DOKI DOKI HANDROLL

What DOKI DOKI HANDROLL does

DOKI DOKI HANDROLL is a French restaurant operator founded in 2021 that pioneered the handroll (temaki) bar concept in Europe. The concept centers on freshly hand-rolled Japanese-style cones prepared in front of guests, served in a bar-format setting with custom ceramic tableware co-designed with architectural studio RODAA. The company is led by founder Romain Taieb, a former Paris Society executive credited with creating Le Piaf and Bambini, and co-founder Rodolphe Albert, the architect behind the brand's distinctive interior identity.

The business operates four locations across Paris and Neuilly-sur-Seine, spanning the Marbeuf, Saint-Placide, Martyrs, and Neuilly neighborhoods. Beyond dine-in, revenue is generated through delivery and takeaway partnerships (including Uber Eats), DIY handroll kits for at-home consumption, a catering service targeting private and corporate clients, and Doki Nights, an event programming line that extends the brand into nighttime use cases. The menu is anchored by proprietary temaki recipes with a rotating specials board, supported by an emerging retail line including signature sauces and mochi.

The company is privately held and bootstrapped, with no external funding rounds disclosed. Its strategy combines physical footprint expansion within the Paris/Ile-de-France region with vertical extension (catering, events, retail products, delivery) to diversify revenue mix and increase brand surface area. The combined operator-and-designer leadership structure positions the brand as a design-forward hospitality concept targeting urban foodies, professionals, and private-event clientele.

Name

DOKI DOKI HANDROLL

Legal name

Doki Doki

Website

https://dokidoki-handroll.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DOKI DOKI HANDROLL operates four Parisian handroll bar restaurants specializing in Japanese temaki, founded in 2021 by Paris Society veteran Romain Taieb and architect Rodolphe Albert. The company serves urban foodies and professionals across dine-in, catering, delivery, and event formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-in restaurant sales: Revenue from customers dining at the bar counters at 4 locations (Louvre, Marbeuf, Martyrs, Neuilly-sur-Seine). Customers order by ticking a kraft menu and watch handrolls being prepared in front of them.
2. Delivery and takeaway: Orders placed via order.store platform and Uber Eats. Includes handroll DIY kits (5 to 20 handrolls), XL makis, donburi, sashimi, tartare, and signature boxes.
3. Catering and private events: Made-to-measure catering service with dedicated chefs for private events, birthdays, parties. Also includes restaurant privatization for corporate events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DOKI DOKI operates a chain of Japanese handroll bars in Paris where customers watch chefs prepare hand-rolled temaki (Japanese cones with nori, vinegared rice, and fresh fish or vegetarian fillings) to order at the counter. The menu extends to donburi rice bowls, sashimi, tartare, XL makis, sides, Japanese sauces, and mochi desserts, with service via dine-in at 4 locations, delivery through Uber Eats and order.store, and a catering service for private events. The brand is positioned as the pioneering handroll bar concept in Europe, founded in 2021.

Product overview

DOKI DOKI is a handroll bar concept with 4 restaurant locations in Paris and Neuilly-sur-Seine. The core product is the handroll (temaki) - a Japanese hand-rolled cone made with nori seaweed, vinegared rice, and fresh fish. The offering spans dine-in service at bar counters, takeaway and delivery via Order.store and Uber Eats, private catering for events, and DIY handroll kits. The restaurants feature a New York-Tokyo aesthetic with cocktails and sake. The brand positions itself as the pioneer of handroll bars in Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handroll (Temaki) Hand-rolled Japanese cone (temaki) prepared to order at the counter with nori seaweed, vinegared Japanese rice, and fresh fish or vegetarian fillings. Served immediately after rolling for optimal crunchiness and consumed in four bites.
• Donburi Japanese rice bowl dishes including salmon ikura, tuna, sea bass, and shrimp donburi.
• Sashimi & Tartare Fresh sliced raw fish dishes including salmon, yellow-tail, tuna, lobster, and crab, plus tuna tartare with ponzu sauce.
• Makis XL Extra-large sushi rolls with various fillings.
• Handroll Do It Yourself Kits DIY handroll kits available in sizes from 5 to 20 handrolls, allowing customers to recreate the Doki Doki handroll bar experience at home.
• Catering Service Made-to-measure catering service with a dedicated chef for private events, birthdays, parties, and corporate events, including restaurant privatization and customized tasting menus with premium sake service.
• Doki Nights Thursday evening nightlife experience featuring signature yuzu, sake, and citrus cocktails paired with sushi, with an immersive musical atmosphere blending Asian and American influences.
• Sides & Vegetarian Options Side dishes including edamame, miso soup, cucumber salad, and vegetable donburi, plus a vegetarian shiso roll option.
• Mochi Fraise Japanese rice cake dessert with strawberry filling, combining soft elastic rice paste with whole fresh strawberry.
• Signature Sauce Line Line of Japanese sauces including salty, sweet, and signature house sauces used in restaurant dishes, available for retail purchase.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RODAA Studio (Rodolphe Albert)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRodolphe Albert is the architect and designer behind all Doki Doki locations, creating the distinctive organic, minimalist interior design with poured concrete bars, wooden seating, and Japanese paper lighting. He also serves as co-founder of the brand, shaping its visual identity and spatial experience.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Sushi Shop: One of the largest French sushi chains (now owned by AmRest), operating counter and delivery sushi across Paris and France. Directly comparable as a Japanese fast-casual counter concept serving urban Parisian diners, but at a more mass-market price point than Doki Doki's premium handroll positioning.
• Planet Sushi: Long-standing French sushi restaurant chain with multiple Paris locations, combining dine-in and delivery. Comparable on Japanese cuisine, counter-style service, and French urban footprint, but with broader traditional sushi rolls rather than handroll specialization.
• Moshi Moshi (Paris): Paris-based Japanese restaurant known for design-forward interiors and a cool, urban atmosphere. Comparable on Parisian Japanese dining targeting the same youthful, design-conscious foodie segment that Doki Doki addresses, though with broader Japanese menu rather than handroll specialization.
• Sushi Daily: French kiosk-and-counter sushi concept with locations in supermarkets and high-traffic Parisian areas. Directly comparable on small-footprint Japanese counter dining and delivery model, though focused on grab-and-go rather than a premium dine-in handroll experience.

Broad incumbents

• Yo! Sushi: UK-based conveyor-belt and counter-style Japanese restaurant chain with international presence. Comparable on counter-service Japanese cuisine and design-forward urban positioning, but operating at much larger scale and with the conveyor format rather than handroll counter.
• Kura Sushi: Japan-headquartered global revolving/conveyor sushi chain (TSE: 2695) with US and Asian operations. Comparable as a Japanese counter-style chain with strong brand recognition, but operates at vastly larger scale and without Doki Doki's handroll-only premium positioning.
• Wasabi (UK): UK-based Japanese sushi/bento fast-casual chain with London and Paris-area locations. Comparable on quick-service Japanese positioning and multi-location rollout, though broader menu and tighter pricing than Doki Doki.

Emerging players

• Kazumi: London-based handroll/temaki specialist restaurant, the closest international peer to Doki Doki's handroll-only hero product format. Comparable on product focus and counter-style made-to-order experience, though smaller and operating outside Doki Doki's Paris market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/doki-doki-handroll
• Instagraminstagram.com/dokidoki_handrollbar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DOKI DOKI HANDROLL