El Nopal
Dia de los Muertos has passed, but since they don’t really celebrate it in France, we’ve been left with the need to spice things up further with this foodie addition to our list.
Bienvenidos a El Nopal — your one-stop-shop for authentic takeaway tacos and more, with a local touch.
Now — before we get into the good stuff — let us warn you: you may have to wait in line for your fill here, because this place is a tried-and-tested local hotspot for hipsters in the 10eme, but if you’re after the best Mexican streetfood in Paris, then it’s well worth the wait.
This tiny hole-in-the-wall joint is one of the true survivors of the Mexican food craze that hit the city a few years back and has since faded, and the secret to their success is two-fold: word-of-mouth from its adoring fan-base far & wide; and that the (Spanish-speaking!) owners — Claudia and Alejandro — don’t cut corners.
All the ingredients are fresh (including the tortillas which are made in-house) cooked on-site, and most of it is made to order — so whether you’re after tacos, gorditas, tortas, campechanas, quesadillas or tostadas, this place definitely delivers.
On the chalkboard menu to choose from every day are fillings such as beans, rice and your choice of meat (beef, chicken or pork) for burritos and tacos, quesadillas of chorizo, cheese, ham, avocado, and more; as well as the aforementioned gorditas (stuffed pastries), tortas (a type of sandwich), occasionally campechanas (shrimp and salsa seafood cocktail) — as well as bags of tostadas with guacamole to add on as a snack.
Mixed into a lot of these you’ll often find their signature ingredient from the mother country — nopalitos, otherwise known as nopal or cactus — which is what the place is named after, and the fact that they have this, is a dead giveaway that these guys are indeed the real deal, since it’s not something that appears very often in European cuisine — so 10 points there :)
As a complement to all of them, adding fire, spice and a burst of freshness is Alejandro’s delicious salsa, made with fresh chilies for punch — a welcome twist that you can add-on to your meal when cold weather sets in.
There are only two stools outside this place for seating though, so don’t expect to linger once you’ve got your grub — the Canal Saint Martin is just steps away, so do as the locals do once you get your fix, and add a beer to the bill (Pacific or Modelo usually), head to the banks, park, eat and chill.
Pure poetry for Mexican food lovers who want their fix with minimal fuss, and a hint of fiesta sure to liven up the day during the drab Parisian winter.
Perfect for: Takeaway tacos and a hit of authentic Mexican magic whenever you’re craving the good stuff or missing the mother country (for the expats).
What to order: Tacos are a must, but the gorditas are damn good too if you want to try something different.
Address: 3 Rue Eugène Varlin, 75010 Paris (Google Maps)
Trading hours: Tuesday-Friday: 12–3PM // 7–11PM
Saturday: 1PM-11PM
Sunday: 1PM-9PM
Website: https://www.elnopalparis.com/
Insta: @elnopalparis
