If you’re visiting Paris you’ll no doubt be eating at some of the best bistros in Paris for some amazing traditional French food. But if you’re wanting something different than Bistro food, Paris has some incredible Asian dining spots to discover – from modern Chinese to 1 Michelin star omakase restaurants. I’ve put together a guide to my favourite Asian restaurants in the capital (in no particular order).
Best Asian Food in Paris
Here’s a list of my favourite Asian (or pan-asian) restaurants to help you find the best Asian food in the city. This list is updated regularly!
The Hood
On the super trendy, vibrant Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud in the capital’s 11th arrondissement lies an awesome pan-Asian restaurant, The Hood. Started by Khanh-Ly Huynh & Pearlyn Lee in 2016, their bright Asian canteen features incredible home-made South Asian specialities.
Their chicken rice is really amazing and includes all the traditional dipping sauces – home made, of course. There’s also Nasi Lamek and Laksa soup on offer with different choices of protein (including vegetarian options). It’s not just the food that’s good, there’s speciality coffee, cocktails and natural wine available all day.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online for dinner
- Open all week and they serve food non-stop during the weekends
Address: 80 Rue Jean Pierre Timbaud, 75011
Tel: 01 43 57 64 47
Website: https://www.thehoodparis.com/
Mao Mao Dumpling Bar
Mao Mao Dumpling Bar is one of my favourite modern Chinese restaurants in Paris – it’s reasonable, generous and delicious. Mao Mao’s menu is focused on dumplings but has other incredible small plates on offer such as fried chicken, garlicky and umami rich aubergines and a spicy cucumbers. Don’t expect super traditional Chinese food here – it’s modern, consistent and incredibly good. They’re also service continu (non-stop food service) during the weekends, so it’s a perfect to go to if you’ve woken up late. They also have a fantastic small cocktail selection and beer on tap.
Mao Mao also recently opened Mao Fry around the corner (4 rue Réaumur) if you want quick take-out fried chicken!
What to know before you visit
- You can’t reserve, expect to queue during peak hours
- Get the fried chicken and aubergines (trust me)
Address: 28 Rue de Saintonge, 75003
Tel: 01 45 35 27 98
Website: https://www.instagram.com/mao.corp/
Gros Bao
Gros Bao is the second restaurant by founder Céline & Billy Pham who started their Bao Family brand of restaurants with the smaller Petit Bao in the 2nd arrondissement. With the aim of recreating a Chinese cantine ambiance, they now have 5 restaurants within the group. I’ve featured Gros Bao as it’s one of bigger restaurants with a diverse menu.
Situated right next to the Canal Saint Martin in the north of the city, the moody two floored restaurant is adorned with low red lighting. The food here is great – their signature Char Siu Bao is deliciously fluffy with an amazing tender bbq pork filling. Other dishes including their vegetable mapo tofu and sweet and sour chicken hit the spicy notes that I always crave.
What to know before you visit
- You can’t reserve (apart from large group bookings)
- Expect to queue most lunch times and evenings
- Vegetarian friendly
Address: 72 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010
Website: https://www.baofamily.co/grosbao-eatin
Double Dragon
Double Dragon is a modern Filipino restaurant in the 11th arrondissement. Sister restaurant of Le Servan located just around the corner, Double Dragon has an impressive menu with meat and vegetarian options. There’s an indoor BBQ in the kitchen to give an awesome street food flavour which is relatively rare to find in Paris. The menu mainly around smaller sharing plates (similar to restaurants found in our tapas Paris article) however it’s much more of a sit-down lunch/dinner restaurant. There’s traditional (albeit more refined) Filipino food such as Tortang Talong (an aubergine/egg-plant omelette) and crispy pork belly. The wine list is all natural wine which matches the food perfectly.
What to know before visiting.
- You’ll need to reserve at least 1 week before dining
- Try at least one dish that’s cooked over their indoor BBQ
Address: 52 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011
Tel: 01 71 32 41 95
Website: https://www.doubledragonparis.com
Cheval d’Or
Cheval d’Or opened in 2019 by Taku Sekine (who passed away in late 2020) and is a pan-Asian ‘neo-bistro’ with a heavy focus on Japanese food. One of the few Asian restaurants in Paris with a Michelin bib award, the Cheval d’Or is extremely popular and very difficult to eat at without a reservation. On the menu is ramen, binchotan grilled meat and rice & noodle dishes. The quality of cooking is extremely good however in recent years the portions and prices have been adjusted to make it rather an expensive evening out. Still worth the trip though, especially as it’s located in a very interesting and rarely visited part of the city.
What to know before you visit
- You’ll again need to reserve one or two weeks in advance
- Try the Tsukune (minced chicken sausage grilled over the charcoal grill with a soy marinated egg yolk)
Address: 21 Rue de la Villette, 75019
Tel: 09 54 12 21 77
Website: https://chevaldorparis.com
Asian Michelin Star Restaurants in Paris
Paris has the most Michelin starred restaurants of any city in the world yet there aren’t many starred Asian restaurants to choose from. Here’s two of the best to choose from in the city of light.
Shang Palace
Shang Palace is the only Chinese Michelin starred restaurant in France – they currently have 1 star. Located in the 5 star Shangri-La hotel near the Trocadero overlooking the Eiffel Tower, Shang Palace really has the best Cantonese cuisine in the city. Opened in 2011 by 5 chefs from Hong Kong, the restaurant has kept their 1 Michelin star since 2012. There is different tasting menus including a €78 7 course tasting lunch menu. They also have an a la carte option with dim sum and roasted meat including Peking duck.
What to know before you visit
- Closes for their annual summer vacation in August
- There isn’t a very strict dress code unlike some Michelin starred restaurants in Paris
Address: 10 Av. d’Iéna, 75116
Tel: 01 53 67 19 92
Website: https://www.shangri-la.com/paris/shangrila/dining/restaurants/shang-palace/
JIN
One of the few Japanese Michelin starred restaurants in Paris, JIN retained their 1 star in 2023 after a change of ownership. Chef Taichi Sato runs the show and offers omakase style tasting menus with ultra premium ingredients. The menus are sushi and sashimi based and can be paired with a high-end wine and sake selection.
What to know before you visit
- It’s relatively expensive – especially at dinner
- Expect a very intimate dining experience with max 8 seats
Address: 6 Rue de la Sourdière, 75001
Tel: 01 42 61 60 71
Website: https://www.jin-paris.com/en/
