Mama No Bento

The name means "mom's bento" and that is exactly what you get. Chiemi Setta, originally from Hokkaido, runs this tiny lunch spot with her daughter Sarah. She is at the stove from 6 AM every morning, building bento boxes with seasonings shipped from her home region.

The weekly-changing mixed bento (€16.50) is the thing to order. Expect compartments of teriyaki salmon, kabocha, fried lotus root, dashimaki egg, edamame, and whatever is seasonal. The chicken katsu curry is deeply layered and worth the trip alone. Onigiri, donburi bowls, and matcha desserts (the chiffon cake rotates flavours) round out a short, focused menu.

The space is small, warm, and feels like eating in someone's kitchen. Rue Poissonnière is the old fish-porters' road to Les Halles, now a quiet stretch just minutes from the bustle of Rue Montorgueil. The 2e has a strong concentration of Japanese restaurants, but this one stands apart for its Hokkaido roots and home-cooking soul.