20 Amazing Foods You Must Try in Paris

You know that incredible feeling when you try a new food and are immediately in LOVE with the taste, and remember that moment long after?

Welcome to France. You can experience just that with SO MANY delicious foods in Paris!

France is known for its loving attention to mealtimes, and a desire to create a superb menu item no matter the time or expense involved. Food is the subject of much study and is highly valued.

Try these 20 amazing foods when you’re in Paris! I’m sure the list should be longer. But I’ll need to return for more research to let you know…

1.      Pain au Chocolat

Start your trip to Paris with the breakfast of champions…chocolate croissants! No seriously, it’s ok to eat chocolate for breakfast here. (and much more refined than having Coco Puffs back home)

Head to a nearby patisserie (bakery for pastries and sweets) and order this flaky little divine peace of heaven. It works for breakfast as well as a snack later in the day.

2.      Quiche

If you need some protein for breakfast, and just can’t live without eggs, quiche is for you! Try a traditional Lorraine (bacon and cheese), or a tuna or salmon if you dare! Spinach is also delicious, although you feel the need to brush your teeth immediately afterward.

Try splitting quiche and croissants with your traveling companion. Then you’ll feel a little better about a healthy start to the day.

3.      Cheese

Cheese is eaten frequently in France, and there were many new tastes for us to discover. Brie and Camembert are soft cheeses, served warm or at room temperature, that can be slathered on your bread like cheese-butter. The best of both worlds.

Goat cheese is eaten frequently (see my favorite salad below), and pungent Roquefort is revered here.

I highly recommend picnicking regularly to save money while traveling. Go to a cheese shop and ask to sample a few. Pick a new taste to go with your lunch that day.

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4.      Fresh Bread from a Boulangerie

I’m always amazed at the number of boulangeries (bakeries for bread) we stumble onto in Paris. They seem to be on every other street. I adore the idea of purchasing fresh bread daily and wish we had that custom in the U.S.

And because it is meant to be eaten immediately, there are no weird chemical preservatives. You simply get flour, water, salt and yeast. Several U.S. friends who have digestive issues with bread in America can tolerate it in Europe.

Long, thin baguettes are the signature bread in Paris, but the many other types can be found. Tangy, round sourdough loaves are a specialty at the famous Poilane bakery. Organic varieties and multigrain breads have been growing in popularity as well.

5.      Salads with Surprises

My favorite salad in France (so far) has a bed of light, leafy greens, tomatoes, a few extra vegetables…and fried potatoes with a piece of goat cheese on toasted bread as a crown! Unusual, yes. But so good!

I’m all for a salad with a bonus of hearty, robust flavors. Now that I think about it, lardons (bacon but better) were also involved. On another trip, even in the cool evenings of December, I ordered several fantastic salads from a favorite place in the Marias.

6.      Escargot

Ok, so I admit I didn’t have these next two in Paris. I tried escargot when I was younger, but haven’t had the nerve to order it again. But in Paris, it’s all about the garlicy butter sauce the escargot are nestled inside. Use your baguette to sop up that amazing broth. If you promise to try it, I will, too!

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7.      Oysters

Also not my list of favorite foods, but oysters are wildly popular in Paris. They are available all year long but are especially popular at Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

8.      Croissants aux Amandes

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite pastry in Paris, croissants aux amandes (almonds). It totally fits me, right? Made with a sweet filling and with sliced almonds and sugar on top, it was one of the most decadent treats we had. Perfect for sharing with a travel companion to spread out the calories!

9.      Fresh Fruit

Fruit, like every food in Paris, is carefully grown, and only the best will do. On weekends there are farmers markets set up all over the city, and some fresh blackberries or succulent figs will be a treasured purchase.

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10. Butter

You might say that butter is the national food in France…not officially, but it seems real. The butter here tastes richer and creamier than most I’ve tried elsewhere. And it’s used in almost everything, even in unusual circumstances. A simple baguette sandwich in France has butter instead of mayo.

11. Baguette Sandwiches

And speaking of yummy baguette sandwiches, the classic flavors are thinly sliced ham slathered with butter, ham and white cheese such as Gruyere and smoked ham (such as prosciutto) and cheese. There are also other options, including tuna or chicken.

These portable lunch favorites were a lifesaver the first time we went to Paris. They were a bargain at about 2 or 2.5 euros! We sat on a bench near the Seine and enjoyed our baguettes while watching the crowds.

12. Crepes

Another of my hubby’s favorites, crepes are synonymous with food in Paris. We had them several places and with a multitude of flavors: Nutella and strawberry, butter and sugar and lemon and sugar and more.

But my most memorable crepe was a savory buckwheat that was a conically shaped sandwich, filled with chicken and cheese, and I’m not sure what else! It was divine. We discovered it on our last day in the city and I really want to go back the next time we’re there.

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13. Macarons

Even cookies in Paris are fancy. Macarons are tiny egg and almond flour cookies containing a flavorful filling like pistachio, coffee or rose petal. Our daughter Maya called them colorful hamburgers when she was younger!

Laudurée is the most famous place for macarons, and its gorgeous flagship store on the Champs-Élysées is a must-see destination. But if you want a few more flavor choices, Pierre Hermé is also worth a stop.

Buyer beware! At about 2 euros each, these little beauties are not cheap! But they are still a memorable taste of the city that you should definitely try.

14. Crème Brulee

My husband’s favorite dessert, crème brulee, has been tasted all over the world by the Ramirez family. But, of course, it was the creamiest and dreamiest in Paris. Although I have had versions that come close.

I recently purchased a mini blow torch on Amazon for creating our own perfectly caramelized crème brulee at home. It works great, although I had to lecture my kids on it not being a toy-it’s powerful!

15. Profiteroles

French for crème puffs, profiteroles are airy little bites of yumminess. However, I prefer them with ice cream in the middle, rather than cream. You can get them in a variety of ways in Paris.

Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, has an incredibly simple recipe for pâte à choux, the dough that’s made on the stove and piped out for the profiteroles. You won’t believe how easy it is.

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16. French Onion Soup

As France’s capital, Paris has a little bit of everything, culinarily speaking. But French onion soup is a true Parisian original. Onion soup is probably ancient, but this particular recipe was introduced to the world in Paris in the late 1800s.

It’s the perfect thing to warm you up on a winter evening in Paris.

17. Bouillabaisse

One of my very favorite foods in France, bouillabaisse is actually from the Provence region bordering the Mediterranean. But you can find it in Paris, and it is a wonder! It’s a tomato-based stew with a variety of seafood from fish to prawns, depending on the chef and availability of seafood that day. Be sure to soak up the salty broth with a crusty baguette.

18. Coq au Vin

Another hearty favorite in Paris is coq au vin, which translates to chicken with wine. It’s an old recipe that uses a cock, meaning a male chicken that is older and not as tender. Thus, the French simmer the bird in a wine and broth combination for hours and hours.

The result? Falling-off-the-bone tender, flavorful meat. It also includes vegetables. My kids love this dish!

19. Madeleine Cookies

You may have heard of madeleines, the shell-shaped dessert that is like a small cake. I loooved buying a particular version from St. Michel, which is named after the famous Mont St-Michel abbey in Normandy.

They are more like sponge cakes, and thicker than traditional madeleines. And I just discovered they are available on Amazon! Try them here.

20. Boeuf Bourguignon

Another classic dish, beef cooked in red wine, is basically beef stew, but one to remember. This isn’t your mama’s Sunday dinner. Prepared with the attention to detail you’d expect, the meat is cooked for several hours and includes accompaniments such as root vegetables and mashed potatoes. Did I mention the mashed potatoes in Paris are also to die for? (butter, remember?)

*Bonus!!!

Chocolat Chaud

Not just a typical cup of hot chocolate! In Paris, it is made with actual melted chocolate, so it’s creamy and rich. But not as sweet as you may be used to in the states. Perfect for a chilly morning in a café.

Orangina

This one’s also so much fun! It’s carbonated orange juice. But not with a powdery fruit flavor, its real orange juice including a little pulp. It’s a children’s drink, but I love it.

There are so many incredible foods to try in Paris! A word to the wise: maybe lose of few pounds in preparation for your trip, and then enjoy with abandon. You actually will feel great with all the walking you end up doing in Paris.

And you will certainly come home with some culinary memories to cherish.