Kodawari Ramen Tsukiji: Bold Seafood Ramen in Paris

Kodawari Ramen Tsukiji isn’t just another ramen shop in Paris. It's a love letter to seafood. Drawing inspiration from Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market, this branch of the Kodawari brand takes the ocean theme seriously.

From the sardine-heavy ramen to the lobster-filled mazemen, it’s a bold, unapologetic dive into the sea. Here's a look at two bowls that highlight their oceanic ambitions.

🐟 Sardine Bomb – Smoky, Salty, Powerful

The Sardine Bomb is the strongest ramen on the menu, and it wears that badge with pride. It's seasoned with miso tare. This is a rare move for sardine-based ramen. It brings brings together rich, smoky dried sardines (niboshi) sourced from Brittany, France’s rugged northwestern coast.

Grilled marinated sardine fillets sit alongside thick-cut Iberico Pata Negra pork chashu, with chewy, thick noodles underneath it all. The pairing works better than you might expect. The pungency of the sardines is mellowed by the creamy power of the miso, but not completely tamed. You still get that signature niboshi (dried fish) bitterness and a hint of oceanic funk, balanced perfectly against the roundness of the miso.

Add in the soft-boiled egg and a dab of spicy sauce in the chef’s special version, and you’ve got a bowl that’s complex and deeply satisfying - though honestly, the base version holds its own just fine.

🦞 Lobster Mazemen – Soupless and Unique

Kodawari’s Lobster Mazemen is their only dry-style ramen. Sopuless ramen is a rarity outside of Japan. Conceptually, it’s a knockout. The noodles are tossed in a rich lobster gravy and topped with pan-seared scallops, nduja sausage from Calabria, and extras like charred corn and wheat. It’s playful, ambitious, and packed with umami.

That said, the overall flavor leaned a bit saltier than expected. I was hoping for a creamier, more bisque-like texture to let the lobster shine. Still, the creativity and attention to detail were clear. I appreciated ingredients like tsukudani, perfect yolk egg, and even nori (seaweed) rounding out the bowl.

It might not be my favorite at Kodawari Tsukiji, but it’s definitely worth trying if you want something different.

Final Thoughts - Kodawari Ramen Tsukiji

At Kodawari Ramen Tsukiji, seafood isn’t just a topping - it’s the theme. The shop takes inspiration seriously, and it pays off in bowls like the Sardine Bomb. The menu leans adventurous, and not everything will be for everyone, but there’s no denying the creativity and craft on display.

Fish-based ramen can be a tough sell outside of Japan, where most diners expect pork or chicken soup. But Kodawari pulls it off - and in Paris, no less. Hats off to them for boldly showcasing seafood-forward ramen in a way that feels both authentic and exciting.

Map Link