Paris, not surprisingly, can be quite a tough place to snag reservations at some of the hottest restaurants. One such restaurant, more surprisingly, is not even open for dinner. Yet, Mokonuts has been one of those places that have diners lining up to get the coveted lunchtime seats for years (it does make itself available for private dinner for a minimum of eight guests). So what’s so special about this modest café run by the husband-wife duo from Japan and Lebanon (wife and pastry chef Moko Hirayama and the husband and chef Omar Koreitem)? On our recent trip to Paris with my wife Jun, I wanted to find out and booked a reservation for lunch to meet up with Jun’s friend temporarily living in the city. The lunch was a very satisfying experience and I was able to see why Mokonuts had been such a popular dining destination.

The menu at Mokonuts is not very large, and you probably will not encounter dishes you haven’t in some similar fashion elsewhere in Paris. I was, nonetheless, impressed with how each dish stood out on its own with pleasant impression, starting with the delicious labne that I couldn’t stop dipping the bread into, as well as kinmedai crudo with spot-on texture. Each diner is required to order at least one main dish at Mokonuts, which worked out just fine as there were three of us and there were three options on the menu so we could try everything. The seared tuna with zucchini and smoked eggplant was executed beautifully, and the colorful risotto with zucchini and pecorino was also a winner, with more or less perfect texture of the rice. My favorite from the main dishes was the filet mignon of pork, accompanied by wild asparagus and potatoes, with its impeccable texture and balanced flavor. Of course, with Mokonuts being well-known for its desserts, we had to try a few dishes to conclude our meal. The strawberry tart with macerated lemon was my favorite, and the matcha ice cream with blueberry and the now iconic cookie plate were not bad, either.   

As I mentioned above, getting a reservation at Mokonuts can be quite challenging (and the small dining space was fully packed throughout our lunch), booking in advance is essential. The cute Parisian café vibe certainly adds to the allure of dining at the restaurant. There is a small list of well-curated wines (both by the bottle and by the glass) that are ideal for complementing the meal. Some people might consider Mokonuts a tourist trap (on our visit, it seems to have a good mix between tourists and locals), but I wouldn’t mind visiting one with excellent food. If you are looking for a relaxing lunch in Paris that will make you smile after a museum tour or intense shopping in the morning, you are certainly at the right place.

KenScale: 8.25/10 (Jun’s Score: 8.0/10)

Address: 5 Rue Saint-Bernard, 75011, Paris, France

Website: https://www.mokonuts.com/

Reservation via Website