When you feel like Japanese food

Despite there being at least 10 thousand kilometers between Paris and Japan, there is no shortage of Japanese restaurants in Paris. Let’s be clear however that a great majority of them are first, not really run by Japanese and second, serve an almost boring palette of food—the ubiquitous sushi (I would not guarantee their flavor or freshness) or brochettes (beef, chicken or fish) with rice. They are not really representative of the delicious range of flavors that true Japanese cuisine is capable of. There is one part of Paris that everyone agrees is the place to find a somewhat more authentic experience. For some reason the area around Opera and Pyramides is chock full of little Japanese places that go beyond the obligatory sushi and sashimi combination. Its the perfect place to wander around in if you have a Japanese craving to satisfy.

Aki, one place that I discovered thanks to a good friend, serves Okonomiyaki, a traditional dish that is usually served in the Osaka and Hiroshima regions. It looks somewhat like a pancake, if you can call one that is stuffed variously with pork, fish, dried shrimps, udon noodles and vegetables, all of which are covered in a thin covering of batter and fried accordingly. It is usually served with a sweetish kind of sauce. It is a particular kind of dish (and a bit peculiar looking) but the taste grows on you. It is especially good on these cold wintery days when the body requires something substantial to resist the cold. I have to admit that okonomiyaki is not the only reason to visit Aki. At lunch they serve a great formula of half a bowl of udon noodles, served steaming hot in its delicious broth and rice with katsu don or breaded pork. The noodles are delicious and you’ll find yourself drinking down the soup. A welcome respite from the heat of the soup is the bowl of rice with the katsu. It’s a hearty lunch guaranteed to fill you up at the very least until dinner. For others who prefer fish, this menu also comes with grilled salmon instead of pork. All in all it’s a delicious lunch that costs no more than 12 euros. Quite a bargain and its real Japanese food to boot!