Japanese grocery stores in France

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!

Filed under:  japanese ingredients shopping equipment and supplies

Comments

Hi Maki, here are some updates on Paris area shopping. Have not yet been to Big Store, but I have heard they have the best selection of fruit.

TANG FRERES-
Has two locations, prob the biggest, or at least most popular Chinese grocery. The Ivry location is a little bigger. Always very crowded, especially Sundays. Does not have many Japanese ingredients- like most stores in china town more focus on south east Asian/Chinese ingredients.

Tang Frères (next to Paris Store)
48, Avenue d'Ivry, 75013 Paris
Tel : 01 45 85 19 85 - Fax : 01 45 86 31 22

Tang Frères (Place d'Italie)
168, Avenue de Choisy, 75013 Paris
Tel : 01 44 24 06 72

PARISTORE
Slightly smaller than Tang Frères, but with some different products- mostly vegetables. Not a lot of Japanese specific products either (when I was there- apparently stock varies). Less crowded than Tang Frères.

44, Avenue d'Ivry, 75013 Paris
Tel : 01 44 06 88 18

EXO STORE
The store with the most Japanese ingredients in china town that I have found so far. Some are much cheaper than found at actual Japanese groceries, some are more expensive.

52, Avenue Choisy, 75013 Paris, France
tel: 01 44 24 99 88

I have a little update: in Toulouse, we can also find Japanese product in two shops named "King Fat" (sometimes I see it spelled "King Phat", but I don't remember which one is the good one).
The first is in Labège:
157 route de Labège 31400 Toulouse, it has a restaurant;
the second one is in the center of Toulouse:
3 rue Denfert Rochereau 31000 TOULOUSE

Hi. I'd like to know if anyone knows if there are any Japanese grocery stores in Besançon, France? So far I've only managed to find Vietnamese stores here. It's great since it has many items for Southeast Asians cookings, but it doesn't have many Japanese ingredients. Thanks in advance ^_^

Hi. I'd like to know if anyone knows if there are any Japanese grocery stores in Besançon, France? So far I've only managed to find Vietnamese stores here. It's great since it has many items for Southeast Asians cookings, but it doesn't have many Japanese ingredients. Thanks in advance ^_^

Hello,
Does anyone know of stores selling japanese groceries in the Lille region?
thank you!

Salut Maki. I'd like to add to the list of Japanese grocery stores in Paris.
Kanae
83 Av Emile Zola (15eme arrondisement)
métro No10 Charles Michels
tel:01.40.59.98.03.
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.

Further research for the Lyon area revealed an additional store:

E-mail : universdujapon@free.fr

UNIVERS DU JAPON,
81 rue tronchet,
69006 Lyon,
tel/fax 04 72 43 05 28

METRO MASSENA

LE LUNDI DE 14H00 à 19H00

DU MARDI AU SAMEDI 10H00 19H00 nonstop

They seem to have mostly non-food items, but there is a groceries section.

Right, I forgot to mention that one because the groceries section is really tiny, and rather expensive compared to other stores. But, the owner is really nice and passionate about his job ! ^^

He has a website in French : http://kashimura.free.fr
(warning : somehow the codes seem to have gotten a bit mixed up... and there's much more items than pictured)

However, this is the only store in Lyon that carries bento boxes ! And very nice ones too... the stocks varies though.
(most of the actual selection of boxes can be seen on this page: https://www.japonmania.com/product_info.php?cPath=104_21_27&products_id=... ; I assume the owner ordered them on this website.)

A good surprise today!
I hadn't checked my local organic store for quite a while and it seems they have begun to carry a few japanese items, some a at very good price.

Orange

Naturel et Bio
Rue d'Italie
84100 Orange, France

04 90 34 43 03
http://naturel-bio.fr/index.php?idd=a

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 !

Very good news for : Supermarché Asie, Lyon, Re-opened !

Supermarché Asie
12, Rue Passet
69007
Lyon
Métro or tram - Guillotière

Tel : 04 78 58 92 65

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 ! ^^

I just passed through Lyon today en route from the Provence to Switzerland, and had a brief but nice chat with the owner of Kazuki. Will report on it later. The good news for bento fans is she's thinking of stocking some bento boxes and supplies.

Go on like that, and you'll be better informed than me on the details of the shops around here ^^
That's great news ! I'm a bit too shy and never engaged a conversation with her, but she seems lovely and I know that a few people were searching for bento boxes in lyon during christmas, so she would definitely get customers for if she decides to do it.

Hi
I will be staying in Besancon for three weeks.
Can anyone give me a list of the grocery stores/supermarket in Besancon? Also I would appreciate if you can recommend what local brand of food to get- I am told that even frozen croissants are good and I can buy can escargot to cook at home? Tips tips tips please. Also, I don't speak French. Will I have a difficult time? Any Asians out there who would like to befriend me for 3 weeks?
Cheers!

Well, as far as I know there is no Asian grocery store per se in Besançon itself, though I have only passed through there. It's a fairly small city (well a large town really) of around 100,00 people. But it does have a university.

If you are just staying for 3 weeks, you may just want to enjoy the local cuisine.

Well, frozen croissants are not as good as freshly baked ones. The local bakery is better (usually) than the supermarket.

Yes, you may have a hard time if you don't speak a word of French. Try to learn a few key phrases and words before you go.

Many thanks for the great blog! And for this list, it's been a big help while living in France.
I'd like to add two more shops in the list, in Montpellier area:

Paris Store
rue Robert Schuman
34430 St Jean de Védas

Newly opened, reasonable prices. Also Japanese and Korean products.

Wei Sin
45 Avenue Georges Clemenceau
34000 Montpellier

Fairly small Asian grocery store with some Japanese products, including natto.

Where can I find frozen edamame in Paris, Lyon, and Provence?

In Paris you can find them for sure at Kioko and Kanae, probably at Jujiya and the Ace stores. Not sure about the big Chinese stores but it's worth looking. In Lyon, try Kazuki, Kimchi and Supermarché Asie, in that order. In Provence...you tell me when you find a store ^_^; I've yet to see them anywhere.

Does anyone know where I can buy raw fish for sushi in Toulouse or somewhere close? I have arrived in France last month and have no information about raw fish but I have to cook sushi (not nigiri, chirashi zushi) for more than 20 people on 5 March. You can save my life! Thank you.

Hey there

The biggest store is Eurasia, situated in the Bordeaux Lac mall center area.

In the city center, several addresses of the Li Kim Hak store.

Mostra used to carry some bento boxes, but not the last time I checked. It's a home decoration store.

thanks Maki for your work

I simply love Japanese food, especially salmon. Have never been to France, but we are planning in 3 months trip to Paris soon. This blogs is really help, I putting important notes right now on your list of restaurants. Thanks so much for advice.

Another update for Paris,
Don't forget the Belleville area, It is the 2nd chinatown of Paris, this include 2 Paris stores and a host of other chinese/asian grocers and even a halal chinese butcher!
ed

Metro - goncourt, Belleville

Hi!

In Paris, there's also a Korean grocery:
Korean Town
Rue des Moines
75017 Paris.

Metro Brochant.

There are also Japanese products

hi, i just wanna ask if where in asian paris shop i can buy asian beauty products too? i can't find one and i'm living in paris.thanks

Thank you! I was looking for some Japanese sauces in Tang Freres and Paris Store Paris, but couldn't find them. Glad to find out about the Japanese grocery stores.

Hello,

Fast Don (Paris) went out of business at least 6 months ago.

There is also a K-Mart rue Saint-Anne. It's a Korean grocery store where one can find japanese products (from dashi stock to frozen kamaboko). They also sell fresh fish and minced meat for sukiyaki.

They also have a "fast food" area where one can find onigiri, inarizushi, bento and such.

It's bigger a shop than nearby Kioko. Vegetables usually are cheaper in K-Mart. For the other goods, it depends.

Does anyone know where I can buy Japanese Rice.
I live in NICE. On line is OK,too ?

Hi there,

For those who live in the south of France there are 2 asian supermarkets in Aix-en-Provence (where I live). They mostly carry chinese or vietnamese products but also have a decent choice of japanese products. In both supermarkets you can find basic ingredients such as: -japanese-style rice (mostly italian) but also sometimes Nishiki brand or musenmai rice
-dashi powder
-bonito flakes
-seaweed ( wakame, nori, kombu)
-Kikkoman soy sauce, honmirin, Mitsukan rice vinegar and different types of sake (cooking and drinking)
-miso paste
-Japanese Tofu
-other ingredients such as shishimi togarashi, aonori, furikake, curry roux, different kinds of sauce (tonkatsu, okonomi..)
They also have different types of noodles, japanese snacks, drinks (such as Ramune, Pokka..) and a small selection of vegetables that can be used in japanese dishes (such enoki and eringi mushoom). In the fresh foods section you can also find natto and konnyaku.
Some products are not actually japanese but can be used in japanese dishes (soba noodles and konnyaku from china, udon noodles from korea...) but they also have real japanese brands especially for condiments.
They also have chicken gyoza, yakitori, edamame and lotus root in the frozen foods section .

Shun Li (the biggest one, but still small)
2 Ter cours St Louis, 13100 AIX EN PROVENCE

Ding Dang (the smaller one)
1 rue Lapierre
Aix-en-Provence, France