Iwao

After Ko-Ishi (which means “pebble” in Japanese), make way for the great “boulder” of a spot – Iwao! Located just two doors down from his tiny restaurant, the Japanophile chef Christophe Caiola, who trained as a graphic designer, is making waves with his massive Tokyo food court-inspired spot (colorful noren curtains, manga posters, retro figurines, wooden tables and chairs, a big stone arch in the center of the room), where you can slurp up big bowls of smoking hot ramen. The day we went for lunch, that included an excellent version combining egg noodles, chicken bone broth with a rich miso flavor, ginger, garlic, sesame, corn and slices of chashu and ajitsuke tamago; or its incredible vegetarian counterpart made with soy milk vegetable broth, bok choy, the signature marinated egg and finely sliced leeks. For dessert, there are some lovely homemade mochi ice creams in matcha, yuzu or sakura flavors; or the very kitsch taiyaki, those fish-shaped waffles stuffed with azuki bean paste. // Maude Zarella

FEELING THIRSTY? : The ever popular Kirin and Asahi beers are available on tap (€5.50 for a half-pint), plus umeshu (€9) and Ramune lemonades in plum or watermelon flavors (€4.80 for 200 ml).
PRICE: : Appetizers €6 to €8.50, ramen €16-19 and €10 (kids), desserts €3.50 to €7.