The best Asian restaurants in Paris

It’s an exciting time for gastronomes in Paris right now. Asian restaurants are booming as the French – notoriously protective of their own cuisine – increasingly embrace the flavours, traditions and techniques of the many coherent communities that call the French capital home.

Until relatively recently, knowledge of Asian food was generally limited to Vietnamese and Laotian cuisine – a legacy of 19th-century colonisation – or Japanese, a fascination that dates back to the Japonisme craze of the early 20th century.

Yet there has been an unmistakable surge in Chinese, Korean, and other Asian restaurants, driven both by well-travelled residents eager to recreate taste memories from their journeys, and a new generation keen to tap into global trends. The pandemic further accelerated this trend, with closed borders inspiring local Asians to recreate the flavours of home for their communities in Paris. Nowadays, whether it’s Filipino chicken adobo or Taiwanese lu rou fan, Asian food can now be found in every arrondissement of Paris.

Curious to sample the best sushi in Paris, or track down the city’s top Thai restaurant? Here is our selection of the city’s most authentic spots, each guaranteed to take your palate on a gastronomical journey, from the buzzy streets of Bangkok to the bustling fish markets of Japan. Scroll to discover the best Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants and more in Paris.

1st arrondissement

Kodawari Ramen (Tsukiji)

Best for: Fish broth ramen
Address: 12 Rue de Richelieu, Paris, 75001
Price: Ramen from 14 EUR

Dining at Kodawari Ramen is a fully immersive experience designed to recreate Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market. Upon arrival, diners are greeted with white polystyrene crates filled with fake seafood, plastic buckets scattered around wet-looking floor tiles, and staff dressed in blue waxed aprons and high boots. Contrary to its sister restaurant Kodawari Ramen (Yokocho), which serves its ramen in meat-based broth, this branch specialises in fish-based broths derived from sardines or sea bream. Complementing the broth is the homemade ramen and tare (sauce), all executed to perfection. It’s no surprise that queues routinely form outside the restaurant even before they officially open.

2nd arrondissement

Mắm from Hanoï

Best for: Northern-Vietnamese pho
Address: 39 Rue de Cléry, 75002
Price: Main dishes from 15 EUR

There’s no shortage of restaurants serving pho in Paris, but few do it like Mắm. The three-item menu is what the French would call simple mais efficace (simple but well done): its signature pork nems to start, followed by a choice between the bun tron and the pho bo ha noi for the main, the latter of which the restaurant owes its reputation to. The pho broth is made from 24 hours of slow and steady simmering, giving it a depth and richness difficult to find elsewhere.

Foodi-Jia-Ba-Buay

Best for: Taiwanese home recipes
Address: 2 Rue du Nil, 75002
Price: Main dishes 16-20 EUR

Many people are not familiar with Taiwanese cuisine beyond bao and bubble tea, but chef Virginia Chuang’s mission is to change that with her restaurant, where locals can find a taste of Taiwan through the cong you bing (spring onion oil pancakes), niu rou mien (Taiwanese beef noodles) or lu rou fan (braised pork rice). A name that translates as “have you eaten yet”, Foodi-Jia-Ba-Buay leaves diners full and satisfied.

Fondue 9

Best for: Convivial meal for big groups
Address: 168 Rue St Denis, 75002
Price: Two-person sharing menu from 50 EUR

More often than not, fondue in Paris refers to the cheese variety, but another type gaining popularity in recent years is Chinese fondue, more commonly known as Chinese hot pot. At Fondue 9, diners can choose among four broths (classic, spicy mala, tomato or mixed mushrooms), but those seeking the full experience should go for the spicy mala broth, a Chinese speciality with an addictive mouth-numbing sensation from the Sichuan pepper. From traditional Chinese vegetables like winter melon and lotus root to cuts of beef tripe and luncheon meat, there is something for everyone, making Fondue 9 a great option for big groups.

8th arrondissement

Komatsubaki

Best for: Omakase
Address: 3 Rue d’Artois, 75008
Price: Omakase menu at 130 EUR

Komatsubaki is a true hidden gem steps away from the Champs-Élysées where chefs Kino and Tabuko invite diners to trust their expertise via omakase menus that change regularly based on the catch of the day. Opt for the Koma menu for a showcase of the chefs’ experience through an assortment of sushi, each perfectly seasoned and pressed, and topped with the freshest cut of fish. For those who seek a deeper dive into Japanese gastronomy, order the Tsubaki kaiseki menu, where the chefs prepare a selection of dishes according to the season. Furnished with hinoki (Japanese cedarwood) the space is warm and intimate, creating an ambience that chimes with the restaurant’s offerings.

Soon Grill

Best for: Korean BBQ near the Champs-Élysées
Address: 10 Rue du Commandant Riviere, 75008
Price: Dishes from 20 EUR, Set menu from 76 EUR

Soon Grill is the meeting point of Korean gastronomy with French quality. Known particularly for its Korean BBQ, the restaurant offers a wide selection of meats ranging from Iberico pork pluma to Japanese wagyu, all of which are carefully sourced from reputable producers such as Maison Metzger and Boucheries Nivernaises. Complete the meal with other Korean specialties like the Odjinhô Pajeun (squid and spring onion pancake), kimchi tsigué (kimchi stew) or even the dolsotbibimbab (bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl).

11th arrondissement

Bobi

Best for: Casual Filipino dishes
Address: 17 Rue Oberkampf, 75011
Price: Main dishes 12-14 EUR

Bobi was founded by two longtime friends, who wanted to recreate the conviviality of Filipino cuisine in Paris. On the menu, diners will not only find the emblematic lumpia and chicken adobo, often considered the country’s national dish, but also lesser known recipes such as the monggo (mung bean stew) and kinilaw (Filipino ceviche). The experience stretches all the way to desserts, as diners are introduced to many of the archipelago’s unique ingredients such as ube (purple yam) and cassava. Just steps away, the team recently opened Kapé, a coffee shop that blends specialty coffee with local Filipino ingredients like ube and coconut.

13th arrondissement

Thai Yim 2

Best for: Wide selection of Thai dishes in a simple, no-frills locale
Address: 70 Rue du Château des Rentiers, 75013
Price : Main dishes from 10 EUR

Right in the centre of the 13th arrondissement, also known as the Asian Quarter of Paris, Thai Yim 2 offers an extensive selection of Thai delicacies that transports diners directly to the night markets of Thailand. Beyond the usual pad thai and green papaya salad served in almost every Thai restaurant in town, Thai Yim 2 serves kway teow reua (boat noodles) and khao kluk kapi (shrimp paste fried rice). Portions are generous and service is welcoming – a true homage to Thai hospitality.

16th arrondissement

Shang Palace

Best for: Michelin-starred Cantonese fine dining
Address: 10 Avenue d’Iéna, 75116
Price: Dishes from 28 EUR, Set menus from 78 EUR

Shang Palace holds a special title as the only Chinese restaurant in France with a Michelin star. Housed in the palatial Shangri-La hotel, the restaurant honours the art of Cantonese fine dining, serving traditional handcrafted dim sum like ha kao (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (shrimp and pork dumplings) as well as the highly technical Peking duck. A flip through the restaurant’s menu reveals an entire page dedicated to blue lobster, available in different preparations including the iconic bei feng tong (deep fried with garlic, chilli and spring onions). End the meal like a local with mango chilled cream with pomelo or double-boiled milk with ginger alongside a Chinese tea.

19th arrondissement

Lao Siam

Best for: Laotian and Thai stir-fries and curries
Address: 49 Rue de Belleville, 75019
Price: Main dishes from 12 EUR

One of the oldest restaurants on the Rue de Belleville, Lao Siam has become somewhat of an institution of the area. A restaurant that dates back to 1985, it continues to serve an impressive selection of classic Laotian and Thai dishes that ranges from the usual favourites like pad thai and tom yam soup to specialties like mok pa (fish cooked in banana leaf) and sai oua (Laotian sausages). The list of desserts itself fills a full page, but one could never go wrong with the classic mango sticky rice, to share or not to share.