What is the Parisian equivalent of Chinese food and a movie?

December 16, 2023 7:36 PM

Paris residents:what do non Christians do on Xmas? If they go out to eat, what kinds of places are traditional?

I am a reform Jew-- don't keep kosher--who will be there over the holiday.

Googling says Lebanese places are open: I do like this kind of food but given the actions of the Netanyahu government (which I condemn) I'm a bit leery of going to a middle eastern place on this day.


I've been to Paris several times and am aware that it's best to reserve a table in advance.

posted by brujita to Travel & Transportation (7 answers total)

(Moderately confused about what the issue would be going to a Lebanese restaurant - is the worry that given the current situation, despite your own political opinions, the chance of encountering or overhearing some antisemitism would be higher?)
posted by eviemath at 1:08 AM on December 17, 2023 [3 favorites]

Agree with eviemath that there shouldn't be any problems in Lebanese restaurants.

Anyway, I think this would be a great time to discover the Parisian tradition of couscous
posted by mumimor at 5:37 AM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Paris is probably like the rest of Europe, in that there isn't a specific tradition/thing that non-Christians do at Christmas. It's a public holiday so I expect a lot of people will have family over for dinner even if they don't celebrate. Any restaurant that's open will want your business, there are likely to be Lebanese, North African, Israeli, Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants in Paris that will be open as well as places offering a fancy and expensive prix fixe of French food. More tourist stuff is open generally in Paris than in eg London, so you should have enough choice of things to do and places to stop for coffee.
posted by plonkee at 8:06 AM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I have had couscous at a sit down restaurant in the before times.
posted by brujita at 9:48 AM on December 17, 2023

I was in Paris for Christmas a few years ago. We went for Chinese and a movie. The Chinese wasn't very good, but it was a fun approximation of our normal Xmas. (non-observant American Jew).

We did have lunch at Sola, which was great.
posted by jindc at 1:27 PM on December 17, 2023

I can’t comment on Christmas Day food specifically as I go back to England every year, but you will find excellent Chinese food in the Quartier Chinoise.
posted by ellieBOA at 9:16 AM on December 18, 2023

Response by poster: I went with friends to Chok Dee Thai in the 9th.
posted by brujita at 7:55 AM on December 26, 2023 [2 favorites]