If you’re looking for a different and original experience in Paris, Kodawari Ramen is probably one of the addresses that will transport you the most… without even getting on a plane. There are two Kodawari Ramen restaurants in Paris: rue Richelieu (metro Palais Royal or Pyramides) and rue Mazarine (metro Odéon). This Japanese restaurant, which is generating such a buzz in Paris, has the particularity of offering much more than just a meal: it’s a real sensory journey to Tokyo.
It all starts with a virtual queue
I don’t want to disappoint you here, but this is a must, especially if you want to eat at peak times. Kodawari works with a virtual queue system: either you go directly to the website and fill in your email address and telephone number to join the queue, or you scan a QR code on the spot, sign up, and presto, you receive an SMS when your table is ready. Expect to wait about an hour, sometimes longer at peak times. It may seem like a long wait, but believe me, it’s all part of the Kodawari experience. The wait even gives you that little bit of excitement, a foretaste of a special moment.
A setting worthy of a film unfolds before your very eyes
Once inside, you forget all about Paris. The decor at Kodawari is spectacular: the place perfectly reproduces the atmosphere of Tokyo’s biggest fish market, the Tsukiji market. The weathered walls, Japanese lanterns, retro posters, crates of fish, hanging nets… every detail is designed to immerse you in the atmosphere of Tsukiji. You really get the feeling that you’re wandering through a little Japanese alleyway. This experience made me relive my solo trip to Japan in 2019!
On the menu…
Kodawari gyozas: a real favourite
It was culinary love at first sight! You can taste the homemade gyozas, with the pastry enveloping the meat. There’s nothing crunchy here, it’s a ravioli-style gyoza that melts in your mouth because it’s so well seasoned and tasty… If I had to go back just for this, I’d do it without hesitation. To nibble on as a starter with a glass of sake, it’s the perfect combo.
The ramen: good but..
Let’s get down to business: the contents of the bowls. Kodawari is known for its ramen, and it has to be said, it’s good. The broths are well flavoured and the noodles have a nice texture. But I didn’t find them to be the best in the capital. In fact, having tasted a lot of ramen in Paris, London and Nice, I found that it wasn’t as good as Ikko Ramen in Nice, for example, or Ikura in Bishop Stordford, which I found much more fragrant and explosive in terms of flavour. For me, the appeal of Kodawari Ramen lies as much, if not more, in the overall experience as in the bowl itself. The prices, meanwhile, are reasonable for Paris and for this kind of address: expect to pay between €14 and €19 for a ramen, depending on the recipe.
Sake in a masu: a must-try
I discovered this Japanese speciality during my incredible experience at Maido in Nice, an incredibly authentic izakaya. The masu is a small, traditional Japanese wooden vessel that adds an enormous amount of flavour when you drink sake straight from the masu. Not only is it pretty and typical, but it adds a real charm to the moment.
Verdict: an experience you should have at least once!
So, is it worth queuing for an hour? Yes… but not necessarily to go every week. Kodawari ramen is a place where you can take a break from Paris and immerse yourself in Tokyo’s culture. You go there for the full experience: the incredible decor, the soundscape, the waiters shouting in Japanese, the fast, efficient service, a good ramen broth and a masu sake… you leave feeling like you’ve travelled.
If you’re passing through Paris or looking for a restaurant that offers a truly original experience, Kodawari is a must.
Useful information
- Kodawari Yokocho
- 29 rue Mazarine 75006 Paris
- Underground: Odéon / Mabillon
- 01.43.29.37.67
- Monday to Sunday, 11.45am to 11pm – All year round
- Kodawari Tsukiji
- 12 rue Richelieu 75001 Paris
- Metro: Pyramides / Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre
- 01.42.61.34.60
- Monday to Sunday, 11.45am to 11pm – All year round
To join the virtual queue, click HERE
