It was in April when we wrote about a cocktail club in Paris called l’Experimental Cocktail Club. This time, we are going to discover you an authentic Mexican Restaurant, are you ready? Grab your note book if you are planning to visit Paris!
Candelaria, a real taqueria in Paris. Is located in the north Marais district at 52 Rue de Saintonge. You can easily see it has it has a pink neon sign with the word ‘Tacos’ in the window. The tiny restaurant has white walls, a small communal table and a counter. But you won’t need anything else to enjoy it. Keep reading…
- Candelaria – Mexican Food
New Paris
If you are bored about watery burritos you will really enjoy Candelaria. The chef, Luis Rendon, is from Mexico City! So nothing’s better than a mexican chef behind the counter. This young chef belives that “there was a general ignorance about mexican food in Paris”. Although there are 4.000 mexicans in Paris you couldn’t find an authentic mexican restaurant before Candelaria stepped in.
The three owners of Candelaria belive that the fact that you couldn’t get a good taco in Paris “was criminal”. So Josh Fontaine, from Connecticut, Adam Tsou, from New York City, and Carina Soto, from Colombia joined to open their dream.
Food for mexican foodies
This Paris hidden gem offers typical mexican items. And you can find: rajas con queso (sauteed green chili peppers and onions with melted cheese), tacos de carnitas (slow roasted pork), tostadas de pollo pibil (stewed chicken in chile tomato sauce and queso fresco on a homemade crisp tortilla), totopos (chips) and guacomole as well as daily specials.
Eventhough their menu looks incredibly tasty Josh Fontaine, one of the owners, says that “sometimes we have to redo tacos because they are too spicy”. The french aversion to spicy food is legendary. It could sound funny specially for californians who love spicy food.
- Food by Chef Luis Rendon
A surprise behind the walls
At the back of the taqueria is an entirely different world, a speak-easy cocktail bar! The decor is amazing, full of custom wood furniture and candlelight. The warm ambience is accompanied with incredible cocktails featuring high quality well-aged Tequila, Mezcal, Gin and Whiskey.
The mixologist working there come from l’Experimental Cocktail Bar, the one we discover you few weeks ago, a funny coincidence! Find cocktails like ‘La Gringa’ made with Maguey Vida Mezcal, El Jimador Tequila, orgeat maison, citron vert, and Peychaud’s bitters. Or maybe go for a ‘Cuco’ made with Sotol and Mezcal, Dolin rouge Vermouth, Kina Lillet and Habañero Shrub.
- Speak Easy – Cocktail Bar
Candelaria, ‘the first real taqueria’ said by The New York Times is a place that responds to two parisian desires: mexican food and cocktails. Would you like to go? Don’t forget to make a reservation! info@candelariaparis.com.
And if you are looking for an hotel in Paris, here’s our best recommendation in Rue La Fayette: Hotel Banke Paris.
Enjoy it!
52 rue de Saintonge
3rd arrondissement
Paris
Taqueria open 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday
