reality was that there were several special pizza slices in the case that weren’t on the menu, including: the Prosciutto Pizza, the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, and a “Triple Cheese” (which you might see as a causal version compared to the classic Quatro Fromage four-cheese pizza, like a budget version of the seven-cheese pizza you’ll find at Tokyo’s Pizza Bar on 38th).
The cheese pizza at 2 Bro’s in Kobe may not be particularly gourmet, but it has a nice price at 220 JPY. That is a screaming deal. For a slice of cheese pizza and a Bud, 640 JPY. Best prices in Japan, not doubt.
To be honest with you, I love the friendly prices at 2 Bro’s pizza. But if the pizza wasn’t good, I’d say so (and I wouldn’t care that it was cheap). In this case, the pizza was excellent, so in the end we have something to be excited about.
When it was my turn to order, I could choose from nine different types of pizza slices. They had just run out of Pepperoni Pizza while I was waiting in line, but… they had a fresh baked Pepperoni Pizza waiting by the time I got to the register. For me, it was to be a Pepperoni slice, and I wanted to try that Supreme Pizza (both are classic America NYC slice choices).
Along with my two slices, I ordered a cold Bud as part of one of their pizza + beer combo sets. This all set me up for an excellent lunch, and a warm welcome to Kobe.
That Supreme Slice comes loaded with toppings. It is 399 JPY, which is almost twice the price of a slice of cheese, but still much less expensive than an equivalent slice at any other good pizza slice shop in Japan. Deals here, on all their pizza.
“Supreme Pizza: Cheese, Pepperoni, Sausage, Olives, Jalapeno, Mushrooms, and Broccoli”
— From the pizza menu at 2 Brother’s Pizza in Kobe
My first bite; CRUNCH. That is a beautiful crispy crust. That Supreme slice had that sausage flavor coming through. Fantastic. You know I put some red chili flakes on that, as soon as I could.
I had just arrived in Kobe, and I was already having a good time. This was my first taste of pizza on this trip, but all of the pizza in Kobe turned out to be very good. Kobe is a real pizza town, every place I went was a winner. See our list of pizza in Kobe for all my reviews.
Because this shop is located right under the tracks, I could hear the trains rumbling overhead. But that wasn’t all I could hear.
Sticking with the New York influence, 2 Bro’s Pizza was playing some very good hip hop in the shop. What kind of hip hop? East Coast, yo – of course. Some Gang Star (“Step in the Arena”). Show and AG (“Next Level”). (Is that Q-Tip?) Some Tribe Called Quest (Yep, that’s Tip… “Find a Way”). And then a little “Left Coast” Warren G (“It’s ’94, That’s How We Doin’ It”) thrown in to bring the fam together.
Pizza and hip hop are a good combination.
I often talk about how NYC pizza shops in Japan love the pizza slice/hip hop/skateboarding combination. It’s true; it’s very common to find that combination in Japan (check out Roccos NYC Pizza slices in Tokyo for a good example) – but no skateboard references at 2 Bros (so I guess there is some room for improvement).
As part of my duty as the Pizza Czar, I ran my classic “pizza test.” Can you pick up a slice? At Kobe’s 2 Brothers, you most certainly can. That crunchy crust not only tastes good, but (with a little fold) it holds up well.
Someday soon I’ll write about an article about the best pizza slices in Japan, and 2 Brother’s Pizza will be on that list. To be fair, Kobe’s Jesus Pizza (just a few blocks away) will also be on the list of the best NYC slices in Japan; both of Kobe’s slice shops are excellent, and stand up against other top-quality pizza slice shops like Henry’s Pizza in Osaka, Dookie’s Pizza in Nagoya (their “Combo” is better than 2 Bro’s, actually, much better, that is a slice on anther level), or The Pizza in Tokyo’s Hiroo neighborhood (they make a very good slice).
If you like what you see at Two Bro’s pizza in Kobe, apparently you can take some frozen slices home with you.
Earlier in the review, I mentioned that 2 Brother’s Pizza is using a second name (“99 Pizza”), probably to get an extra listing on delivery apps. That’s kind of dodgy behavior. They are also bribing customers to write reviews by offering to give you a free sticker for a review. That means you can’t trust the Google reviews (but if you know Google Maps, you already know that). The sticker thing is more evidence of aggressive marketing behavior from the Brothers. Generally, that would make me distrust the product (and not like the shop).
*sparkle sparkle*
While I do like stickers, I don’t like the spammy marketing methods. However, the quality of the pizza stands tall. I have personally eaten Two Bro’s Pizza myself, and I can say from experience – absolutely fantastic pizza.
I am not the only one that likes what they are serving up. When I walked into the shop that day, it was packed, shoulder to shoulder. I had a really good pizza experience (at a great price).
The shop emptied out while I ate, and in the end, it was just me, an empty plate, and some bumpin’ hip hop overhead.
Fun place. Really excellent pizza.
Pizza Restaurants in Kobe
— World-class Neapolitan pizza at Azzurri Pizzeria in Chuo-ku, Kobe
— Elefante Pizzeria in Chuo-ku, Kobe
— Get NY-style pizza slices at Jesus Pizza in Chuo-ku, Kobe
— Chicago pizza at BrewPub Starboard Pizza in Chuo-ku, Kobe
— Simple, neighborhood Napoletana pizza at Pizzeria Allocco in Kunikadori in Chuo-ku, Kobe