Olive Chicken

A poultry dealer who’s well known to expats from the Land of Morning Calm, Max Si is now keeping the Montparnasse neighborhood well fed at his tasty Korean eatery! In this tiny spot with elegant decor (cream-colored walls, Edison bulbs, a few tables both inside and out), the neo-chef sets mouths ablaze with fried chicken recipes imported from Seoul’s family-run restaurants, beloved for their ability to make you sweat. Devoured the other day at lunch: a lovely appetizer of haricots verts tempura refreshed with lime, plus a Korean-style white mayonnaise for dipping; then a heady cone of yangnyeom, aka pieces of deboned chicken doused in a garlic and gochujang (a red chili paste) concoction, along with an incendiary row of magma wings covered in dried chili sauce; before a skewer of tteokkochi, those fried sticky rice cakes that are so emblematic of Korean street food, caramelized here in a spicy soy sauce that was a little too sweet for our tastes – though incredibly mouthwatering nonetheless. // Pica Bidon

FEELING THIRSTY? Honeyed sodas that are perfect for putting out fires, served with plenty of fruit (and priced at €7.50, accordingly), including a cucumber-lime combo or a version with fresh and candied cherries. Otherwise, there’s Kirin on tap (€4.50 for a half-pint) or a highball made with Suntory whisky (€9.50).
PRICE: Set menus €13-18 (lunch), chicken wings €9-32, shared plates of fried chicken €16-35, sides €2-6.