Japanese grocery stores in France

General France notes

Many of the large supermarkets, especially in and around the big cities, carry a small selection of Japanese ingredients like 'sushi rice', instant miso soup, rice vinegar and the like. Japanese food seems to be trendy.

Paristore is an Asian supermarket chain with stores in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg and Toulouse. Has a very limited selection of Japanese food supplies, but an extensive variety of Chinese/Taiwanese foods and other Asian foods, e.g. Indian.

If you are in an area with no Japanese stores, look for the 'does mailorder' indication of some Paris stores.

Natto du Dragon is a natto maker in Provence. Strong tasting but very nice natto. They do mailorder, but you may need to poke the guy a few times before he ships to you. See my review here.

This April 2009 article in Le Monde (French) indicates that the popularity of Japanese cuisine in France may lead to more Japanese groceries opening up. (Hopefully!)

General notes on Japanese food shopping in southern France from Maki

Since we moved to Provence in southern France a couple of years ago, I've had time to assess the Japanese food shopping situation here. The closest Japanese grocery store to us is in Lyon (see below), but the selection is very small so we've ended making an occasional trip to Uchitomi in Geneva (see the Switzerland section on the Europe page) for perishables. Geneva is about 4 hours away from us, so it's a day trip, but if we have business there anyway it's not a big deal.

For non-perishables, I usually buy by mailorder from Japan Centre in London. Even if it's from the UK and figuring in the extra shipping costs, I find their prices and selection are better than the Paris stores. Their website is really easy to navigate, which helps a lot. I have bought the occasional extra special thing from Workshop Issé (see listing below under Paris).

I don't actually get to Paris that often - it's a 7 hour drive from here, and parking is a nightmare, and if we go by TGV we can't carry much. Geneva is much closer to us.

Regular French "gourmet" food sites like Bien Manger have started carrying a variety of Japanese foodstuffs, but the prices are pretty outrageous compared to Japan Centre or even Kioko.

We can get very good fresh fish, even sashimi-grade, from our local fishmonger. Go and visit your local fishmonger to see what they have! We also saw some fantastic fresh fish in Brittany.

Avignon

Asia

29 avenue Monclar

84000 Avignon

04 32 76 32 80

Comments: "An Asian store, but with some japanese supplies." -(Céline)

"Very tiny, nice people." (maki)

Pekin

45 avenue Monclar

84000 Avignon

04 90 85 17 71

Monday - Saturday, 8:30–12:00/14:00–19:30

Comments: "Again, an asian store with a few Japanese products." -(Céline)

"Very tiny, again nice people." -(maki)

Bordeaux

Comments: "The frenchbento blog and the blog of another japanese expat in Bordeaux ; blog no longer updated, as she got a job, but lovely for homemade food anyway)often refer to these stores." -(Céline)

La Maison du Japon

28 rue de Cheverus, Bordeaux

French web site

Mostra

rue du Parlement Sainte Catherine, Bordeaux

Eurasie Bordeaux

Lyon

General comments: "And some precisions about the store I mentioned : Kazuki and Kimchi (real mirin, for instance, not the corn-syrup based one) and have some dashi, umeboshi, katsuobushi and kombu ; Whereas Paristore don’t sell these basic products (not to my knowing anyway). consequently Paristore is obviously cheaper, but often run short of some supplies in the japanese section." -(Céline)

See this an in-depth look at Japanese food shopping in Lyon.

Japon Store

CLOSED

Kazuki

35, cours Gambetta 69003 Lyon (Métro Saxe Gambetta-Ligne B ou D)

04-78-60-75-04

Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat　9:30 - 13:00，14:30 - 19:00; Sunday and Holidays 9:30 - 12:00. Closed Wed

Japanese web site (a little French)

Comments: "The only store in Lyon with only Japanese groceries. Tiny but helpful, with a fairly large range of products ; the owner also sells bento on weekend, pre-order required -(Céline)

Kimchi

21 avenue Félix Faure 69003 Lyon(Métro Saxe Gambetta-Ligne B ou D)

04 78 62 75 30

Tue-Sat 09:00 - 19:00, Sun 15:00 - 19:00, closed Mondays

French and Korean web site

Comments: "A Japanese-Korean grocery store, alike to Kazuki." -(Céline

Paristore

8 bld Joliot-Curie à VENISSIEUX ( bus 36, stop at Etats-unis-Viviani); also on the new Tram 4 line)

04.72.78.48.88

Comments: A big asian supermarket, with a wide range of supplies, some fresh vegetables, frozen food, and a Japanese department. -(Céline)

Comments: Not much in the way of Japanese products when I was there. I found it rather depressing and scruffy. In Lyon, I think you are better off shopping at Kazuki, Kimchi and Supermarket Asie, all of which are within walking distance of each other. (maki)

Supermarché Asie

12, Rue Passet

69007 Lyon

Métro or tram - Guillotière

Tel : 04 78 58 92 65

Comment: It's general asian store, but it has by far the largest selection of japanese items in Lyon for a reasonable price- A lot of their japanese stuff come from Kyoko (paris) or Kazuki. Shopping there from now on ! ^^ (Céline)

Comment: I got the impression that this is place is owned by Taiwanese people, since I saw a lot of Taiwan-specific things here. Has a better range of Japanese products than Paristore. (maki)

Marseille

Paristore

61 boulevard Plombière

Marseille

Groceries, a general Asian 'all you can eat' buffet, housewares, etc.

Orange

Naturel et Bio

Rue d'Italie

84100 Orange, France

Tel: 04 90 34 43 03

French web site

Natural/bio grocery store

Comments: "What I spotted after a quick trip : A large section dedicated to brown rice ( several brands of thai long grain brown rice and round grain rice, but also glutinous brown rice!), albeit no japanese rice ; Azuki beans and azuki bean flakes, nori, wakame, kuzu,arrow-root and kanten powder, shoyu, tamari, various sesame seeds products, green tea of course, umeboshi, umeboshi paste and several kinds of tofu. I was pleased to see they had a good selection of brown rice - however I was a bit disapointed with the tofu products : they all had the typical rubbery texture of european-manufactured tofu. ^^p But overall it was a nice discovery!" (Céline)

Paris and environs

See A Frugal Eats Japanese blitz through Paris and Bento sightseeing in Paris.

There are two major shopping areas for Asian food: The Chinatown area, which is in the 13th arrondissement, and the 1st and 2nd arrondissements (Métro: Pyramides, Opéra, or Quatre-Septembre), which have a concentration of Japanese stores and restaurants. There are also a few stores in the 15th arrondissement (Métro: Charles Michels).

Ace Mart

63, rue Saint-Anne

75002 Paris

Tel: 01 42 97 56 80

Metro: Pyramides or Quatre-Septembre

Mon - Sat 10:00-20:00, closed Sun

Korean grocery store

Carries a lot of Japanese groceries (as is the case with most Korean groceries). Prices a tad cheaper than area Japanese grocery stores. Doesn't seem to be affiliated with Ace Opera, but rather with Hi Mart (see listing below).(maki)

Ace Opéra

43, rue Saint-Augustin

75002 Paris

Tel: 01 40 07 93 57

Metro: Pyramides or Opera or Quatre-Septembre

Mon - Sat 10:00-20:00, closed Sun

Korean grocery store

Carries a lot of Japanese groceries (as is the case with most Korean groceries). Prices a tad cheaper than area Japanese grocery stores. Doesn't seem to be affiliated with Ace Mart.(maki)

Big Store

81 avenue d'Ivry (Paris 13ème)

Wed - Sun 10:00-19:30, closed Mon, Tue

Large Asian supermarket in the Chinatown area.

According to a couple of Japanese blogs, this Chinatown store has the best selection of Japanese ingredients, followed by Paristore. Their "Pearl Rice" (_Shinju-mai_) from California is recommended.

Fast Don

52, rue des Petits-Champs (opposite Kioko)

75001 Paris

Tel: 01 4296 8624

Metro: Pyramides or Opera

Open 7 days (?) 12:00 - 15:00 for lunch; 17:00 - 23:00

At lunchtime this is a 'Japanese fast food' place that serves donburi (rice bowls) and such; also has takeout prepared food (osouzai) and bentos. At night time it turns into an izakaya.

Hi Mart

71-bis, rue Saint-Charles

75015 Paris

Tel: 01 45 75 37 44

Metro: Charles Michels

Mon - Sat 10:00-20:00, closed Sun

Korean grocery store

Carries a lot of Japanese groceries (as is the case with most Korean groceries). Prices a tad cheaper than area Japanese grocery stores. (maki)

Kanae

83 Av Emile Zola, 75015 Paris

French and Japanese web site

Tel:01.40.59.98.03

Métro: Charles Michels

Tue-Sun: 10:30 - 20:00; Closed Mon.

Japanese grocery store. Does mailorder within France.

Comments: "The shop is off the beaten path of the 13th and the usual suspect of shops by the Opéra, thus less deleriously busy. Kanae has a great selection of fresh, packaged and frozen japanese products. The staff is always congenial and helpful. I highly recommend. (Jool)

Kiôko

46 rue des Petits Champs, Paris 75002

French and Japanese website

Tel: 01 42 61 33 65

Tue-Sat: 10:00 - 20:00; Sun: 11:00 - 19:00; Closed Mon.

Metro: Pyramides or Opera or Quatre-Septembre

Japanese grocery store. Does mailorder within France.

A Japanese grocery store, with a fairly comprehensive selection of Japanese products. Downstairs they have refrigerated and frozen goods, snacks, condiments and alcohol. Upstairs they have dried goods, dinnerware, instant noodles, and a small selection of bento boxes. Be sure to pick up their free paper (available at the entrance) if you speak Japanese. (maki)

Jujiya

46 rue Sainte-Anne

75002 Paris

Tel: 01 42 86 02 22

Metro: Pyramides

Open 10:00 - 22:00 every day except Sunday, when it closes at 21:00.

Sells prepared foods (osouzai), bento sets for eating in or takeout. Small grocery store section in back.

Momonoki

68 Passage Choiseul

75002 Paris

Tél: 01 4296 4837

French and Japanese website

Open M-F, 12-14:30; closed holidays

A tonkatsu and fried stuff (korokke etc.) restaurant that offers takeout bentos; bento menu is fixed and changes every day. Delivers within Paris. Operated by the same people who own Workshop Issé (see below).

Paristore

Paris 13ème

Another large Asian supermarket in the Chinatown area.

Tang Frères

168, avenue de Choisy

Paris 13ème

Tel: +33 1 44 24 06 72

Another large Asian supermarket in the Chinatown area.

Comments: "To me it’s the best Asian store in France!" -(a big store in paris)

Toraya à Paris

10, Rue St-Florentin

75001 Paris

Tél : 01 42 60 13 00 Fax : 01 42 61 59 53

E-Mail : f-toraya [at] toraya-group.co.jp

Métro : Concorde (ligne 1, 8, 12) ou Madeleine (ligne 8, 12, 14)

Open Mon-Sat, closed Sundays and holidays.

Toraya is arguably the best regarded wagashi maker (with a nationwide presence) in Japan. Their yokan (sweet bean jelly block) is a surefire hit as a gift in Japan. The Paris location has a store and a small tea room where you can enjoy their sweets and green tea. (They used to have a NYC location which closed some years ago.)

Workshop Issé

11 rue Saint Augustin (Paris 2)

Tel: 01 4296 2674

Mon - Sun 11:00 - 19:30; closed on national holidays

French and Japanese website. Does mailorder within France and throughout Europe.

Purveyor of high end artisanal Japanese ingredients and alcoholic beverages. Mailorder and small satellite store.

Full report

Strasbourg

Paristore

27 Faubourg de Saverne

67000 Strasbourg

03 88 22 69 20

Super Asie Tien Hung

4 rue Charles Peguy

67200 STRASBOURG

Hautepierre

03 88 28 37 97

Thailong

15 rue La Fayette

67000 Strasbourg

French web site

03 88 40 12 20

Also at

211 avenue de Colmar

67000 Strasbourg

03 88 40 05 18

A Thai store, obviously, but looks worth checking out.

Village Coréen

10 rue Ste Catherine

67000 STRASBOURG

Krutenau

03 88 35 55 52

A small Korean grocery store.

Toulouse

Asia Delice

8, Rue Austerlitz

31000 Toulouse

05 61 12 00 90

Comment: "a little store which sells as much food as ustensils. The owner is not Japanese but knows well what he sells and answers your questions." -(Nolwenn)

Paristore - Asia Center

13 Rue Paul Gauguin

31100 Toulouse (Le Mirail)

05 62 11 53 50

Comment: "this Paristore is centered on selling to restaurants’ owners but everybody can buy. It is not a Japanese grocery, but they have a range of japanese supplies." -(Nolwenn)

Also see the excellent FrenchBento blog (French). She doesn't know of any bento suppliers in France...and if anyone would know, she would I think!

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