Mike’s Slice of Detroit Pizza, Miyakojima, Osaka

With another addition to our excellent list of Osaka pizza spots, we present this review of Mike’s Slice of Detroit Pizza in Miyakojima, in Osaka.

We are not enthusiastic about what Mike has going on; not particularly good pizza, but might be an okay option if you’re nearby.

Mike’s Slice of Detroit (マイクのスライスオブデトロイト) is located on the east bank of the O River, near Sakuranomiya Station, in Miyakojima-ku – directly east of Tenma (only about a 15 minute walk across the river from Tenma Station).  Mike’s spot is not central or convenient, but it is a beautiful location.  The neighborhood was one of the best parts of visiting his shop.

The building is an “old-school” Japanese building, that has a somewhat Western, almost-European interior.  While few people appreciate this era of (simple) Japanese architecture, I liked that building, and it was a good fit for a causal, neighborhood pizza parlor.  Combined with the “eBay nostalgia” vibe they are pushing inside, it almost felt like I wasn’t in Japan anymore.

I love pizza, I love pan pizza, and I was excited to try this place… but I didn’t like Mike’s.  It was edible, but it was near the bottom of the list for pizza in Osaka.

This is where I often say, “doesn’t that look great!,” but in this case… it kind of doesn’t.  While the look and the taste of pizza aren’t always correlated, this tastes about as not-good as it looks.  As the Japanese say, “ma-ma desu” (so-so).

You might say, “Hey now, compared to what?!”  And that is a great place to take this review:

You want a good Detroit slice pizza in Osaka, check out Craft Beer and Pizza Imazato in Higashinari.  I recently made a few additions to that review, to give you a better shot of how Matt is doing Detroit pizza (and he’s doin’ it “niiiiice”).  When you look at that review, look at his pizza versus what you see here – there is no comparison.  Mike is making something special and delicious, you should check it out.

Want another example of proper Detroit pizza in Japan? A few hours away in Tokyo, the folks at Pizzakaya in Rippongi are making a Detroit Pizza that is truly fantastic. That pizza is so special, you should jump on a plane right now and go get a taste. As for Mike’s… I don’t think it’s worth a train ride.

This review may be a bit mean, but it’s real. No fluff; straight-talk about what is good – and what is bad – about pizza in Osaka. When you look at those other examples I provided above, you’ll see why I want you to have better pizza than you’ll find in this shop.

Here is a look at the pizza selection at Mike’s Slice of Detroit on the night I was there:

In addition to what you see in the picture, he had a slice of sausage left over, which I ordered, and was already in the oven when I took that shot of the pizza case.

Those pizzas all look sad to me. It’s a kinda sad shop.

Have you ever been to a school bake sale?  Or a bake sale at a church?  You know, where all the mom’s make some various cookies and cake, and they package them up in plastic wrap, and the kids sell you a “homemade” chocolate chip cookie, or a slice of banana bread, for like $3, and everyone earns some cash for a school trip or some new sports equipment or costumes for the school play??

Mike’s Detroit-style pizza has that same “homemade,” amateur quality to it, but without the charming “good cause” to explain away the lack of presentation or expertise.

In fact, the whole shop has a “not ready for prime time” feel to it.  It’s like the kind of shop that some kids from a college dorm might throw together, if they didn’t have much time, and they weren’t particularly cool (or not cool at all). This is like the uncool kids pizza shop.

The comparison to Matt’s Craft Beer and Pizza is apt, and presents just the right contrast.  Craft Beer and Pizza is also an American-import, it’s also intentionally “homey,” but the vibe is so massively different.  Craft Beer and Pizza has a vitality that this place does not have. It feels alive, in the way this place feels like it’s recovering from a bad head cold.

I’m thinking too, of Izakaya Jai Nai!!! Pizza outside of Nagoya.  It is a proper bar, that has been around for years. While no one would ever call that place an “Izakaya” (not if they can follow directions), it feels established.  They do a Chicago-style pizza there, that pizza is “unique” (almost weird), it doesn’t really look like Chicago pizza, but… they do it very well.  It’s very good pizza, one I am eager to try again.  And his style of beer feels more real, more connected, less trend-chasing or “me too.”

This shop is not cool, which, as an American myself, was disappointing.

Pizza can be properly “bad ass.”  It can be, and often is, very “rock and roll.”  Mike’s pizza has a sleepy kind of sentimentality to it, and the smell of rejection was in the air that night. Like a Revenge of the Nerds, but with all the revenge taken out of it, all that is left is the unchosen part… I guess I am doing my part to not-choose this place as well.

The vibe in Mike’s Slice of Detroit was kind of like the caste of Americans that think the Covid years were the best years, and long for the return. Mike’s Detroit Pizza looks like it was inspired by a “Zoom” call, like a too-small vision, dreamed up in an apartment on lockdown.

Of all the exports from America I see in Japan, this kind of vibe, while unfortunately common, is maybe my least favorite. Nah.

To give the shop one bit of credit; there were a couple of Western guys standing up, drinking at the bar, that were genuinely friendly, welcoming, good guys. Both coming and going, they were warm, and provided a heartbeat (that was much needed in there). Those guys should start their own pizza joint; they got the stuff for it.

You have a lot of good options for pizza in Osaka; I can’t think of much reason to go back to Mikes.

May good pizza be with you.

For more Osaka Pizza see:

— Don’t miss Critter’s Pizza in Nishishinsaibashi in Chuo-ku
— Napoletana pizza at Due Sette in Nishi-ku, Osaka
— [A] PIZZA in the Namba/Nipponbashi part of Chuo-ku
— Osaka’s Craft Beer & Pizza Imazato in Higashinari-ku
— Grab a slice at Hughes Pizza in the Nakazakinishi part of Kita-ku
— Pizzeria da Dots in Taisho-ku, Osaka
— Henry’s Pizza in Chuo-ku
— Pizza Bar Full House in Chuo-ku, Osaka
— The Goofy’s Pizza in Kita-ku
— That’s Pizza in Minamihorie/Nishi-ku
— Drunk Bears Nu Pizza in Chayamachi Kita-ku
— Pizzeria da Tigre in Nishi-ku
— Dal Donnaiolo Pizza in Kita-ku (Nishitenma)
— La Pizzeria da Napoletana Regalo