In lower Belleville, on the ground floor of a hostel for displaced workers, an inclusive social canteen concocts a melting pot of spicy dishes from West Africa. It should come as no surprise that multi and monolingual foodies alike rush over to this college cafeteria-style attraction, where the dishes on display behind the glass counter satisfy your cravings for next to nothing. Among the well-balanced sub-Saharan hits the day we went for lunch, we opted for a flamboyant grilled chicken thieb served on a mountain of fragrant rice pilaf and doused in a colorful broth with carrots and tender cabbage; a family-style mafé with spicy beef and a velvety sauce; before the dégué (couscous, millet and yogurt) or alloco (fried plantains), which were both tasty and nutritious. On the neighboring tables, we noticed saka saka (boiled cassava leaves) with fish, yassa chicken and okra gombo. // Renaud Fuego 

FEELING THIRSTY? : Sweet drinks: homemade hibiscus tea or ginger juice (€2.50). 
PRICE: : Mains €6.70, sides €2.50 to €7.50, desserts €2.40 to €3.50.