Paris Japan: Oyako donburi in the 9th district of Paris

There are a zillion Japanese restaurants in Paris, some run by non-Japanese (eg. by Chinese owners and cooks) and others by Japanese themselves. Near la Concorde, just beyond rue de Rivoli as you move away from the Seine, you see one Japanese restaurant after another lining the streets.
However, they may not all remind you of the Japanese restaurants that you find in Australia, the US or even in Japan itself. Sure they will have the sushis, miso soup and all, but the most common combo (or as we say here: Menu) that you find here is sushi and yakitori (skewered meat or chicken in soya sauce mostly): a combination that is not normally found in other places (a combo that my visiting Japanese friends from Tokyo found rather odd).

What I have missed the most here are: Teriyaki on rice, Oyako donburi (chicken with eggs over rice, now can be found in Bento places) and the noodles (though there are places specializing in soba). Tempura (vegetables or prawns fried in flour) could be found in most….but not Oyako donburi or Teriyaki chicken (except in authentic restaurants, of course). These are not fancy Japanese dishes, mind you, just comfort food when you walk around Tokyo and are hungry! The kind of food everyone eats often.

So, it was with great joy that I found a small Japanese restaurant that just opened near where I live (in the 9th arrondissement) that specializes in fresh noodles and various donburi (rice dishes….served on a big bowl topped with chicken and eggs or other meats, or gambas, or chicken in soya sauce). The restaurant is run by a nice Chinese lady and the food is really great (not to mention the amount served, so, better be really hungry when you come here). Simply called Ramen (the name of Japanese noodle…for Americans this would bring memories of joyous life in collège…I used to eat Ramen instant noodles everyday to save money as a student), this tiny almost hole in the wall restaurant is located in rue de Maubeuge (about 20 meters further up after rue Rodier, metro Cadet or Notre Dame de Lorette). The Oyako donburi and teriyaki donburi in this restaurant are excellent (each costs less than 10 eurso). You could also get all kind of noodle dishes here and there are fixed menu that cost around 13 euros.
So, next time you’re in the hood and feel like a donburi or noodles (accompanied by cold tofu with topping or Hiyayako as a side dish), try this restaurant….nice people and great food for a good price!
(NOTE 2015: this restaurant is now closed, replaced by a chinese restaurant, and not a ramen place anymore :-()