6 Best restaurants in Nantes
Let me take you through a list of what I consider the best restaurants in Nantes, those are definitely some places you should give a try.
1. Minari - Korean BBQ
đ Google maps - 140 Bd Ernest Dalby, 44000 Nantes
Minari is a korean restaurant in Nantes, near the train station, that specializes in Korean BBQ.
They also serve Bibimbap and other typical dish that change weekly as their "Plat du jour" which you can find on their instagram.
The room is pretty small with only a few tables which makes for a great vibe, the staff is super nice and will help you with setting up and using the barbecue so don't stress about it if you're a first-timer !
They serve very high-quality fresh meat, with even some of the meats being halal for people that require it.
It's no wonder this place is popular among employees from neighboring companies as a place to meet and chill as there is no better feeling than eating good meat around a central barbecue with friends.
After eating there you can take a walk in the neighboring park "jardin des plantes" which you probably passed on your way to the restaurant.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this restaurant and I advise you to give them a call in advance to book a table if you plan on going there.
2. LâentrecĂŽte - Meat & french fries
đ Google maps - 2 Rue du CouĂ«dic, 44000 Nantes
Altough not specific to Nantes, L'entrecĂŽte is a place you absolutely need to try once in your life. They opened their first restaurant in 1962 and since then they have opened 4 other restaurants across France, without a single one in Paris, and an additional one in Spain.
Their idea is simple, everyone eats the same thing. The menu starts with a simple salad to wake your appetite up.
Then once you're ready the main dish arrives. Thinly cut beef with french fries, it might not seem extraordinary at first, but they serve it with a special sauce. And I can assure you, this sauce transforms the meat, it's the real masterpiece of the dish making it almost addictive. Additional meat is served alongside your plates and you can ask for more french fries whenever you want.
To end everything, you can finally make your last wish when choosing the desert, but I'd recommend going with their specialty the "profiteroles au chocolat" combining chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
People like this place so much that there is always queue to get a table and they had to stop offering the option to book a table.
3. Ramen Ya - Japanese ramen
đ Google maps - 26 Rue de la Fosse, 44000 Nantes
With Nantes being one of their 2 locations, the other one being in Rennes. Ramen Ya feels like a tiny piece of Japan in the middle of France.
From the outside you can already feel the authentic atmosphere that they tried to recreate, a little curtain with the shops name written on it hides the inside, then as soon as soon as you enter you're greeted with the view of the kitchen and the ambient noise that gives an authentic vibe to the place.
Everyone eats side by side on a bar counter facing the kitchen so if you're a fan of live cooking your eyes will be pleased !
The menu offers various choices of ramens with some veggies options for those that want it. You can customize your order a lot by adding additional toppings to your ramen, choosing the spiciness level and choosing the kind of noodles used. With your ramen you can also get some Gyoza or Chashu Don, ideal if you come with someone.
The meat and other ingredients used are all coming from local producers and yet despite this the prices remain relatively cheap compared to some other restaurants in my opinion.
They also offer food delivery and take away on Uber Eats if you don't want to eat inside. (Use code eats-6poynq to get 5⏠off your order)
If you like the japanese atmosphere of the place you will probably also like the japanese-inspired garden situated in Ile de Versailles about 15-20 minutes away from the restaurant. Overall I really liked eating there, as a bonus for desert you can get an icecream from Amorino.
4. Chez Maman - French cuisine
đ Google maps - 2 Rue de la Juiverie, 44000 Nantes
Looking to eat french food near Nantes' castle ? This is the place for you, literaly meaning "at mom's house", this restaurant serves refined food with some top quality ingredients. It's been detained by the same family for 2 generations.
Situated in a narrow street full of restaurants, you can feel the relaxed, cheerful and family vibe of the place, especially in the summer !
They serve seafood and meat based dishes as well as a daily dish decided by the chef given the ingredients he has. You can eat some traditional meals of the french cuisine such as "foie gras" or "confit de canard".
Altough a bit more expensive than some of the restaurants on this list, I encourage you to give it a try.
5. Rajasthan - Indian food
đ Google maps - 175 Rte de Vannes, 44800 Nantes
Fans of naans rejoice, Na(a)ntes has got you covered. Compared to the other restaurants in the list this one is a bit away from the city-center even though easily accessible by tramway, bus or car. It might not look too fancy from the outside and yet it remains one of the best place to eat indian food in Nantes.
The inside is decorated in a typical indian fashion and looks way more polished and fancier that the outside. As you enter you can hear classical songs being played and with the smell of the food it's like you've just travelled thousands of kilometers in an instant.
Their menu offers both seafood and meat based dishes with some being very spicy, as well as multiple naans of course. You can also order 2 differents kinds of Lassi to drink, perfect if you have trouble to deal with the spiciness of your food. The food is served with rice and you can ask them for more if you need.
Both dish I ordered on the picture were served with delicious sauces that would be the perfect match to dip the naan in.
In addition of the food, every month, on the first saturday of the month, during the evening you can admire classical indian dances with traditional clothes.
6. Café Bécot - French cuisine
đ Google maps - 1 Rue du Cheval Blanc, 44000 Nantes
If you are looking for a chill and cozy place with cheap prices, Café Bécot is an ideal choice for you to spend your afternoon in with friends or as a couple.
Their food is simple and fresh making you feel at home. They update their menu daily to ensure delicious dishes for every client depending on the market.
Apart from the restaurant part, they also serve drinks and desserts. If you are not a huge fan of coffee, you can also get a cup of tea or matcha latte here, which makes it a perfect place to get a snack or enjoy the tea time.
Bonus : Amorino - Ice creams
đ Google maps - 5 Pl. Royale, 44000 Nantes
Definitely not specific to Nantes because this brand has shops all over Europe but if you're in the city center, it's really one of the best place to get a good ice cream.
They even offer to put a macaron topping on your icecream and to make it look kind of like a flower with the possibility of choosing from multiple different flavors.
Conclusion
Nantes is city full of good places to get food in, I will try to keep this list updated as I try new restaurants in the city so you can find more amazing restaurants in the future !