My top 3 favorite restaurants in Paris

By: Mona Ghanbarzadeh

BAOBAR

• Location: 42 rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004
• Price Range: €20 - €40
• Cuisines: Asian, Taiwanese
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks

BaoBar is the name of the gua bao and Taiwan specialty restaurant by the MAHUMAHU team. This is my favorite place to enjoy tapas-like dishes to share packed with amazing flavors. My personal favorite dishes are the Smashed Cucumbers*****, Veggie Mums Rolls, Shui Jiao Poulet, and Gua Bao fried chicken*****. 

MAMAMIA

• Location: 5 bis Rue Vernet, 75008 
• Price Range: €80
• Cuisines: Italian
• Meals: Dinner, Festive Dinner, Late Night, Drinks

MAMAMIA is the best immersive dining experience. This place was my girlfriend's and is my absolute favorite place. I could not tell you how many times we went because we just kept going every week. It is an Italian restaurant but with festive dinners. The best way to describe it is you dance, eat, and enjoy good company. There is music being played the whole time and they make everyone get up and dance. There are dancers dressed in beautiful outfits that come out and put on a show while you dine. Every Wednesday night they have live music which is also so fun. They even let us customers sometimes sing (and yes most of us were horrible) but it is such a fun and unique experience. If you ever get the chance to go here you should! 

PokeStar

• Location: ​​26 Avenue Daumesnil, 75012
• Price Range: €15-€20
• Cuisine: Asian, Japanese
• Meals: Casual, Lunch, Dinner

My favorite poke place ever and the best part is that it is located right by the CIEE center. It is about a 5 minute walk. This was for sure my comfort place when I was studying abroad in Paris. The owner was so kind and speaks really good English which of course is nice. The Poke though is seriously so amazing. The bowls are huge and you get to load it up!! I always get white rice, double salmon, seaweed salad, cucumber, kimchi, carrots, edamame, crunch, and cilantro with Yuzu and Spicy Mayo. Seriously so amazing!!!