izakaya

The 7 Best Izakayas in Paris

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The Editor

An izakaya is a traditional Japanese bistro, somewhere between a bar and a restaurant, where you gather to enjoy a drink and share small plates with friends after work. It's a bit like a tapas bar, but Tokyo style, featuring dishes like crispy karaage, miso eggplant, or lemony edamame.

In Paris, more and more Japanese restaurants are embracing this format, offering an alternative to sushi and classic ramens. Whether you're in the Marais, the 9th district, or near the Opera, these spots are perfect for a delightful dinner. Here’s our selection of the best izakayas in Paris.

Espace Gohan

At Espace Gohan, the experience changes throughout the day. At lunchtime, Chef Utaco Okuno presents tranquil bento boxes: miso fish, simmered vegetables, fluffy rice, and steaming miso soup. In the afternoon, it transforms into a Japanese tea salon, featuring matcha lattes, dorayakis, chiffon cakes, and black sesame mochis to enjoy between these manga pages. When evening comes, the izakaya comes alive under the guidance of Satoko Onaru: lime edamame, an innovative potato salad, scallops with tosazu jelly, or crispy karaage. Every bite is a little poem and a zen experience.

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Espace Gohan
12 rue de Nancy – 10e


Honō

At Honō, binchotan – the traditional Japanese charcoal – takes center stage. In a softly lit atmosphere reminiscent of Kyoto's charming alleys, Chef Akira Sugiura skillfully prepares yakitori and other grilled delights: tender chicken, melt-in-your-mouth meatballs, and fragrant vegetables. The skewers come one after another, perfectly paired with carefully selected sakes. Everything is enjoyed around a warm wooden counter that encourages relaxation and conversation. It's a discreet spot that truly impresses.

Honō
70 Dunkirk – 9th

Zakuro

Here, no sushi but a refined cuisine, designed for lovers of authenticity. Chef Go Sato reinvents Japanese classics with great skill: tempura potatoes with Chichibu miso, medium-cooked akami tuna with two sesame seeds, and matcha brownie served with artisan ice cream from Enzo & Lily. Another big specialty of the place is sake. About twenty exceptional cuvées are offered, always accompanied by personalized recommendations. Both simple and refined, Zakuro gets it just right.

Zakuro
34 rue de Montreuil – 11e

Naniwa-Ya

A hidden gem but beloved in the Sainte-Anne neighborhood, Naniwa-Ya has been delighting fans for over thirty years. In a no-frills setting, this spot offers generous and approachable homemade dishes: plump takoyakis, crispy gyozas, melt-in-your-mouth Japanese curry, and to-die-for breaded pork. It's a favorite canteen where people return for the consistency, the warmth, and the feeling of dining in Tokyo, just steps from the Louvre. A classic that never disappoints.

Naniwa-Ya
11 rue Sainte-Anne – 1er


Onyx

Onyx isn't a traditional izakaya, but it really captures the spirit of sharing, blending exquisite French gastronomy with Japanese inspiration. Chef Nassim Kouta creates delicate, precise, and visually stunning dishes in a contemporary setting highlighted by a spectacular onyx wall. With marinated fish, pickled vegetables, and subtly distilled ponzu or yuzu sauces, every bite is crafted to perfection. It's an elegant, hybrid, and surprising experience.

Onyx
71 rue de Provence – 9e

Onii-San

Onii-San is a new-generation izakaya at the crossroads of cultures. Blending Tokyo vibes and Californian energy, this spot in the Marais offers creative and uncomplicated tapas: temakis rolled right before your eyes, spicy shrimp, caramelized pork, tangy ceviche… All of this in a street-chic ambiance, featuring house cocktails and a carefully curated playlist to keep the evening going. It’s the izakaya spirit, but in a fresh, pop, and super successful version!

Onii-San
82 rue des Archives – 3rd floor


Kiku

Kiku is a family story brought to life by three sisters. One is in the kitchen, trained by Thierry Marx and experienced in top-tier establishments; the other two provide warm and attentive service. Here, everything is homemade, reflecting a modern izakaya spirit: small Franco-Japanese dishes to share, melt-in-your-mouth miso eggplant, reinvented sashimi, and delicately prepared seasonal vegetables. We finish off with a dessert featuring yuzu or a delicate mochi.

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Kiku 
8 Saulnier Street – 9th Arrondissement