Le Sourire

The story

Le Sourire, Angers: Modern French Cuisine with Japanese Accents

A meeting of cultures

Le Sourire — “The Smile” — is a restaurant born from a friendship forged in Tokyo. Chef Yuma Nishioka, sous-chef Yuta Mitsunari, and maître d’ Anais Mitsunari met seven years ago at the one-star French restaurant “Chez Olivier” in the Japanese capital. Their shared passion for both French and Japanese cuisine, and a deep experience in fine dining, led them to open their own place in Angers. The name is a nod to a quote by Raoul Follereau: “A smile costs nothing, but it brings much.”

The restaurant has already earned a Michelin Recommended distinction for 2026, a sign that its refined, seasonal modern cuisine is being noticed.

The team behind the stove

Chef Yuma Nishioka describes himself as a true lover of traditional French gastronomy. His travels through France’s regions have inspired many of his recipes, which he then reinterprets with his own touch. The kitchen is overseen by sous-chef Yuta Mitsunari, who brings his own experience from Michelin-starred French establishments in Japan. In the dining room, Anais Mitsunari leads the service, offering a carefully curated wine pairing and a selection by the bottle.

A menu shaped by the seasons

The carte changes regularly, depending on market arrivals and the seasons. Lunch from Monday to Friday offers a choice of three to four starters, four to five main courses, and four desserts. The lunch menu is priced at 25€ for a two-course or 30€ for three courses.

Dinner from Monday to Thursday includes amuse-bouche, starter, main, dessert, and mignardises for 55€. Every Friday evening, the chef creates a unique seven-step tasting menu at 70€, driven by his inspiration and the best produce of the week. For those celebrating, a special New Year’s Eve menu is available on 30 and 31 December at 100€.

The restaurant is not able to accommodate strict dietary restrictions or allergies in the tasting menu, but ingredient-sensitive guests are encouraged to communicate their needs ahead of time.

A warm, unhurried atmosphere

Le Sourire is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday, located at 8 boulevard Arago in Angers. The decor is not described in the source, but the tone of the website — poetic yet direct — suggests a place that values genuine hospitality over fuss. The team’s motto seems to be: share a smile, taste a bite of happiness, and give a gift certificate to someone you love.