L'Inconnu

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L'Inconnu Paris – Italian Cuisine by Chef Koji Higaki in the 7th Arrondissement

L'Inconnu: Italian Cuisine with a Japanese Accent in Paris

In the quiet streets of the 7th arrondissement, L'Inconnu offers a dining experience that lives up to its name — “the unknown.” Here, Chef Koji Higaki crafts a cuisine that is freely inspired by Italian traditions, filtered through his own relentless curiosity and a Japanese sensibility for precision and seasonality.

Higaki’s path to Paris began in Kochi, Japan. After training in Osaka and Venice, he moved to the French capital in 2009, becoming sous-chef at the two-Michelin-starred Passage 53. In November 2015, he opened his own restaurant on rue Pierre-Leroux. His work quickly earned recognition: Gault&Millau named him a Young Talent in 2017 and awarded him the Innovation Trophy the same year. In 2026, L'Inconnu received a Michelin Recommended distinction, a nod to its consistent quality.

The menu changes with the seasons — Higaki believes the taste of an ingredient evolves even when its appearance stays the same. “The vital energy of youth, the bright and juicy taste of ripe, the deep savoriness of old age,” he writes. This philosophy translates into tasting menus that highlight carefully sourced ingredients, treated with respect and generosity. There is no à la carte; guests choose from multi-course lunch (from 53€) or dinner (from 85€) options.

The space is intimate, designed to let the food speak. Whether you opt for the five-course tasting menu or a shorter lunch format, each plate reflects Higaki’s dual heritage: the structure of Italian cooking, the restraint and attention of Japanese technique. For those who wish to take a piece of this vision home, the restaurant also runs Daruma Bento, a takeaway project announced on Instagram.

L'Inconnu is a place where the familiar meets the unexpected — Italian cuisine, reimagined through a singular lens, in the heart of Paris.