{"id":1326,"date":"2026-04-24T13:55:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T11:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/les-tables-dasie.fr\/shuzo-paris-izakaya-japonais-colombien-11eme\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T11:18:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:18:55","slug":"shuzo-paris-izakaya-japonais-colombien-11eme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/les-tables-dasie.fr\/en\/shuzo-paris-izakaya-japonais-colombien-11eme\/","title":{"rendered":"Shuzo: the tropical izakaya making the 11th arrondissement tick between Tokyo and Bogot\u00e1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cuisine<\/strong>Japanese-Colombian fusion<\/span><\/div>\n
Neighbourhood<\/strong>Paris 11th<\/span><\/div>\n
Price<\/strong>\u20ac\u20ac<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Between Bastille and Oberkampf, on Rue Saint-S\u00e9bastien \u2014 the epicentre of the cool 11th arrondissement \u2014 a venue has been turning heads since it opened. Shuzo<\/strong>, this is the project of Andr\u00e9s Ramirez and Gina Villacob: a tropical izakaya that marries Japanese DNA with Colombian generosity. Crowned at the 2025 Time Out Food & Drink Awards in the fusion category, the spot has become one of the most talked-about favourites of the Parisian autumn rentr\u00e9e. We went there, and here is our story.<\/p>\n

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View on Instagram<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The location: Japan and Colombia under the same roof<\/h2>\n

Right from the entrance, the tone is set: subtle neon lighting, palm trees, light wood, prominent record player<\/strong>. It\u2019s somewhere between a Tokyo neighbourhood bar and a chic Bogot\u00e1 canteen. The name itself sums up the concept: a contraction of shiso<\/em> (the Japanese aromatic plant) and skewer<\/em> (Colombian street skewers). Quite an experience, and it lives up to its promise.<\/p>\n

The room isn't huge \u2014 it's more of an intimate format \u2014 and that's a good thing. Later in the evening, Gina Villacob takes to the decks: cumbia, afrobeat, instrumental Japanese music, Brazilian music. It turns dinner into a proper night out, without tipping over into a bar. The balance is finely judged.<\/p>\n

At the stove: Andr\u00e9s Ramirez, two cultures, twenty years on the job<\/h2>\n

Andr\u00e9s Ramirez is not a chef who fell into fusion cooking as a fad. Colombian-Japanese, he spent 20 years in kitchens in Colombia, France and Japan<\/strong>. A former chef at Rose Bakery, he had already launched Doki Doki, a hand roll bar that left a lasting impression. At Shuzo, he connects his two culinary heritages with disarming naturalness.<\/p>\n

The result: a cuisine of small dishes to share where every bite tells a story. No gimmick fusion, no forced mix \u2014 it is rather a dialogue between two cuisines that respect each other<\/em>, using Japanese techniques (marinades, precise cooking methods, cuts) and Colombian ingredients (cassava, plantain, tamarillo, corn).<\/p>\n

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View on Instagram<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The menu: small plates, big journey<\/h2>\n

Let's start with the starters that set the mood: smoked watermelon tartare with cashew mousseline and corn tuiles<\/strong> (\u20ac10) \u2014 firstly, it\u2019s brilliant. The watermelon\u2019s tuxedo gives an almost umami depth, the cashew rounds it out, the sweetcorn provides the crunch. The plantain croquette<\/strong> (\u20ac12 for three) are an absolute must, to be eaten piping hot. The\u2019black pudding empanada<\/strong> (\u20ac10 for three) acts as a bridge between the two worlds \u2014 a Colombian classic revisited with Japanese elegance.<\/p>\n

As for the skewers, okra or chicken<\/strong> (\u20ac10 each) grilled to order, with the homemade \u00abShuzo sauce\u00bb that is well worth dipping the last mouthful of rice into. The tamale with shiitake mushrooms and kombu<\/strong> (13\u20ac) is the conceptual dish: vegetarian, deep, crafted. And for the dish that brings everyone together: the chashu-chicharron porchetta<\/strong> (\u20ac17) \u2014 slow-cooked Japanese-style confit pork, grilled the Colombian way. Unforgettable.<\/p>\n

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View on Instagram<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Vibe & experience: at what time, with whom?<\/h2>\n

Shuzo is a place designed for the evening. You come here at 8 pm for a relaxed dinner, you stay until 11 pm or later when Gina starts her sets. The vibe is festive without being loud<\/strong>, chic without being stuffy \u2014 the perfect cocktail for:<\/p>\n