What to eat in Paris : 11 Must-Try Food

Last updated on April 7th, 2021 at 10:39 am

“Paris is not a city; it’s a world.”  The ‘City of Lights’ brings a plethora of exciting activities and one of the questions that will come to your mind is “What to eat in Paris“. In this post, I am going to share my food experiences with a curated list of 11 Must-Try food in Paris.

Quintessential French food needs no introduction. It is rich in flavor and variety. In fact the food culture is so popular that the French way of eating has been declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010 by UNESCO.

The French capital is blessed with enviable historical sites, art museums, plenty of coffee shops and a long list of delectable food. I am certain, there are more to explore while on a food trail in Paris, but this list will get you started.

What to eat in Paris : Top 11 List

1) Croissants

With Croissant, you don’t have think about what to eat in breakfast while in Paris. And nothing better than starting your day with good food.

Croissants are one of the best foods to try in Paris. It is simple, but they require time to be cooked. Well, I’m talking about several days. These perfectly flaky pastries will have your heart. The chefs require good cooking skills to prepare it. You can eat it with orange juice, coffee or even without any beverage. Croissants are available throughout the city. You can try out the croissants at La Maison d’Isabelle in Saint-Germain. They are heavenly!

2) Baguette

Chances are if you were browsing through Instagram for picnic ideas in Paris, you would have seen a beautiful girl sitting with a picnic basket and one of the most noticeable items in the basket is a long narrow thin loaf of bread. And that’s what a Baguette is.

It is a known fact that Europeans love their bread and there are so many mind-boggling varieties! Baguette is a long narrow French bread made from basic dough and is easily distinguishable due to its shape and length.

It is easily available in all supermarkets over and above the cafes. Pair it up with a juice or coffee and make it a quick meal.

Also Read : Paris Bucket List – 30 Things To do in Paris for first-timers

3) Jambon-Beurre

If you are a sandwich-lover like me, this is the best French food to try out in Paris. I never knew sandwiches could taste this good. This extremely popular and simple French ham sandwich is going to satiate your taste buds especially when you are super-hungry after exploring gems in Paris.

Jambon-Beurre is essentially a Ham and Butter Sandwich in a baguette. In fact, an extraordinary Jambon-Beurre is about four main ingredients: Parisian ham, butter,  the delightfully fresh baguette that holds the magic together and Simplicity!

The simplicity quotient of this classic sandwich makes it so loveable.

You could enjoy the Jambon-beurre in La Fontaine de Belleville that has a perfectly crusty baguette and excellent stuffing. Enjoy it with a green salad.

4) Ratatouille

The French and their love for food are so well-known that even Disney had to make a movie dedicated to the French chef. Remember the 2007 film Ratatouille where Remi, the rat aspires to be a well-known French chef?

Well, Ratatouille is a simple French stew made of fresh vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash, and bell pepper and originates from Provence. This stew is considered to be a celebration of farmer’s labor.

I loved the way it is served with circular-cut stewed vegetable pieces arranged one after another. It is available in restaurants specializing in food from Provence, but you can always check out the Specialty board menus and settle down with a bowl as a side dish.

With Ratatouille, you do not need to worry about what to eat in Paris as a side dish.

As flavorful as it tastes, Ratatouille is fun to pronounce as well – ra-tuh-too-ee. Try it out!

While you are still in Paris, check out some of my other European travel stories!

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Top Things To Do In Milan

The Perfect 3- Day Rome Itinerary

5) Escargots

You can’t truly enjoy the delicacies of Paris without having Escargots – a type of edible snails. Snails are cooked in various ways in Paris, but this tops the list. The escargots are cooked in their shells with a mouth-watering stuffing of butter, herbs and garlic.

Do you want to know the secret part of this dish? It is not only amongst the best foods to try in Paris, but is also high in protein and low in fat. With Escargots, you do not have to worry about your health. 

It needs efficient hands to take out the escargots from the shells. So, quite an experiment to look forward to!

Try them out at the L’Escargot Montorgueil.

6) Steak Tartare

Feasting on fresh meat might not be the ultimate option for everyone, but for foodies like me, it is extremely flavorful. This bistro classic is made from raw ground beef that is seasoned with the perfect balance of black pepper, onion, and capers. Traditionally, Steak Tartare is served with raw egg yolk. 

Try out Steak Tartare at Au Bourguignon du Marais which has a more creamy flavor and less of the raw flavor. You will get the best quality meat here with tasty French fries and green beans on the sides.

7) Macarons

Do macarons need any introduction? These delicate, delicious and drool-worthy cookie sandwiches adorn the shelves of gourmet pastry shops across the world.

But nothing like enjoying the scrumptious & colorful Macarons right in the French Capital.

The saying goes that macarons were introduced in Paris by the Italian chef of queen Catherine de Medici during the Renaissance period.

Macarons are expensive owing to the ingredients (almond flour and egg whites) and expertise required to bake the perfect ones. Available in an array of flavors ranging from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, pistachio, caramel, gingerbread etc with  buttercream, ganache or jam filling, Macarons are certainly a must-try food in Paris.

Get the taste of some authentic ones at Laduree.

8) Onion Soup

Caramelized onion, rich beef broth, crispy croutons and a hearty portion of Gruyère cheese – the 4 musketeers that elevates onion soup to a different level altogether. Comforting and heart-warming, French onion soup is an unmissable food to try out while in Paris.

France has onion soup in its culinary repertoire since ages and King Louis XV is supposedly the inventor of the soup.

We could find French Onion soup in most of brasseries we tried out.

9) Cheese

Are you a cheese lover? Then you must be knowing that cheese is much beyond the Italian Mozarella or the Parmesan (which are delectable btw!). France is also well-known for its wide variety of cheese (read 245 +) and a Paris Bucket List is incomplete without experiencing the delicious French cheese.

With so many cheese varieties at your disposal, you do not need to worry about what to eat in Paris! Camembert from Normandy region of France is the most popular cheese

Barthélémy is a paradise for cheese lovers in Paris and is very popular among locals. The best part is, you do not need to be an authority in French Cheese varieties – their ever-helping staff will guide you through the various varieties.

Even better! Opt for a Food Tour in Paris that will also introduce you to the culinary culture of the French capital under expert guidance.

10) Steak Frites

Steak Frites are what its name suggests – Steak and Fries. Almost all brasseries in Paris serve Steak Frites in some form or the other. There is a little bit of debate on the origin of this dish – Belgium or France! Irrespective of the origin, this juicy tender steak is going to satiate your taste buds.

One of the best places to taste this French food is at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte at 8th arrondissement

11) Duck Confit

This classic dish is made out of a duck. It is marinated with salt and duck and refrigerated. It is slowly cooked in its fat until it turns extremely tender. The flavors are beyond praise. 

Closing thoughts on what to eat in Paris

Paris has always enamored me! As much as it is famous for its city icons like Eiffel Tower or the Louvre or its city-dwellers’ impeccable fashion sense, it is also the Mecca for food lovers.

What is your suggestion on must-try food in Paris? May be I’ll note down and try them out whenever I visit next!