When you're feeling homesick, what's better than finding a little piece of home here on your doorstep? If you're missing China, Mister Bilingue has the best spots in Paris to make you feel right at home!
If you're Chinese and living here in France, you're probably one of the 80% of people from the Chinese community in France who live in Paris, which works out at around 700,000 people!
So, do you fancy discovering some new Chinese restaurants, specialist Asian markets or bookshops brimming with Chinese titles?
That's good! Because in this extra spicy article, the MisterBilingue team is inviting you on a journey of discovery to the best Chinese spots right here in the streets of Paris! From the best roast duck in the capital to the most exquisite Chinese art, we've got a whirlwind tour of Paris and a trip home to China rolled into one!
Ready for a trip to Chinatown? Zǒu ba!
Chez Vong
Want to know where to eat the best Peking duck in the capital? Head straight to Chez Vong in Paris' 1st arrondissement.
A multitude of famous faces from around the world have already passed through the doors of this renowned Chinese haunt (think Gong Li, Woody Allen, Jacques Chirac and even Harrison Ford). You too can taste these exquisite Cantonese dishes, all lovingly prepared by chef Vai Kuan Vong.
If you end up going for the Peking duck, you'll even have the chance to see it prepared and carved before your eyes by Mr. Vong himself! First things first, tuck into the crispy and caramelized duck skin, then let your taste buds savour the tender meat, seasoned to perfection and lovingly presented on small rice cakes. After a few mouthfuls, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were actually in Bejing!
While his recipes are based in the Chinese tradition (such as Shanghai-style chicken ravioli), chef Vong doesn't shy away from imbuing his menu with elements of French gastronomy. With two world-class cuisines in the mix, you can't go far wrong among the many flavours and aromas on the menu at Chez Vong!
Deux fois plus de piment
If you're looking to add a little extra spice to your life and your plate, head for Deux fois plus de piment("Twice the spice") in the 11th arrondissement!
In this typical Sichuan restaurant, you can expect to break a sweat as you tuck into dishes with a liberal helping of spice (there's a scale from one to five in spiciness for you to choose from when ordering your dish). If you're a novice in spicy Asian dishes, you might want to stick to two or lower… or live to regret it!
For the connoisseurs of spicy food among you, you can relax and enjoy your dish prepared just as it should be, choosing from a selection of delicious choices such as pork with leeks (well, spring onions actually, but never mind), Gongbao chicken seasoned with Sichuan pepper, and the delicious sweet, dried beef that will have your mouth watering!
And if you're one for a challenge, the owners have two other restaurants, appropriately named Trois fois plus de piment and Cinq fois plus (that's "Three times the spices" and... you've got it, "Five times more"!).
Jixiao's Buns
Does "shengjian buns" mean anything to you? If you're familiar with these little Chinese bites filled with meat or vegetables, come and see how they fare in Paris in the Jixiao's Buns restaurant!
Located in the 6th arrondissement, this tiny eatery serves among the best buns in all of Paris. But don't take our word for it, go and see for yourself! Once served these tasty bites, waste no time sticking in a straw to suck up all that sweet and spicy broth from the inside.
And if you manage to keep your tongue from burning on that piping hot sauce, grab a pair of chopsticks and get stuck into that crispy bun, making sure to dip it in a little black vinegar on the way to your mouth. This treat is straight out of Shanghai!
We recommend following these already generous starters with a plate of Chongqing noodles either with ground pork or without meat altogether. If you're a beef kind of person, Szechuan beef noodles is the dish for you!
Whatever you go for, we know that you'll be leaving this little place ready to burst!
Le Restaurant chinois
This place is exactly what it says on the tin, so you know exactly what you're getting: Le Restaurant chinois is an authentic Chinese eatery with good Chinese food and dumplings to die for!
For only €5.50, you can have a selection of 10 dumplings of your choice from a variety of eight different types. You might find it difficult to choose your favourite between pork with cabbage in vinegar, fish with Chinese cabbage and egg, beef with onions, and egg and noodles in a donut dough!
In this family-run restaurant with a relaxed and warm atmosphere, there's no end of hot and cold dishes to try, all deriving from the traditional cuisine of the Liaoning province.
Want to know more about Chinese dumplings or just curious to try them? Le Restaurant chinois has a lot to teach you about Chinese history and culture, as well as their dumplings!
Les Pâtes vivantes
There's nothing better than freshly made noodles when you're in need of a little comfort! But if you don't have the energy to whip up fresh noodles at home, you can surely find it within yourself to take a trip to Les Pâtes Vivantes in Paris' 1st arrondissement.
On the menu, you'll find noodle specialties made right in front of you in the open kitchen, by hand and according to the age-old Chinese method. No big deal! Just as families do in northern China today, the dough is made from a very fine wheat flour that ensures a unique texture and taste.
Your noodles will come served either in a soup or cooked in a wok with meat (lamb, beef, pork, chicken). Whatever your choice, every dish is made with fresh and quality products.
You'll have plenty of time to enjoy some equally tasty starters as you watch your noodles stretched and twirled in the kitchen before your eyes. Whether it's chicken jiaozi (grilled Pekinese dumplings), eggs flavored with five spices, or tender bamboo shoots with Sichuan vegetables, there should be enough on offer to prepare your stomach for the highly awaited "living noodles", as they're called. In any case, it'll be a step up from a bowl of your very best pasta with pesto, right?
La maison des 3 thés
This is the largest tea cellar in the world, where you'll find more than 1,000 different varieties of tea. Welcome to La maison des 3 thés in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, a world institution for those who want to know more about the ritual of tea making or simply taste teas of the highest order.
The teas on offer in this understated, peaceful and truly unique location come directly from China and Taiwan, after being meticulously selected by Yu Hui Tseng, one of the greatest tea experts in the world. Suffice to say that there's no builder's tea on offer here!
Served in china dating to the Tsing dynasty of over 250 years ago, the tea leaves are infused according to a very specific ritual that will delight all your senses, making for a taste experience that can include up to seven infusions (sometimes more). As you know, one tea can contain countless nuances, so make sure you get every last drop!
Even though the prices may put off some visitors, tea experts and expert tea drinkers from all over the world are flocking in droves to this unique place. Let's just say, this is the closest any tea lover will get to a tea paradise.
Tang Frères
If you found all the best flavours of Chinese cuisine in one place, wouldn't you want to take some of them home with you? Well, welcome to Tang Frères, the largest Asian grocery store in Paris!
Founded in 1976 by a Chinese family from Laos, this small business has become a model for success over the years, sprouting half a dozen supermarkets and several takeaways across the capital.
In this historic supermarket of Paris' 13th arrondissement, you can find a whole range of Chinese and Asian food products, as well as kitchen utensils, DVDs, clothes, and more. With its huge selection of exotic products at a reasonable price, we doubt you'll leave empty handed. Even if you're not in the market to buy something, you can easily while away a happy hour strolling through the aisles and marveling at all the most interesting flavours straight from the Asian continent.
If you're planning on making a stop here, make sure to stock up on all the meat, fish, fresh fruit, noodles, sauces and other Asian products that you can carry. The only time you might want to give this spot a miss is during the Chinese New Year… unless you enjoy frantic crowds, of course!
Le Phénix
Le Phénix is the oldest bookshop in France to specialise in Chinese literature. Founded in 1965 by a communist activist in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, their founding mission was
to introduce French readers to the texts of the People's Republic of China, specifically those written by Mao Zedong, like his famous Little Red Book.
Over time, the bookshop has become a place for debate and education, where many contemporary French and Chinese writers such as Bajin, Zhang Jie and Gao Xingjian have had the opportunity to enter into a dialogue with each other. Events with writers are routinely put on to mark the publication of books related to Asian and Chinese literature.
Take the advice of the well-informed booksellers working here and there's no doubt you'll find something to sink your teeth into, whether it's philosophy, the fine arts, a newspaper or even a comic! Everything you could hope for is here in French, Chinese and English.
Musée national des arts asiatiques – the Guimet Museum
The Guimet Museum is home not only to Chinese art, but to art from all over Asia (India, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Nepal and Tibet). Make no mistake about it, this is a must-visit spot for Chinese culture, with more than 20,000 objects covering nearly seven millennia of Chinese art!
From the Neolithic period to the 18th century, passing through the Shang and Zhou dynasties, here you can feast your eyes on coins of inestimable value and beauty: pure green jades, rare numismatic treasures and bronze staples that have lost none of their original splendour!
But we think it's their collection of Chinese ceramics that will leave you stunned. This is the most extensive section in the museum, housing more than 10,000 ceramics that illustrate the long and fascinating history of China. From the use of ovens in their production, the materials (sandstone, celadons, porcelain) and the decoration, to the commissioning process and the technical innovations, believe us, you'll be an expert on Chinese ceramics by the time you leave this museum!
Believe it or not, you can find everything there is to know about Chinese culture inside this typical Haussmanian building, whether it's theatre, cinema, cooking, literature, music or even calligraphy that interests you. Here, you can even attend literary fairs with French and Chinese writers, join a debate with researchers at a conference, or simply enjoy a film screening. The centre boasts a media library that houses an enormous number of books on religion, philosophy, politics and science (among other things) and is also open to the public.
Fancy learning to speak and write Chinese yourself? Lessons are available here too, for both children and adults. Or if it's Chinese culture and civilization that interests you more, why not sign up for one of their introductory workshops across a variety of subjects including the art of tea, wellbeing, calligraphy, and even the boardgame Go!
If it wasn't clear already, the Centre culturel de Chine à Paris is the must-visit spot for discovering, or rediscovering, all the treasures that the Middle Kingdom has to offer!
We've come to the end of this list of the top 10 best Chinese spots in Paris, but there's no end to the number of other gems you can discover yourself in and around the city! We hope our best picks have given you some fresh inspiration for life in Paris and you'll be keen to stay here with us a little longer. It's not too shabby in Paris, don't you think?
If you're looking for a job in Paris or anywhere else in France, don't forget to check out bilingual job offers!
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Félix
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