Naï Naï means « grandma » in Mandarin. And from the first steps into this small restaurant a stone's throw from Place Gambetta, you understand that everything here revolves around that idea: cook with love, like at home.
No frozen decor, no fuss. School tables, an open kitchen, colourful walls, and above all, the irresistible smell of stir-fried dishes that grabs you at the entrance. We are far from the cliché restaurant or the bland Chinese place we have seen too often. Here, we are in a real family canteen, dreamed up by Romain and Gao Lin, a French-Chinese couple passionate about passing things on.
A short menu, strong dishes
At Naï Naï, no endless novel or laminated pages. The menu fits in a few lines, and that is precisely what makes it strong. Here, every dish has been thought through, cooked, tested and approved, often revisited from Gao Lin's grandmother's cookbooks. Result: a tight, fresh, seasonal selection that prioritises quality over quantity.
The stars not to miss?
- Fried aubergines with sweet-and-sour sauce (Tang Cu Qie Zi): this dish has become cult. The aubergines, as melting as butter, are coated in a shiny, balanced sauce, at once sweet, sour and slightly sticky… a real savoury sweet that bursts in the mouth, and one you keep asking for.
- Grilled chicken and vegetable dumplings (Guo Tie): crispy outside, juicy inside, perfectly seared on one side as tradition wants. Every bite reveals the fineness of the folding, the richness of the filling, and that little comforting taste that recalls dishes shared with family on a Sunday lunch.
- Braised pork Naï Naï style (Cha Shao): a peak of tenderness and fragrance. This pork belly literally melts under the fork, coated in a homemade sauce that caramelises just right. You mop up, mop up again, and end up licking the plate. Shameless.
- Steamed baos (pork or veggie): soft, slightly sweet, generously filled, the baos are a real Chinese madeleine. Served hot, straight from the steamer basket, they wrap their fillings in a cloud of softness. Special mention for the vegetarian version, just as indulgent.
- Choco Bao: a sweet madness. Picture a warm steamed brioche, hiding at its heart a melting praline chocolate. Yes, you just drooled, and no, it is not a dream. It is the nostalgic dessert you would not expect to find in a Chinese canteen, and yet, it wins over everyone.
On drinks, the journey goes on:
- 🍹 Homemade cocktails with Asian notes
- 🍷 Organic wines carefully selected
- 🍵 Traditional Chinese drinks for a real immersion
- Nothing is left to chance, all the way to the bottom of the glass.
And for vegetarians and vegans, no worries: the Ma Po Dou Fu (spicy simmered tofu), sesame noodles and other plant-based options are there to delight you, without compromising on taste.
A no-filter atmosphere
At Naï Naï, you eat well, but above all you feel good. The service is fast, smiling without overdoing it, and the team is attentive without breathing down your neck. There is no booking, so we advise you to arrive early (and don't grumble if it's full, that's the price of success).
The venue is small, lively, warm, perfect for a dinner for two, a lunch break, or a foodie run with friends. The atmosphere is like the cooking: simple, true, joyful.
Naï Naï is the kind of address that reconciles you with real Chinese cuisine: a cuisine of family, of transmission, of love and of memories. It is not just an « Instagrammable » place, but a sincere venue where you come back for the warmth of the dishes and the people.
We tested it for you… We loved it, we're going back as soon as possible.
23 rue du Docteur-Charles-Nancel-Pénard, Bordeaux (Gambetta district)
🕒 Every day, 12pm to 2.30pm / 7pm to 10.30pm
🚫 No booking, arrive early
📞 05 56 38 00 98 (takeaway)
Website: https://nainai.fr/
