Ah, Paris. It’s got a reputation for being a tremendously romantic destination in France and really, it doesn’t disappoint. From the historic architecture to the Eiffel Tower, Paris is picture perfect and has that reputation for a good reason. But let’s skip the romance and get right down to business with the must-try food of Paris – and where to find it.
Let’s start with this: I’m more of a street cafe girl than a Michelin girl. I love a good meal as much as the next person, but I’ll always take the hole in the wall over a black tie option.
That said, I was surprised by the Paris foods that were readily available. This was my first time in the French capital, and I expected to be able to find numerous sidewalk cafes on the streets of Paris with menus brimming with classic dishes.
Instead, we had a couple of stand out meals and a lot of sandwiches. The sandwiches were very good (that bread!) and often included the addition of sliced hard boiled eggs.
I think the traditional French cuisine that most people expect is being served at higher end Parisian restaurants, which we simply did not visit.
I did expect to see lots and lots of French bread and baguettes, and in that sense, I was not disappointed. Let’s start there, shall we?
Boulangeries
In order to call themselves a boulangerie, the bread featured at these shops must be baked in-house. In most boulangeries, open shelves overflow with those famous baguettes and boules and I’m here to tell you – the French know how to do bread.
With a tender interior and a soft but crunchy crust, these skinny little loaves are easy to devour in a single sitting. And they are cheap! You’ll spend €1- 2 on a loaf, making it a super budget friendly addition to your meal plan.
It’s a trope to talk about French people carrying a crusty baguette down the street, but it’s TRUE. Grab one and eat it on the go or add it to your picnic fare along with a bottle of red wine or white wine; you’ll fit right in.
Pasticcerias
In the areas we visited, there was quite literally a pasticceria on every block. These shops sell bread alongside numerous pastries – croissants, pain au chocolat, and eclairs are standards – and savory items like quiche and croque monsieur.
Cheese Shops
So many varieties of cheese, so little time! You’ll find cheese shops in brick and mortar locations as well as vendors in the outdoor markets. Pick up an assortment to go with that baguette!
Food Tours
Not a place as much as an experience, taking a food tour gives you a chance to hear about the food of France from a local. We enjoyed our Le Marais tour with Lulu of Eating Europe, who was like a walking Paris food guide who allowed us the chance to taste some of the best food of the Le Marais neighborhood and also gave us some historical context about the area and French culture.
In my opinion, there’s no better way to start a trip and these tours will often lead to some hot tips from the guide on what to see in the area after the tour.
Our tour took us to the Jewish quarter where we tried crispy falafel and dined on boeuf bourguignon served in a pita at Miznon, where chef Eyal Shani serves many unexpected fillings inside the Middle Eastern pita. I’m so glad we did because one, it was freaking delicious and two, we simply did not see this most famous of traditional French food on any menus.
While French macarons get all the chatter, our guide instead took us to Maison George Larnicol, where we enjoyed a luscious and buttery La Kouignette®.
My husband loved these so much that we tried to go back another day; sadly, the shop was closed when we arrived. Seriously, go look at that website and tell me those are not on the top of your must try list when you visit Paris!
​Food Markets
I love, love, love visiting European food markets to see the collection of high-quality ingredients that locals have to choose from. The readily available cheese, wine, bread, and produce put American supermarkets to shame.
There are a number of open markets in Paris, but we landed at the Marché des Enfants Rouges. First opened in the 17th century, this open-air market is busy. I mean, BUSY. There were some vendors selling fresh produce and cheeses, but the bigger draw was the collection of different eateries. I’d recommend visiting in the off hours to avoid the crowd and have a chance to really see what’s available.
What to Order
Eateries abound in Paris! As with anywhere, some are better than others. One word of warning from out food tour guide: avoid the cafes adorned with fake flowers. In an effort to replicate the live floral displays at the legendary Cafe de Flore, these eateries are using Instagram schtick to attract patrons. As Lulu says, if their food was really good, they wouldn’t need the schtick.
A variety of popular French foods are served at sidewalk cafes, where cigarette smoking is the norm. If you’re bothered by the smoke, ask if they have a no smoking section inside.
Confit de Canard (Duck Confit)
One of the best meals I had while in Paris, the duck confit was served with potatoes fried in duck fat. This simple dish was flavorful, the duck tender, and the fries crispy and well-flavored.
Steak Frites
French fries are a common side dish for whatever main course you order, but in this case, we’re talking steak and fries. Simple, hearty fare. (Brussels and Amsterdam are pretty hopped up on fries, too!)
Ravioles du Royans
It seemed strange to order ravioli in France when we planned to spend time in Italy later in the trip, but this delicious dish Рalso called ravioles du Dauphin̩ Рis a French take on ravioli and one worth trying. Common in the in the Dauphin̩ region during the Middle Ages, these tiny ravioli are often filled with Comt̩ or Emmental cheese.
Croque Monsieur/Madame
These cheese sandwiches have been on the list of classic French food since the early 1900s. First developed as a hearty lunch for workmen, croque monsieur features ham, Emmental cheese, and Béchamel sauce on bread. Croque madame is a similar, vegetarian sandwich that is served with a poached or fried egg on top.
I sampled the croque monsieur at a sidewalk cafe and found it to be very rich and (if I’m honest) not my favorite. It seemed like it might be considered French fast food.
Escargot
Put this one on the list of famous French dishes that you must try. I mean, if you want to. We did, as part of our food tour. I’m glad we did. Will I ever order it as part of a meal on my own? Unlikely.
Hot Chocolat
Paris does chocolate right. It was a treat for my hot cocoa-loving husband. Parisian hot chocolat is served with a thick, gooey chocolate inside a mug accompanied by a small pitcher of steamed milk.
It is rich and chocolatey, but not nearly as sweet as its American counterpart. In fact, we found that across the board in Paris; the desserts were sufficiently sweet, but not tooth-achingly so.
Hot Tips for Traveling in Paris
Get the Visite Paris pass. The Metro system is amazingly easy to maneuver once you acquire the pass. (This piece can be a little difficult at the ticket kiosks; if you know you’re travel dates, it might be easier to purchase the pass online ahead of time.) Paris is a BIG city and you’ll save your feet by using the Metro to get to the various arrondissements you want to explore.
Be sure to keep your tickets in a separate compartment in your bag or wallet; keeping it near your phone (or anything magnetic) can deactivate the strip and the folks at the ticket counter will Not Be Amused. Ask me how I know.
Keep your pass! You may need it on the other end to get out the gates.
Parisians have a reputation for being rude. I’m going to tell you right here that we did not find that to be so at all. Everyone – with the exception of one grouchy man in a pasticceria and the aforementioned ticket counter worker – was kind and patient with us and our lack of French vocabulary.
Plan to eat late. Most eateries don’t open for the evening meal until 7 pm.
