Introduction

Paris, also called the city of love, is renowned for its rich cultural history, breathtaking architecture, and its love affair with cuisine. Paris is not just a place to admire art and take romantic strolls along the Seine, but it’s also a culinary capital of the world. Being the capital, or “Paname” how the locals call it, you can find a long line of history and tradition mixed in with an ever changing and evolving culture that keeps things fresh and exciting. No two visits to Paris will be exactly alike, and there are enough new restaurants to try to last for eternity. From croissants to escargots, Paris is filled with an array of delicious foods that are waiting to be tasted. Whether you’re a foodie or just looking for an authentic Parisian experience, this city has something to offer everyone.

If you’re reading this blog post, it’s likely because you are (or soon to be) one of the many visitors who pass through Paris throughout the year, and you are ready to go on a food tasting frenzy. In this blog post, I’ll take you on a culinary journey through the streets of Paris and highlight some of the must-try dishes and eateries in this amazing city. So, come along and get ready to indulge in some of the best food that Paris has to offer.

Tips from a local food guide

Before I jump into it, allow me to tell you why you can trust me with the following recommendations. Firstly, thank you for even opening this read, I’m so glad that you are as into food as I am. There’s something to be said for people like you, the ones who take the time to research, reach out, and get ideas when it comes to what they eat. You can’t go wrong with going to Paris (as they say, “Paris is ALWAYS a good idea”), but you CAN easily go wrong when it comes to eating out if you don’t know what’s up. Tourist traps are most definitely a thing, and often the stuff you see on Instagram is paid promotion or overrated IRL.

So here’s where I come in. I’m Tamara, I am American (not French but soon to be), and I have been living in Paris for over 7 years. Not just living, but thriving in the food and tourism industry. I created a picnic business in 2019 out of pure passion for good food and wine with a nice view in this magical city, and my clients are constantly asking me for recommendations. My superpower is knowing the city like the back of my hand, while also knowing what you want and are expecting. I make it my duty to see with my own eyes and taste with my own mouth, all of the different flavors of Paris. This is why I named my Instagram DiscoverEveryFlavor. So you have made it to the best corner of the internet to get authentic culinary recommendations in Paris. Now let’s get back to the goods.

Traditional Parisian dishes

Let’s start off with the CLASSICS. When you think of Paris, these are the dishes you assume are on the menus of every restaurant, and to be fair.. They are quite common! French culture is very traditional in nature, so you’ll find these traditional dishes at most cafés, brasseries, and traditional french restaurants in Paris. I’ll share with you my favorite spot to try each dish so make sure to get a pen ready, OR follow this list on Google Maps.

Escargots (es-car-go)

Snails, but make them tasty! They are also quite entertaining to eat. You get a little contraption that grips the shell and the tiniest fork to fish out the little savory bite. If you’ve never tried escargots, think lobster. You gotta get the meat out of the shell and it’s oh so delicious soaked in melted butter, garlic, and parsley.

Tips for eating escargots:

Rip off a little piece of bread (small enough to put the whole piece in your mouth in one bite), soak it in the butter that’s on the dish first, then scoop out your snail, pour any extra butter goodness on your bread, place the snail on the bread and open up!

Where to try escargots in Paris:

Bouillon Pigalle. The price is exceptionally cheap so you have literally nothing to lose if you’re feeling a bit anxious about trying snails for the first time.

Croque-monsieur (croak-miss-yeur)

A glorified grilled cheese with ham sandwich. I say glorified because it’s definitely a level up from a grilled cheese. The French are known for their sauces and this sandwich, believe it or not, has a sauce on it. This sauce is called a bechamel, and it’s a creamy cheese sauce made with butter, flour, cream, and…cheese. You can kick it up an extra level by ordering the “Madame” version, which has a fried or quail egg on top. It almost makes it a savory american-style breakfast sandwich, only you can order it all day at most cafés in Paris. It’s mighty good after a couple drinks if you get a little hungry.

Where to try a croque-monsieur in Paris:

The Hoxton Hotel. Ok so this isn’t a traditional french restaurant, BUT the croque-monsieur was memorable here for me and absolutely delicious.

Soupe à l’Oignon (soup-ah-lone-yun)

If you’ve been to any French restaurant, even in your country, you are probably familiar with french onion soup. Onions are reduced and softened in butter for quite some time, then stewed in a broth. The soup is poured into an oven safe bowl, croutons are added, and it’s topped with gruyere cheese and tossed into the oven to melt that layer of cheese over the soup. You’ll get a nice cheese pull AND the soup stays incredibly hot for what feels like forever. Be careful when eating, but definitely give this soup a try while in Paris, especially if it’s cold! Speaking of cold, be sure to grab my Paris in Winter Restaurant Guide, featuring 33 restaurant recommendations for cozy vibes and food to warm your belly.

Where to try french onion soup in Paris:

Au Pied de Cochon. You might have seen this restaurant recommended on social media, but I promise that it’s justified. It’s a classic and they are pretty much always open, which is why I’ve chosen it for the best place to try this soup.

Soufflé (soof-lay)

What is there to say about soufflé? Oh I don’t know, maybe that making one is a huge pain in the rear? When eating out, I personally love to indulge in foods that I can’t (or don’t like to) cook for myself. Soufflé is one of those things. You can also have them sweet (yum chocolate) or savory. Give both a try if carbs are calling your name.

Where to try soufflé in Paris:

Le Soufflé. The name of the restaurant tells you everything you need to know.

Ratatouille (rat-ah-too-ye)

Not to be confused with the Disney animated film, but it must be mentioned in this blog post because of its infamous reputation thanks to said film which takes place in Paris. Ratatouille is a staple in France, so much so that you can buy it pre-made in jars. Ratatouille is a dish that makes you think of grandma’s home-cooking. It actually comes from the Provence region in the south, so its flavors are “provençal”. To simplify, ratatouille is a stew of nightshade vegetables such as eggplant and bell peppers, tomato, and zucchini and spiced with herbs from Provence. It comes in many forms and the recipes will differ based on the chef’s interpretation.

Where to eat ratatouille in Paris:

Chez Janou. This little corner bistro serves up most of its cuisine from the Provence region, so you know you can trust their ratatouille. Their take on it is lukewarm with a poached egg on top. So if you’re not a vegan searching for ratatouille because of its vegan nature, this is your spot to give it a whirl. It’s on the menu as a starter so you have the opportunity to explore more here if you please.

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Patisseries and Desserts

Now for the sweet stuff. If you prefer sweet over savory, you probably already know the following must-eat pastries and desserts, and perhaps even already have a few places written down to try them out. Be sure to add my recommendations below.

Macarons

The French cookie which is super delicate and more like a sandwich. In Paris you can macarons almost anywhere, even the local bakery/boulangerie. You can even take a class and learn to make your own! Either way, be sure to bring some home to someone deserving of this delicious little treat.

Tips for keeping macarons fresh:

Macarons like cold or refrigerated temperatures. This prevents them from drying out. If you do decide to take some back with you, ask the airline to keep your box in their fridge during your flight, and straight to the fridge once you arrive home.

Where to find the best macarons in Paris:

Pierre Hermé. Most locals will agree with me on these being the best. They switch out temporary flavors and make lovely flavor combinations. Plus there are over 20 locations within Paris so this should be easy to accomplish while visiting.

Croissants

A breakfast and afterschool staple for the busy Parisian lifestyle. This crescent shaped pastry is loaded with butter and in every bakery in Paris. You honestly would be just fine trying as many as possible and noting your favorite, but I’ll still give you a recommendation.

Where to find the best croissants in Paris:

Du Pain et des Idées. Probably one of the best bakeries in Paris. The surrounding restaurants order from them. They often sell out by the afternoon. Enough said.

Eclairs

A long puff pastry filled with cream and topped with ganache which you can find in most bakeries which carry desserts. You’ll  find them in the refrigerated case with the other patisseries. The most common flavors are chocolate and coffee, but you can find pistachio or salted caramel in some places.

Where to get the best eclairs in Paris:

Stohrer. The oldest patisserie in Paris on a charming walking street. The eclairs here are HANDS DOWN the best in the world. They are also a bit more pricey than a typical eclair but for good reason. The quality of the ganache on top is to die for and the star of this dessert. They have 2 different chocolate flavors, coffee, vanilla, and salted caramel. Salted caramel is my personal favorite.

Crepes

The world’s thinnest pancakes belong to France, and Paris is known to have crepes at every turn. You can get sweet ones or savory ones. Ones that you hold in your hand, folded neatly on a plate, or flambeed in cognac. The options are endless. For the sake of letting you discover the vast options of crepes for yourself, I will introduce you to the version “Suzette” which is the flambeed version. These are fun because they are swimming in liquor and flames and super rich so perfect for a dessert and not so much a snack or meal on its own.

Where to try crepes suzette in Paris:

Grand Café Capucines. Made in the middle of the restaurant with loads of butter!

Profiteroles

More puff pastry! Only this time make an ice cream sandwich out of it and pour rich warm chocolate over it. Add nuts and whipped cream to make a french version of an ice cream sundae. These are fun because most places will either pour the chocolate over the profiteroles in front of you, or give you a little pot to pour as much as you want.

Where to try the best profiteroles in Paris:

Restaurant Le Coq. I’m revealing a crazy secret here. This place has a giant profiterole and it is hands down the best profiterole which lives rent free in my mind. The restaurant is on the fancy side,but located right at Trocadero, so if you go visit the eiffel tower from this side, be sure to go here just for the big profiterole. You will not be disappointed.

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Food Markets and Specialties

As someone who has made picnics her business (literally), it would be so uncool of me not to include another element of must-eat foods in Paris: picnic foods! Aka cheese and charcuterie of course. Below are some recommendations for the best places to pick up must-eat picnic foods in Paris.

Fromageries & Charcuteries

In Paris you have the luxury of specialty stores that exclusively sell cheese or charcuterie, and sometimes both. The one in my neighborhood was my supplier for several years. Why are specialty shops so nice? Because the employees know their shiz. They can help you choose the right cheeses or dried meats that you’re actually going to enjoy, or have never heard of before! In this case, you don’t even need me because you have a knowledgeable salesperson. Often these places will let you sample and taste a few things before buying which is an experience in itself and quite fun because it makes you feel like a local.

Where to find cheese and charcuterie:

Côte2Boeuf. This shop is the highly regarded shop which used to supply my picnics for 3 seasons! You must have guessed that I was going to reveal it to you. Tell them I sent you and it’s a sure bet that you will be greeted with a huge smile and like a local.

Marché des Enfants Rouges

For an one-stop-shop approach to specialties, hit up a food market, but not just any market. This one is famous and well located so that you will definitely have time to check it out. You can find cheeses and charcuteries here to sample and buy for picnicking, as well as find several stands which double as food truck-like restaurants. Within this market is a little gem that I consider a must-eat in Paris.

Must eat in the Marché des Enfants Rouges:

Chez Alain Miam Miam. This is the best sandwich joint in all of Paris. It has since evolved since the first time I ate here several years ago, due to the fact that Alain, the owner was so popular that he opened another location and hired staff to help him bust out these sandwiches. Back in the day, he was a solo worker, taking his time humming and singing while making his simple yet delicious sammies. It took forever but the charm was there. I have since been back and can verify that even though you won’t see Alain there making your sandwich, they haven’t changed in their quality and are just as good as they have always been. Get one to share, or 2 if you dare, and take it to a park for a gourmet yet easy picnic in Paris.

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Conclusion

We’ve done it! We’ve gone through the must-eat foods in Paris starting from the traditional classic dishes and where to try them, onto desserts and where to taste the best, all the way to specialty items and shops. By now you have a hefty list to get to, so make haste and start your food frenzy adventure. If you’d prefer a more hands on approach and are interested in a private food tour guide, I’m your gal. Freel free to contact me with your dates and request for availability and a quote. As the French like to say, 

“Bon appétit!”

-Your foodie friend, Tamara