Great Asian Food in Paris

As amazing as French food can be, when I just can't bear another plate of duck confit, steak and frites or three-course formules, I visit one of these authentic Asian restaurants...

Vietnamese
Pho Banh Cuon 14 129, avenue de Choisy, 75013 Paris
+33 (0)1 45 83 61 15
Metro: Tolbiac
In Seattle where we lived for two years before coming to Paris, we ate Pho at least once a week and more if it was particularly cold or we felt a bit under the weather.  In Paris, a 'real' bowl of Pho is hard to come by.  Quite often linguini is substituted for rice noodles, ground meat replaces rare slices of beef and small cups are served instead of large soup bowls which leave enough room for basil, limes and bean sprouts.  An authentic Pho place even the locals don't know about, Pho Banh Cuon 14 can command a long wait at prime dining hours, but it is well worth it for the choice of many, perfect bowls of Pho.
Japanese
Higuma
32, bis rue sainte anne, 75002
01 47 03 38 59
Metro: Pyramids
Higuma was the first Asian restaurant I tried in Paris, by myself one rainy night, and it is still my favorite for great gyoza and big bowls of noodle soup.  No matter how many times we go to this neighborhood and swear we are going to try somewhere new, we always end up back here for the great menu which includes five or seven perfect pot stickers and hot miso-based or Kim chi noodle soup for about 12€.





Korean
Jantchi
6 , Rue Thérèse, 75001 Paris
Tel. : +(33) 1 40 15 91 07

We may have been the very first patrons at JanTchi as the restaurant had just opened.  True to traditional South Korean restaurants, diners are served their main course with many small side plates, including different varieties of Kim chi.  The hot pot is excellent, arriving in a very hot stone bowl, so you mix a raw egg into rice and meat toppings until it all cooks together in front of you.









Chinese
Les Pâtes Vivantes
46, rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris
01 45 23 10 21
Metro: Le Paletier / Grand Boulevards
Fresh, handmade noodles are the specialty here as is evident in the front window where you can watch the chefs pulling and stretching the noodles as you wait for a table.  Various dishes are served on, in or with noodles (always opt for the noodles even at 5€ extra) or rice.

Thai
Mme Shawn 
28, rue Duret, Paris (also other locations)
01 45 00 45 20
Metro: Porte Maillot
http://www.mmeshawn.com/

I almost cried when I found this great Thai restaurant.  No longer will I settle for a Thai meal at the all-in-one (Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai) Asian spots in Paris.  Try the green curry with a side of pad thai.  This is the real deal and Mme Shawn also imports products for her boutique when in Thailand.