After having presented you my selection of vegetarian restaurants in Nice and the best restaurants in Nice specialising in Mediterranean cuisine, of which the restaurant Hotel Amour and the Bocca Nissa are part, this time I propose a selection of the best Japanese restaurants in Nice. We tend to think of Japanese restaurants as platters of sushi, sashimi, maki… etc. But think again! Japanese cuisine is much more varied than you think and there is no shortage of it in Nice.
1. Yuyu bento
Located in the heart of Nice at 27 rue l’escarène, Yuyu Bento is more of a street counter that offers take-away boxes that you can take to your office, home, the beach… As its name suggests, Yuyu Bento offers bentos, i.e. small boxes that are all the rage in Japan. These boxes are divided into several compartments where you will find the starter, the main course and the dessert. The menu is composed of 4 formulas all for only 11€. There is a meat and vegetarian formula. The menu offers traditional Japanese dishes such as :
- katsudon (breaded pork served with rice)
- karagé (marinated chicken)
- onigri (rice ball)
- sweet potato tempura and much more…
Everything is prepared by the Japanese chef Yukari, nicknamed Yuyu, from Nagoya
📍 27 Rue Tonduti de l’Escarène, 06000 Nice
📞 04 93 79 73 53
🕐Open Monday to Wednesday from 11:30am to 3pm and Thursday to Friday from 11:30am to 9pm.
Delivery is possible from 11:30am to 2:30pm and luncheon vouchers are accepted.
🍴 The Menu
Japanese Restaurants Nice Yuyu Bento
2. Maido
Located at 31 Rue Gioffredo, Maido is what is known in Japanese as an Izakaya, in other words, it is the equivalent of a French bistro. It is a warm place where it is good to meet with friends, family or colleagues to drink and eat good Japanese food served in tapas format to promote conviviality and sharing.
Although the menu changes regularly according to the seasonal products and the inspiration of the chefs, you will find classic dishes such as
- gyozas (ravioli)
- karaage (fritters)
- tonkatsu (breaded pork)
At lunchtime, the menu is €12 with a starter and a dish of your choice.
In the evening, the menu expands and the dishes are served more in the spirit of tapas to be shared as is the case in izakayas.
📍 31 Rue Gioffredo, 06000 Nice
📞 09 83 04 70 00
🕐Open Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to 2pm and Thursday to Friday from 7pm to 9:30pm.
🍴 The Menu
Japanese Restaurants Nice Maido
3. Ikko ramen
Located at 5 rue du Moulin, Ikko Ramen is one of the only Japanese restaurants in the old town of Nice. Its speciality: ramen soups (Japanese noodles), a must in Japanese cuisine. Ramen is a traditional Japanese dish served in a large bowl of Chinese noodles in a hot fish or meat broth.
On the menu, you will find the essential Japanese dishes:
- gyozas
- karaage
- edamame…
But you will also find a large choice of ramen:
- vegetarian
- pork roti
- seafood…
Prices vary from 11€ to 15€
📍 5 Rue du Moulin, 06300 Nice
📞 09 51 07 61 76
🕐Open Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm to 2pm and from 7pm to 9pm (9pm Tuesday to Thursday and 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday).
🍴 The Menu
Japanese Restaurants Nice Ikko Ramen
4. Qiwi Sushi
Located not far from the pedestrian zone at 13 rue Massenet, Qiwi Sushi is a Japanese restaurant in Nice offering sushi, sashimi and especially maki like no other. The chef has revisited Californian makis in her own way that you won’t find anywhere else! So, if you decide to eat at Qiwi sushi, don’t take anything other than Qiwi specialties that will blow your mind:
- Mexicano
- Summer Roll
- Blue Roll
- Pink Roll
- Rainbow Roll
- Louise’s Roll and many other specialities made in Qiwi
Prices vary from 10€ to 12€ for 8 pieces.
For the record, I brought several of my Parisian friends to this restaurant who loved the explosion of flavours in their taste buds.
📍 13 Rue Massenet, 06000 Nice
📞 04 93 88 92 66
🕐Open Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 2pm and 7pm to 10pm
🍴 The Menu
Nice Japanese Restaurants Qiwi Sushi
5. Ma yucca
Located at 26 rue de la Buffa in Nice, Ma Yucca is a Franco-Japanese restaurant that offers semi-gastronomic cuisine. The cuisine is tasty, the flavours subtle and refined, the dishes remarkably well presented, the service impeccable… It is a perfect address for a romantic dinner. The starter, main course and dessert menu costs 30€, which is good value for money considering the quality of the flavours. The menu changes every week but you will often find the same Japanese specialities as those mentioned above:
- Fried chicken
- Katsudon (breaded pork)
- Vegetarian guydon (soy protein)
- Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake)
📍 26 Rue de la Buffa, 06000 Nice
📞 04 93 88 39 84
🕐Open Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 2pm and 7pm to 10pm
🍴 The Menu
Japanese Restaurants Nice Ma Yucca
6. Onaka
A very discreet restaurant due to its location (hidden in a cul-de-sac at 12 passage Masséna, Nice) but which makes enough noise to fill all the covers (inside and out). I highly recommend making a reservation! Onaka is a Michelin-starred restaurant, and for good reason! At the helm is the 2021 French sushi champion, Alexis Luong, who had the opportunity to cook in Japan.
I found his cooking refined, subtle and surprising, a fusion of tastes that you don’t necessarily expect (I’m talking about the katsucurry, which I devoured in a flash). The salmon was excellent, transporting me back to Japan where I’d been incredibly surprised by the quality of the fish that melted in your mouth. The kind of experience that leaves a lasting impression. Thank you Onaka for this emotion which is now one of the best Japanese restaurants in Nice that I have tried so far.
📍 12 Passage Masséna, 06000 Nice
📞 09 52 97 26 83
🕐Open Tuesdays only in the evening from 7pm to 10:30pm – open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12pm to 2pm and from 7pm to 10:30pm – open Fridays and Saturdays from 12pm to 2pm and from 7pm to 10pm.
Reservations highly recommended!
🍴 The Menu
Japanese Restaurants Nice Onaka
7. Shintaro
The newcomer is going to make a splash soon. As I write this article, it opened exactly 1 week ago. I was really looking forward to trying it since the chef is a real Japanese. Result: it was excellent! You can feel the subtlety in the dishes made with a certain nonchalance. One thing is for sure: I absolutely want to go back. The menu is short but it’s not a bad thing, the prices are a little higher than average.
We opted for futomakis with omelette and eel, grilled tofu in its broth and a red tuna tataki.
📍 8 rue Gubernatis, 06000 Nice
📞 09 87 40 00 16
🕐Open Tuesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Japanese Restaurants Nice Shintaro
And you, what are your best Japanese restaurants in Nice ?
