Most Akamus trips to Paris are annoying hit and run jobs that put us at the mercy of Air France and anyone else who can get their hands on us for 24 hours.  Therefore, after I check into my broom closet at the Mercure Gare du Nord, I usually catch the Métro to and walk over to Rue Ste. Anne for lunch.  The street, well known for its Japanese restaurants, is a Mecca for noodle slurpers looking for their next fix of ramen or udon.

 
By far my favorite restaurant is Kunitoraya. Yes, it’s horribly cramped and the last time I went my Japanese friends found the waiters ‘rude’ (“They definitely have lived in Paris far too long.”) but the food is good enough to make you shut up and eat.  You might have to put up with a bit of a wait in order to get in, but if you are lucky you will be placed right in front of the open kitchen, which definitely adds entertainment value to your meal.