20 Best Foods to Eat in Paris

Paris is known for iconic places like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or Versailles. But those who venture to Paris also expect some culinary delights. From delicious pastries to a nice French restaurant, here are 20 foods to eat in Paris.

Street Foods to Grab on the Go

One of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered while exploring Paris is finding time to eat. There are so many things to see and do, and I forbid myself from grabbing a bite at a McDonald’s, Subway or KFC.

French culture is more prone to sitting down and enjoying a meal, as opposed to grabbing it on the go. So you’ve got to keep your eyes open for spots that allow you to pick up some of these on-the-go-foods:

• Crepes: Some restaurants will have a little window where you can order a dinner or dessert crepe (pronounced crep not cray-p) to go. My wife enjoyed a Nutella and banana crepe, while I savored my ham, cheese and egg crepe.
• Quiche: Enjoy a slice of quiche (pronounced keesh) between museums. It’s more or less an omelette in a pastry crust.
• Croque Monsieur/Madame: It’s a version of a ham and cheese sandwich. The Croque (pronounced croak) Madame is the same thing, but with a fried egg on the top.
• Drinks: One of my favorite drinks almost doubles as a meal. A YOP is a drinkable yogurt. Definitely worth a try. Other drinks I found refreshing are Oasis brand juices and Orangina (it’s like carbonated orange juice).

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Pastries and Other French Desserts

There are so many amazing pastries in France that it would be nearly impossible to include all of them.

In America, desserts are often filled with sugar. In France, they use butter… and lots of it. But each dessert is delicious and worth going for seconds, when possible.

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Here’s a rundown of the French pastries and desserts that my wife and I loved:

• Napoleon: There are several versions of a Napoleon. They’re typically a 5″x2″ rectangle, layered with pastry crust, cream and frosted on top. The classic Napoleon is our favorite, but you can’t go wrong with any of them.
• Eclairs: This pastry is probably what you first think of when you want to enjoy a French pastry. It’s delicious, and can be found in almost any patisserie in Paris.
• Religieuse: My favorite pastry is this double-stacked creme puff, drizzled with chocolate or maple frosting. I’m pretty sure you’ll love it, too.
• Tarte aux Fruits: Want something tasty and colorful? The tarte aux fruits will never disappoint. The pie crust is filled with a cream, topped with a variety of fruits and glazed. Typical flavors are raspberry, strawberry, lemon and more.
• Macarons: Not only did we enjoy eating some macarons, we took a class on how to bake macarons (pronounced mack-a-rons, not mack-a-roons). They’re two colorful meringue cookies sandwiched around a tasty cream.
• Creme Brulee: A restaurant is likely the best place to grab a creme brulee, especially if they brulee it moments before bringing it out. The taste of the hard sugar shell mixes well with the cream.

If you’re looking for an extra-special treat that’s a few steps above your basic pastry, find Cedric Grolet’s pastry shop. One’s located near the Louvre at 35 Av. de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris, France.

Side Dishes and Appetizers in Paris

You may need to work yourself up to eating some of the side dishes and appetizers available in Paris. These options are iconic to French cuisine, but may still take some convincing for those unfamiliar with the culture.

• Escargot: I wonder who looked at a snail and thought, I can cook that up and eat it. However, escargot is not as gross as it sounds. Depending on the flavors used in cooking, it tastes like a chewy steak. So don’t let your mind play tricks on you – just put it in your mouth, chew and swallow.
• Frog legs: You’ve probably heard the saying – tastes like chicken. It’s true! Frog legs are like small chicken legs and they taste the same as well.
• Cheeses: I’ve heard the French have a different cheese for every day of the year. It wouldn’t surprise me, and it’s worth enjoying as many cheeses as you can while in Paris. My favorite: Camembert. I like the creamier ones. I find the mold ones (like roquefort) to be too salty.
• Breads: I love a simple baguette with cheese. At any restaurant, you’ll likely get a basket of bread to enjoy with your meal. If you want to stop in a boulangerie and grab some french bread, you won’t regret it. It’s much better than the French bread you find in grocery stores across the United States.
• Pain au Chocolat: If you like croissants, you’ll love pain au chocolats. It’s a rectangle croissant with one or two bars of chocolate running from end to end.

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Sit-down Meals at Restaurants in Paris

A sit-down meal in Paris is not something to be rushed. It’s an opportunity to sit and enjoy some delicious food. But if you’re worried about cost when you’re traveling, find the restaurants that are not in the high-traffic tourist areas.

One of our favorite restaurants was west of the Eiffel Tower, called Eiffel Cafe. The service was great, the food was delicious, and the experience is one we truly enjoyed.

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Here are a few of the classic French foods to eat in paris:

• Duck confit: Enjoy a duck leg. While it may look like a chicken leg, it’s duck, and it’s delicious. The meat is juicier – think dark meat – and it’s a little fattier, which gives it more taste, right? 😉
• French onion soup: French onion soup isn’t genuine unless it has the crusted bread/cheese stuff baked onto the top of the bowl. If you’re in Paris during the winter months, a nice warm soup like this will be heaven-sent.
• Boeuf (beef) bourguignon: Similar to a beef stew your grandma used to make, beef bourguinon is a hearty meal. Enjoy it with some baguette or French bread and you’ll have one happy stomach.
• Moules Frites: Who would’ve thought that mussels and fries go together. It was one of my favorite meals during my last visit to Paris.
• Seafood pizza: I wish seafood pizza existed in the states. There’s something about shrimp, calamari and other “fruits of the sea” on a pizza that make it irresistible.

Photo Gallery of Foods to Eat in Paris

Before I share the photo gallery of the foods to eat in Paris, I thought i’d offer a few tips on dining in France:

• You don’t need to leave a tip – everything’s included in the bill.
• If you order water, be sure to specify tap water – otherwise you’ll get bottled water, which costs money.
• Ice isn’t a thing in France (or most of Europe), so don’t expect to have ice in your water or soda.
• If you want to dine in the outside seating, just know that smoking is allowed. A person smoking next to you may just ruin the smell of your French cuisine.

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