Rome · Izakaya · a la carte
Kou Kou
Washoku / Japanese trattoriaJapanese-led kitchenWashokuNo sushiPrati
Kou Kou is what Gambero Rosso calls 'one of Rome's only true Japanese trattoria' — Japanese chef Wataru Izumo eschews sushi entirely in favour of washoku: ramen, miso, dashi and rice-centred home cooking.
- Price
- ¥¥
- Area
- Prati
- Chef
- Wataru Izumo
- Owner
- Wataru Izumo / Paola Mazzeo
Plate № 110
About
Kou Kou occupies a refreshingly non-commercial niche in Rome's Japanese dining scene. Chef Wataru Izumo, a Japanese native, and his partner Paola Mazzeo (a Roman pastry chef trained in Japan and France) created a restaurant that rejects the sushi-centric model in favour of traditional Japanese washoku — the home-cooking tradition recognised by UNESCO. Dishes centre on rice, eggs, vegetables, miso and dashi-based broths, with deeply comforting ramen at the heart of the menu. The approach has earned praise from Gambero Rosso as the closest thing to a Japanese 'trattoria' — the neighbourhood backbone of food culture — that Rome has to offer.
Neighborhood & visiting
Kou Kou sits in Prati, one of Rome's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. The house does not publish an online booking link; call ahead to secure a seat, especially on weekends.
Why it's on Washoku Guide
- Rome's only true washoku (Japanese home cooking) restaurant — Gambero Rosso-praised
- No sushi — miso, dashi, ramen and rice dishes that rarely appear elsewhere in Italy
- Japanese chef Wataru Izumo cooking daily traditional Japanese food
- Prati location: intimate neighbourhood restaurant with a local following
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Frequently asked
About Kou Kou
- Is Kou Kou an authentic washoku / japanese trattoria restaurant in Rome?
- Yes — Kou Kou is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for washoku / japanese trattoria in Rome: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused izakaya format.
- Where is Kou Kou located?
- Kou Kou is located at Via Monte Pertica 41, 00136 Roma, Italy, Rome, Italy in the Prati neighborhood.
- Do I need a reservation at Kou Kou?
- Kou Kou does not publish an online reservation link. Walk-ins may be possible, but for popular izakaya restaurants in Rome we recommend calling ahead.
- What is the price range at Kou Kou?
- Kou Kou sits in the ¥¥ price range — typical for washoku / japanese trattoria of this format in Rome.
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