Bang Bang

It’s common local knowledge that the French don’t do heat, hence the forewarning from our waiter at this corner spot in Belleville: “Everything is spicy here, but at a welcoming level.” The shredded papaya with crispy pork skin will leave your mouth tingly, but if the tuna tataki is on the menu, expect some tears. 

The chefs at this tightly-packed, year-old restaurant come from Colombia and Denmark, but their cuisine is a blend of Southeast Asian flavors, making this a perfect place to trick your palate into thinking you got on a plane to Bangkok, not France. 

All the plates are meant to be shared, so come with a group of friends and order a bunch of different things—we recommend the platter of sliced pork belly, pickled daikon radishes, kimchi, and a bowl of herbs and lettuce to wrap it all up in. The donut-onion-ring-looking thing that regularly comes from the open kitchen is Pain Malawach, and should not be skipped. Same for Bang Bang’s only dessert: the grilled banana split made with crispy plantains, chai ice cream, dulce de leche, and coconut crumbles.