Considering it’s Friday, we went to Yasube, a restaurant found in the 2007 guide of japanese restaurants that I obtained by calling the Centre Culturel Japonais in Paris. At first, Yasube is no different from the myriad of japanese restaurants and yakitori crowding Rue Sainte-Anne these days. Much like Naniwa-ya, it is packed at lunchtime and obtaining a table there without a reservation. As you enter, the first thing that strikes is the smell of the traditional barbeque as sticks are set to the flame. It bodes well for the flavour of the sticks. We’re shown downstairs the last few available places. A 5-top was waiting before us and the only options available for sitting down were the tatami mats. Decoration remains simple but the restaurant is clean, paint is fresh on the walls and the staff are friendly enough.
Menu choices:
Yasube is a traditional yakitori, without too much flourish, so you can expect the traditional yakitori choices along with a few unusual choices (quail eggs come to mind).
There are several options but the lunchtime menus includes up to 8 brochettes served with salad, soup and rice. Tonkatsu and bento choices are also available.
I did not see any individual ordering of sticks but I failed to ask.
Good points:
The chicken fritters were heavenly and not too greasy, served piping hot with just lemon. A bite liberates the fragrant, soft meat hiding in its crunchy shell.
The sticks are good, particularly the chicken wings which are tender and juicy. The whole plate does not marinate in sauce and is served with a healthy slice of lemon.
I have never tasted rice that was quite that good. It was sticky yet textured beautifully. If I made rice like that, I’d be opening a restaurant too.
Tea is served without having to ask for it and is more to my taste than matcha.
Bad points:
After the fourth stick, the others were cold. Depending on your speed and the amount of talking you do, this varies greatly.
Price:
Menus range from €11 to €16,50. Other dishes are around €10-13 With my 6-piece brochette and chicken bits, I paid €17,50 which is pretty reasonable for a lunchtime meal.
Overall:
This was a great lunchtime experience, nothing too fussy, good simple foods served reasonably quickly and without too much flourish. A good address for a tasty no-frills meal. I’d definitely return there but eat faster. I’d give it a good 17/20.
Our little bonus was being able to see one of the chefs preparing fish in the kitchen as we waited for the bill.
Yasube
9 rue Saint Anne
75001 Paris
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