Pizza may be Italian by birth, but it has gone global and each country has its own twist. While pepperoni rules in the US, others prefer coconut, squid, and even durian for toppings. Here are 10 of the most unexpected slices you’ll find abroad.
10. Brazil: Banana with Cinnamon or Chocolate
In Brazil, pizza sometimes doubles as a dessert. One favorite topping is sliced banana, baked with mozzarella and finished with cinnamon. For an even sweeter fix, there are also pies topped with chocolate or dulce de leche. The idea makes sense in a country where pairing fruit and cheese is a tradition.
9. Sweden: Curry, Banana & Peanuts
Walk into a Swedish pizzeria and you might just find a pizza topped with banana slices, curry powder, and crunchy peanuts. You can tell Swedes love mixing sweet and savory. These toppings reflect Sweden’s love for global flavors, where curry powder became a household spice in the 20th century.
8. Costa Rica: Coconut
In Costa Rica, pizzas get a tropical transformation. That’s because shredded coconut show up on pizzas, often sprinkled toasted or fresh over cheese and sauce. It gives each bite a light sweetness and chewy texture. The topping reflects Caribbean influence, where coconut milk and flakes are staples in dishes and desserts.
7. Japan: Tuna-Mayo with Potato
Japan’s love for tuna-mayo rice balls and croquettes spills onto pizza. Here, toppings often include canned tuna with mayo, soft potato slices, and even kernels of corn. The mayo adds richness while the tuna gives gentle umami. Fans call it mellow and filling, the kind of pizza you’d want on a rainy evening.
6. Japan: Mentaiko, Mochi & Nori
Another Japanese favorite features layers of spicy cod roe (mentaiko), mochi, and strips of nori seaweed on pizza. The mentaiko adds a salty, spicy kick, mochi offers chewy contrast, and nori delivers briny notes. Together, they’re like a texture playground that pairs well with melted cheese.
5. Japan: Seafood Toppings
Seafood pizzas in Japan usually feature eel or squid, alongside other ocean favorites like clams, salmon, or roe. These toppings are linked to Japan’s seafood-first diet. Locals enjoy them the way Americans enjoy pepperoni. Each seafood topping is rooted in national taste traditions.
4. Italy: Boiled Egg & Mayo
In Pesaro, Italy, locals are proud of their hometown classic called Pizza Rossini. After baking, this pizza is topped with slices of boiled egg and drizzles of mayonnaise. Created in the 1960s, it was created to pair with aperitivo drinks, turning pizza into a stylish snack. Today, you can still find Pizza Rossini in Pesaro’s pizzerias, celebrated as a local specialty.
3. Brazil: Pizza Portuguesa (Egg, Ham, Olives, Peas)
The Pizza Portuguesa is one of Brazil’s most well-loved styles. Inspired by Portuguese-Brazilian food traditions, it has layers of tomato sauce and mozzarella with onions, ham, olives, and hard-boiled egg slices. Each topping brings something: briny depth, creaminess, salt. The balance makes it hearty but not overwhelming.
2. China: Durian
In China, one of Pizza Hut’s biggest sellers is topped with durian. This tropical fruit is famous for its bold smell and custardy flesh. To locals who grew up eating durian, this topping isn’t odd at all. It just adds creamy sweetness to the cheese. But the weirdness doesn’t end there. In 2025, Domino’s released Durian Dubai Chocolate Pizza, and according to Redditors, it’s weirdly good!
1. Australia: Ham & Orange
In Victoria, Australia, Bubba Pizza introduced a topping combo that got the country talking: chunks of fresh orange and smoked ham. Yes, this is a riff on the sweet-savory combo that made ham and pineapple a global hit. Australians are known for bold food mash-ups, and using these toppings add to their adventurous streak. Some compare it to a holiday ham with orange glaze, but in pizza form.