Konchu
**UPDATE** Konchu is temporarily closed due to a move to a new location.
I love it when young creative people get together and make something unexpected! Meet Raphaël and Elie, creators of Konchu. A pop-up Japanese canteen with dishes that think outside the typical sushi box. In fact, their is no sushi here. To add to the surprise, they’re currently on rue des Bouchers (a beautiful cobblestone street that ALL locals will avoid due to the back to back tourist traps!). So it’s refreshing to see something fun pop up here.
I’d never heard of a Japanese curry, but I was happily surprised. Rich, mild and savoury. You can choose from udon noodles or rice and top it off with a variety of meats or vegetarian options. But what caught my eye on the menu was the okonomiyaki (as a side note, okonimiyaki is surprisingly one of the three words I know in Japanese. Voilà, a little slice of life for y’a). A traditional Japanese savoury cabbage pancake which you can pimp up with bacon or leave out for vegetarian delight. It was very good. In fact, all the sides we tried were delicious. The tempura vegetables had that satisfying crunch. And the Spicy Kaarage, described on the menu as sexy, sassy and crispy, delivered just that!
The interior gives just the right amount of canteen feeling. This being a pop-up, it’s normal to expect a smaller investment. But they’ve done a great job with it. I loved the vintage Japanese movie posters on the walls and just that chilled vibe that makes you feel right at home.
I’m excited to see this incredible duo grow. They’re looking for a new space and should be packing up from their current location on rue des Bouchers in two months. I’ll certainly keep an eye out and update their new address once they find their new washitsu.
You can savour their dishes non-stop from Wednesday to Saturday.
Let me know what you thought!
