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Exotic Paris Part I: Asian Influences

© Heather Stimmler-Hall

My first excursion into Paris's Chinatown took place on Christmas Day 1997. I lived on rue Mouffetard at the time, just two metro stops away from the 13th, but I had never really known it was there. But that day I was hanging out with a few other solo expats, and we all decided to catch dinner and a movie. One of the largest cineplexes is at Place d'Italie, which just edges the borders of Chinatown, so we stopped into a nearby Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner (people do strange things on holidays when they're not 'home').

There are two Chinatowns in Paris, now, with the Belleville area Chinese now outnumbering the formerly North African dominated neighborhood. But the Far East culture in Paris isn't just concentrated into these areas, but is rather spread out. Paris is imbued in every way with Asian touches, from restaurants and boutiques to fashion, architecture, and art. Here are just a few examples of this vibrant community, made up of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and others, all unmistakably tainted with a very special Parisian flair.

Paris-Anglo.com and the Time Out Guide to Paris both have small descriptions of Paris's Chinatown.

Asian Cuisine

Students have long known of the value of Chinese take out. In Paris, there are plenty of Asian restaurants offering low-cost meals. Some are simple take-away fast-food type eateries. Others are bustling restaurants. All of the sushi restaurants along rue Monsieur le Prince, between Luxembourg Gardens and the Odeon Theatre, are inexpensive and yummy, even if the packed tables resemble a high school cafeteria. For the most authentic Asian food on a budget, go to one of the Chinatowns (Belleville or the 13th arr.). If you want to stay closer to the center of town, check out the small wholesale district area dominated by Asians (and their markets and restaurants) between Metro Rambuteau and Metro Arts et Metiers in the 3rd arr. I used to eat a five course meal (with saki offered) for under 50ff at the Yakitori Grill in the Quartier Horloge (behind the Pompidou Center). The area around Metro Opéra, especially rue Ste. Anne, has become a bit of a Japanese quarter, with many Japanese restaurants such as Higuma, an authentic kitchen-style restaurant at 32, rue Ste .Anne. For those who want to splurge on something a bit fancier, Lô Sushi and Shozan are considered to be very good quality, while the Buddha Bar (Metro Concorde) and China Club (behind the Opéra Bastille) are known more for their trendy decor than their cuisine.

Rue Augustin, Metro Quatre Septembre

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