It’s the kind of address you’d like to keep preciously to yourself, but the secret is too good not to share. In the hustle and bustle of Parisian life, where everything moves fast, it’s great to find a place that advocates pure authenticity and sharing. So let’s meet at 4 m², a tiny Japanese restaurant that will soon have a special place in your heart!
4 m²: bento from the heart
The place is called 4 m², and it’s definitely not an image: the store is literally 4 m². It’s the tiny kingdom of Mei, an adorable and passionate chef from Kumamoto, Japan. In her micro-kitchen, where everything is optimized to the millimeter, she works with contagious passion to prepare bentos.
What’s most appealing about 4 m², beyond the obvious quality of the food (the crispy fried chicken and perfectly runny pickled egg are eye-catching!), is Mei‘s philosophy. As she explains, the aim here isn’t to “make a profit” or become the new hot spot (although, let’s be honest, it already is!). No, Mei simply wants to share her love of Japanese culture with Parisians. It’s an act of generosity, a way of connecting her culture to that of her adopted city, Paris.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Lbk-pt51WpA
But nuggets are rare. That’s what exclusive Parisian addresses are all about! The restaurant is only open two days a week: Thursday and Friday, and only for lunch.
The trick is that there are no reservations or table service. You just have to turn up and pick up a ticket (the choice is simple and effective, as you can see in the video: Chicken or Tofu). And our friendly advice: come early, very early. Local regulars and discerning gourmets know: the queue forms well before opening time. If you arrive and there are no tickets left, it’s too late: all the bentos have already been sold.
📍 Location: 4 rue Charles-François Dupuis, 75003 Paris (Métro Temple or République).
📅 O pening days: Thursdays and Fridays only.
⏰ O pening hours: Officially from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. (But we insist: come well before 12:30 if you want to stand a chance of snagging a ticket!).
💸 How it works: No reservations. First come, first served. You have to pick up a ticket(Chicken or Tofu) at the entrance. When the tickets run out, you’re sold out for the day.