Short version:

• Positive: The restaurant's Japanese ambiance.
• Negative:

1. The overall client experience needs significant improvement.
2. The prices are too high for what is offered.

• Overall impression: restaurant overrated.

Long version: I usually don't write reviews, but this experience at Kodawari Yokocho left me so frustrated that I feel compelled to share it with others. In summary, the restaurant's Japanese ambiance is a positive aspect, but the overall client experience needs significant improvement, and the prices are too high for what is offered.

I had been eager to try this restaurant for a while due to its popularity on YouTube and recommendations. My girlfriend and I initially didn't realize that we needed to use a virtual queuing app for our first visit. Understandably, we couldn't dine in that day due to the long wait.

Undeterred, we decided to give it another shot. This time, we were well-prepared, monitoring the SkeepIt app from 11:40 AM while making our way to the restaurant. At 11:55 AM, we were not still able to join the virtual queue, which should have been expected since the app indicated that virtual queuing began 15 minutes before the opening at 12:00 PM.

We arrived at the restaurant at 12:01 PM, hoping they might allow us in without the app since we were slightly early. However, there were already 35 groups ahead of us in the queue by 12:02 PM, translating to a wait time of 76-118 minutes, according to the app. Despite our frustration, we remained patient as it was our second attempt.

We spent exactly 2 hours waiting at a nearby coffee shop before receiving the notification (in-app) that our table was ready, with just a 10-minute window to reach the restaurant. We didn’t receive any message nor email about the table being « ready » that the one of the restaurant waiters talked about; we let the app open on my phone, so that’s why we could see the « notification ». Being close by, we made it within 2-3 minutes, only to find ourselves waiting for another 16 minutes in front of the restaurant. Finally, after roughly 2.5 hours, we could start our meal.

As for the food, we had high expectations, given the extensive wait time. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the hype, and it was far from the authentic experience we had anticipated. I was far from impressed, and considering the prices, I expected much more value. Honestly, there are other restaurants in Paris which are less popular than Kodawari and serve much better and more authentic ramen.