Where to eat good sushi in Paris?
It seems that few regions of the world are spared from Japanese cuisine – and thankfully so.
Sushi culture in Paris ranges from refined and expensive restaurants to inexpensive roadside sushi specialties that will cost you just a few euros. There are therefore sushi options for every budget and in every arrondissement of Paris.
I'm going to share some of my favorite places to eat sushi. Are you ready?
Sushi Market in Paris
20 Rue Mirabeau
This first sushi spot is located in the lower part of the 16th arrondissement. As it's quite far from the city center, I recommend visiting Sushi Marché before or after a visit to La Seine Musicale, which is in the same neighborhood.
Sushi Marché offers authentic Japanese cuisine at its best. The sushi is phenomenal and reasonably priced, but they also offer a full menu ranging from tempura to eggplant with miso.
Weather permitting, you can dine on the terrace. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Reservations are not necessary; there is always space available.
Customers who have frequented Sushi Marché for years say that, considering the combined quality and price, there is no better place to enjoy sushi in Paris. The trip to the 16th arrondissement is definitely worth it.
Nearest metro line: Église d'Auteuil.
Blueberry in Paris
6 Rue du Sabot
Blueberry is a maki sushi bar located on the Left Bank, not far from the Musée d'Orsay. Free guided tours are available that will take you from the banks of the Seine to the Luxembourg Gardens, passing by Blueberry.
The chef at Blueberry has opted for a concept that celebrates all the colors available in the food we eat. This theme is reflected from the moment you enter the restaurant to the food presented on your plate.
At Blueberry, fruit takes center stage, as the shish chef attempts to combine conventional savory sushi with sweeter elements like strawberries or mangoes. The fruity flavors extend to their mixology section, where you can enjoy creative cocktails perfectly paired with your food.
The menu focuses primarily on maki rolls, served in portions of six. I suggest two or three portions per person in an assortment of flavors so you can try them all. The truffle maki is my favorite.
Noodle and rice dishes are offered to those who are not big fans of sushi.
Nearest metro station: Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Rice & Fish in Paris
22 Rue Greneta
I find that the more sushi you eat, the more adventurous you become with sushi flavors over time. I remember eating my very first sushi, a small maki roll filled only with avocado. I chewed it as is, reflected on its blandness, and wondered if I needed such a dull food in my life before taking a second piece, then a third…
It took me several meals of plain sushi before I opened myself up to the concept of soy sauce. The sushi experience went to a whole new level, as many of you know.
It wasn't long before I started sprinkling my ginger rolls – or, dare I say, the infamous wasabi!
Today, there are few things I won't try with sushi. Rice and Fish, the sushi restaurant on the Right Bank, between the 2nd and 3rd arrondissements of Paris, exists for all the most adventurous sushi eaters who are open to experimenting with their meals.
Rice & Fish uses creative sauces, toppings, and ingredients to ensure each dish is more interesting than the last. Combine that with unlimited sake, and you've probably found paradise for a few hours.
Nearest metro station: Réaumur – Sébastopol.
Takara in Paris
14 Rue Molière
Takara was the first sushi restaurant to open in Paris. It was founded in 1958 and has served the residents of the 1st arrondissement ever since. Takara is located a short walk from the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Garden.
Despite its location, Takara has managed to maintain reasonable prices over the years, considering the quality of the fish. If you want the best deal, opt for the special lunch menu, served in a bento box that includes your choice of sushi and a soup.
It's important to make a reservation before dining here, as the place is almost always packed. The restaurant is open 7 days a week until 11 pm, giving you the option of dining late into the evening.
Try the azuki dessert!
Nearest metro station: Pyramides.
Maki Night Sushi in Paris
Maki Night Sushi is a very different sushi experience in Paris, one that I was very grateful to discover not so long ago.
Instead of having a physical location, Maki Night brings sushi to you, wherever you are in Paris.
Maki Night opens at 6 PM. You can order sushi, noodles, and rice dishes from an extensive menu, from late at night until 6 AM the following morning. Orders must be placed by phone.
Who would have thought you could come home at 4 a.m. and have access to fresh sushi delivered to your door? Paris truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Orders take about an hour to arrive from the time of the call to the time of delivery. Yes, that's much longer than a pizza or hamburger delivery, but considering the nature of the food and the time it takes to prepare fresh sushi before traveling across town, it's not so bad.