Yansai: the Asian street food canteen in Les Batignolles, and delicious gua boas

Sharing, conviviality and quality cuisine are the key words of Yansai: this canteen, nestled in the Batignolles district in Paris, which puts Asian street food in the spotlight. Without doubt among the best gua baos in Paris!

If you're looking for an establishment in Paris offering the best of Asian street food, then we strongly advise you to go to the 17th district of the capital, to push the doors of Yansai.

Only manga fans will have understood the subtlety; Yansai is the verlan of Saiyans, those famous space warriors seen in the manga Dragon Ball.

Lulled like many by this reference, the young and very nice Thomas Li decided to name his very first Parisian establishment in homage to these warriors who spend their time filling their bellies.

Passionate about Asian street food, and after several trips to Asia, Thomas thus opened, at the beginning of July 2018, this small and warm restaurant where you can find on the menu all the Asian street food specialties that he likes such as Taiwanese Guabao, but also Japanese Karaage, Vietnamese Bobun or Korean BAP.

Dishes that undoubtedly invite to travel and make us discover flavors that we are not used to taste in Paris.

Among the must-tries, we fell for the classic Braised Pork Guabao which is made of an excellent steamed and homemade brioche bread. Inside? Simmered pork belly, mustard greens, peanuts and coriander. We loved the braised side of the melting pork and the crunchy side of the peanuts that offer a tasty mix.

Braised pork guabao

To vary, Yansai proposes a chicken Guabao, also with peanuts but also with mayonnaise and spicy sauce, a beef Guabao or a fish&chips Guabao and finally a vegetarian Guabao with fragrant mushrooms and carrots.

For the next part of the tasting, we had the Karaage, the famous fried chicken accompanied by a portion of rice, sauce and half an egg marinated and cooked to perfection with a yolk still running. Here again, the discovery and the gustatory pleasure are there!

Karaage

We continue with some tapas; from the cucumber with cilantro and sweet sauce to the spicy ribs through the good home fries, the Yu Xiang (fried eggplant with Yu Xiang sauce) and the excellent Tsukune chicken dumplings.

Tsukune

Finally, a word of advice, don't leave without trying the desserts and especially the Ice Burger. As a real burger lover, Thomas wanted to put on the menu this creation revisited in a gourmet Bao Burger style with a crispy and delicious warm bread in which a nice scoop of matcha ice cream with sesame crunchies and condensed milk has been inserted. For more pleasure, this ice burger is tasted like a real burger. Don't hesitate to press on the bun to slightly melt the ice and take a bite!

Ice Burger

To go with it, Yansai offers several Asian beers such as Taiwan Beer, Hite, Tsingtao Beer or Coedo Kyara or Coedo Ruri.

Very soon, Yansai will also propose tea for the fine amateurs.

We tell you, Yansai is a real favorite! In addition to their tasty dishes, we also really liked the decoration giving place to a real conviviality and to exchanges between the guests installed around big wooden tables, close to the open kitchen.

So, are you ready to succumb to the Yansai concept?

To win a menu for 2 at Yansai, it's this way :