Looking for Korean food in Paris? You’re in luck. Paris has some genuinely excellent Korean restaurants, even if they’re often overlooked. I’ve been living here for over 9 years and as a foodie, I’m constantly on the hunt for the best places to eat in the city. Korean food is one of my favourites and fortunately Paris delivers, with some very solid spots doing the cuisine properly.
Read on for my guide to the best Korean restaurants in Paris. This list is updated regularly with new finds, so it’s worth bookmarking and checking back.
After more Asian Restaurants recommendations in Paris? Check out my guide to the best Japanese restaurants in Paris and the best Chinese restaurants in Paris.
The Best Korean Restaurants in Paris
Read on to find my favourite spots that are tried and tested delivering consistently good and authentic Korean food. Restaurants listed in no particular order.
Table de MEE
Table de MEE is a recent discovery and a great little Korean restaurant right in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
It’s a small, family run restaurant that at first glance doesn’t seem like much but it’s a genuine gem. The kitchen pumps out some superb, very precisely cooked and refined Korean classics.
Diving straight into the entrees, we had their oyster beignets – breaded and deep fried oysters served with a house tartare sauce. These were delicious and great to see cooked oysters on a menu.
Next up was their fried pork and kimchi dumplings which comes with their house dipping sauce. Crispy on the outside and juicy and melting in the middle. Superb. I should add that their home made kimchi is very, very good.
Finally we had their Ssamm which are 3 lettuce wraps that come with braised pork belly and garnished with spring onions and chilli. This is surprisingly light and as a nice spicy kick.
For mains I had their take on a classic Bibimbap. Definitely one of the best I’ve had in the city. Firstly, the preparation of the vegetables and garnish is so precise yet it’s not just for show, it’s perfectly balanced. Sweet, savoury, umami – this dish has it all – it’s addictive.
Last up was the their Sogoghi Jjimm – a braised beef dish and once again, this was top tier. The beef was genuinely fall apart and incredibly juicy and the sauce had a lovely sweet-savoury balance from the soy and pear juice.
What to know before you visit
- Closed Sundays and Mondays
- You can reserve online
Address: 6 Rue des Ciseaux, 75006
Tel: 01 43 54 42 56
Website: https://www.instagram.com/table_de_mee
Dong Né Chicken
Dong Né Chicken is one of the better spots in Paris if you’re craving proper Korean fried chicken. It’s casual, loud and clearly focused on doing one thing very well.
The decor is amazing – it’s pure Seoul street food energy. graffiti, posters and a faux breeze block wall that feels made for Instagram. It’s kitsch and fun, though comfort isn’t really the priority. Barrel tables and stools mean this is more of a eat-and-go spot than somewhere to spend hours for a sit-down meal.
Gimmicky? Not at all. The food absolutely delivers. Fries come dusted in a seasoning that tastes suspiciously like instant ramen powder. Heavy on the MSG and completely addictive.
The chicken is the real reason you’re here. The boneless option using thigh meat is excellent. Super crispy outside, ridiculously juicy inside. You can order a small or medium (€13 or €18) and pick from four sauces. Yangnyeom is the one to go for. It’s their house spicy sauce, available mild or hot, with that familiar gochujang flavour that’s balanced rather than overpowering.
It’s not the cheapest Korean option in Paris but it’s very good. Add a couple of sides like the Korean dumplings or their creamed sweetcorn and you’ve got a very solid Korean meal on your hands.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day from midday-6pm, 7-10pm
- You can’t reserve
- Expect to queue during peak times outside
Address: 51 Rue de Richelieu, 75001
Tel: 01 42 33 79 37
Website: https://www.instagram.com/dongne_chicken/
SAaM
SAaM is a fantastic modern Korean restaurant with a street food inspired menu. It’s a small, intimate setting with a canteen vibe and boy is it good. Just like the food, the decor is modern with plenty of industrial-chic accents and nods to the food markets in Seoul.
The food at SAaM isn’t traditional – it’s more slightly western street food but damn, it’s good. Their menu is on the smaller side and they focus on bao buns and dup baps. I’d certainly go out there say their bao buns combinations are one of the best that I’ve tasted. Pork belly bao (gua bao) is the star of the show – it’s cooked for 12 hours sous-vide and it’s incredibly tender. The pork comes with house-pickles, hoisin sauce and fried shallots.
Their dup baps are very good as well – fresh, locally sourced products with well seasoned meat or tofu really hits the spot. Despite the work going into their food, you can get two baos plus fries for only €13 during weekly lunchtimes.
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/
Shin Jung
If you’re on the hunt for a restaurant serving genuine Korean food (that isn’t watered down) then Shin Jung is a very solid option. Shin Jung is fairly central, located in the 8th arrondissement (in the Batignolles area) near Gare Saint Lazare and is around a 15 minute walk from Pigalle. It’s a popular restaurant with locals and you’ll need to reserve in advance. The interior dining space is bright and open and in the summer they’ve got a very nice terrace outside although it does extend onto the road.
The food is classic Korean with starters including a very good Korean Fried Chicken – boneless chicken leg pieces fried and served with a very nice spicy sauce. There’s also kimchi pancakes and well spiced pork spring rolls. For the mains they offer well done BBQ beef and pork all cooked in their kitchen. My favourite dish at Shin Jung is their Bibimbap – all the elements are prepared with care and precision – it’s the small details! They offer 4 options; beef, pork, fried tofu and soy chicken. During week days there’s a special menu for €24.50 which includes a starter and a main. Despite the price it’s definitely worth a visit if you want some authentic Korean food.
What to know before you visit
- They are not open on Sundays and Tuesdays
- Can get very busy during at peak times during weekends
- You’ll need to call to reserve
Address: 7 Rue Clapeyron, 75008
Tel: 01 45 22 21 06
Website: https://www.shinjung.fr
On The Bab
On The Bab, which started in London, is a new comer to Paris. It’s a modern, ‘dirty’ street-food style restaurant and wow is it good. It may not be traditional but their food packs a punch.
Expect riffs on traditional dishes, Korean Fried Chicken and other, more modern house specialities. The small plates/entrées are great – well presented and thoughtfully garnished. Fried rice smalls with kimchi and cheese and served with a punchy chilli sauce and their dumplings (pork or prawn) are reasonable at €5.50 for 4.
There’s the classic kimchi and spring onion pancakes which are very good – spicy, crunchy and well seasoned. Korean Fried Chicken was killer and come with a choice of sauces, Bao buns stuffed with super tender BBQ beef are equally as good. The menu is well designed allowing you to taste a lot of dishes without over-ordering. I’d definitely recommend On The Bab if you want a mix of modern and traditional Korean food.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day from 11:30am to 10pm
Address: 18 Rue Thérèse, 75001
Tel: 01 47 03 94 38
Website: http://onthebab.com/?page_id=13
Mandoobar
Arguably one of the most aesthetically pleasing Asian restaurants in Paris, Mandoobar is a killer modern Korean dumpling & tartare bar. Awarded a well deserved Bib Gourmand from the Michelin guide in 2022, chef Kim Kwang-Loc works his magic behind the open counter bar. Located just off the place de l’Europe in the capital’s 8th arrondissement, it’s a refreshing change from many of the traditional Asian restaurants nearby.
The food at Mandoorbar focuses on home made dumplings and variations on the classic tartare. The food is refined and precise and amazingly reasonable for what you get. The mandus (Korean Dumplings) are well seasoned with a delicate yet robust filling. Chef Kim’s pork dumplings are exceptional and the mixture inside isn’t over whipped – it’s perfectly emulsified resulting in a homogenous dumpling. The tartares on the other side of the minimalist menu are equally as precisely prepared. There’s a choice of beef and tuna tartare and are dressed so precisely that they wouldn’t look out of place in a 1* Michelin restaurant.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online
Address: 7 Rue d’Édimbourg, 75008
Tel: 01 55 06 08 53
Website: https://www.mandoobar.fr
