Let’s be real, if the food isn’t a major reason that you’re visiting Paris, then why are you even going? With that being said, it can be daunting to decide on where to eat. Moreover, once you get there, how do you know what to order? Everyone knows about cheese and macarons, and there’s so much more than that. Don’t worry, I gathered some Francophile blogger friends to tell you what’s good.
The Best Food to Eat Your First Time in Paris – And Where to Get It!
Without further ado, let’s dive into the list of must-try food in Paris!
#1) Entrecôte Beef from Le Relais de L’Entrecôte.
Contributor: Keri, Bon Voyage with Kids
While there are a few locations of this restaurant around Paris and even outside France, our favorite one is on Rue Saint-Benoît, in the Saint-Germain area of the city. Now, you can’t make a reservation for this special spot, you just have to stand in line – so get there early, as doors open for dinner at 6:45 p.m and remain open until 11 p.m. They offer a lunch service as well from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. But its popularity can easily be seen, as the line can be long as patrons wait for a table at this wonderful restaurant. What makes this restaurant unique from others in the city is its’ single course menu, which means they are masters of their craft.
To dine here, you will enjoy a walnut salad, followed by the dinner course of very tender Entrecôte beef (premium beef) with their special secret sauce, and delicious (the best I’ve ever tasted) homemade french fries. While the main meal is preset, you can choose dessert, and I highly recommend the profiteroles. The meal is one of the most delicious to have in all of Paris and one we never miss the chance to enjoy every time we visit Paris. It is a must-try for any first trip to Paris.
#2) Rotisserie Chicken from Any Local Butcher
Contributor: Mark, Wyld Family Travels
If you are travelling to Paris on a budget there is one meal you can’t go past and that is a fresh rotisserie chicken from a local butcher. While you may not find these in the tourist heart of Paris, once you venture out of the city they are a common sight. Some places will have the rotisserie on the footpath and some will have them located within the shop but you can smell them a mile off!
During the day the butchers will put on the chicken to cook and if you are lucky they will also have servings of cooked potatoes you can purchase as well. These are normally cooked in the bottom of the rotisserie, in the drippings from the chicken.
You’ll find them fantastic to get to have for dinner with some fresh cheese, a salad and a baguette especially if you are staying in a hostel or an apartment but you do have to be quick as they sell out fast. You can also use the leftovers the next day while you are out exploring Paris.
#3) A French Croissant from Stohrer
Contributor: Christine, Journey to France
The French croissant is exceptional for a variety of reasons – from the art and science that goes into making it, to its distinct flavor and texture, and its place in France’s historic food culture. Although the croissant originated in Austria, it was the French who made it into such an iconic pastry.
The croissants also taste better in Paris than in any other city in the world. There’s just something magical about what goes into making the perfect croissant, which is buttery and delicate, both flaky and chewy, and golden brown but not too crisp. The art of croissant-making is something that the French are immensely proud of. Paris is also a pastry lover’s paradise, and no vacation to the city is complete without a croissant. So, where should you go to get a croissant? Get them from a place that has been making croissants for hundreds of years.
Stohrer’s is Paris’ oldest pâtisserie, located on the bustling street of Montorgueil. Nicolas Stohrer, King Louis XV’s pastry chef, established the famed shop in 1730 and is credited with making the best almond croissant in Paris. Coated with icing sugar and stuffed with delicious almond cream, Stohrer’s croissants are rich and almost cake-like. So when in Paris, make sure to get the best croissants in a place that have perfected them for over a century.
#4) Crepes and Galettes from Les Galandines
Contributor: Monique, TripAnthropologist
It sometimes feels like every street corner in Paris is selling crêpes smothered in Nutella. The smell of freshly made crêpes lingers on these corners of the Left Bank. A crêpes restaurant is a crêperie, and they make for casual and relaxed dining that is also easy on the wallet.
Crêpes are a common snack and are a dessert. Galettes are essentially savory crêpes and a crêperie will usually sell both as they are both a thin and flat pancake with a filling. There is enormous controversy over these two terms in Breton, in western France, which is the birthplace of both dishes. But Parisians have settled on this division between sweet and savory galettes.
Les Galandines is a great example of a typical Parisian crêperie. It is in the Latin Quartier, next to Île de la Cité. It is a wonderful lunch spot if you’ve been discovering the nearby famous Parisian landmarks of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saint Chapelle, and the Conciergerie. You can find it at 57, rue Galande.
#5) A Classic Baguette from Any Artisinal Bakery
Contributor: Leyla, Offbeat France
In Paris you may be dreaming of an exquisite restaurant or the perfect macaron… but there is a quintessential experience that will confirm you have become a true Parisian (at least in part): buying an ordinary French baguette, dropping by the market for some fillings, grabbing a drink and heading down to the Seine for a picnic.
There is nothing quite like the taste of a true baguette… the crunchy crust, velvety interior, and the palatable hints that make you forget you are, after all, only eating wheat flour, yeast, and salt.
How can such a simple combination yield such impressive flavor?
You can put almost anything on a baguette, although there are two main traditions for this staple food in Paris. For breakfast, you can make (or order) a tartine, which is half or a quarter of a baguette sliced open, slathered with butter, with added jam. For lunch, the staple is a “jambon beurre”, the same sliced baguette with butter, but this time with ham (and, in really fancy circumstances, the addition of a pickle).
In Paris as in the rest of France you’ll find two types of baguette: artisanale, or handmade, and the more industrial ones, made in huge ovens off-site or prepared elsewhere but baked on site. To be safe, look for the word “artisanal” in your bakery!
The humble baguette is, after, a contender for protection under Unesco’s Intangible World Heritage list…
#6) Chocolates from Patrick Roger
Contributor: Lena, Salut from Paris
#7) Baba au Rhum from Stohrer Bakery
Contributor: Sophie, Solo Sophie
#8) French Onion Soup from La Jacobine
Contributor: Emily, Wander-Lush
Many first-time visitors to Paris head straight for the nearest boulangerie. But remember, some of the finest French foods are served at the city’s brasseries and bistros.
Food and culture are so interwoven in France, the ‘Gastronomic meal of the French’ has even been recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. And there’s no better way to immerse yourself in the city’s food traditions than by sitting down to a steaming hot bowl of French onion soup.
Soupe à l’oignon was born in the kitchens of Paris in the 18th century. It builds on an age-old recipe that historians believe goes back to Roman times. The basis of the dish is a rich, silky beef broth loaded with sweet, sticky caramelised onions. Before serving, it’s customary to top the dish off with a croute, a large crouton.
French onion soup is ubiquitous on restaurant menus across Paris. One of the best places to try it is La Jacobine. It’s a cosy restaurant tucked in a beautiful passageway near Pont Neuf and Notre-Dame de Paris.
Here, the soup is served gratinéed, topped with cheese and grilled until crisp. The gorgeous setting, traditional table settings, coiffed waiters and overall ambiance make La Jacobine an unforgettable experience.
#9) Sweet Chestnuts from Street Vendors and Holiday Markets
Contributor: Ania, The Traveling Twins
Paris has been called the “City of Love” as it is known for its romantic atmosphere. It’s also home to some delicious sweet chestnuts! Eating sweet chestnuts is an old tradition during autumn and Christmastime in the region.
The main street for chestnut vendors is located on Rue Cler in Paris. During the chesnut season, you can find many street vendors selling this classic food in Paris right next to attractions like Montmarte, Champs-Élysées, or anywhere where tourists are passing.
When the street vendor has a fresh batch of warm chestnut ready, he will shout, “Chaud, les marrons, chaud”. A portion of chesnuts served in a paper cone cost around 4-5 euros. It should be enough for two to get a good taste and not to feel overstuffed. They are very filling and high in nutritious values.
#10) Escargot from L’Escargot Montorgueil
Contributor: Sarah, Sarah’s Soujourns
Snails, or escargots, are one of the first things that come to mind when I think of French food. Despite this, I was very surprised to learn that a lot of people I knew who had visited France had never tried them. They were one of the first things I tried on my very first trip to Paris. I’ve made sure to eat them again every time I go back. The last time I was in Paris there were plenty of places that would offer them, but unfortunately the specific cafe I visited has now closed. One of the most famous places is L’Escargot Montorgueil. It has been serving snails since 1832 and I’ve heard fantastic things about it.
There are a variety of different ways that snails can be served, but for your first time I recommend the classic snails in garlic butter. They are cooked in their shell, with a small fork provided to scoop them out. The texture is rather surprising, they are a lot more firm than I expected. The taste is very much influenced by how they are cooked, so mine have always tasted strongly of garlic. I was apprehensive at first thinking they would be slimy and horrible but I was totally wrong, so don’t let any pre-conceived ideas of what they’ll be like put you off!
#11) Saint-Honore Cake from Traditional Pastry Shops
Contributor: Elisa, World in Paris
A Saint-Honoré is a must of Paris. This is one of the most famous Paris cakes, born and perfected in the French capital.
The Saint-Honoré’s history dates back to 1850. It was invented in a pastry shop named Chiboust, located in rue Saint Honoré in central Paris. The pastry chef decided to name this new cake after the street name. But, Saint-Honoré is also the patron saint of pastry-makers.
The cake recipe consists of a puff pastry base with a ring of pâte à choux piped on the outer edge. Then, small baked cream puffs are dipped in caramelized sugar. They are attached side by side on top of the circle of the pâte à choux. There’s no need to tell you that the result is delicious!
The Saint-Honoré is a popular food in Paris, and it is possible to find it in most of the pastry shops in the city. Traditional restaurants also like to offer the Saint-Honoré in their menus from time to time.
#12: Croque Monsieur/Croque Madame from Most Cafes
Contributor: Scott, Scott M Tann
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