Épopée: the delicious bistronomic restaurant with Japanese chef Yurika Kitano at the helm.

More and more chefs of Japanese origin are taking over Parisian restaurants to offer high-quality French cuisine with a Japanese twist. Narro, Baillotte, and Passionné are just a few examples. Épopée, a restaurant located in the 11th arrondissement of the capital, joins this list of delicious addresses.

Behind this restaurant, which opened in October 2025, are Thomas Legrand and his wifeMegumi. Together, they co-founded Narro in 2020. Five years later, Megumi and Thomas Legrand have launched a new establishment,Épopée. They decided to bring Japanese chef Yurika Kitano on board for this gourmet project, and she can now be found behind the stove. Trained in Japan, Yurika Kitano went on to gain experience in France, notably at the Michelin-starred Passage 53, Clamato, and Pilgrim.

At Épopée, chef Yurika Kitano assertsher culinary style, which is precise, sincere, and ever-changing, placing the ingredients at the heart of the dish. AtÉpopée, the producers are carefully selected. For example, you'll find organic bread from Thierry Breton, organic vegetables from Une ferme du Perche, fish from Jego, and specialty coffee from Fyra. As a passionate sommelier, Thomas Legrand focuses on a carefully selected range of wines, including organic, biodynamic, and natural wines from different regions of France.

To offer customers a different experience at lunchtime and in the evening,Épopée offers a lunch menu for €24 or €29. In the evening, the menu is more extensive and varied, with French-Japanese-inspired creations. 

So we decide to visit the restaurant in the evening. It is 7:10 p.m. when we arrive in front ofÉpopée, written in black letters on the façade. We enter through a door on the right and discover the imposing dining room. From the outside, we could never have imagined the beautiful size of this dimly lit space. The decor is minimalist but warm. Our eyes are quickly drawn to the large bar behind which are displayed numerous bottles of natural wine. Because, while we come toÉpopée to enjoy beautiful dishes, we also come to discover new wines. 

Take a seat next to the bay window and the dumbwaiter, which will bring you several delicious and inspired dishes throughout the evening. 

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The menu is not extensive, but offers a limited number of suggestions. That evening, the restaurant unveiled seven tapas options, four starters, four main courses, and three desserts. A short but effective menu. We started our tasting with a first favorite: the succulent beef tartare, accompanied by persimmon, smoked ricotta, anchovy sauce, and sweet potato chips on top. Not only did the presentation whet our appetite, but the flavors were perfectly balanced, offering a real explosion in the mouth. Across the table, we fell in love with the mushroom tartlet, with its egg yolk and bacon bits, all hidden under a creamy and flavorful Parmesan cream. 

We continue our culinary journey with a grilled guinea fowl with crispy skin, accompanied by turnips and a sabayon with yellow wine. A simple dish, but once again perfectly executed. Another dish, another beautiful offering with tender rack of lamb, camembert and black garlic condiment, and an Italian vegetable that we are not used to eating, puntarelle, also known as Catalan chicory. For these two dishes, we appreciated the accuracy of the seasoning, the masterful cooking of the meat, and the perfect balance of flavors.

Finally, we couldn't leaveÉpopée without trying the oh-so-delicious desserts. For cocoa lovers, go for the ultra-light chocolate mousse with cognac ice cream and a Comté cheese tuile on top. Another classic revisited and 100% approved that evening? The Mont Blanc, made with a succulent chestnut cream, a surprising kabocha ice cream, sponge cake, and meringue. 

Mission accomplished forÉpopée, which delighted us with its bold flavors, sincere and gourmet dishes with masterful seasoning and impeccable presentation. Ultimately, this new gourmet destination should appeal to bon vivants in search of simple creations that showcase French cuisine with Japanese influences. However, if you're looking for a place to eat quickly, then move on. Here at Épopée, we take our time and savor every bite and every sip. Ideal for a romantic dinner! 

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.