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Iwao

Japanese restaurant · Marseille

Japanese restaurant in Marseille

At Iwao, you push a door on rue Sainte and Marseille disappears: a Tokyo alley, broths simmering in the open kitchen, manga within reach. A true ramen-ya, steps from the Old Port.

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Dining room of the Iwao Japanese restaurant in Marseille, set tables and open kitchen under red lanterns
Japanese ramen bowl with golden broth, soft egg and chashu, served at Iwao in Marseille

The place

A ramen-ya in the heart of Marseille

Iwao isn't one more “asian restaurant”. It's a ramen-ya: a house built entirely around its broths, drawn in-house for hours, and five ramen recipes served piping hot facing the open kitchen. All around, the worn set of a Tokyo alley — signs, paper lanterns, aged wood.

Parcourez nos bols de ramen à Marseille — chaque recette se veut un ramen fidèle à la tradition japonaise, dans l'esprit de la maison IWAO. Consultez nos tarifs pour savoir combien prévoir pour un repas, et pensez à déjeuner chez nous en semaine : service du mercredi au samedi.

Immersive Japanese alley décor inside the Iwao restaurant in Marseille

The immersion

Push the door, change cities

Here, the plate is only half the trip. You eat under the lanterns, surrounded by posters and manga; you linger over an arcade cabinet. In Marseille, it's the place you come to as much for the atmosphere as for the ramen.

Venez découvrir notre décor de ruelle japonaise, puis restez pour dîner dans notre ruelle de Tokyo. Lisez aussi ce que pensent nos clients.

At the table

Our specialties

Beyond ramen, honest Japanese cooking made to share, from small bites to hearty bowls.

Golden Japanese gyoza with a dipping sauce served at Iwao in Marseille

Gyoza & starters

Pan-fried Japanese dumplings, edamame, miso-glazed aubergine: the small plates that open the meal.

Karaage, crisp Japanese fried chicken served at Iwao in Marseille

Karaage & fried bites

Marinated Japanese fried chicken, crisp outside and juicy inside — the classic you nibble at any hour.

Japanese katsu curry bowl with breaded chicken and rice served at Iwao in Marseille

Donburi & katsu curry

Generous rice bowls: katsu curry, gyudon, katsu don. Enough to fill the biggest appetites, noon or night.

Good to know

Coming to Iwao

Our tip

The room fills quickly, especially in the evening and at weekends. Book online to be sure of your table.

Explore

Also worth a look

Iwao's ramen from every angle, and the rest of the house.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What kind of Japanese restaurant is Iwao?
Iwao is an immersive ramen-ya: the house revolves around ramen, with house-made broths and an open kitchen, in a Tokyo-alley setting at 27 rue Sainte, Marseille (1st).
Where is the restaurant in Marseille?
At 27 rue Sainte, in the 1st arrondissement, a few minutes’ walk from the Old Port and the Opéra district.
Do I need to book?
It is strongly recommended, especially in the evening and at weekends. You can book online through the dedicated tool or by phone.
Do you offer vegetarian or halal options?
Yes: the menu includes meat-free recipes, among them a plant-based ramen, and suitable options. Allergens are flagged on the menu, and the team will guide you in the dining room.
Can I come at lunch as well as in the evening?
Iwao serves lunch Wednesday to Saturday (12:00 – 14:30) and dinner Tuesday to Sunday (19:00 – 22:30). Closed on Monday.
Is there a terrace?
Yes, a terrace with around fifteen seats welcomes guests on fine days, on rue Sainte.
Lucky daruma having its second eye painted

Stage clear — table booked

Book your table

The counter and dining room fill up fast, especially in the evening. Book in seconds and come push the door of Iwao.

Continue → book your table

Or by phone: +33 4 91 54 08 27