A light electronic sound permeates the background music. The train starts moving. Equipped with a carriage on which a broth is placed, the locomotive launches this culinary adventure on a model very common in China. Yu Xiang Ting (IIe) has been open since April in the capital and is the first contactless restaurant in France. The concept is simple: for €29.90, customers are entitled to unlimited Chinese fondue. After being met by a waitress who explains how the place works, no further contact is necessary before payment.
When the train is parked above the counter with a broth that the customer previously selected from their phone, dozens of bowls of food appear on a conveyor belt. All you have to do is grab your stock, place it on the hob in front of you and turn it on. Then, to enhance it, each guest selects the ingredients they want by watching them pass several times before their eyes. A small sauce bar is also set up near the entrance.
“Our goal was to allow customers to freely choose the dishes they like,” explains Meiling, the manager. We have gone from traditional buffet service to a system where dishes are brought directly to your table. “Seaweed and mushrooms for Benjamin, fried tofu and beef for Gaëlle… There is something for everyone. Between Asian specialties such as spring rolls or bamboo, there are bowls of squid, pork or even herbs to spice up your dish.
An “impressive choice”
“There’s really a lot of choice, it’s impressive,” comments Benjamin. There are no repeated ingredients, so there is something for everyone. “Once served, customers cook their own meat and other starchy foods in their broth. Desserts such as mini donuts or fruit are also offered.
“Each table is equipped with a smoke extraction system so you don’t smell your clothes after eating,” explains Meiling, who opened this first automatic Chinese fondue restaurant in France with his mother and uncle.
Near the discreet exhaust grill is a red button that the customer can press to call one of the two waitresses if needed. “I’m a bit of an introvert, so the bell to call the waiter is good for me,” admits first-timer Thomas. You can really try many things without having to ask anything. »
A “free and interactive” experience
“It’s very simple. The waitress briefed us at the beginning to explain how it worked, because it was the first time we had come, but after that it worked itself out,” Lila also appreciates.
After traveling to Japan, where food conveyor belts are commonplace in restaurants, the young woman came across an Instagram video by Yu Xiang Ting, which made her rediscover this concept that she had loved in Asia. “It’s fantastic, we’re not used to going to restaurants like this. It makes you very hungry to see all this food flipping around. »
“Our customers generally appreciate this free and interactive experience, knowing they can always call us if they need it,” says Meiling. “I love the fact that I can eat in peace,” says Gaëlle. The quality is not a great restaurant, but it is very good for the price. “The train is now at the platform, the guests can leave.
