ust a stone’s throw from the magnificent Bourse du Commerce, Irasshai, which means welcome in Japanese, opened its doors in August 2023. This 800 sq. m. zen and friendly concept store features a sake bar, a canteen, a café, a bistro-style restaurant – Biwan, opening in April – and most importantly, a grocery store. Nestled under a charming rotunda, this kawaii version of Aladdin’s cave offers more than “”, according to Xavier Marchand, co-founder of the venue. Along with his partner Xavier Maincent, this Japan enthusiast, who lived there for six years, aimed to democratize Japanese cuisine by placing readable labels and recipe ideas in French under each product, to reach a wider audience. The formula is a success, as a vast clientele flocks to Irasshai’s counter, including Chantal, 56: “” she exclaims enthusiastically before adding: “” Like Chantal, many Parisians were hesitant to venture into traditional establishments offering menus in Japanese, reserved for expatriates or manga enthusiasts. Following the trend of this restaurant, a plethora of more wes- ternized Japanese street food stalls have invaded the capital in recent years. Takumi in the 1st district claims to be “”. Prepared in front of customers in an open kitchen, these airy cheesecakes, invented several centuries ago on the island of Hokkaido, now come in local flavors (yuzu, matcha, black sesame) as well as more Western tastes like raspberry, Valrhona chocolate, or vanilla. Unification seems to be the key word. In this vein, Shokudo Paris, which has just opened its doors, acts as a real bridge between France and the land of cherry blossoms. On the menu are traditional dishes like Chicken Nanban or Kamo Rosu, but twisted with chicken thighs from Brittany or duck breast from the Southwest.
