Kébi: a revisited Kibbeh bar-restaurant comes to Paris in the Marais area

Calling all Eastern food fans, here is a promising spot. This is Kébi, a never-before-seen restaurant-bar specialized in revisited Kibbeh. Head to the Marais area to discover this yummy place in Paris.

Paris is at the crossroad of gastronomies from all over the world. Walking up and down the streets of the city, one can enjoy a gustatory journey at anytime in any place waving the flags of iconic or little-know culinary specialties from the country they represent. Today, time has come to make Levantine food fans happy with the presentation of a never-before-seen restaurant expecting us in the Marais area.

Welcome to Kébi, a restaurant specialized in Kibbeh. This Levantine specialty is originally based on meat and bulgur. Served as an elongated ball, that looks a bit like a rugby ball, it is found in most Lebanese restaurants.

But if Kibbeh is such a common specialty in tasty Levantine places in the city, how is Kibé never-before-seen? Well, this spot is entirely devoted to this mezze revisited in many original ways. Ideally located within walking distance from the Place des Vosges, Kébi makes us try Kibbeh in all shapes and sizes through celebrities celebrating the encounter of Western and Eastern.

“With Kébi, we wish to make as many people as possible (re)discover a traditional cereal from Eastern countries and imagine all the pairings possible to make a trendy, modern and universal dish”. This is how Marc Naaman describes the concept he came up with.

On the menu? Vegetable-based recipes such as butternut squash kibbeh, as well as on meats including the flavorsome duck kibbeh with foie gras, dates and walnuts, onions and sage. We also loved the fish and crustacean kibbeh, like the one with raw tuna, ginger and snow peas, and the exquisite squid kibbeh served with curry, bell peppers, eggplants and pistachios. Such a delight taking us to a one-way trip to the Mediterranean! All in all, 8 kibbeh recipes are to be shared, or not, served on very beautiful plates by Ottolenghi!

Let us continue with more kibbehs, reinterpreted in an original and mouthwatering fashion. We loved the kibbeh in lentil salad with kohlrabi, tomatoes, mushrooms, and mint and some flavorsome molasses and pomegranate vinaigrette. Scented and yummy, a dish to enjoy endlessly!

If you are into meat, go for the hearty plate of beef tartare-inspired kibbeh served with homemade fries and salad. And then again, originality is the watchword, and the reinterpretation is flawlessly mastered and such as success! Another uncommon creation? The chicken kibbeh, namely a club sandwich which bread is swapped for... kibbeh.

And for Kébi takes the concept to the very end, kibbeh is to be enjoyed in a sweet version too based on regressive tastes of banana, cinnamon, dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts. Or, you can get the exquisite milk bulgur pudding with pears and saffron. Really tasty for a beautiful final!

To pair them all, Kébi bets on a rich list of beverages including French and foreign wines. We highly recommend the white wine from Domaine de Baal Bekaa from Lebanon. If you are more into cocktails, 7 cocktails are available including the very floral Rose Arak (anise arak liquor and rose syrup), as well as the Beetroot mojito (rum, lemon juice and beetroot, mint), and the Orange blossom old fashioned (Bulleit rye, honey and orange), without forgetting mocktails such as the Basil Honey Lemonade (basil, lemon juice, honey, still water).

To top it all, Kébi will soon open their own street food corner, right by the restaurant. Fans will be able to enjoy kibbehs on the go with a choice of recipes already made, so they only have to choose, or to DIY to order!

So, how would you like your kibbeh? Sweet? Savory? Round, squared, small or big? The hardest thing is to make your choice! So, if we roused your curiosity, let us meet in the Marais, 3 rue de Turenne to enjoy kibbeh but Kébi style!

Alcohol abuse is bad for your health. Please drink responsibly.

This test has been carried out as part of a business invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know in the comments.