Paris is home to some great Chinese food and if you’re looking for the best Chinese Restaurants in Paris then our guide has got you covered. From Sichuan to Cantonese cuisine, fluffy steamed buns to BBQ pork, Paris has got a buzzing Chinese food scene. With many areas, restaurants and communities in the capital, it can be confusing to know where the really good spots are. Our guide will help you discover the best spots to eat amazing Chinese food.
Where to find the Best Chinese food in Paris
Paris is home to various historical Asian communities but the main China town or, Quartier Chinois, is located in the 13th Arrondissement. If you head over to the East of the city, you’ll easily recognise the quartier with its array of Chinese, Vietnamese and Laotian shops, restaurants and hairdressers. Here, you’ll find amazing asian markets (including the famous Tang Frères supermarket) and some fantastic asian restaurants.
It’s not just the 13th arrondissement however, there are other Chinese communities across the city including the Belleville area. Here you’ll also find a multitude of great Chinese restaurants and markets.
Our Favourite Chinese Restaurants in Paris
You’ll never be far from a Chinese or pan-Asian restaurant in the city and it’s difficult to know which are genuinely good. Our guide features tried and tested restaurants which serve traditional and modern Chinese cuisine. This list is updated regularly and the restaurants are listed in no particular order.
Mala Boom
Opened post-covid, Mala Boom is a fantastic Sichuan restaurant specialising in Málà Xiāngguō in the city’s 11th arrondissement. Not familiar with Málà Xiāngguō? It’s a Sichuan speciality which roughly translates into ‘spicy stir fry hot pot’. Just like Chinese hot pot, you choose your ingredients to your liking. There’s tofu, pork, beef and chicken to choose from along with a variety of vegetables. Once you decide, your dish is cooked to order and to your chosen spice level (there’s 1-5 with level 1 having zero heat but a bit of perfume and 3+ being extremely spicy!). The result is so good – their home made Sichuan pepper sauce is beautifully perfumed with its characteristic tongue numbing spice and citrus flavour. There’s also some serious wok-hei flavour as well with the food tossed over the high-powered gas burners.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online
- They’re open all week
- They’re serve food non-stop on weekends
Address: 42 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011
Tel: 09 77 56 91 16
Website: https://www.malaboom.com
Mao Dumpling Bar
Mao Dumpling bar is a modern Chinese restaurant specialising in really good dumplings. The restaurant is small with limited seating and decorated with modern artwork with nods to traditional Chinese culture. They’re all about dumplings and boy are they good. Their modern take is refreshing and there’s plenty of options – chicken, pork, vegetable and cheesy dumplings line the top of the menu. Feeling in the mood for something else? They also do incredible egg fried rice (Shanghai Chaofan), Sichuan braised aubergines, Dan Dan noodles and really good fried chicken.
What to know before you visit
- They’re serve food non-stop on weekends
- You can’t reserve and expect to queue during peak times
Address: 28 Rue de Saintonge, 75003
Tel: 01 45 35 27 98
Website: https://www.mao-corp.com/
Gros Bao
Looking for Chinese restaurant classics served in a relaxed, canteen style environment? Gros Bao is a great option. Second restaurant in the Bao Family group, it’s located next to the Canal Saint Martin in the 10th arrondissement. Their large dining area has two levels and features a warm inviting decor. The food on offer is well cooked, generous and very reasonable. Their fluffy Bao buns are definitely worth a try – especially their Char Siu Bao. There’s a large variety of mains on the menu including sticky sweet and sour prawns, Mapo Tofu, Cantonese roast pork belly and Beef Ho Fun.
What to know before visiting.
- 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
3 Fois Plus de Piment
For those who are fans of Sichuan cuisine, 3 Fois Plus de Piment has got all the classics from the region. They’re a hit with Parisians and currently have 7 locations open across the city. You can expect the classic Dan Dan noodles (dry or in a soup), pork dumplings in a Sichuan spiced soup and a vegetarian noodle soup. If you’re unsure of the spicy heat, there are 7 levels of spice to choose from to help you dial in your preference . Note that anything above 3 is significantly hot and leads to a lot of tongue numbing from the peppers!
What to know before visiting.
- Opening times vary across their restaurants
- You can order online
Addresses:
184 Rue Saint-Martin, 75003
53 Rue de Montreuil, 75011
9 Rue Rodier, 75009
17 Rue Frédéric Sauton, 75005
58 Rue des Mathurins, 75008
27 Rue Mouton-Duvernet, 75014
117 Rue de Tocqueville, 75017
Website: https://troisfoisplusdepiment.fr/en
Mian Guan
Despite the rather dull interior decor, Mian Guan delivers where it matters : the food. Specialising in noodle soup dishes, Mian Guan is a seriously good traditional Chinese restaurant. Located in the city’s northern Chinese town (Belleville), it’s surrounded by hefty competition that have stood the test of time. How do they set themselves apart? Their hand made noodles, stretched, sliced and cooked to order. On the menu is a multitude of different variety of noodle dishes with an assortment of master broths. There’s beef, pork, chicken and duck dishes available and they’re really generous and very reasonable.
What to know before you visit
- Their opening times vary
Address: 34 Rue de Belleville, 75020
Tel: 01 40 33 45 01
Michelin star Chinese Restaurants in Paris
Looking for high-end Chinese cuisine in Paris? There are multiple Chinese restaurants listed in the Michelin guide with only a few awarded the famous Michelin bibs and only one with a coveted Michelin star.
Shang Palace
Shang Palace is the only Michelin starred Chinese restaurant in Paris and in France. Nestled in the 5* Shangri-La hotel near the Eiffel Tower, Chef Samuel Lee is at the helm delivering incredible Cantonese food in the intimate dining area. There’s multiple tasting menus available as well as the a la carte option. The specialities are their awesome dim-sum and their Peking duck (which only takes 5 days to prepare!). However the prices are on the premium side yet it’s certainly worth the visit if you’re looking for exceptional Chinese food. It’s also worth noting that their 7 step lunch menu is surprisingly affordable at only €72.
What to know before visiting.
- 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/
