The Louvre staff had politely herded us out at closing time (read about our Louvre visit), and after an afternoon of masterpieces we were hungry. So we walked from the museum to dinner, which turned out to be Sapporo ramen in Paris.
And here’s a confession: somewhere between the croissants and the cheese, we had started missing rice. Then a red awning reading SAPPORO glowed at us across a Paris street, with サッポロ ラーメン in big red letters above it.
Inside: stone walls and stamp wallpaper
Inside it’s cosy and busy: old stone walls, wooden tables, and wallpaper covered in hundreds of little round stamp designs. Chopsticks stand in a pot on every table, and a glass water jug comes along too.
What hit the table
Ramen. A big black bowl of noodles in golden broth, topped with a halved soft-boiled egg, slices of chashu pork and a heap of greens.
Curry rice and gyoza. A plate of Japanese curry with a mound of white rice, next to a row of golden, pan-fried gyoza on a curvy ceramic dish. Rice: found.
A donburi bowl and a croquette plate. A red-lacquered rice bowl topped with meat, plus a golden fried croquette with shredded cabbage and a slice of tomato.
Katsudon. A katsudon rice bowl was on our order too.
Miso soup. A little black bowl of miso soup rounds things off.
Comfort food that’s kind to the wallet, too: most dishes €10–20 (prices may change).
A pinch of history
- The name. Sapporo, on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, is the birthplace of miso ramen, created at the shop Aji no Sanpei in the 1950s, with crinkly noodles made to hold the broth.
Verdict
5/5.
FAQ
Where is Sapporo in Paris?
Sapporo is a Japanese ramen restaurant in central Paris, a short walk from the Louvre.
What’s on the menu?
Ramen, plus Japanese comfort food such as gyoza, curry rice, donburi rice bowls and miso soup.
Is Sapporo ramen the same as miso ramen?
Sapporo is the home of miso ramen, but restaurants named Sapporo usually serve several broths.
How much does it cost?
Most dishes €10–20 (prices may change).
Is it good for groups?
We were three and were seated together at one table.