Paris has an obsession with Japanese food. The result? There’s a genuinely amazing array of quality Japanese restaurants in the city. From hand made soba noodles to ramen, Omakase to teppanyaki – there’s something for every budget and taste.
After living in Paris for over 9 years, I’ve had the chance to try a lot of them. These are the spots that I actually go back to – no gimmicks, no tourist traps (list is in no particular order).
🍜 Looking for ramen? Check out my guide to the best Ramen in Paris.
Abri Soba
Abri Soba is up there as one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in the city. It’s genuinely a superb and authentic spot.
Located in the 9th arrondissement, you’ll find the restaurant in a small side street – pretty much always with a queue outside. Yep, you can’t reserve here but fortunately if you’re willing to queue, you’ll easily get a table.
Once you’re in you certainly won’t feel like you’re in Paris. The wooden paneling and industrial accents mixed with moody lighting creates a very cool atmosphere.
In the evening their menu offers a mix of Izakaya style small plates. Tonkatsu and their Karaage chicken are very well done – juicy chicken and perfectly cooked medium pork.
Grilled mackerel is delicious – I think cooked over coals and glazed. Their soba noodles however are the star of the show. Served hot or cold, they’re exceptional. I really liked their hot duck breast soba soup. The duck was sliced thinly and was very tender wit the hot soup brining it up to a perfect temperature.
What to know before you visit
- They don’t take reservations
- Expect 30-45 mins queue in the evening during peak times
Address: 10 Rue Saulnier, 75009
Website: https://www.instagram.com/abri_soba
Cost: €40-50 per person
Higuma
On the famous Rue Sainte-Anne, you’ll find a very good, budget friendly option – Higuma.
Serving food non-stop from lunch till late, it’s a great spot if you wake up late and want an affordable lunch in the city centre. That said, there’s always a queue during peak times but don’t worry, it moves quickly.
The interior has a canteen vibe – it’s quick, efficient and on the no-frills side. That said, it’s very reasonable and great quality for the price.
Star with their excellent home made gyozas – they’re delicious. Steam-fried, you get the crispy bottoms and perfectly cooked interior.
I love their Yakisoba – crispy yet tender pork and calamari rings are sautéd with soba noodles and are perfectly seasoned – perfection.
Their ramens are either Shio (‘salt’), Shoyu (soy based) or miso – there’s no tonkatsu here. They’re solid – not the best in Paris but still do the job if you want a hot bowl of soup. The noodles are well cooked and the char siu pork is tender albeit rather on the thicker side.
What to know before you visit
- They don’t take reservations
- You’ll have to queue during peak times but it does move fast
Address: 10 Rue Saulnier, 75009
Website: https://www.instagram.com/abri_soba
Cost: €15-20 per person
Okomuso
Okomuso is a fantastic little restaurant in the Marais specialising in Osaka style Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba. Located in a small side street down from Rue Bretagne, it’s a great spot if you want a quick lunch or dinner in the Marais.
The small restaurant has only counter seating with one large separate table away from the bar. Sit on the counter and you’ll get a great view of the chefs working on the huge plancha.
Start with their fantastic steamed gyozas – tender, juicy and perfect with the dipping sauce. I also had their onion salad finished with bonito flakes – interesting but I wouldn’t take it again.
Their Okonomiyaki – the house speciality – is the star of the show here. It’s delicious. Osaka style (rather than the Hiroshima style) it’s made with cabbage, eggs and mixed with grilled meat and seafood (you can opt for a mix of pork, shrimp and squid. It’s then finished with Kewpie mayo and their special Okonomiyaki sauce.
I also really like their Yakisoba which is also made on their huge plancha. Noodles are seared with optional pork, shrimp and calamari and finished with their house sauce and pickled ginger.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online
- Open all week for lunch and dinner
Address: 11 Rue Charlot, 75003
Website: https://www.okomusu.fr/en/
Cost: €25-30 per person
Yen
Yen is a fantastic minimalist, yet traditional, Japanese restaurant in the city’s 6th arrondissement. Located just next to the famous Relais de l’Entrecote, it’s perfectly situated in the famous Saint German des Prés area. Yen specialises in soba (buckwheat) noodles – served either cold or warm. There’s not just noodles though – there’s a diverse menu of refined, precisely cooked food. From tempura vegetables, poached oysters and grilled seafood perched on top of an incredibly umami rich broth.
What to know before you visit
- On the pricier side (€60-70 each)
- Try the cold soba noodles
Address: 22 Rue Saint-Benoît, 75006
Tel: 01 45 44 11 18
Website: https://www.yen-paris.fr/en/
Kaito
Kaito is a new Japanese hand-roll bar in the city’s very central 6th arrondissement on rue de Seine. Started by sushi master, Taku Watanabe (ex chef/owner of JIN) after moving to London, Kaito is a quick, standing room only Japanese hand roll bar. The menu revolves mainly around their a la carte roll selection and their signature rolls. Expect premium toro (the famous fatty belly selection of tuna), crab and sea bream. Their sides include mixed pickles, tofu tartare and crab salade. There’s also an incredible wine and saké list including premium Grand Crus from Burgundy.
What to know before you visit
- Vegan friendly (there are 3 vegan rolls on offer)
- You can reserve online
- They’ve now introduced bar stool seating
Address: 71 Rue de Seine, 75006
Website: https://www.instagram.com/kaito.paris/
Kisin
Kisin is an excellent Japanese restaurant specialising in Udon noodle dishes. With a strong focus on quality imported ingredients from Japan, the food here is superb. Their noodles are hand made in the restaurant with flour from Japan and their incredible master-stocks (dashi) are made again with ingredients imported from specific areas of Japan. The menu focuses on either hot or cold udon dishes varying between meat and vegetable options and broth dishes or dry noodle dishes. For those wanting something else, there’s an a la carte menu with classics such as karaage (Japanese fried chicken), tofu and vegetable tempura.
What to know before you visit
- Closed on Sundays
- Vegan friendly
Address: 7-9 Rue de Ponthieu, 75008
Tel: 01 71 26 77 28
Website: http://udon-kisin.fr/en/
Pontochoux
This tiny little café is a great spot to get Japanese curry in Paris. It may not be the most authentic in terms of decor and vibe but honestly, it’s one of the best chicken katsu curries that I’ve tested in Paris (even compared to Rue Sainte-Anne).
Named after the road it’s on – rue Pont aux Choux – in the North of the Marais, it’s a great little quick lunch spot if you’re shopping in the area. Be warned however that it’s more of a quick fast food spot than somewhere you’ll be lingering.
There are 4 options to choose from – fried chicken (karaage), tonkatsu (breaded pork), vegetable or slow cooked beef curry. Note that a marinated soft boiled egg is €3 extra.
We went for the fried chicken and tonkatsu curries. The chicken is fried whole and then cut up for service. I think they use a karaage batter which gives it an insane crunch. It’s juicy and perfectly cooked. The curry? Delicious. Perfect consistency for me, sweet, slightly spicy and very aromatic. I like that they include pickled ginger to cut through the richness.
The tonkatsu is equally as good as the chicken. It is pounded out thin so don’t expect blushing pink pork here but it’s still tender and moist.
I’ll definitely be back to Pontochoux for some quick eats. It isn’t the cheapest at €17.80 with a tamago and the portions aren’t huge but it is very good.
What to know before you visit
- They’re open from 11:30am-5:30pm
- Closed on Mondays
- There are only a few seats so you may have to wait outside during peak times
Address: 18 Rue du Pont aux Choux, 75003
Website: https://www.instagram.com/pontochoux
Cost: €15-20 per person
Nodaïwa
An incredibly authentic spot, located on the famous shopping street, rue Saint-Honoré in the city centre, Nodaiwa focuses on one ingredient: eel (unagi – Japanese fresh water eel). The decor, menu and preparation of the food will make you feel like you’re actually in Tokyo – oh not to mention the fact that you’ll be surrounded by Japanese diners. The menu has various options depending on size and what seasoning you would like – the later is either premium soy or sanshô (a Japanese pepper corn). They also have various tasting menus and an a la carte menu including eel liver brochette and sashimi.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online
Address: 272 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001
Tel: 01 42 86 03 42
Website: https://www.nodaiwa.com
