This Basque-Spanish spot serves up a crowd-pleasing lunch deal for €20, featuring Iñigo Ruiz Rituerto’s simple, balanced and precise cooking in beautiful open space. Galerna’s evening tapas menu is more expensive, but still reasonable.

In this cosy little room with a striking mural and three tables of six, you’re seated elbow to elbow with fellow fans of authentic Sichuan cuisine. The menu at Miam Miam Cool is concise, featuring noodle soups (priced between €10-13), topped with meat or dumplings – you can adjust the heat from 0 to 3 spice level, and even 1 packs a punch.

Don't judge a book by its cover: this Korean restaurant may have chic decor, but it offers authentic dishes from the country at seriously reasonable prices. From plump mandoo dumplings to whelk salad, and from bulgogi galore to one of the best bibimbaps in Paris, sizzling in its stone bowl, in short, you must head to the beloved Bistrot Mee.

Le Blainville is a spot with old-school decor, but you can trust it wholeheartedly for a proper bistro-style lunch: a mimosa egg for €4; veal shoulder with sautéed Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and parsnips for €16. It’s hearty, delicious, and seasonal, and in the evening, the tapas won't even dent your wallet either. We’d say it’s the best value for money in the area.

In this vibrant Barbès eatery with wax prints, exposed brick and wicker lights, named after one of Manu Dibango’s hits, Flora Dibotti and Didier Piquionne blend Afro-inspired cuisines: a bit of Senegal, a touch of the Caribbean, a hint of Louisiana, and plenty of street food influences. At lunchtime, you can fill up with a hearty bowl of Mama Kossa’s Djalon rice topped with chicken and pikliz (a pickled veg slaw) for €9.90. It’s a seriously good deal.

Ika is a tiny canteen only seats six in total, and is a must-visit for fans of home-style Japanese cuisine. Aki, the owner who transitioned from tourism to cooking, specialises in Japanese curry, which is milder than the Indian version. She offers it with vegetables, chicken, or beef, and the set lunch (€19) includes a starter and unlimited tea.

The Parisian outpost of Roman-style pizza sure has style, with its white cinder block bar, stripped-down walls, imposing mirrored ceiling and stylish servers. But what do you eat in such a brutalist setting? Well, how about a beautifully simple Margherita with buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and basil? Or perhaps the divine Parma rossa featuring 22-month-aged Parma ham? From noon to 1pm on weekdays, Ave serves up these bad boys from €6. You heard us!

In a tiny spot on Lancry Street with its neo-kitsch decor, cool kids Lahiru Weladawe and Médoune N’Diaye Doherty whip up Sri Lankan recipes seldom tasted in these parts. Take, for example, Kolam’s traditional crepe made from rice flour and coconut milk, perfect for filling with a rainbow of toppings.

Among the good spots in Butte-aux-Cailles, Chez Mamane is an institution. A tiny room on rue des Cinq Diamants, this couscous canteen is packed with neighbourhood regulars every night, who gather at the bar or on the pavements to share their apéritif with those who've been drawn to what is known as the ‘best broth in Paris’. Try the Couscous Royal or the chicken couscous, both of which can be shared between two.

At Royal China, a discreet Shanghai-style eatery in the 3rd district, they take homemade seriously. As soon as you step in, you’ll see chefs bustling in clouds of steam, crafting dumplings, rolling out pancake dough or juggling stacks of steamer baskets. And guess what? Hearty plates of stir-fried noodles are just €10.50.

Former finance professionals Alice Chabanon and Chloé Jakubowicz have traded Ebitda and PowerPoint for quinoa and potatoes by opening this bright (and noisy) bistro-style canteen filled with vintage furniture finds. And since they’re familiar with inflation, La Cantine offers a lunch menu of starter, main course, and dessert for €18, featuring local and seasonal products that attract all the graphic designers and communicators in the neighborhood – and it gets crowded!

A beloved meeting spot for the Korean diaspora in the 15th district, at Bokko, K-pop videos collide with American diner furniture and old adverts. Come for the quirky cafeteria-like décor, stay for the authentic menu, exploring specialities not commonly found elsewhere. For lunch, there’s an €18 set menu featuring dumplings and bulgogi, which is an unbeatable price in this neighbourhood.

Just a stone’s throw away from Rue des Rosiers, this pitamaniac haven opened by Eyal Shani in 2013 continues to delight all of Paris. Once you’ve braved the (long) line snaking along the sidewalk, you’ll get your money's worth with a well-thought-out menu scribbled on the huge board hanging on the wall. No mercy for Miznon’s pitas (ranging from €7.50-12), be it the chicken, fish, ratatouille, or go for the iconic grilled cauliflower (€6.50).