Addy A.
Yelp
We were craving ramen while feeling under the weather, so we set out to find the best spot in Paris. Of course, a ramen spot featured in the Michelin guide piqued our interest. (It bears repeating, being included in the Michelin guide is NOT the same as being Michelin-starred. Very few restaurants in this price range would achieve a star, BUT being in the guide is a huge honor nonetheless).
We came expecting great ramen, but they shot straight past even that high bar. The broth of the Niboshi Paitan had unreal umami, and was rich and delicious in a way I haven't tasted outside Japan. There just aren't words! I wished I had more room for more add-ons, but the roasted tomato added a nice brightness.
Now to the negatives: yes, it's crowded. It's a testament to its quality, in a way - would you trust a dead restaurant? We were able to snag a table with a 20 minute wait in the off hours, around 4 PM. Downloading the Skeepit app prior to arriving would have shaved that down even more.
Service can be a little harried due to the crowds, but it's par for the course for Paris.
The decor is amazingly detailed, down to a soundtrack of alley noises that plays on repeat. That being said, the dedication to alley clutter combined with the crowds means that you will be eating while shoulder to shoulder with strangers.
Overall, it's telling of how much we enjoyed our ramen that we ended up trying the other Kodawari location the next day.