Where to eat in Paris according to restaurateur Pearlyn Lee

When Singaporean food entrepreneur Pearlyn Lee opened South East Asian bistro The Hood in Paris a decade ago, her aim was simple: to make comfort dishes like chicken rice and banh mi feel like part of daily Parisian life. The restaurant has since evolved into a gathering space for both the city’s South East Asian diaspora and for many other residents who drop by for comfort fare and community events. Lee has also launched Nonette, a Vietnamese banh mi and Asian-inspired doughnut concept, just across the street from her original venture. 

When she is off the clock, Lee roams the Right Bank’s 10th and 11th arrondissements, drawn to what she calls “le vrai Paris” – the places to where colleagues flock after work or friends convene on weekends, beyond the tourist traps. Instead of destination restaurants or places that are saved for special occasions, there are cosy bistros, coffee spots, casual Asian eateries, wine bars and bakeries.  

“They’re run by people who know their neighbourhood, their community and their regulars,” Lee says. “I’m drawn to eateries that respect craft and handle layered cultural identities naturally and without formality or performance. These are places people return to.” 

Here’s her guide to the best places to eat in Paris. 

Le Cornichon 

With casual, cool interiors featuring green velvet benches, chrome chairs and a pinball machine, Le Cornichon is the kind of café that feels like the beating heart of a neighbourhood. The cuisine by chef Bertrand Chauveau is hearty and inventive, grounded in French bistro tradition with a gourmet edge that shines through in the kitchen’s sourcing of ingredients and execution of dishes. The café draws regulars as much for its relaxed atmosphere as its consistency in flavours. “Love the lunch menus and great selection of natural wines – and the beef-fat fries are to die for,” says Lee. 

Le Rigmarole and Folderol 

Led by husband-and-wife team Jessica Yang and Robert Compagnon, Le Rigmarole sits on the World’s 50 Best Discovery list for its inventive style that fuses French culinary techniques with global influences. The eatery is open exclusively for lunch, when diners are treated to a 12-course tasting menu comprising an assortment of fusion dishes, including skewers cooked on a Japanese binchotan grill.  

Lee also recommends sister property Folderol , a playful wine and ice cream bar, situated next door. “Go early if you want a seat – they open at 4pm,” she advises. 

Le Verre Vole 

A pioneer of Paris’s natural wine movement, Le Verre Vole has shaped how the city eats and drinks since it opened in 2000. Located near the trendy Canal Saint-Martin neighbourhood, the dining space is a classic Parisian bistro: compact and lively, where tables are close and conversations serendipitously overlap. Starters and mains change daily, guided by fresh, seasonal produce. Lee says, “This is simple French food cooked with care and influenced by different cultures, like clams in dashi broth. It all works because the food pairs well with the natural wines.” Reservations are recommended. 

Reyna 

At Reyna , chef Erica Paredes’s cooking is rooted in both instinct and memory, drawing from a childhood in the Philippines and a life lived across Australia, the UK and France. The result is deeply personal: South East Asian flavours filtered through seasonal and French lenses, with creative compositions that transport diners around the world. 

Nothing here is strictly classic, yet the flavours remain recognisable. Think spicy Filipino-style Pinatubo fried chicken or Hainanese chicken rice-inspired burrata. In an intimate setting, the ever-evolving menu reflects Paredes’s travels and the produce currently in season, while the rum-based cocktails set a lively, convivial tone for the evening. 

Mam From Hanoi 

Bib Gourmand-recommended restaurant Mam From Hanoi is run by a Vietnamese duo, serving up Northern Vietnamese recipes inspired by dishes their grandparents once prepared for them. Made with rigorously sourced French produce, standouts on the concise, confident menu include platters of pork nems (crispy spring rolls) served with the restaurant’s signature mam (fish paste) sauce and steaming bowls of pho, prepared slightly salty in true Northern style to aid digestion.  

The Hood Paris 

“I'm obviously biased when it comes to The Hood Paris and Nonette, but I actually eat there almost daily – that’s how I know it’s my comfort food,” says Lee.  

At The Hood, familiar Singaporean and pan-Asian staples such as chicken rice, satay, pandan chiffon, kaya toast and eggs anchor the menu alongside housemade dirty chai and a reliably silky teh Tarik, or milk tea. 

Meanwhile, fast-casual counterpart Nonette focuses on hearty banh mi sandwiches with a French sensibility – house-made jambon and French butter in place of mayonnaise, for instance – alongside doughnuts that playfully explore Asian flavours with fillings like kaya and pork floss. In Lee’s words: “This is efficient chow for grab-and-go, a walk around Paris or a picnic in the park.”