Keisuke Nii has just opened the first Japanese pâtisserie in the Belair neighborhood. Located on Avenue du X Septembre, Les Nii was created by Keisuke’s entire family. This artisanal pâtisserie with a homy and cosy vibes is a must-visit.
An Experienced Pastry Chef Living His Dream
Keisuke Nii is a pastry chef from Japan. After working for seven years in Japan, where he specialized in both Japanese and German pastries, he moved to Luxembourg in 2012 to gain European experience. He began working at Oberweis, where he stayed for 13 years. There, he gained extensive knowledge in baking, chocolate-making, cake decoration, and, of course, pastry.
But his lifelong dream was always to own his own shop, so “after 20 years of experience, it was time to take the plunge,” he confides with a modest smile.
A Family Touch
“I wanted to open in Belair because I live nearby, and there is also a large Japanese community here and in Merl,” explains Keisuke.
It took him three months to create an interior that reflects his vision. When you step into the shop, you can see that Keisuke’s talents go beyond just pastry! A prime example is the light wood furniture, which he made himself from start to finish. But at Les Nii, the entire family has pitched in. The logo, which features a pastry chef running with a bowl and whisk, was designed by his wife and daughter. His daughter also drew the sketches explaining the infusion process of the Japanese tea and coffee (both imported from Japan and served in tea bags only), which are displayed above the dedicated tea and coffee area in the shop. “It’s also my wife who decorated the shop with Picasso-style drawings and plants,” Keisuke adds.
Melon Buns, Matcha Rolls, and Palmiers
According to Keisuke, Japanese pastries have different textures compared to those found in Europe. They are often lighter and less sweet, but many of the recipes that are now common in Europe have existed in Japan for much longer.
Keisuke prepares the traditional Japanese rolled cake, which is thicker than its French counterpart, resulting in a very soft and light texture, with a green tea cream and matcha whipped cream filling.
Other creations include the “pan melon,” a Japanese specialty that resembles brioche but with a crispy top, cream puffs, financiers, brioche, madeleines, and of course, the traditional Japanese shortcake, which is currently prepared with persimmons.
“Our specialty is puff pastry, particularly our palmiers,” says Keisuke. During Epiphany, they served galette des rois, and recently, pastéis de nata have made their way into the display case.
To prepare all these delicacies, Keisuke is working in the kitchen with a 2nd pastry chef, a former colleague from Oberweis.
A Bustling Shop
Having opened only a few weeks ago, customers have already made their way to discover Les Nii! Over the past few weekends, the line outside has grown longer, and due to their success, the pastries are often sold out by noon. “We are reviewing our opening days, maybe to open only from Thursday to Sunday, to better keep up with the pace,” Keisuke says, delighted by the shop’s popularity.
In addition to takeout, there are eight seats available inside for customers to enjoy a pastry while sipping on Japanese teas like roasted rice tea or roasted green tea. A small bonus: there’s a basket under each chair to place your bag. “That’s how it’s done in Japan,” Keisuke explains. Les Nii is definitely the spot to visit for pastry lovers and travelers alike.
