Zen

The story

Zen, Paris: Michelin-Recommended Japanese Restaurant in the Palais-Royal

A Taste of Japan in the Palais-Royal

Since 2006, Zen has brought the spirit of the Japanese taishu shokudo – the beloved neighbourhood canteen – to the heart of Paris. Founded by Zen Okawa, the restaurant sits on rue de l’Échelle, steps from the Louvre and the Palais-Royal gardens. Here, the kitchen honours the rhythms of a Tokyo day: a lively, generous lunch service and a more refined izakaya dinner.

The People Behind the Plates

Zen Okawa, a Japanese expat, missed the simple, honest flavours of his homeland. His vision found its partner in chef Mitsuru Yamada, born in Shiga in 1976. Yamada left university to pursue cooking, spending a decade in Kanazawa before joining Zen in its early years. He later worked in both French and Japanese kitchens across Paris, returning in 2015 with a deepened understanding of taste. “I want people to have fun discovering new flavours,” he says. Together, Okawa and Yamada built a place rooted in omotenashi – the Japanese art of attentive, discreet hospitality.

Two Faces, One Kitchen

At lunch, Zen is a cantine nippone. The menu turns out classics like donburi, Japanese curry, grilled fish, and sushi prepared by the house maître sushi. A lunch set at 28€ includes an amuse-bouche, a small sashimi, and a choice of main. The midday service is walk-in only – no reservations.

Come evening, the atmosphere shifts. The dining room, with its white and steel furniture and accents of anise green and rose, becomes an izakaya – a place for small plates to share. Dishes such as gyoza, takoyaki, miso-glazed aubergine, and tataki of beef appear alongside a thoughtful selection of sake, shochu, and Japanese whiskies. The evening menu (38€) offers a similar format to lunch but with more elaborate options, and reservations are welcomed.

The Omakase Experience

For those seeking a deeper immersion, Zen offers an Omakase menu in its upstairs space. This seven-course sequence is a private experience, letting the chef guide the meal with seasonal ingredients and precise technique. It is a quiet, focused counterpoint to the lively dining room below.

Michelin Recognition

Zen’s consistency – two decades of sourcing seasonal produce, respecting tradition, and evolving with care – has earned it a place in the Michelin Guide. The restaurant has been selected for several years, a nod to the quiet excellence that Zen Okawa and Mitsuru Yamada have cultivated since day one.