Paris: Under-represented Cuisines

Paris: Under-represented Cuisines

Paris is a major global city, meaning incredible food from under-represented cuisines is at your fingertips. I have made a point to try restaurants from under-represented cuisines, and these ones are SO GOOD! It's not hard to find incredible French restaurants, authentic Italian restaurants, and even a plethora of mouth-watering Asian restaurants. However... this guide is different. I created this to help open your eyes to some of the other wonderful types of food you can savor here, and to shine a light on eateries/food cultures that don't always get as much hype as they deserve. If you're looking for something off-the-beaten-path (or if you're tired of French food), you'll enjoy this guide. This guide includes: ✅ 13 places I've tried & loved, including cuisine from Senegal, Israel, Singapore, Georgia, Kurdistan, Africa, Ethiopia, Tunisia, India, and Lebanon. 🇸🇳🇮🇱🇸🇬🇬🇪🌍🇪🇹🇹🇳🇮🇳🇱🇧🇩🇿 🇺🇸🍗 BONUS: An excellent fried chicken joint at a US soul food restaurant. 🤤 4 places I want to try next, including cuisine from Taiwan, Tunisia, and Armenia. 🇹🇼🇹🇳🇦🇲 You also get: ✍️ My personal notes for each recommendation 📍 An interactive map of all recommendations 🔓 Access to all future updates when you SAVE this guide 🎞️ Linked videos (where applicable) that bring recommendations and advice to life 🍴 This guide is FREE. I’d be so grateful if you shared this guide with a friend or contributed a small tip. 🙏🏼
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Places I Love

Waly-Fay (Senegalese)
@hilaryinparis
This place is such a great, delicious find! It’s the first Senegalese restaurant I’ve been (slash ever heard of) and the dishes were delectable. Recommend getting the hibiscus (bissap) drink, too - it’s a very traditional drink in Senegal 🇸🇳.
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Tavline (Israeli)
@hilaryinparis
Delicious Israeli food in a cozy restaurant near Hotel de Ville. With two or more people, you can try most (if not all) of their compact menu. Classic dishes were creative twists!
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The Hood (Singaporean)
@hilaryinparis
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Colchide (Georgian)
@hilaryinparis
Reserve in advance! Two locations in Paris.
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Menekse (Kurdish)
@hilaryinparis
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BMK Folie-Bamako (African)
@hilaryinparis
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La Reine de Saba
@hilaryinparis
A very fun and hands-on (literally) Ethiopian restaurant!
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Lyoom Cantine Restaurant Traditionnel Tunisien
@hilaryinparis
SO GOOD! Every single dish was something unique, that I’d never heard of, that tasted delicious. Note that this location is their “traditional plates” spot, down the street they have two “street food” spots. I’ve been to the larger street food spot and personally enjoyed this traditional plates location way more (due to the dishes and smaller/more tucked away ambiance). No alcohol served which also helps keep the bill cheap. For 4 people ordering 3 entrees and 3 plates sharing everything family style, it was 54.50€. GOOO!
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Chez Omar
@hilaryinparis
A must-visit for couscous lovers! This north African restaurant features Algerian stews, skewered meats, and more in big portions. Pro tip: Last time I was here, it was cash only. I haven't visited in a little while so this could have changed, but bring cash just to be safe. About 30 EUR per person should be sufficient.
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Indian

There are actually a lot of Indian places in Paris (especially by Gare du Nord) but these ones stand out.

Note: In France, Indian restaurants typically have "naan au fromage" (cheese naan) on the menu. I personally find it really weird and I'm not a fan. Garlic naan is always a safe bet (as is the regular naan). If you're curious about the cheese naan, I'd only order one to share and see if you like it first before ordering more!

Khajuraho (Indian)
@hilaryinparis
My Indian friends tell me this is THE best Indian restaurant in Paris. It has more seating than the others on this list, and it has a fancier feel - which is in line with being near the Champs Elysees. Popular with passing ambassadors and politicians visiting Paris, the food will not disappoint (it will be a little pricer than what you might expect). A super nice spot for more refined Indian dining.
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Le Maharaja since 2001
@hilaryinparis
A small local neighborhood spot in Batignolles with seating for about 20. This feels tucked away and cozy. The food is outstanding and the owner is super nice.
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Dishny
@hilaryinparis
This neighborhood (Gare du Nord) is replete with Indian options, and from all of those choices, this is an excellent one to go to! Very casual vibe, open corner location, and plenty of seating.
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Lebanese

There are also lots of Lebanese places in Paris but these two grab & go places are just awesome!

Chez Le Libanais
@hilaryinparis
Lebanese grab & go, cheap, quick, and insanely good!
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YA BAYTÉ by Hébé
@hilaryinparis
Lebanese grab & go, cheap, quick, and insanely good!
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Bonus! Soul Food 🇺🇸🍗

Gumbo Yaya
@hilaryinparis
Incredibly tender fried chicken! Pro tip: Go before your hungry. They'll ask to take your order and then they may ask you to come back in 45 min-1 hour. Grab a drink somewhere nearby or wander around. When you go back to the restaurant, they'll make the food fresh for you! We tried the Yaya Plate, the Hot Gumbo Sandwich, the mac & cheese, the coleslaw, and fries and they were all great! The sweet potato pie for dessert was OK (but I'm not a huge fan of sweet potato pie in general).
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Places I'm Trying Next...

Le goût de Taïwan 台灣味
@hilaryinparis
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Tounsia (Tunisian)
@hilaryinparis
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Mantchouk (Armenian)
@hilaryinparis
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Back to the French Restos...

Perhaps the singular most frequent question I get asked having lived in Paris since 2016 is "do you have any recommendations for a great French restaurant?". The answer is Yes! This guide includes: 🇫🇷 20 Classic French brasseries and bistrots I've been to and loved, sorted from least to most expensive with price estimates per person. 🇫🇷 2 Corner Cafes that I truly adore (sometimes 'corner cafes' will also be brasseries or bistrots, but to me, corner cafes have their own special vibe). 🇫🇷 3 Corner Cafes that are specifically for great people-watching. 🇫🇷 5 Restaurants specializing in traditional dishes like crêpes, planches, flammekueche, French-style tapas, and more. [NEW: Nov 2024] 🇫🇷 13 Restaurants known for their views of the Eiffel Tower and city skyline. This guide does not include: French fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants. BONUS: If you purchase this guide and don't speak French, I'm happy to call and make one reservation for you. You also get: ✍️ My personal notes for each recommendation 📍 An interactive map of all recommendations 🔓 Access to all future updates (I add to it as a find great restaurants) 🎞️ Linked videos (where applicable) that bring recommendations and advice to life 💙 If you loved these suggestions, I would really appreciate it if you shared this guide with a friend, left a great review, or contributed a tip.
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Reservation Assistance

If you leave a $5 tip on this guide, I will call one restaurant for you to make a reservation. Please note not all restaurants accept reservations in advance. If the first restaurant does not take reservations, I will call a second restaurant on your behalf.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hello et bonjour ! I'm (another) American in Paris. I've lived in France since 2016 and I loooove sharing my Paris & France recs in hopes I can help others love this city and country as much as I do. I'm quite confident I've seen more of France than most French people, so no matter what you're looking for, I've (probably) done it! ✅ What I'm a great fit for: Mature travelers, couples, solo travelers, and families who enjoy soaking in authentic experiences, great food and wine, off-the-beaten-track gems, classic sites, and sustainable travel. 🌱 What's sustainable travel about? Traveling in a way that is kind to the environment, respectful of local culture, & supportive of the local economy. My trip-planning services are always through a sustainable lens. ❌ What I'm not a great fit for: Travelers focused on bars/clubbing or high-end shopping. ➡️ Follow me on TikTok, Instagram & Pinterest @hilaryinparis for Paris & France recommendations, tips, personal stories, and more. 🌍 PS: I'm on Thatch because I genuinely love sharing France with folks. My day job is running Yugen Earthside, a booking platform for responsible package trips primarily catering to groups of mature American travelers. My company's website is linked below.
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