The 10 Best Restaurants In Paris' Asian Quarter

The Quartier Asiatique, which also goes by the names Petite Asie or Triangle de Choisy, given the rough shape of its outline between the Avenue de Choisy, Avenue d’Ivry, and Boulevard Masséna in the 13th arrondissement, is known for its high-rise apartment blocks, spectacular annual parade, and plethora of top-quality restaurants. Here you’ll find the best Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, and Chinese food in Paris, as well as some incredible Malaysian, Indonesian, Korean, Japanese, and Indian cuisine.

1. Basilic & Spice

Restaurant, Thai, Seafood

Basilic & Spice, a trendy but elegant restaurant at the northernmost tip of the Quartier Asiatique, specializes in authentic Khmer and Thai cuisine. There is a mixture of booth and table seating, and it is as equally popular for business lunches as it is for family dinners. The seafood dishes on the menu are particularly delectable.

2. Restaurant Lao Viet

Restaurant, Vietnamese, Thai

Restaurant Lao Viet, which, strictly speaking, is located just outside the boundaries of the Asian Quarter and further towards the Seine, is the place to go to sample the best of Laotian cuisine. That being said, their Vietnamese and Thai dishes are equally worthy of attention. It’s a fairly traditional place, with white tablecloths and napkins in glasses, where the welcome is immediate and warm.

3. Lao Douang Paseuth

Restaurant, Asian

Another strong contender for the tastiest Laotian food in the capital, Lao Douang Paseuth is a more casual affair, on the opposite side of the neighborhood at the Porte d’Italie. The house specialties have got to be their noodles, prepared in vegetable and meat broths as well as sautéed with the flavors of Southeast Asia. With 48 hours’ notice, they will also prepare a banquet for you in the spacious side room.

5. Chez Yong

Restaurant, Chinese

Fried pork and green chilies │© sharonang

Chez Yong, which is equidistant from the heart of the Quartier Asiatique and the beautiful Parc Montsouris, is hands down the best place in town for Sichuan cuisine. Faithful to the particular flavors of the region, this traditional restaurant is famed for its barbecued beef and Chengdu chicken. If you’re in a rush or on a budget, they also offer a 10% discount on takeaway orders.

6. Le Sarawan

Restaurant, Malaysian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Chinese

Back in the center of the neighborhood, Le Sarawan is the home of lovers of Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine in Paris. If you love spicy foods, this is the place for you but even if you don’t, don’t worry, the staff are ready and waiting to advise the uninitiated. The house specialty is a caramelized pork dish that is a veritable delicacy of this part of the world. The menu also offers a mixture of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes.

7. Mondol Kiri

Restaurant, Asian

Mondol Kiri, just to the north of the neighborhood and overlooking the Parc de Choisy, is the best restaurant in the 13th arrondissement for Cambodian food. Dishes that have to be sampled include their grilled, lemon-marinated fish of the day, the green papaya salad, and the sharing platter for two featuring satay beef, lemon chicken, and fine noodles.

8. Palais de Krishnaa

Restaurant, Indian

Palais de Krishnaa, which is close to the Place d’Italie and the Italie Deux shopping center, is a gastronomic Indian restaurant that specializes in cuisine from across the subcontinent. The place is brightly decorated, and the family-run business is renowned for its genial atmosphere. It also offers a takeaway and delivery service.

9. Namoo

Restaurant, Korean, Japanese

Korean cabbage in chili sauce │© chengzhu

Most of the Korean and Japanese restaurants in Paris are found in the 1st arrondissement around the Rue Sainte-Anne, but if you’re in the 13th arrondissement and in the mood for this kind of cuisine then make a beeline for Namoo. Opened in 2002, it’s become famous for its barbecue dishes, but there’s plenty more on the menu to sample besides these.

10. Paradis Thai

Restaurant, Thai

Just a stone’s throw from Tolbiac metro station, you’ll find the aptly named Paradis Thai. The building’s façade is that of a gigantic temple, and inside there is dining space over two floors. The décor is muted and modern, whilst retaining some traditional Thai charm, and the flavors on the plate are out of this world. This place isn’t to be missed.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.