L'Optimum (不贰) is a no-frills Sichuan joint on Rue de Mazagran that draws a loyal crowd of Chinese expats and spice-seekers. The menu leans hard into authentic Sichuan classics — think dry-fried green beans, fish-eggplant, and numbing-pepper heat — without dumbing anything down for French palates. It's the kind of place where you order too much, share everything, and leave with tingling lips.
Authentic Sichuan that has UK visitors wishing they had one back home — just skip the delivery and eat in.
Eat in rather than ordering delivery — multiple reviewers note portion issues with takeout, while the dine-in experience gets the praise.
Authentic Sichuan without the frills, rue de Mazagran
If you're craving real Sichuan food in Paris, L'Optimum is one of the more convincing options in the 10th. The restaurant — its Chinese name 不贰 roughly means "unsurpassed" — doesn't bother with ambiance or slick décor; it's all about the food. Reviewers consistently praise the authenticity of dishes like the dry-fried green beans (gan bian dou jiao), fish-eggplant (yuxiang qiezi), and the four-season beans (si ji dou). One Google reviewer went so far as to say they wished they had a Sichuan restaurant this good back in the UK.
That said, it's not without its issues. The Google rating sits at 4.2, and some of the criticism centers on delivery orders — one reviewer complained about mediocre portion sizes when ordering online. The takeaway here is clear: eat in, don't order delivery. The dining experience is where L'Optimum shines, with a convivial, unpretentious atmosphere and a menu that doesn't pull punches on the spice. Come with a group, order generously, and share. The Sichuan heat is real, so if you're sensitive, ask for guidance — but don't skip the classics.