In the Krutenea neighborhood, there’s a hidden eatery with very zen vibes (light wood, white walls, sakura branches) run by Loan Nguyen, a rising star of Japanese cuisine in the Alsace region. Trained in Japan, the young chef masterfully crafts a menu of gyoza, takoyaki, tsukemen, and other Japanese treats made using locally sourced ingredients. Devoured the day we went for lunch, seated on the sunny little terrace: a trio of karaage – crispy chicken beignets marinated in soy sauce and ginger and served with a creamy mayo dipping sauce; before a tantan ramen – homemade chicken broth, five-spice ground beef, wheat noodles, bok choy, an egg marinated in soy sauce, and sesame cream, as photogenic as it was delicious! All even better with a matcha tiramisu or vanilla ice cream mochi afterwards. // Marcelle Claudepierre 

FEELING THIRSTY? Japanese beverages – Asahi beer on tap or by the bottle (€4.80 and €5), organic yuzu cider (€7), Gassan Cloud junmai Ginjô sparkling sake (€14.40 for 100 ml) or homemade cocktails (€7-8). 
PRICE: Gyoza combo menu €12.90, kids’ menu €8 and €8.90, à la carte €20-30.