The city of Paris is not merely the city of love, it is also a cosmopolitan city, bubbling and thriving with multifarious cultures. When it comes to the Arab world, extensive roots have been set within the gaps of its cobblestones and its expansive green spaces.
With a thriving Lebanese expatriate population and Moroccan, Tunisian, and Algerian immigrants finding home in the city, Arab cuisine has made a name for itself.
If you are one of the lucky ones attending the highly anticipated Paris Olympics, why not also spare some time and hit up our handpicked selection of the city’s finest Arab eateries.
Becky’s
Nestled on 74 Rue Claude Bernard is a restaurant that was brought to life through a conversation between a Lebanese brother and sister. Meet Victoria Yazbeck and her brother Georges Yazbeck, who put their heads together and decided to open up a Lebanese bakery after the brother couldn’t stop craving a slice of home: a man’ouché.
Serving up a taste of home, the sibling duo worked tirelessly to bring their bakery to life. Today, it stands tall and serves up the finest zaatar and cheese man’ouché, known as their “superstar” dish, Lebanese-inspired wraps including the beloved soujouk wrap and kofta wrap. If you want that feeling of comfort and home, Becky’s is the place to go.
Ardi
Next up is the only Palestinian restaurant in Paris: the Ardi Concept Store. It’s found in the 18th arrondissement and owned by Rania Talala. On entering, you’ll feel as though you are entering your Arab mama or grandmother’s home.
The delicious, comforting smell of homestyle Palestinian food will waft out from the kitchen as your eyes gaze at the decor-toting knick-knacks from across Palestine.
With a name like “Ardi,” meaning my land, this restaurant epitomizes the innate resistance of every Palestinian out there. By coming and dining at Ardi, you’ll feel that spirit in every nook and cranny. Inside, you’ll be swathed in the comfort of a community.
You’ll get to set your gaze on a raised stage hosting people giving talks or playing music on event nights as you enjoy local delicacies, including idreh, a dish that hails from Hebron and is made with chicken, chickpeas and spiced rice or hummus bil lahme, a creamy mix of hummus, fried minced beef, olive oil, toasted almonds and pomegranate arils.
Mama Nissa
Within the bustling Les Halles neighborhood sits an Algerian eatery hidden in a quiet street. Mama Nissa is a restaurant that invites diners to discover that there is more to Maghreb cuisine than Moroccan and Tunisian restaurants.
Its owner, Hanane Tancrede-Abdelli, opened this restaurant to introduce Algerian recipes handed down by her own mother.
If you pay attention to the restaurant’s name, it is actually named after her mom, Anissa. Inside this homey restaurant, you’ll get to indulge in Algerian-style mezze known as kémias, vegetarian harira soup, artisan merguez and kefta, and dry Kabyle couscous using barley.
Le Daily Syrien Veggie
Probably one of the most eclectic dining spots in Paris is Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, home to Turkish, Greek, and Kurdish restaurants, pizzerias, and even a Little India. Ten years ago, a very special Syrian restaurant called Le Daily Syrien Veggie joined that melting pot of cultures.
Brought to life by Syrian restaurateur Ahmed Al Batin, he slowly worked his way up, starting off his business as a falafel take-out spot. Then, he upgraded it to a “grillade” that serves up juicy beef and chicken marinated shawarma until he ended up opening Le Daily Syrien Veggie, which serves up Levantine vegetarian and vegan mezze. The must-tries include fava bean foul and za’atar galettes.
Assanabel
A special Lebanese eatery that has been around since the 1980s is Assanabel, a restaurant that has found a home near the Canal St-Martin. Influenced by Bekaa, a region in Lebanon, the restaurant introduces unique dishes and flavors, including Le Hindbeh du Maître, the Lebanese Hindbeh made by cooking a plant called the wild chicory with caramelized onions.
Along with the unique dishes, eating at Assanabel is a recognition of its worldwide reach, as the restaurant managed to open not just in Paris but also in the UAE, America, and beyond. Dining at Assanabel will give you a unique taste of Lebanon from a successful and globetrotting restaurant.
Each of these restaurants acts as a gateway to the Arab world and its rich cuisine. So along with celebrating international athletes at the Olympics, you’ll also get to experience another mix of cultures through these Arab restaurants.