BMK Folie-Bamako: the new African canteen in Paris 11th arrondissement

After a one-day flash opening just before lockdown, BMK Folie-Bamako welcomes us again in the Folie Méricourt area in Paris 11^th arrondissement. This African canteen and delicatessen offers delicious an original dishes, the whole for an affordable price: the key to success!

BMK Folie-Bamako is BMK Paris-Bamako’s latest address delighting regulars in Paris 10^th arrondissement since 2017. Whether it is on the large terrace set on a tree-filled square or inside, comfortably seated on flashy cushions in front of mirror tables, BMK Folie-Bamako is THE spot to discover to rediscover African cuisine. Between traditional African dishes and original creations, the choice is all yours and everything is homemade.

As for us, we have a very delightful lunch. Here is our story!

Starting with finger food, we share an all-time classic: Allocos (€6), these delicious pieces of fried plantains – and it is gluten-free.

Halfway between the Argentinian empanada and the Lebanese samboussek, we also give a try to fish pastels (€9), small turnovers stuffed with pollock and sweet spices. The two starters are served with tomato, sweet pepper and tamarind sauce, so good! And it can be shared, thus, we think we will return for an aperitif…

Moving on to mains, we are conquered by the Suya Supa Fish du Chef de Village (€17) (we think about band Saïan Supa Crew to remember the name)! Cassava semolina, vegetables and fish, delicately spicy, it is healthy but first and foremost, it is super tasty! The fish is ultra-fresh, smooth and scented, just as can be.

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We also taste the delicious Bamako Fried Chicken (€16), one of the house’s hits likely to delight even the most demanding fried chicken lovers. This is the Bamako touch: chicken breasts are flavorful for being marinated in ginger and sweet spices for a long time, as for the crumbs, it is light as can be, made of plantain flour and smoked paprika. And it is still gluten-free! For the love of breadcrumbs, we say yes!

But what can we drink at BMK? Enjoy 100% natural homemade recipes. Sweet Bissap (€4), a frozen infusion based on hibiscus is a delight, so is the Moringa lemonade (€5), that is packed with vitamins.

Alright, let’s move on to desserts! Fresh and exotic fruit salad (€6) to die for, nice Coco bread (€5), and THE discovery of this late meal: Thiakry (€6), a twisted version of a traditional western African dessert. Based on millet semolina, coconut, dry fruits, and cottage cheese, we love the different textures and the soft scent of orange blossom, the perfect comfort food!

And last but really not least: even coffee is sweet and balanced. And for the record, it comes from Ethiopia.

Our tip is that if you fall in love with some flavors, you can head to the delicatessen corner and get your fill, so that you can make some atieke (cassava flour-based semolina) at home! And for an apero, spicy plantain chips (€3) can make an impact.

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.