Mimosa

As we stand in line at the cramped entrance of Mimosa, a regular in the queue behind us assures his friend that the place serves the best kebabs in Paris. Five minutes and six euros later, we find ourselves in full agreement. Aside from offering perhaps the cheapest meal in the chi-chi Grands Boulevards quartier, Mimosa also serves one of the best.

Here, things are simple and to the point. The tiny venue boasts only three seats, so most punters opt to take away. At the counter, the owner asks you only one thing: which sauce you'd like with your kebab. The other ingredients aren't up for negotiation (not that there's anything to complain about) – a delicious cocktail of veal and lamb, salad, finely diced onions, chillis and herbs that fulfil the juicy promise of the dripping meat spit in the window. As if to underline its purist approach, the shop doesn't even serve chips. It doesn't need to. Its main course has been reeling 'em in since 1984, and will hopefully continue to do so for decades to come.