Paris Canal St-Martin And Surrounds (10ème)

The 10ème has a few all-star food spots, and both just happen to be located on the Canal St-Martin. Stay away from the brasseries on the main boulevards, and make the trip down to the canal (specifically its side streets) to find great deals on great grub.

Le Cambodge, 10 av. Richerand (☎01 44 84 37 70; www.lecambodge.fr), Le Cambodge doesn't take reservations, and Parisians of all shapes and sizes regularly wait up to 2hrs for a table. You'd think Lady Gaga was in town; by the time the restaurant opens, the line at the door is already 20ft long. We recommend that you arrive 30min or so before opening time, so as to secure a table on the terrace or in the more secluded dining room—and avoid wandering around the 10ème at night. Incredibly, Le Cambodge is not overrated. This is some of the best Asian food in Paris, and the plentiful main courses will only run you €9.50-13. Entrées €3-10.50. Main courses €9.50-13. Vegetarian plates €8.50-11.50. Desserts €4.50-5.50. Hours can vary day to day, giving locals a leg-up on early opening notices. Generally, however, M-Sa noon-2pm, 8-11:30pm. Takes credit cards.
Le Flash, 10 rue Lucien Sampaix (☎01 42 45 03 30), Within walking distance of Republique, Le Flash chefs up Tunisian and Moroccan specialties, Kosher-style. Seriously. This eccentric fusion of traditions comes with slightly elevated prices, but the dinners here are reliably tasty, and always blessed by the Beth-Din of Paris. Observant Jews understand that this is quite the rarity in Paris. Plats €16-35. Sandwiches €8 (lunch only). Open M-F 11:30am-3:30pm Takes credit cards.
Chez Jeanette, 47 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis (☎01 47 70 30 89; www.chezjeanette.com), An old school brasserie à la 19th century, Chez Jeanette drips with authentic Parisian flavor, complete with candlelit tables and small red lamp chandeliers that hang from the cavernous white ceilings. Grab a seat at the marble counter or large windows of the spacious bar, though it tends to become standing room only at night. Given the old-school vibe here, the crowd is surprisingly down to earth, and generally a pleasant mix of twenty and thirty-somethings. Strasbourg Saint-Denis. Aperos €2.50-7.60. Beer €2.50-6.40. Cocktails €6.50-8. Open daily 8am-11:30pm. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Delaville Cafe, 34 bld. Bonne Nouvelle (☎01 48 24 48 09; www.delavillecafe.com), Situated in a historic building, Delaville successfully mixes cutting edge design with classic Parisian architecture. If you start to feeling cobwebby or old at the old school, high-ceilinged bar, just slip into the ultra-modern lounge room, with its bright red cyclinder stools and couches. The crowd's a bit touristy, but not sickeningly so. DJs take the reins Th-Sa, causing the building's old proprietors to roll over in their graves. Bonne Nouvelle. Cocktails €8. Brunch €20. Open M-Sa 11am-2am, Su noon-2am. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
La Cantine de Quentin, 52 rue Bichat 01 42 02 40 32 Foodies rejoice at this cozy, unique food spot right next to the Canal St-Martin. A market of many talents, La Cantine de Quentin serves as an epicerie, restaurant, and wine cave. The restaurant bit is only open for lunch, but the selections are divine. You can also buy a picnic basket loaded with cheeses, breads, meats, and wine (€20-27) and eat dinner along the Canal St. Martin. Quentin's epicerie also boasts the finest foie gras, pâté, and pre-cooked plates. The wines are (of course) mostly French and extend far beyond your average streamlined Carrefour selection. Takes credit cards.
Pooja, 91 Passage Brady 01 48 24 00 83 (www.poojarestaurant.com), Indian cuisine in Paris is generally quite bad compared to what Americans—and certainly Brits—are used to, but if you really need your mango lhassi fix, the best place to go is Passage Brady. Ideally situated at the border between the 10ème and Opéra, just about every storefront on this street belongs to an Indian grocery store or restaurant. Pooja is one of the best. In order to maintain its prime real estate, the restaurant routinely smacks down the omnipresent competition that surrounds it. The food is good, but beware: the decor is just plain bad. Green astroturf carpets the terrace, and the windows have suffered from the enormous biological curry footprint inherent to Passage Brady. Aesthetically sensitive foodies should stay away. Takes credit cards.