The Canal Saint-Martin area has some fantastic restaurants to discover. It’s an area like no other in terms of diversity of cuisines, price points and accessibility. There’s restaurants that have been around for decades next to new, street food restaurants and Neo-bistros – this is why I love this area for food!
Tip: Check out my guide to the Canal Saint-Martin area to find out more on what to see and do.
The Best Places to Eat Near the Canal Saint-Martin
There are so many great restaurants in the Canal Saint-Martin area and this list features my favourites. I live nearby so bookmark this page as it’ll be updated regularly! Restaurants are in no particular order.
Gros Bao
Gros Bao is one of my go-to spots for a late lunch in the area. It’s all about modern, ‘canteen style’ Chinese food and it’s delicious. You won’t find hyper traditional regional dishes but there’s plenty of Cantonese and Szechuan classics on the menu.
Just like the food, the interior of the restaurant is modern-meets-tradition. The deep red walls are a nod to the canteens of Hong Kong and the low, dim lighting makes the space really moody.
The dishes are slightly westernised but their dishes still pack a punch with plenty of umami and chilli heat (which is rare for Paris). Peking duck, roast pork belly and sweet and sour chicken are awesome. Egg fried rice is exactly how it should be and their Szechuan garlicky aubergines are incredible. Finally their pillowy soft Char Siu bao buns are a must-try!
What to know before you visit
- You can’t reserve (apart from large group bookings)
- Expect to queue most lunch times and evenings
- Vegetarian friendly
Address: 72 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010
Website: https://www.baofamily.co/grosbao-eatin
Early June
Early June is a fantastic little Neo-bistro right next to the canal on Rue Jean Poulmarch. The beautiful contemporary bistro is very of the area with exposed brick walls, rustic wooden tables and lots of Scandinavian industrial accents.
It’s incredibly popular with foodies and for one unique reason – it’s a spot that hosts travelling chefs for short duration residencies. This makes it an extremely exciting, eclectic and diverse spot in terms of what comes out from the kitchen.
I’ve dined here a few times and I’ve never been disappointed. There’s always some fantastic chefs in the kitchen bringing their knowledge and experience from their travels to Paris. The food changes but the format is the same – small sharing plates washed down with some great natural wine.
What to know before you visit
- You can only reserve for groups of 4+
- Otherwise it’s walk-ins only starting from 6pm
- Check their instagram page to see who the current resident chef is
Address: 19 Rue Jean Poulmarch, 75010
Tel: 01 42 85 40 74
Website: https://early-june.fr/
SAaM
Just off the canal, on the Rue de Lancry you’ll find SAaM – an awesome modern Korean restaurant. Industrial-chic decor mixed with canteen style tables and chairs – it’s all very 10th arrondissement and it’s a lovely place to be.
The food is just as modern as the decor with playful riffs on Korean classics and it’s superb. Their Gao Baos are the star of the show for me – tender, slow cooked pork belly melt in the mouth and are finished with house pickles, fried shallots and hoisin sauce – delicious.
There’s also a superb KFC bao bun which is crispy, juicy and works so well in the pillow wrapper. Their Dupbaps are just as good as their baos – perfectly seasoned with a killer spicy sauce and fresh, crunchy veg.
What to know before you visit
- You can’t reserve
- You can order online and take-out
Address: 59Bis Rue de Lancry, 75010
Tel: 09 83 50 84 94
Website: https://www.facebook.com/saamparis/
Sur Mer
Paris has some great seafood restaurants and Sur Mer is one of the best. Located about a 3 minute walk from the canal on Rue de Lancry, it’s a great spot if you’re in the mood for oysters or a seafood platter.
Just like many of the hip, modern spots in the area, Sur Mer specialises in small, seasonal sharing plates (which I personally love). The quality of the ingredients is fantastic here and you’ll taste the freshness of the fish.
Their seafood platters are fantastic – natural oysters from Brittany, whelks and langoustines are served with house gochujang mayo. Ceviches, carpaccios, roasted monkfish tail are make appearances on the menu and they’re all extremely well done.
What to know before you visit
- You need to call to reserve
- Open every day
Address: 53 rue de Lancry, 75010
Tel: 01 48 03 21 38
Website: https://surmer.restaurant
Breizh Café
Probably the most popular and famous Crêperie in Paris, Breizh Café is one of the best options for a quick and affordable lunch.
Serving traditional Breton crêpes with a Japanese influences, they’ve become the spot to go to for a crêpe in Paris and for good reason. The ingredients are quality and you can taste it – organic buckwheat flour, cider and salted butter from Brittany.
Their crêpe complete (savoury crêpe with ham, cheese and an egg) is superb and finished with a healthy knob of salted butter. For dessert, go for their Crêpe Suzette – it’s fantastic. Don’t forget to order a small cup of one of their 60 ciders on offer on the menu to wash your lunch or dinner down!
What to know before you visit
- Open every day for lunch and dinner
- You can’t reserve
Address: 112 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010
Tel: 01 48 74 10 99
Website: https://www.breizhcafe.com
