Where to Taste Asia in Paris
Paris’s Finest Asian Flavors—from Street Bites to Ceremonial Spoons
In Paris, Asia doesn’t whisper—it simmers. The city’s love affair with Asian cuisine is far from new, but it’s never been more nuanced, inventive, or full of flair. From lantern-lit Korean hideouts to pristine Japanese omakase counters, from bubbling Vietnamese phở in Belleville to bold Indian thalis served in Haussmannian salons—Asia is not one neighborhood in Paris. It’s a whole hidden constellation.
The Socialites went flavor-first to bring you Paris’s most exquisite Asian tasting experiences—a blend of restaurants, markets, and sacred stops for seekers of spice, umami, crunch, or calm.
🇯🇵 Japan: Precision, Poetry, and the Pursuit of Umami
🍣 Sushi Shunei – The Omakase Temple
📍 18 Rue de l’Exposition, 7e
A sushi counter so intimate it feels like a zen ceremony disguised as dinner. Chef Shunei Kamimura prepares a tight, seasonal omakase where each piece is hand-formed, sauced, and served in silence, like a tiny poem.
🖋 Best for: Purists and aesthetes who understand sushi is theatre.
🍵 Jugetsudo – Matcha Elegance in Saint-Germain
📍 95 Rue de Seine, 6e
This Japanese tea house, founded by the same family as Maruyama Nori in Tokyo, is a serene spiral of wood and stone by architect Kengo Kuma. Sip ceremonial matcha or smoked genmaicha under a ceiling of suspended bamboo.
🖋 Don’t miss: The matcha financier or a tea-and-wagashi tasting flight.
🇻🇳 Vietnam: Broth, Herbs, and Soul
🍜 Phở Bánh Cuốn 14 – The Belleville Classic
📍 129 Avenue de Choisy, 13e
No frills, all feels. One of the most beloved phở houses in Paris’s vibrant “Triangle d’Or” of Vietnamese eateries, this spot is all about fast service, deep broth, and piles of fresh herbs.
🖋 Order like a local: Phở bò spécial, with all the cuts. Add chili and lime with abandon.
🛍 Tang Frères – Southeast Asia’s Pantry in Paris
📍 48 Avenue d’Ivry, 13e
It’s not just a grocery—it’s a pilgrimage. Tang Frères is a Southeast Asian mega-market, pulsing with pandan leaves, rice noodles, fresh durian, and lunar new year decorations. Parisian chefs (and grandmothers) shop here in equal measure.
🖋 Pro tip: Stop by the roast meat counter for lacquered pork belly to-go.
🇰🇷 Korea: Fire, Ferment, and Seoulful Comfort
🔥 Jium – Modern Korean Dining, Parisian Flair
📍 39 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 4e
In a former Marais épicerie, Jium serves modern Korean cuisine with seasonal French twists—think soy-marinated beef tartare, house-aged kimchi, and black garlic doenjang soup. Slick, shadowy interiors meet banchan beauty.
🖋 Pair with: A makgeolli cocktail and a table by the window.
🌶 Rue Sainte-Anne Korean Grocers
📍 Near Opéra, 1e
Often seen as “Little Tokyo,” this street also hides tiny Korean grocery gems. Look for kimchi tubs, seaweed snacks, gochujang pastes, and frozen mandoo, all crammed between the bento shops and ramen bars.
🖋 Stock up on: Yuzu soju and Korean face masks—balance is everything.
🇨🇳 China: Regional Depths, from Sichuan to Canton
🌶 Deux Fois Plus de Piment – The Spicy Legend
📍 33 Rue Saint-Sébastien, 11e
Unapologetically spicy, this Sichuan hole-in-the-wall is a cult favorite. Get the cumin lamb noodles or mouth-numbing dan dan mien, and bring tissues—you will cry, and you will like it.
🖋 Intensity scale: Choose your spice level wisely. “Level 1” is already a spiritual event.
🐉 Temple de la Chine at Passage Brady
📍 Passage Brady, 10e
Though known for Indian food, Passage Brady also hides Cantonese snack shops, steamed bun counters, and spice vendors. The atmosphere is pure sensory overload—exactly the point.
🖋 Try: Sesame balls, chrysanthemum tea, or lotus root chips between shops.
🇮🇳 India: Spice, Ritual, and Radiance
🌺 Desi Road – Haute Indian Dining on the Left Bank
📍 14 Rue Dauphine, 6e
Forget clichés—Desi Road is India interpreted with grace and restraint. Think lamb rogan josh with house-made naan, but plated like a Parisian work of art. The ambiance? Terracotta walls, brass fixtures, and Rasa playlist energy.
🖋 Go for: The thali dégustation and a saffron-infused lassi.
🎉 Gare du Nord Indian Arcades
📍 Around Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis, 10e
Hidden between beauty salons and gold shops are bustling Sri Lankan and Tamil eateries serving dosas, samosas, and fiery curries. It’s Paris at its most gloriously chaotic.
🖋 Street food stop: Get a paper dosa at Saravanaa Bhavan, then a masala chai to walk with.
🌏 Bonus: Pan-Asian Playgrounds
🥢 La Maison du Saké – Sake Bar Meets Izakaya Lab
📍 11 Rue Tiquetonne, 2e
Not just Japanese, but a concept space celebrating all of Asia’s fermented, grilled, and slow-cooked secrets, from yakitori to Korean pancakes. The sake selection is near-encyclopedic.
🖋 Try: The sake pairing menu with a rotating izakaya selection.
Final Taste Notes from The Socialites:
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Don’t judge by façade—Paris’s best Asian spots often hide behind modest signage.
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Follow scent, sound, and queue length—not guidebooks.
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Eat with your hands, slurp your broth, ask questions.
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And above all—trust the fire, the ferment, the finesse.
Because in Paris, Asia is not a destination. It’s an invitation.
—The Socialites