Gone are the days where Asian restaurants are scarce in Paris. I recall 20 years ago, you wouldn’t find a decent Asian restaurant around the block and I ate baguette every day during my trip. But Paris has diversified in its choice of Asian restaurants. While there are plenty of choices left and right nowadays, I’d say keep your expectations about its quality to a minimum. These are not the best Asian restaurants in the world — don’t go looking for them in Paris. But if you want rice and noodles in Paris, you’ve come to the right place.
Kok Ping
Cuisine: Chinese and Thai
Address: 4 Rue Balzac, 75008 Paris, France
Opening Hours: Daily 12:00pm – 3:00pm, 7:00pm – 11:00pm
What to order: Crispy Chicken
If you’re craving for fried chicken that’s not dry — and because in Paris, chicken drumsticks and thighs are non-existent, I’m not kidding — then Kok Ping is for you. This quiet restaurant is a combination of Chinese and Thai dishes. Crispy Chicken is their crowd favorite, and while I’m not totally crazy about the chicken because it’s still dry for certain parts, it satiates my cravings for a home cooked meal.
Restaurant Zen
Cuisine: Japanese
Address: 8 Rue de l’Échelle, 75001 Paris, France
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 12:00pm – 2:30 pm, 7 – 10:00pm, Closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
What to order: Saba (Mackerel) and Salmon
Restaurant Zen has been a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant since 2011. To be honest, I didn’t find anything out of the ordinary for Restaurant Zen. Had this restaurant been based in Singapore, I would call it a typical Japanese restaurant that serves teishoku meals. But by Paris standards, this is one Japanese restaurant you can’t go wrong. Saba is great and so is the salmon. I’d stick to those, but Chicken Karaage and a bowl of Pork Shoyu marinated in Ginger wouldn’t hurt.
Tuk Tuk
Cuisine: Thai
Address: 47 Rue de Laborde, 75008 Paris, France
Opening Hours: Daily 12:00pm – 2:30pm, 7:00pm – 10:30pm
I’m not a fan of Thai cuisine, except for Pad Thai. But in Paris, I’d make an exception for Tuk Tuk. Get the Pad Thai Poulet, and there’s nothing French in it but shredded pieces of chicken. It’s a good break from all of the french l’oignon soup and duck confits in bistros.
Of course that Tuk Tuk inside their restaurant feels anachronistic in glitzy Paris.
Chikoja
Cuisine: Korean
Address: 14 Rue Sainte-Anne, 75001 Paris, France
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12:00pm – 10:30pm, Closed on Mondays
While Chikoja is nowhere near BCD in Koreatown NYC and SBCD in Singapore, Chikoja is a nice attempt at serving soondubu jigae menus (set meals lingo in Paris) complete with mandoos. I’ll make an exception for my aversion to gyoza. I like mandoos or Korean dumplings, and Chikoja excels in that. If you’re feeling like your hunger has reached construction worker levels, then Chikoja’s portion sizes would serve you well. Don’t forget to order some Haemul Pajeon (Korean pancakes).
P.S. and if you’re looking for the best Korean pancakes in Singapore, there’s ANJU at Tras Street. I mean mozzarella cheese on Hameul Pajeon?!