As far I’m concerned, Paris is all about one thing: food. Sure, people come to shop on the Champs-Élysées, stroll romantically arm-in-arm along the Seine, or admire a certain Italian lady with a charming smile but what keeps them coming back, again and again, what they really remember, is the chow.

Paris is fixated on food. It’s one of the few places in Europe I know that still takes a long lunch, which is no real surprise considering it’s the capital of a country that worships food and produces some of the world's best raw ingredients.

Eating is a common passion that unites the city’s richly diverse mix of inhabitants. From Senegalese students to Vietnamese housewives, via Tunisian Mullahs and elegantly dressed bourgeois flâneurs, Parisians universally share a love of baguettes, croissants and a good meal.

Most locals don’t seem to be so keen on cooking it, however. Due to the incredibly tiny apartments that Parisians generally live in, with cupboards for kitchens, and the huge number of dining options available, it’s no surprise that, as in New York, everyone eats out constantly.

While Paris’s numerous Bistros, Brasseries and Cafés ensure an excellent supply of all the French classics, thanks to the city’s cosmopolitan mix of immigrants the range of dining options doesn’t just end there. If you know where to look, a truly global range of top-notch nosh can readily be found in Paris.

Perhaps the greatest thing about eating out in Paris, aside from the choice and the excellent quality, is the fact that it needn’t break the bank. Sure, there are lots of fancy, overpriced restaurants with unctuous staff, ready to accommodate indiscriminate tourists and massage the egos of political bigwigs.

But away from the main drags and the shadow of the Eiffel tower, in the back streets and diverse quartiers of this city, many amazing meals can be had for under 20 Euros a pop.

Paris is really a series of small towns and villages rather than one big city. Each quartier has its own centre, distinct character and specific population. It’s only when you start exploring them that you begin to uncover the true, off the beaten track, neighbourhood gems.

That's not to say that great value for money food can't be had in the more touristy areas as well. You just have to look a little harder. In this city there's sublimely delicious food to discover everywhere.

The aim of this blog is to share some of the great places to eat I’ve discovered living here in the past 6 months. Since I’m based in one of Paris’s Chinatowns and am particularly keen on Asian food there’s probably going to be a fair amount of Asian restaurants mentioned.

I’ll also be covering other interesting things I’ve discovered in Paris, from out of the way areas, to quirky venues and little known museums.

Working as a journalist, I’ve been lucky enough to live and travel extensively in the last few years, calling Istanbul, Mexico City, Singapore, Bucharest and Antigua home, so from time to time I might include some other culinary and cultural observations as well.

The main idea, though, is to share great, affordable places to eat in Paris.

Bon Appetit!

Sam