Pizzeria Gelateria Orso in Higashi-ku, Sapporo

Adding to our list of pizza in Sapporo, we present this review of Pizzeria Gelato Orso, in Higashi-ku, Sapporo; a solid neighborhood restaurant serving Napoletana pizza, with gelato options for desert.

Pizza Gelato Orso sits alongside some other shops (Bookoff Kosei Store), and isn’t particularly close to any station.  It is, however, close to the Sapporo Beer Museum and the Ario Sapporo shopping mall.  There is plenty of parking if you drive.  If you don’t drive, it’s probably most easily accessible by bus.

Inside, the store is not overly formal, maybe a little messy, with knickknacks lining the window sill and kids drawings taped to the walls; almost (but not quite) like being in someone’s home. Definitely feels like a family place, for families, and perhaps produced by a family.

As for pizza:

Sapporo’s Orso Pizza may not be the best pizza in Sapporo, but is certainly one of the best pizzas.  We have had a chance to try several of their pizzas, and we have the pictures to prove it.

We first ate at Orso Pizzeria in 2022, and the picture we have of the Orso pizza menu is a little old (the prices are definitely higher now), but the picture of the menu will give you an idea of the range of pizzas on offer.

The first pizza I ever had at Orso was the proscuitto mushroom pizza.

Prosciutto Funghi Pizza: Mushrooms, Italian Ham, Basil, Mozzarella
— From the pizza menu at Pizzeria Gelato Orso

That was a very tasty meal; these pictures provide a good view into the quality of the product.

Orso Pizza in Sapporo offers more than just pizza.  While I come for the slices, on at least one occassion, I tried some appetizers.

On subsequent visits to this shop, I have had a chance to try some of the other pizzas as well.

Diavola Pizza: Chicken Thigh, Spicy Italian Salami, Mozzarella cheese
— From Orso Sapporo pizza menu

That is a really good looking pizza.  That is not my favorite Orso pizza, but the sight of that crust is making me hungry.

The Diavola is a “devil” pizza, a Naples classic, named so because it’s spicy.  In this case, the pepperoni-like salami provides the heat.  There was also chicken thigh; while I appreciate the protein, I don’t like chicken thigh on pizza (in this case, it was overwhelming the other flavors). I recently had another chicken-thigh pizza at Pizzeria Circo Cocono; a great pizza – after I took the chicken off.

This Orso Diavola Pizza is a cheese-base pizza; no tomato sauce, and lots of mozzarella. Without the red sauce, because the mozzarella is mild, the taste of the burnt pizza dough added another dominate flavor. This was almost more like “cheese bread” than a pizza.  It was simple, little dry, but still a good pizza.

My favorite pizza is the Popolo.

Popolo Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Spicy Italian Salami, Black Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, Grana Padano
— Sapporo Pizzeria Orso pizza menu

Popolo means “people,” but I don’t think any humans were harmed in the making of that pizza.  This is a classic Neapolitan pizza, like a Siciliana or a pizza Romana, but with a spicy salami (like pepperoni).  As you can see, this one is beautiful and hit all the classic pizza tastes.  It’s a winner.

Orso makes a thin crust pizza, but not too thin. The crust is simple, sturdy, not overly puffy, properly black-spotted. It is also strong enough to be picked up; Orso passes the Pizza Czar pizza test.

The pizza oven is a big, brick-oven monster, seated in the center of the room.  If you scroll up to the picture of the outside of the restaurant, you can see the stacks of wood out front; this is wood-fired pizza in Sapporo.

And then, of course, after a couple of good pizzas (and perhaps a beer, or a glass of wine), it’s time for a some desert.

The have a robust selection, eight or ten flavors, with something for everyone.

The decore and atmosphere have a “small town” feel, part of what I will call “old Sapporo.” It’s comfortable, but not cosmopolitan.  The gelato + pizza combination is a good combination for all ages.

Pizza in Sapporo

— For an outstanding garlicky Marinara pizza, check out Da Massimo in Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo
— The Savoy Pizza in Sapporo is a great choice (in Chuo-ku)
— The farmers from Makino Farms make wonderful little Neapolitan pizza at Makino Pizza (one or two days a month, only)
— The Cocono mall location of Pizzeria Circo, in Chuo-ku, Sapporo
— A very formulaic Napoletana pizza at Dalsegno Pizza in Chuo-ku, Sapporo
— A new downtown location for the chain store Osteria Salvatore Sapporo Pizza is in this same neighborhood
— Quirky neighborhood style pizza at the American-theme Smile Kitchen Pizza Diner
— In Sapporo’s Nishi-ku, you’ll find Pizza e Svago di Pluis
— The only New York pizza slices at Pizza Joint Pike in Chuo-ku, Sapporo
— There is a full menu that includes good Neapolitan-style pizza at Agora Pizza in Chuo-ku, Sapporo
— One of the worst Chicago pizzas in all of Japan can be found at The Craft in Susukino in Chuo-ku, Sapporo