Best Japanese Restaurants in Paris: the essential shortlist
Paris has a serious crush on Japanese cuisine. From three-star kaiseki to smoky yakitori and steamy bowls of ramen, the capital serves it all on a few compact streets. The question is no longer where to find it, but how to pick the right table tonight.
Here is the good news : a handful of addresses concentrate the city’s top craft, each with a clear identity. Some are booked weeks ahead, others welcome on a whim. The selection below balances Michelin-starred landmarks with cult casual stops, so a craving meets a seat.
These spots define the moment in Paris for Japanese food, each for a different reason.
- Kei – haute cuisine by chef Kei Kobayashi, holder of three Michelin stars according to the Michelin Guide France 2024.
- Ogata – serene kaiseki in a refined townhouse, with a tea room that feels like time paused.
- Pages – fire-kissed meats and precise sashimi, one Michelin star per the 2024 Guide.
- Sola – intimate tasting menus in a stone cellar, Michelin-starred in the 2024 selection.
- A.T. by Atsushi Tanaka – boundary-pushing plates, awarded a first Michelin star in 2024.
- Kodawari Ramen Tsukiji – ramen in a buzzing fish-market setting, lines but fast turnover.
- Sanukiya – bouncy udon and tempura near Opéra, comforting and quick.
- Kunitoraya – classic udon stalwart in the 2nd, generous bowls and tidy pricing.
- Pâtisserie Tomo – dorayaki and wagashi for a sweet stop, small but memorable.
Michelin-starred Japanese in Paris: what the 2024 Guide says
The top headline came in 2020 : Kei Kobayashi became the first Japan-born chef to earn three Michelin stars in France, a milestone confirmed each year since by the Michelin Guide. It set a new bar for Japanese fine dining in Paris and drew global diners to a discreet room steps from the Louvre.
Momentum has continued. The Michelin Guide France 2024 lists A.T. by Atsushi Tanaka with its first star, recognizing a style that blends Japanese technique with Parisian produce in sharp, minimalist courses. The same 2024 selection confirms one-star status for Pages and Sola, two addresses that have quietly refined their visions rather than chase trends.
Ogata adds a different voice to the starred club. The house practices a kaiseki-inspired ritual with seasonal broths, pristine fish and impeccable rice, earning a Michelin star noted in the 2024 edition. Different rooms, same thread : precision and restraint.
Sushi counters, ramen lines and izakaya vibes: how to choose tonight
Cravings shape the plan. Want theater and silence at a cypress counter? Aim for sushi-omakase spots and sit at the bar to watch each nigiri formed at the last second. Prefer warmth and noise? Ramen shops like Kodawari Ramen Tsukiji run on steam, shouts and fast slurps.
Common trip-ups happen. Booking a starred table too late, arriving at peak time for no-reservation ramen, or underestimating how focused menus can be. One fix is simple : lunch. Many fine-dining rooms feel more relaxed at noon and some offer shorter formats, while casual places clear lines between 2 pm and 6 pm.
A concrete example helps. Pair a late afternoon bowl at Sanukiya with a pastry stop at Pâtisserie Tomo, then plan a next-day dinner at Pages or Sola booked a few weeks ahead. The pacing keeps energy up and avoids the 7 pm bottleneck that stretches queues down the block.
Booking smart in Paris: timing, budgets and neighborhoods
Starred rooms like Kei, Pages, Sola and Ogata typically open reservations a few weeks in advance. Set an alert the day books open, choose counter seats when offered, and accept early or late slots to land tough tables. Flexibility wins in Paris.
Neighborhoods guide the evening. Near the Louvre and Opéra, mix culture stops with udon at Kunitoraya. In Saint‑Germain, Kodawari Ramen Tsukiji slots neatly between galleries. Around the Latin Quarter, Sola and A.T. anchor quieter, cobbled streets for slow dinners.
Service style matters. Sushi counters may ask guests to avoid perfume and to eat nigiri promptly, while ramen shops seat complete parties only. Casual izakaya move faster and welcome walk-ins. Read the house rules, then enjoy the flow.
Last tip, definitly practical : plan one star, one casual, and one sweet stop over a weekend. It spreads cost, multiplies flavors and turns a Paris stay into a small tour of Japan’s regions, told plate by plate.