Mama Nissa: the restaurant serving regional Algerian specialities in Paris

If you like culinary discoveries, then we highly recommend you head to Paris's 2nd arrondissement. It's here, in one of the more discreet streets of the lively Montorgueil district, that Mama Nissa opened its doors on September 1, 2020. Behind this warm and friendly restaurant is Hanane. Born in Algeria, she arrived in La Courneuve in the early 1990s, surrounded by her parents, brother and sisters.

One day, her mother, a great cook, gave her her recipe book, which she had received following her marriage, as was the tradition at the time. It was then thatHanane finally got hooked. Flipping through the pages, memories and discoveries intertwine, giving rise to an incredible passion. A passion which, over time, developed into a genuine desire to pass on and preserve this formidable cultural heritage.

Hanane then decided to make a radical career change and open her own restaurant after joining the famous Ferrandi school and its incubator in 2018 for an accelerated cooking and entrepreneurship program. And her project hit the bull's eye with the jury of the "Concept Lab" entrepreneurial competition, which rewarded her with first prize!

Since the beginning of September, Hanane's dream has become reality with the opening of Mama Nissa; Nissa being her father's nickname for her mother Anissa.

But what does Mama Nissa have in store for you? In addition to a warm welcome, this "fast good " restaurant promises a plunge into Algerian terroir, with authentic, ultra-generous regional recipes based on organic and local ingredients.

The tasting begins with the famous"Cocas" stuffed turnovers. Vegetarian, with beef, spinach or tuna... the choice is yours! We're partial to the Frita classics (filled with tomatoes, red onions and peppers). We accompany these two " Cocas " with a delicious " Calentica ", a typical Oranese chickpea flour flan flavored with cumin, to be spread on Tahar's fresh semolina matlouh bread (from the"Royaume du pain" located at Porte de la Villette), with homemade harissa according to Anissa's recipe. A pure delight!

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We continue our gourmet journey with a taste of rechta. This is a thin pasta steamed with free-range chicken, topped with cinnamon, turnips and a fragrant broth. A wonderful discovery, perfectly seasoned and balanced.

Opposite, our favorite: shakshuka, peppers with fresh herbs and spices (concocted by Anissa) stewed for several hours. Gourmet, generous, colorful and devilishly good!

For the rest, Mama Nissa also honors Kabyle barley couscous with baby vegetables... And I might as well tell you right now, but Hanane has no shortage of ideas for updating her menu, which will evolve with the seasons. What's next? Chorbas, chtitha and berkoukes.

And to round off this delicious moment, we couldn't leave without sampling the desserts with the tasty Besboussa; a traditional semolina and orange cake, accompanied by homemade mint tea. What better way to round off a memorable trip full of incredible discoveries!

Oh yes, we almost forgot: as well as being tasty, these dishes are also healthy, the recipes having been developed in collaboration with a dietician-nutritionist. All the more reason to enjoy them without moderation, whether on site, to take away or by delivery.