# Was the Hawaiian Pizza really invented in Germany? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042 "2009-05-20T03:36:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/21 "2009-05-21T01:24:17Z")
According to the Wikipedia quote, the Hawaiian pizza is considered to be German IN ITALY. So any research into this topic might have to zero in on specifically Italian food history, interactions with Germany, prejudices, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/22 "2009-05-21T02:03:10Z")
In Japan, they have “hawaiian pizza” with pineapple bits and ham. They also have tuna pizza, and pizzas with other interesting toppings such as corn kernals, mayonnaise, dry seaweed, egg, etc. For “Hawaiian Burgers”, Dopers in Honolulu or Los Angeles or Tokyo may want to try out **Kua Aina Burgers**. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/23 "2009-05-21T02:09:55Z")
I did have the Ohana Burger for lunch today. No teriyaki, but it was tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/24 "2009-05-21T02:19:20Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Both are common in the UK and Sweden as well. > > Perhaps because pizza seems so, hmm, culturally significant in the US people have been less open to change/experimentation, as opposed to in Europe where it seems they’ll throw anything on one. Hawaiian pizza is perfectly standard, at least on the West Coast. You’ll hardly find a pizza place that doesn’t list it. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/25 "2009-05-21T03:30:27Z")
\ The first time I ever had Hawaiian Pizza was in a guesthouse in Germany. It was my first day on foreign soil and after a harrowing 15 hour flight, it was a welcome respite. \ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/26 "2009-05-21T03:36:27Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Hawaiian pizza is perfectly standard, at least on the West Coast. You’ll hardly find a pizza place that doesn’t list it. [SoCal native.] I first saw a Hawaiian pizza until about 30 years ago. I can’t remember being anyplace since then that didn’t have it. Virtually every pizza joint has Hawaiian pizza. It would be harder to find a (rather ubiquitous) BBQ chicken pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/27 "2009-05-21T03:44:00Z")
We came to the US in '77, and Pizza Hut in Ohio didn’t have Hawaiian pizza then. I don’t know when they started serving it; it’s probably standard now. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/28 "2009-05-21T04:00:49Z")
All I know is I never heard of Hawaiian pizza until I lived in, er, Hawaii, oddly enough. In Thailand, they have tomyum kung pizza and other types designed to elicit the flavors of Thai food. But even the wife prefers the more Western styles. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/29 "2009-05-21T04:03:23Z")
I’ve had a Thai peanut chicken style pizza. Chicken, peanut sauce, cilantro, onions, and I don’t know what else. I pronounce it good. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/30 "2009-05-21T04:19:53Z")
It’s funny the peanut sauce has come to be so identified with Thai food internationally. It’s actually Malay. Thailand got it from Malaysia. Then there’s _gado gado_ in Indonesia, a wonderful peanut-sauce salad. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/31 "2009-05-21T04:22:41Z")
> [@Ro0sh](#): > > The only place I had Tuna Pizza was at the Vatican in the food court/cafeteria of one of the big Museums there. > I didn’t know what I was ordering and just figured it was ordinary pizza. > But it turned out to be a thin crust Tuna Pizza… so I paid for it and ate it anyways. > And it was DIVINE! Nom nom nom. Now I want me some PopePizza… I once had a slice of tuna/olive/mushroom pizza in Jerusalem, where you’re not likely to find the usual meats on a pizza. It was very good. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/32 "2009-05-21T04:43:43Z")
> [@Ro0sh](#): > > The only place I had Tuna Pizza was at the Vatican… > > … > > And it was DIVINE! Uh, duh? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/33 "2009-05-21T07:48:56Z")
Pineapple and bacon on a burger is excellent. _Grilled Pinapple_ and bacon on a burger is utterly divine. :drooling smilie: ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/34 "2009-05-21T08:44:43Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Hawaiian pizza is perfectly standard, at least on the West Coast. You’ll hardly find a pizza place that doesn’t list it. Fair enough. I was just going on what was said earlier on the thread. Something that may well be incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Future\_Londonite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9dc877/32.png) [@Future\_Londonite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Future_Londonite)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/35 "2009-05-21T09:06:48Z")
> [@Mycroft\_Holmes](#): > > Maultaschen, Buabaspitzla (Schupfnudeln), Linsen und Spätzle, schwäbischer Kartoffelsalat, Laugenbrezel, Hefezopf, Träubleskuchen…it’s all good. > > Three of my four grandparents were Schwaben, and I love the food there. If I smell coffee and Hefezopf I’m instantly transported back to my Uroma’s kitchen where she would dunk the Zopf in some coffee with milk and give it to us on Sunday mornings. > > If you want to try German specialties from other regions I can recommend (going roughly from North to South): [Labskaus](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus), [Kohl und Pinkel](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinkel), [Leipziger Allerlei](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leipziger_Allerlei), [Himmel un Ääd](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himmel_und_Erde), [Rippchen mit Kraut](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurter_Rippchen), [Grie Soos](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%BCne_Sauce), [Handkäs mit Musik](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handk%C3%A4se), [Saumaache](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pf%C3%A4lzer_Saumagen), [Bamberger Zwiebeln](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamberger_Zwiebeln), [Krenfleisch](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krenfleisch), [Schweinshaxe](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweinshaxe), and last but not least: [Weißwurst](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wei%C3%9Fwurst). > > That should get you started on your culinary trip through Germany. 🙂 Now all of these are excellent and tasty recommendations except for the Handkaes - I’ve tried almost all of the above mentioned but regret the day I ordered Handkaes ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/36 "2009-05-21T21:41:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I know in Ireland I saw sweetcorn (maize, American corn, whatever) on pizza. Even in the US, I’ve seen plenty of odd things on pizza, but we’d never even think of putting corn on it. That’s a pity because it is delicious on pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/37 "2009-05-21T21:45:33Z")
As it happens, I have some pizza dough in the freezer, mozzarella in the fridge, and a small can of Niblets in the cupboard. I suppose I can get some tomato paste. So what else goes on corn pizza? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/38 "2009-05-21T21:47:51Z")
I usually have it as part of a vegetarian pizza. Corn, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms. Something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/39 "2009-05-21T21:52:08Z")
I’ll bet it would be good with chicken. Maybe a BBQ chicken-and-corn pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042/40 "2009-05-21T22:32:19Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve had a Thai peanut chicken style pizza. Chicken, peanut sauce, cilantro, onions, and I don’t know what else. > > I pronounce it good. That sounds yummy!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-hawaiian-pizza-really-invented-in-germany/497042.md?page=3)