Paris | I'd Come to Paris a Thousand Times Just for This Kaiseki

🥢 Komatsubaki Paris 💃🏻 I've been thinking about this Japanese restaurant ever since I first dined here a year and a half ago. Since then, I've tried several Japanese-French fusion places and European omakase/keisaki experiences. Some were confusing, while others were decent, but this place remains the only Japanese restaurant in Europe that I've revisited and plan to keep coming back to. 🤌🏻 You can choose between the omakase or keisaki menu, both priced the same and starting with the same three appetizers. As a meat lover, I naturally went for the keisaki. The price has remained at €130 since my first visit, which is astonishing given the passage of time. Guests can sit at the cozy bar counter, choose smaller tables perfect for chatting, or gather in the intimate Japanese-style private rooms. 🥢 The theme this time is "Spring Breeze and Dragon Boat Festival." What truly moves me is how this kaiseki elevates the natural flavors of the ingredients to their utmost. The chef's skill in extracting and highlighting these flavors is truly masterful. Not only does the sesame tofu appetizer brighten the palate, but the high-quality sashimi is par for the course. For instance, the white asparagus and shrimp soup doesn't visibly feature asparagus, yet its sweetness is released in the broth, permeating the mouth. The hamachi nigiri wrapped in fragrant bamboo leaves, the mini cherry blossom rice balls with bamboo shoots in seaweed soup, and the sesame miso fish soup with rice—all these dishes have their unique, unparalleled freshness that Western-style meat and sauce dishes simply can't match. 🍣 🦞 I didn't try the lobster last time, but this time I splurged €30 on it! Initially thinking it was a bit pricey, I regretted not getting it for both of us after the first bite, as it's the chef's signature. The lobster is lightly fried, with a crispy outer layer like tempura, while the meat is firm yet juicy and bursting with sweetness. The sauce is predominantly sweet but refreshingly not cloying like some cheese-baked dishes. The first bite left me stunned—it's indescribably delicious. 🦞 🍵 The dessert was the same as last time: matcha tiramisu and strawberry red bean mochi. They were just as delightful as I remembered, and I wouldn't mind having them again. 🍵 There are plenty of fine Japanese restaurants in wealthy and charming cities like London and Paris, but in terms of value for money, this place truly stands out. It surpasses many Michelin-starred restaurants that merely scratch the surface of Japanese-French fusion. 💎 I will definitely be back! #Paris #ParisianCuisine #ParisianFoodAdventures #ParisianJapaneseCuisine #ParisianKaiseki #ParisianJapaneseRestaurants #ParisianHiddenGems #ParisianTreasures