Gili-Gili: the tiny Japanese onigiri counter in Paris

Considered as the Japanese sandwich, the onigiri is starting to make its place in Paris! For a proper discovery of this Japanese specialty par excellence, we take you to Gili-Gili, an excellent Japanese micro-counter nestled in the 9th district of the capital.

If I tell you Japanese gastronomy, you answer me ramen, udon, yakitori, okonomiyaki, sushi, tonkatsu or donburi. But there is another dish that the Japanese love and that is starting to invade the streets of Paris: theonigiri. If you don't know this speciality yet, it is about rice balls in the shape of a round or triangle. Often filled with a salty ingredient, theonigiri is topped with a piece ofdried nori seaweed. Healthy, tasty, suitable for all diets and easy to eat and transport, this Japanese dish is also part of soul food. A state of mind that Gili-Gili (which means"of rightness") wishes to transmit and share through the opening of its first Japanese counter in Paris. Opening in 2019 in the 9th arrondissement of the capital, this first address signed Gili-Gili has a lot of charm and, despite its very small surface which is reminiscent of some tiny stores installed in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Behind Gili-Gili, we find Ai, originally from the Aichi prefecture in Japan, and Samuel, passionate and in love with the Japanese culture and gastronomy. Together, they gave birth to this first corner that undeniably invites you to travel.

On the menu, you will of course find onigiri, with a dozen recipes to choose from, all made daily on the spot by Ai. Among the best-sellers, let's mention the indisputable tuna-mayo, simple but efficient, or the excellent miso-pork onigiri (French pork, hatcho miso, kakuyu), or the salmon onigiri (salmon marinated in sake and baked). If you want more originality, discover the delicious Mentaiko (cod roe, mayonnaise, Espelette pepper), the Shiso Tsuke (shiso basil, cucumber pickles) or the one with organic button mushrooms marinated in its dashi.

Open only at lunchtime, Gili-Gili offers several possible formulas, including the Bento formula at 10€ (choice of 2 onigiri and 4 side dishes) or the Manpuku formula at 12€ (choice of 3 onigiris, soup of the day or dessert). To diversify its offer, Gili-Gili also produces a dish of the day which obviously changes according to the seasons.

And to accompany everything, the store suggests various drinks, including several very good Japanese teas (Sencha, hojicha...), but also beer or sake.

Because Gili-Gili is much more than a simple Japanese counter, the place also has a small grocery store where you can find some Japanese products, but also its onigiri recipe book. The establishment has also put online some very well done tutorials in order to make onigiri in the rules of art :

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Finally, in addition to being gourmet and friendly, Gili-Gili is also social. Ai and Samuel participate in particular in the operation of the Carillon, a network of solidarity merchants, which allows you to offer here to your homeless neighbor an onigiri for 1 euro.

So, are you ready to succumb to the onigiri craze? Go to Gili-Gili to enjoy these delicious rice balls 100% Japanese, without leaving the capital! Note that it is possible to eat on the spot, but be careful, the space is really small.