In Louis Blanc neighborhood, a stone’s throw from Paris Canal Saint-Martin, come along and discover Yikou a restaurant as colorful as original. Open six months ago by Pierre and Chen, one Chinese, and the other French, the two buddies decided to innovate by offering a lovely bled of Chinese and French cuisine.

To do so, they hit upon an excellent Chinese cook who creates wonderful nibbles (Yikou meaning “nibbles” in Chinese) like dim sum but using local products. So, don’t be surprised if on the menu, you find pink wontons with shrimps and Reims cookies, scallops wontons with gingerbread and eggplant, chicken and spices wontons.

Mixes are bold and disturbing and yet, they are delicious, that’s fact! The restaurant also has stuffed baos, you know, these steamed, ultra-smooth white buns. Burger way or nibble way, you’ll love them. Taste the Yangburger with marinated sheep meat, the Paris-Beijing with Peking duck-arugula-crispy onions and light coffee dressing, or the Chasu Forestier based on glazed wild boar Canton way with Goji bay!

Some nibbles are gluten-free and vegetarian, to please everyone. In terms of sides, you can choose the pineapple filled with rice, the crispy rice fries with cumin or the wok of seasonal vegetables.

You don’t know what to choose? Go fort the hearty menus costing about €18 for the Vegetarian menu, €25 for the Légendaire menu with 12 sides of your choice. If you come as a couple or with a friend, choose the duo offer for €23 that has 22 pieces to share and 2 sides of your choice.

And of course, we don’t end a meal without a tasty dessert. Sweet-toothed foodies will go for the highly-original creations: the Dim-Sumissime, with a macaron shell – filled with a light taro mousse and sprinkled with white chocolate, the Madame Sago with a coconut cream mousse infused with speculoos covering mango or the Frisson de Jiao revealing a plant ice cream with soy milk and Sichuan bay. Once again, it’s disturbing but very addictive.

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Moving on to the décor, everything has been thought up and designed by Pierre et Chen, from the colorful placemats to the large wooden and Plexiglas table. The restaurant is bathed in sunlight thanks to its windowed façade.

Dynamic and full of color Stark way, the place plays the eclectic and diversity card. A wonderful fresco by artist Mateus Bailon sets the tone on the restaurant central wall. We love the charming tableware, the mix seats, the varied heights and the ceiling that gives an impression of height.

The duo already plans novelties for April: starters to have a bite, new cocktails and beverages, edamame-based guacamole, a chocolate and soy-caramel and rice-sugar cake… The restaurant also plans to open on Sunday for a brunch.

Finally, don’t miss the delicious homemade Bubble Tea based on 100% fruit juice capsules, a refreshing delicacy to try.

How about marrying discovery and good taste, friends?

Practical information:
Yikou restaurant
Address: 49 rue de l’Aqueduc – 75010 Paris
Open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and form 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Open on Sunday from April
Online booking

The bonus: if you love the music played in the restaurant, here’s their playlist!