"Rue de Belleville is full of Chinese restaurants where you can get in and out for under a tenner, but we systematically pull up a stool at Petits Raviolis for their excellent homemade dumplings. With 10 fillings to choose from—and the option to have them fried, steamed, or in a simple, clear broth—the possibilities seem endless. Let’s make it simple for you. You want the pork, shrimp, and chive, generously packed with sweet shrimp. Have them fried for a lovely, lacy crust that’s an ideal contrast to the rich filling. And don’t skip the deep-fried pillows of hong shao eggplant coated in a sweet-and-savory sauce. This spot is tiny, with little elbow room (prepare to overhear your neighbors bickering over whose turn it is to take out the compost), but the service is so efficient that you never have to wait long." - emily monaco
