General France notes
Many of the large supermarkets, especially in and around the big cities, carry a small selection of Japanese ingredients like 'sushi rice', instant miso soup, rice vinegar and the like. Japanese food seems to be trendy.
Paristore is an Asian supermarket chain with stores in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg and Toulouse. Has a very limited selection of Japanese food supplies, but an extensive variety of Chinese/Taiwanese foods and other Asian foods, e.g. Indian.
If you are in an area with no Japanese stores, look for the 'does mailorder' indication of some Paris stores.
Natto du Dragon is a natto maker in Provence. Strong tasting but very nice natto. They do mailorder, but you may need to poke the guy a few times before he ships to you. See my review here.
This April 2009 article in Le Monde (French) indicates that the popularity of Japanese cuisine in France may lead to more Japanese groceries opening up. (Hopefully!)
General notes on Japanese food shopping in southern France from Maki
Since we moved to Provence in southern France a couple of years ago, I've had time to assess the Japanese food shopping situation here. The closest Japanese grocery store to us is in Lyon (see below), but the selection is very small so we've ended making an occasional trip to Uchitomi in Geneva (see the Switzerland section on the Europe page) for perishables. Geneva is about 4 hours away from us, so it's a day trip, but if we have business there anyway it's not a big deal.
For non-perishables, I usually buy by mailorder from Japan Centre in London. Even if it's from the UK and figuring in the extra shipping costs, I find their prices and selection are better than the Paris stores. Their website is really easy to navigate, which helps a lot. I have bought the occasional extra special thing from Workshop Issé (see listing below under Paris).
I don't actually get to Paris that often - it's a 7 hour drive from here, and parking is a nightmare, and if we go by TGV we can't carry much. Geneva is much closer to us.
Regular French "gourmet" food sites like Bien Manger have started carrying a variety of Japanese foodstuffs, but the prices are pretty outrageous compared to Japan Centre or even Kioko.
We can get very good fresh fish, even sashimi-grade, from our local fishmonger. Go and visit your local fishmonger to see what they have! We also saw some fantastic fresh fish in Brittany.
Avignon
- Asia
- 29 avenue Monclar
- 84000 Avignon
- 04 32 76 32 80
- Comments: "An Asian store, but with some japanese supplies." -(Céline)
- "Very tiny, nice people." (maki)
- Pekin
- 45 avenue Monclar
- 84000 Avignon
- 04 90 85 17 71
- Monday - Saturday, 8:30–12:00/14:00–19:30
- Comments: "Again, an asian store with a few Japanese products." -(Céline)
- "Very tiny, again nice people." -(maki)
Bordeaux
Comments: "The frenchbento blog and the blog of another japanese expat in Bordeaux ; blog no longer updated, as she got a job, but lovely for homemade food anyway)often refer to these stores." -(Céline)
- La Maison du Japon
- 28 rue de Cheverus, Bordeaux
- French web site
- Mostra
- rue du Parlement Sainte Catherine, Bordeaux
- Eurasie Bordeaux
Lyon
General comments: "And some precisions about the store I mentioned : Kazuki and Kimchi (real mirin, for instance, not the corn-syrup based one) and have some dashi, umeboshi, katsuobushi and kombu ; Whereas Paristore don’t sell these basic products (not to my knowing anyway). consequently Paristore is obviously cheaper, but often run short of some supplies in the japanese section." -(Céline)
See this an in-depth look at Japanese food shopping in Lyon.
- Japon Store
- CLOSED
- Kazuki
- 35, cours Gambetta 69003 Lyon (Métro Saxe Gambetta-Ligne B ou D)
- 04-78-60-75-04
- Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat 9:30 - 13:00，14:30 - 19:00; Sunday and Holidays 9:30 - 12:00. Closed Wed
- Japanese web site (a little French)
- Comments: "The only store in Lyon with only Japanese groceries. Tiny but helpful, with a fairly large range of products ; the owner also sells bento on weekend, pre-order required -(Céline)
- Kimchi
- 21 avenue Félix Faure 69003 Lyon(Métro Saxe Gambetta-Ligne B ou D)
- 04 78 62 75 30
- Tue-Sat 09:00 - 19:00, Sun 15:00 - 19:00, closed Mondays
- French and Korean web site
- Comments: "A Japanese-Korean grocery store, alike to Kazuki." -(Céline
- Paristore
- 8 bld Joliot-Curie à VENISSIEUX ( bus 36, stop at Etats-unis-Viviani); also on the new Tram 4 line)
- 04.72.78.48.88
- Comments: A big asian supermarket, with a wide range of supplies, some fresh vegetables, frozen food, and a Japanese department. -(Céline)
- Comments: Not much in the way of Japanese products when I was there. I found it rather depressing and scruffy. In Lyon, I think you are better off shopping at Kazuki, Kimchi and Supermarket Asie, all of which are within walking distance of each other. (maki)
- Supermarché Asie
- 12, Rue Passet
- 69007 Lyon
- Métro or tram - Guillotière
- Tel : 04 78 58 92 65
- Comment: It's general asian store, but it has by far the largest selection of japanese items in Lyon for a reasonable price- A lot of their japanese stuff come from Kyoko (paris) or Kazuki. Shopping there from now on ! ^^ (Céline)
- Comment: I got the impression that this is place is owned by Taiwanese people, since I saw a lot of Taiwan-specific things here. Has a better range of Japanese products than Paristore. (maki)
Marseille
- Paristore
- 61 boulevard Plombière
- Marseille
- Groceries, a general Asian 'all you can eat' buffet, housewares, etc.
Orange
- Naturel et Bio
- Rue d'Italie
- 84100 Orange, France
- Tel: 04 90 34 43 03
- French web site
- Natural/bio grocery store
- Comments: "What I spotted after a quick trip : A large section dedicated to brown rice ( several brands of thai long grain brown rice and round grain rice, but also glutinous brown rice!), albeit no japanese rice ; Azuki beans and azuki bean flakes, nori, wakame, kuzu,arrow-root and kanten powder, shoyu, tamari, various sesame seeds products, green tea of course, umeboshi, umeboshi paste and several kinds of tofu. I was pleased to see they had a good selection of brown rice - however I was a bit disapointed with the tofu products : they all had the typical rubbery texture of european-manufactured tofu. ^^p But overall it was a nice discovery!" (Céline)
Paris and environs
See A Frugal Eats Japanese blitz through Paris and Bento sightseeing in Paris.
There are two major shopping areas for Asian food: The Chinatown area, which is in the 13th arrondissement, and the 1st and 2nd arrondissements (Métro: Pyramides, Opéra, or Quatre-Septembre), which have a concentration of Japanese stores and restaurants. There are also a few stores in the 15th arrondissement (Métro: Charles Michels).
- Ace Mart
- 63, rue Saint-Anne
- 75002 Paris
- Tel: 01 42 97 56 80
- Metro: Pyramides or Quatre-Septembre
- Mon - Sat 10:00-20:00, closed Sun
- Korean grocery store
- Carries a lot of Japanese groceries (as is the case with most Korean groceries). Prices a tad cheaper than area Japanese grocery stores. Doesn't seem to be affiliated with Ace Opera, but rather with Hi Mart (see listing below).(maki)
- Ace Opéra
- 43, rue Saint-Augustin
- 75002 Paris
- Tel: 01 40 07 93 57
- Metro: Pyramides or Opera or Quatre-Septembre
- Mon - Sat 10:00-20:00, closed Sun
- Korean grocery store
- Carries a lot of Japanese groceries (as is the case with most Korean groceries). Prices a tad cheaper than area Japanese grocery stores. Doesn't seem to be affiliated with Ace Mart.(maki)
- Big Store
- 81 avenue d'Ivry (Paris 13ème)
- Wed - Sun 10:00-19:30, closed Mon, Tue
- Large Asian supermarket in the Chinatown area.
- According to a couple of Japanese blogs, this Chinatown store has the best selection of Japanese ingredients, followed by Paristore. Their "Pearl Rice" (_Shinju-mai_) from California is recommended.
- Fast Don
- 52, rue des Petits-Champs (opposite Kioko)
- 75001 Paris
- Tel: 01 4296 8624
- Metro: Pyramides or Opera
- Open 7 days (?) 12:00 - 15:00 for lunch; 17:00 - 23:00
- At lunchtime this is a 'Japanese fast food' place that serves donburi (rice bowls) and such; also has takeout prepared food (osouzai) and bentos. At night time it turns into an izakaya.
- Hi Mart
- 71-bis, rue Saint-Charles
- 75015 Paris
- Tel: 01 45 75 37 44
- Metro: Charles Michels
- Mon - Sat 10:00-20:00, closed Sun
- Korean grocery store
- Carries a lot of Japanese groceries (as is the case with most Korean groceries). Prices a tad cheaper than area Japanese grocery stores. (maki)
- Kanae
- 83 Av Emile Zola, 75015 Paris
- French and Japanese web site
- Tel:01.40.59.98.03
- Métro: Charles Michels
- Tue-Sun: 10:30 - 20:00; Closed Mon.
- Japanese grocery store. Does mailorder within France.
- Comments: "The shop is off the beaten path of the 13th and the usual suspect of shops by the Opéra, thus less deleriously busy. Kanae has a great selection of fresh, packaged and frozen japanese products. The staff is always congenial and helpful. I highly recommend. (Jool)
- Kiôko
- 46 rue des Petits Champs, Paris 75002
- French and Japanese website
- Tel: 01 42 61 33 65
- Tue-Sat: 10:00 - 20:00; Sun: 11:00 - 19:00; Closed Mon.
- Metro: Pyramides or Opera or Quatre-Septembre
- Japanese grocery store. Does mailorder within France.
- A Japanese grocery store, with a fairly comprehensive selection of Japanese products. Downstairs they have refrigerated and frozen goods, snacks, condiments and alcohol. Upstairs they have dried goods, dinnerware, instant noodles, and a small selection of bento boxes. Be sure to pick up their free paper (available at the entrance) if you speak Japanese. (maki)
- Jujiya
- 46 rue Sainte-Anne
- 75002 Paris
- Tel: 01 42 86 02 22
- Metro: Pyramides
- Open 10:00 - 22:00 every day except Sunday, when it closes at 21:00.
- Sells prepared foods (osouzai), bento sets for eating in or takeout. Small grocery store section in back.
- Momonoki
- 68 Passage Choiseul
- 75002 Paris
- Tél: 01 4296 4837
- French and Japanese website
- Open M-F, 12-14:30; closed holidays
- A tonkatsu and fried stuff (korokke etc.) restaurant that offers takeout bentos; bento menu is fixed and changes every day. Delivers within Paris. Operated by the same people who own Workshop Issé (see below).
- Paristore
- Paris 13ème
- Another large Asian supermarket in the Chinatown area.
- Tang Frères
- 168, avenue de Choisy
- Paris 13ème
- Tel: +33 1 44 24 06 72
- Another large Asian supermarket in the Chinatown area.
- Comments: "To me it’s the best Asian store in France!" -(a big store in paris)
- Toraya à Paris
- 10, Rue St-Florentin
- 75001 Paris
- Tél : 01 42 60 13 00 Fax : 01 42 61 59 53
- E-Mail : f-toraya [at] toraya-group.co.jp
- Métro : Concorde (ligne 1, 8, 12) ou Madeleine (ligne 8, 12, 14)
- Open Mon-Sat, closed Sundays and holidays.
- Toraya is arguably the best regarded wagashi maker (with a nationwide presence) in Japan. Their yokan (sweet bean jelly block) is a surefire hit as a gift in Japan. The Paris location has a store and a small tea room where you can enjoy their sweets and green tea. (They used to have a NYC location which closed some years ago.)
- Workshop Issé
- 11 rue Saint Augustin (Paris 2)
- Tel: 01 4296 2674
- Mon - Sun 11:00 - 19:30; closed on national holidays
- French and Japanese website. Does mailorder within France and throughout Europe.
- Purveyor of high end artisanal Japanese ingredients and alcoholic beverages. Mailorder and small satellite store.
- Full report
Strasbourg
- Paristore
- 27 Faubourg de Saverne
- 67000 Strasbourg
- 03 88 22 69 20
- Super Asie Tien Hung
- 4 rue Charles Peguy
- 67200 STRASBOURG
- Hautepierre
- 03 88 28 37 97
- Thailong
- 15 rue La Fayette
- 67000 Strasbourg
- French web site
- 03 88 40 12 20
- Also at
- 211 avenue de Colmar
- 67000 Strasbourg
- 03 88 40 05 18
- A Thai store, obviously, but looks worth checking out.
- Village Coréen
- 10 rue Ste Catherine
- 67000 STRASBOURG
- Krutenau
- 03 88 35 55 52
- A small Korean grocery store.
Toulouse
- Asia Delice
- 8, Rue Austerlitz
- 31000 Toulouse
- 05 61 12 00 90
- Comment: "a little store which sells as much food as ustensils. The owner is not Japanese but knows well what he sells and answers your questions." -(Nolwenn)
- Paristore - Asia Center
- 13 Rue Paul Gauguin
- 31100 Toulouse (Le Mirail)
- 05 62 11 53 50
- Comment: "this Paristore is centered on selling to restaurants’ owners but everybody can buy. It is not a Japanese grocery, but they have a range of japanese supplies." -(Nolwenn)
Also see the excellent FrenchBento blog (French). She doesn't know of any bento suppliers in France...and if anyone would know, she would I think!