Mokonuts

"This studio-sized restaurant with a mint green facade has become so popular that it books up weeks in advance (you can join the waitlist, but there are no guarantees). It's generally filled with English-speakers who are here for the sweet and savory dishes the French-Lebanese and Japanese-American couple who run the place make in the open kitchen. Expect mains like line-caught fish or chicken that’s flavored with Middle Eastern spices, and desserts like satsuma mandarin almond cake and sesame halva cookies. Everything is flavor-packed and near-perfect in execution. While lunch is the most popular time (they’re not open for dinner, or on weekends), we suggest breakfast between 9am and 10:30am. You’ll find the same superb quality in their whole wheat waffles, or granola with fruit, mint, and a dollop of homemade confiture." - sara lieberman, lindsey tramuta

"Omar, who’s responsible for the savory dishes, got his start at Daniel in New York City, while Moko, a one-time lawyer, dreamt of making macarons at Ladurée. Together, they’ve created something wholly their own. Despite only serving lunch, they actually don’t do a prix-fixe option. But shortly after you take your first bite—of their famous zaatar-spiced labne; of Moko’s oddball flavored cookies; of Omar’s daily dish—you still feel as if you’re getting a deal. While the lunch menu changes daily, the Middle Eastern-skewed dishes plated on raw ceramics may include fish topped with artichokes and crushed potatoes or moist chicken served with fresh greens." - Lindsey Tramuta, Sara Lieberman

"The talented couple Omar Koreitem and Moko Hirayama run this friendly cafe-bakery, the place to head for a casual but outstanding lunch or snack. French Lebanese chef Koreitem creates the savory dishes, such as bonito with spring tabbouleh, while Japanese chef Hirayama is a superb baker, serving up fennel, pickled lemon, and almond cookies, and flourless chocolate layer cake with coffee-mascarpone cream. Open from 8:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., it’s deservedly one of the most popular places in eastern Paris. Located in the 11th Arrondissement." - Alexander Lobrano

"This studio-sized restaurant with a mint green facade has become so popular that it books up weeks in advance (you can join the waitlist, but there are no guarantees). It's generally filled with English-speakers who are here for the sweet and savory dishes the French-Lebanese and Japanese-American couple who run the place make in the open kitchen. Expect mains like line-caught fish or chicken that’s flavored with Middle Eastern spices, and desserts like satsuma mandarin almond cake and sesame halva cookies. Everything is flavor-packed and near-perfect in execution. While lunch is most popular time (they’re not open for dinner, or on weekends), we suggest breakfast between 9am and 10:30am. You’ll find the same superb quality in their whole wheat waffles, or granola with fruit, mint, and a dollop of homemade confiture." - Sara Lieberman

"The timing couldn’t be better, according to Moko Hirayama, co-owner with her husband, Omar Koreitem, of Paris restaurant Mokonuts. Their popular eatery combines American, Japanese, Middle Eastern, and French techniques and ingredients." - Osayi Endolyn