Celebration of 50 Stores! Re-establishing Neapolitan as "Japan's National Dish." Accelerating Independent Support System and FC Recruitment for Next 100-Store Vision

"We want to make people say again that Neapolitan is delicious" is the philosophy of Spaghetti no Pancho (Operated by: Pancho Co., Ltd., Headquarters: Musashino City, Tokyo, President: Keisuke Nojiri). With the opening of "Spaghetti no Pancho Utsunomiya Tomaricho Store" on July 3, 2026 (Fri), we are pleased to announce that we have achieved 50 stores nationwide.

Redefining Neapolitan as Japan's Staple Food. 17 Years of Walking Without Being Swayed by Trends

When "Spaghetti no Pancho" was founded in November 2009, Neapolitan was largely perceived as a side dish found in old-fashioned coffee shops or as an accompaniment to hamburger steak sets. While there were many stylish "pasta specialty stores" and "Italian restaurants" popular with women, spaghetti shops where men could dine alone were rare.

Pancho's spaghetti began during a brand development meeting at Five Group Co., Ltd. (a restaurant company primarily engaged in izakaya management) when it was discovered that there was a staff member who could "make incredibly delicious Neapolitan." Praised internally as "This is delicious!", the company pondered, "Is Neapolitan a satisfying gourmet dish?" and "Who is the target audience for this Neapolitan?" This led to the establishment of Japan's first Neapolitan specialty store, "where everyone can enjoy their favorite Neapolitan to their heart's content, anytime."

We have expressed the nostalgic familiarity of "Neapolitan," which Japanese people have eaten since childhood, and the coffee shop culture that continues to serve it, through "Showa Retro"-themed store interiors and exteriors. We have also focused on providing a "ramen or gyudon-eating" style of large portions, allowing customers to customize their meals with unlimited cheese and hearty toppings, aiming to offer a "surprise" with every visit. Furthermore, through limited-time menus exploring the potential of spaghetti and seasonal toppings that keep things interesting no matter when you visit, we have focused on customer communication via menu development and service. Currently, we are growing into a popular dining brand with a repeat customer rate exceeding 85%.

*Repeat customer rate is based on our own survey conducted via in-store questionnaires. *Spaghetti no Pancho was spun off from Five Group Co., Ltd. in 2022.

Four Commitments That Continue to Charm Fans

Shortly after opening our first store in Shibuya, an elderly gentleman told us, "Thank you for creating a place where I can eat such delicious Neapolitan." From that moment, Pancho's philosophy, "We want to make people say again that Neapolitan is delicious," was born. To ensure that customers can always think, "Pancho's Neapolitan is really delicious, no matter when or where I eat it," we cherish four commitments.

1. The Challenge of Large Portions for Full Satisfaction

Compared to the standard 200g of cooked noodles for regular spaghetti, Pancho offers 400g for a regular serving. For the free mega-size upgrade, we provide 600g of noodles, which, combined with the sauce and ingredients, results in a satisfying total weight of approximately 900g.

2. "What is Al Dente?" Chewy, Extra-Thick Noodles

Pancho's noodles can be described in one word: "Chewy!" We use extra-thick 2.2mm noodles, which are boiled thoroughly to the core and then rested for half a day. This extra step creates an exceptionally chewy texture that is hard to find elsewhere!

3. Special Tomato Sauce Made Fresh Daily

The key to Neapolitan's flavor is our tomato sauce, handmade fresh in our stores every day. Based on tomatoes, the sauce is rich with garlic and aromatic vegetables, offering a distinct balance of acidity and sweetness that is sure to be addictive!

4. Stir-fried Over High Heat, That's Why It's Delicious!

The secret to its rich umami and fragrant aroma lies in "stir-frying over high heat." After boiling and resting, the noodles absorb plenty of moisture. We then stir-fry the noodles and sauce together vigorously over high heat, condensing the flavors and serving the Neapolitan piping hot.

Towards 100 Stores Nationwide and a Brand Loved for 100 Years

A Greeting from Keisuke Nojiri, President (Pancho Daiou) of Pancho Co., Ltd.

I joined Pancho five years after its founding. At that time, with only 6 stores, it was not yet a chain in the true sense. My mission was to nurture Japan's first Neapolitan specialty store into a chain loved throughout Japan. To achieve this, I devised a "100-Store Concept" as a management strategy, and we are now executing it with the unified effort of all our staff and franchise partners.

Pancho was originally a dining brand popular among male office workers. We would open stores wherever working men were, such as in front of stations or in building basements, allowing them to eat their fill of Neapolitan before returning to work.

Recently, Pancho's style has been changing, and we are seeing more female customers and families visiting our stores. Consequently, in shopping malls and roadside locations, we have expanded our menu beyond just "free large portions of Neapolitan" to include options like children's lunches (of course, featuring Neapolitan!) and soup spaghetti, catering to everyone's appetite and mood. However, we never forget to incorporate elements that provide a "surprise" of "Delicious!" and "Pancho's signature punch!" no matter what they order.

As roadside stores increase, we are responding to the need for "after a filling Neapolitan, I'd like to have coffee or dessert" by opening adjacent "Eight Coffee" takeaway shops (which also allow bringing items into Pancho stores) that serve coffee and crepes. We are constantly growing and evolving based on customer feedback and requests.

Moving forward, Pancho will continue to uphold its core philosophy of "We want to make people say again that Neapolitan is delicious," and provide the "surprise" of "Delicious!" from the first bite through diverse, Pancho-esque menus that cater to each customer's "satisfaction." Currently, "Pancho" is widely recognized as synonymous with Neapolitan, originating from the brand itself. However, upon reaching 100 stores, we aim to become the leading brand in the Neapolitan industry, known as "When you think of Neapolitan, you think of Pancho," and to become a "brand loved for 100 years" alongside Neapolitan as a part of Japanese culture. We kindly ask for your continued patronage of "Spaghetti no Pancho."

Seeking Next-Generation Owners to Expand Pancho Nationwide!

We believe that the power of people is paramount to achieving Pancho's "100-Store Concept" and entrusting new stores to them.

Therefore, we are recruiting for our "Independent Support System" to fulfill the dreams of those who wish to "start their own business!" or "become a restaurant owner!" and who have a desire to spread Pancho. Whether you are a beginner in the restaurant industry or transitioning from another field, you can rest assured. You will thoroughly learn everything from store operations to management at a popular Pancho store while working as an employee. Once the time is right, you can take over a popular store and become independent through this system. While working as an employee, you will receive a full salary and benefits, minimizing risk and maximizing your dream. We encourage you to apply for Pancho's Independent Support System.

Pancho Independent Support System Page: https://naporitanpancho.com/recruit/entrepreneur

We are also seeking restaurant owners who resonate with the philosophy of "We want to make people say again that Neapolitan is delicious" and who wish to spread delicious Neapolitan specialty stores together in various regions. We have a support system in place as a franchise headquarters, with dedicated supervisors and store development staff providing continuous support from store launch to daily operations.

Pancho Franchise Recruitment Page: https://naporitanpancho.com/fc

About Spaghetti no Pancho

A Neapolitan specialty store that offers nostalgia by adhering to traditional ingredients and cooking methods. Our signature extra-thick noodles are boiled the day before and allowed to absorb moisture, ensuring they perfectly blend with the sauce. The sauce, handmade fresh daily in our stores, offers a unique flavor that cannot be found elsewhere.

The generously portioned spaghetti (Small: 300g / Regular: 400g / Large: 500g / Mega: 600g*) can be customized with additional toppings (paid), such as fried eggs, thick-cut bacon, or baked cheese.

*Some stores have different noodle portion sizes. For dine-in, additional noodles beyond mega-size are available for a fee per 100g / Not applicable for takeout or delivery (please check the menu on our website or individual store pages for details).

Official Website: https://naporitanpancho.com

Official X: https://x.com/napopancho

Pancho Daiou X: https://x.com/top_of_pancho

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panchonaporitan

Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spaghetti_pancho

Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pancho_8888

▼Pancho's spaghetti is handmade one plate at a time in the kitchen, from preparation to cooking▼A unique specialty store with the philosophy "We want to make people say again that Neapolitan is delicious," loved by all ages and genders▼Satisfies Napolists (Pancho fans) with abundant topping menus and selectable noodle portions.

Pancho Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Musashino City, Tokyo, President: Keisuke Nojiri) is an affiliated company of B-kyu Gourmet Kenkyusho Holdings Co., Ltd. and Five Group Co., Ltd.