Chakaiseki Akiyoshi is the world's firstchakaiseki restaurant outside Japan. It's in Paris, at 59 bis rue Letellier in the 15th arrondissement, where you can experience a refined Japanese menu based on the famous tea ceremony. Opened just over a year ago, the restaurant was awarded its first star on March 18, 2024.
For those who don't know, chakaiseki is a traditional Japanese culinary art that forms an integral part of the tea ceremony. It's more than a simple tasting; it's a complete experience that aims to open the heart to the beauty and passage of the seasons through the preparation of dishes, the choice of objects and the layout of the room. The host takes as much care in preparing the dishes as in their presentation, respecting the principles of traditional Japanese cuisine, recognized by UNESCO as washoku, which is characterized by the quality of the products, the preparation and the setting in which it is served. Guests, meanwhile, seek to understand the host's intentions as they savor each dish.
At Chakaiseki Akiyoshi, the chef and his team have created a menu that reflects the Japanese aesthetic, with fine dishes that enhance and sublimate a cup of tea. The menu features quality products to be savored in an authentic setting. Fine tableware, a ceremonial worthy of Japan and you're transported into Japanese culture for the duration of a gourmet meal.
As you'd expect, this exceptional experience isn't cheap, and is best suited to a special occasion. The lunch menu comprises 10 dishes for €160, while the dinner menu is €240 and comprises 13 courses. It features mainly vegetables and seafood, and ends with Japanese sweets and light matcha tea (ousu). In the evening, the room is lit by magnificent Japanese candles.
That lunchtime, we begin the experience with"Kumidashi", a warm water to calm the mind and heart, and welcome the meal ahead with serenity. Once zen, it's time for"Niebana", Toyama rice steamed and al dente. This small portion is accompanied by"Shiru Wan", a Kyoto white miso soup with butternut tofu, followed by"Mukozuke", a cucumber-skinned brill sashimi with ponzu jelly. An opportunity to discover the full diversity of Japanese gastronomy in just a few seconds.
Next up is the excellent"Nimonowan: Kaburamushi": a steamed dish based on grated turnip and a delicious piece of monkfish served in a dashi broth. Then comes our favorite:"Yakimono", sea bass grilled in binchotan (the famous Japanese charcoal) served with watercress leaves and arugula. A real delight!
We continue the culinary pleasure with"Taki Awase", daikon with a tasty scallop cooked in tempura. The whole dish is enhanced by a spinach sauce. We also fall for the"Shiza kana: Sabazushi", a memorable pressed sushi with grilled mackerel on a nori leaf and a green shiso leaf. A few bites are enough to transport us directly to the land of the Rising Sun.
We also love the succulent"Hashi Arai" soup with its Jerusalem artichoke chips. We end our savory tasting with"Meshi", steamed rice served with grilled Arctic char, ginger and shiso flakes, and"Tsukemono" (Japanese-style pickles and fermented vegetables).
Chakaiseki Akiyoshi finishes the experience with the unmissable"Wagashi", a dessert based on red azuki beans, cinnamon sweet potato and yuzu, all enhanced by ocha, the famous tea ceremony where we sip an excellent matcha from Koyamaen in Kyoto.
Please note that the menu changes regularly. If you're planning to enjoy this incredibly unique culinary experience, don't be surprised to find a different menu from ours.
To enjoy this experience and the famous tea ceremony over an exceptional meal, make a reservation and let yourself be carried away by Japanese culture for an enchanted interlude.
Location
Chakaiseki Akiyoshi Japanese restaurant
59 Rue Letellier
75015 Paris 15
Prices
Menu midi et soir: €160 - €240
Recommended age
For all
Official website
chakaiseki-akiyoshi.fr
