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Iwao

Marseille 1st · Immersive ramen-ya

Welcometo Marseille's Japan

Broths made in-house, five ramen recipes, perfectly Japanese rice bowls, an open kitchen — welcome to our Tokyo alley, (almost) perfectly rebuilt in the heart of Marseille. A round trip to Japan, in the time of a bowl!

Discover the menu
Iwao's indoor alley: hanging Japanese banners and seated guests

The alley

So much more than ramen

Iwao is not just a restaurant. It's an immersion. Manga, figurines, lanterns, an open kitchen… every corner tells a story — that of an authentic, warm, slightly crazy Japan, planted right in the heart of Marseille.

The experience

The setting

A Tokyo alley, on rue Sainte

Raw wood facades, hand-painted signs, neon glows, a manga library and video games. You feel somewhere else without ever leaving Marseille.

The experience
Iwao's immersive alley: banner garlands and glowing signs
The alley, full width
Iwao's façade and terrace at 27 rue Sainte, daruma sign and noren
The façade, rue Sainte
Red banner in front of Iwao's open kitchen
The open kitchen
Display case of manga hero and robot figurines under a daruma stamp
Every corner tells a story

The menu

Ramen, rice bowls, zero fuss

A short, steady, all-homemade menu. There will never be 25 ramens on the board — here, it's authentic.

Pick your bowl

5 fighters
  • ShoyuChicken broth with soy tare, aromatic sardine oil — spring onion, chashu (braised pork), ajitsuke tamago, nori, menma, noodles16 €
  • MisoChicken broth with the chef's miso tare, garlic & ginger aromatic oil — corn, chashu, ajitsuke tamago, nori, noodles18 €
  • Yasai MisoVegetarian broth with soy milk & sesame oil — pak choi, ajitsuke tamago, fried tofu, nori, noodlesVegetarian18 €
  • AsariFresh clam & fish dashi broth — spring onion, lemon slice, ajitsuke tamago, nori, noodles and clamsSignature20 €
  • TantanmenChicken broth, white sesame paste, spicy shoyu tare, rayu oil — spring onion, pak choi, ajitsuke tamago, niku miso (minced pork), noodles22 €
  • Kids ramenSmall portion — shoyu, yasai or misoKids12 €
Indicative prices.
Discover the menu
Up next — the full menu
Miso ramen with corn, chashu and soft-boiled egg, seen from above
Asari clam ramen with lemon in a blue wave-pattern bowl
2 playersSelf-service

Manga library & gaming

Ramen or boss fight? Both.

Self-service manga, video games, Street Fighter and King of Fighters, cult figurines from Goku to Demon Slayer. Here you can slurp a ramen just as easily as you can start a game.

Come play
Miso ramen with corn, chashu and soft-boiled egg, seen from above
Fighting-game arcade screen surrounded by Japanese posters
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What they say

A corner of Tokyo, acclaimed

4.6/5
Google×755reviews gathered, bowl after bowl
Letter of the month
IWAO: a corner of Tokyo in the heart of Marseille… total immersion in a Japanese atmosphere.
— Guest review, TripAdvisor
Japanese banner garlands and lanterns across Iwao's ceiling, busy tables below
The dining room on a Friday night

What comes up the most

  • Immersive setting
  • Generous ramen
  • Warm welcome
  • Lively and loud

As featured in

  • Le Fooding
  • Made in Marseille
  • Le Bonbon Marseille
  • Nord Marseille Sud

Practical info

We're waiting for you on rue Sainte

Address27 rue Sainte, 13001 Marseille (1ᵉʳ)
Phone+33 4 91 54 08 27
Opening hoursTuesday · 19:00 – 22:30Wednesday → Saturday · 12:00 – 14:30 · 19:00 – 22:30Sunday · 19:00 – 22:30Please double-check before visiting.
TerraceAround 15 outdoor seats
Booking recommendedOften fully booked — plan ahead.
Iwao's terrace at 27 rue Sainte in Marseille, guests seated in daylight
The terrace, rue Sainte
Stone archway leading to Iwao's open kitchen
Iwao's dining room: izakaya lanterns, Kirin sign and figurine display
Lucky daruma whose second eye gets painted

Stage clear — second eye painted

We paint the daruma's eye when you book.

When are you coming? Book in one click, or just drop by — we'll find you a table.

Continue → book your table

Or by phone: +33 4 91 54 08 27