Known for its magical landscapes and romantic allure, Paris is a must-visit destination on almost everyone’s bucket list. But the experience is incomplete without tasting famous French dishes in Paris.
However, as a first-time visitor, the menu might completely baffle you.
You may ask yourself, “What are all the best local dishes to try in Paris?” while scratching your head. Coq au vin, Boeuf Bourguignon—what are those?
Rest your mind, because we’re here with the whole banquet of quintessential traditional French food to eat in Paris! This guide will not only educate you on French delicacies but also tell you where exactly to find them.
Keep reading to find out!
Best Local Dishes to Try in Paris
Paris is a food lover’s paradise, and when it comes to the best local dishes, you’re in for a treat. Here are some of the best local French dishes to make your culinary adventure in Paris truly unforgettable:
Local French Breakfasts in Paris
Who doesn’t want to wake up to dreamy local French breakfast dishes on a lovely Parisian morning? These are staples in French breakfasts that you will love to try.
1. Viennoiserie (Pastry)
- Croissant: Popular Viennese crescentic puff pastry with a golden-brown flaky texture, often paired with coffee.
- Croque Madame / Croque Monsieur: French ham and cheese sandwiched between buttered soft white bread, often served with an egg on top or cooked into the sandwich.
- Jambon-Beurre: A sliced, fresh, crisp baguette filled with ham and butter and often topped with cornichons and cheese.
2. French Bread
The French are known for their delectable bread, especially the iconic baguette, alongside Paine de Campagne and Pain Pollane.
3. French Cheeses
Most of the best French food in Paris is lacquered with famous French cheeses like Bries, Parmigiano Reggiano, and more. Celebrated for their ancient and traditional methods of making, they boast rich, creamy, and nutty flavors.
4. Jam & Butter
What better way to enjoy golden, soft bread than with delicious homemade fig, apricot, and strawberry jams? Additionally, you can spread butter, salted or unsalted, alongside your jam and enjoy a juicy bite.
5. Beverages
- Hot Coffee: Pair with local French cafe foods, like croissants, or sip on the famous regional roasting styles of France.
- French Hot Chocolate: A warm cup of thick, creamy chocolate, dark or milk, often topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
- Café au Lait: Popular French pressed coffee that consists of strong coffee and steamed milk and is served in large bowl cups.
- Milk: The “Land of Milk,” France, is laden with milk from goats, cows, and sheep, and is a popular beverage to drink or add to coffee or tea.
- Fresh Juice: Drink refreshing fruit juices from pineapples, grapes, oranges, and mango puree.
6. Omelets
Paris’s traditional food includes omelets for both breakfast and lunch. It’s a pocket of fried eggs with various fillings of veggies, meat, and cheese.
7. Yogurt and Fruit
Fresh, creamy yogurt is popularly eaten in France as parfaits or on its own. For more flavor, it’s topped with different fruits, chocolates, and flavorings, like strawberry, mango and other berries.
8. Formule Options
Restaurants usually offer set menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These usually contain an appetizer, main course, and dessert and are pretty simple to deal with.
Local French Lunch Items in Paris
Lunch food in Paris is always hearty and savory, and there’s too much to choose from. Below are the local items you will see on French menus in Paris.
9. Steak Tartare
Ground beef is served raw with an array of toppings and seasonings, including salt, pepper, capers, and shallots. The highest quality cuts of tender meat are presented in this dish.
10. Crêpes
Crepes are thin pancakes made from fried batter—like pancakes, but thinner. They’re eaten with different toppings and fillings like cream, fruits, caramel, and jams.
Some are eaten with savory meat and vegetable fillings.
11. Blanquette de Veau
This French veal stew consists of the meat simmered in its stock with wine and other garnishings. After that, it’s served in a mouthwatering white sauce at family dinners and lunches.
12. Coq au Vin
A creation of Julia Child, which translates to rooster in wine. Chefs braise chicken with wine and add mushrooms and lardons to create a savory concoction.
13. Moules-Frites
This is a dish of mussels and French fries, with the mussels simmered in wine with shallots and butter. The frites are often served with Dijon mustard.
14. Pot au Feu
Known as France’s national dish, “Pot on the Fire” is slowly boiled meat with vegetables and herbs. Beef is usually used and the meat is served separately from the broth.
15. Escargots
Small snails prepared with butter, herbs, and garlic are commonly served as starters in almost every French restaurant.
Local French Dishes to Eat in Paris For Dinner
French dinners are always hearty and full of elegant and savory dishes. You will find the most famous French food to try in Paris served during dinner, as shown below.
16. Boeuf Bourguignon
A popular globally recognized dish, Beef Bourguignon is beef braised in red wine and garnished with mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and bacon. The rich gravy is savory and loved by all.
17. Potatoes Dauphinoise
A popular side dish of potatoes with sliced potatoes slow-roasted with garlic and cream. This is often garnished with herbs for added flavor.
18. Cassoulet
Cassoulet is a delectable slow-cooked dish of meat, like goose, beef, mutton, and pork with beans, like haricot beans. This is best served with roasted garlic cloves to be mashed into the gravy.
19. Lamb Chops with a Cognac Dijon Cream Sauce
Roasted lamb chops lacquered in Dijon cream sauce simmered with Cognac. The cream sauce is made with Dijon mustard, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese for creamy goodness.
20. Duck Confit
A local culinary delight, the whole duck is marinated in duck fat and served with sauteed potatoes. Juniper berries, sage, and star anise are often used for a burst of flavor.
Local French Deserts in Paris
Paris food culture is known for its lovely dessert delights to calm your tastebuds after a savory meal. Hence, make sure to enjoy them on their own to sweeten your time in the city of light.
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21. Macarons
Macarons are meringue-based almond flour cookies sandwiched with soft buttercream. These are colored to indicate their flavors and are displayed colorfully to make a delightful view.
22. Tarte Tatin
This is a local pastry dish with apples and a generous amount of dark caramel. The crust is flaky and crisp, making for a delightfully sweet and crispy bite.
23. Paris-Brest
A flaky pastry ring of almond studs that is cut horizontally and filled with praline pastry cream, or praline mousseline.
24. Crème Brûlée
This is a creamy custard with vanilla flavoring, and the iconic golden sugary crust at the top breaks into this goodness. This is often served with strawberries and cream.
25. The Opéra
Named such due to its appearance like the Opera stage, this is a coffee-flavored velvety cake with a generous layer of chocolate on top. The cake is made of layers of almond-flavored sponge and coffee ganache.
26. Clafoutis
A thick, buttery custard encrusted with fruits, traditionally unpitted black cherries.
Must-Try French Foods in Paris
It’s easy to forget about things among the plethora of famous traditional French foods in Paris and lose track of them. But don’t fret; we’ve listed the must-tries below:
Gougère
A soft choux dough pastry that is graced with golden brown flaky skin. It’s filled with cheese of different kinds and baked until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This savory and cheesy French delight is best served with pre-dinner cocktails.
French Onion Soup
Prominent on the local French dishes list, this gastronomic wonder is a soup made with caramelized onions and beef stock.
The rich soup is then topped with cheese and bread, with Gruyere being a popular choice. But often, 3 types of cheese are used for the best blend of flavors.
Baguette Sandwiches
French baguette sandwiches are a local favorite and popular snack. The filling is typically made with chicken breast or ham and cheese, popularly cheddar or Gruyere.
With a drizzle of Dijon mustard and mayonnaise and added lettuce and tomatoes, the mix is spread over a horizontally cut baguette.
Cheese and Wine
Wine and cheese tastings are a fun and splendid activity that you must squeeze into your itinerary. Popular wine and cheese pairings are tried by sipping wine, biting into cheese, and eating it with the wine again.
Red wine and blue cheese and white wine and gruyere are some popular pairings to try.
Profiteroles
These are delightful, fluffy choux pastry balls that are baked until golden brown with a crispy exterior. They’re similar to Gougeres but with a custard filling and served with ice cream or chocolate.
Pain Au Chocolat
This is a popular breakfast item and something you will find everywhere when looking for French foods to try in Paris. It is pretty simple: laminated dough wrapped around a stick of chocolate and baked to a golden brown.
Charcuterie Platters
Charcuterie boards are well-known as a fancy delicacy, but they’re pretty common in Paris.
Hence, get an assortment of different cheeses with crackers, dried fruits, and smoked sausage. Prosciutto, dried apricots, grapes, and walnuts are commonly found on charcuterie platters.
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French Dining Etiquettes and Tips
- Start with a friendly “Bonjour” or “Bonsoir” to your server.
- Wait until your main course to enjoy the bread.
- Take your time, ask for recommendations, and communicate preferences.
- Keep your hands visible on the table, wrists resting on the edge.
- Seek guidance from the sommelier for the perfect pairing.
- Place the napkin on your lap once seated; dab your mouth; don’t wipe.
- Savor each course and finish everything on your plate.
- Engage in polite conversation, avoiding controversial topics.
- Tipping is not as common in France, but rounding up the bill or leaving a small tip is appreciated.
- Show appreciation with a simple “Merci” to the chef and staff.
Closing Notes
With all that being dished out, make sure to try these amazing dishes and drinks. Whether you’re in one of the French bistros in Paris or the best restaurants, you’ll always find a number of these local dishes.
And with the best local dishes to try in Paris come tips and ways to eat them that uplift the flavor more. Who knows? You may even discover new flavors in the process.
Bon Appétit!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is dinner time in Paris?
Dinner is usually served from around 8 PM to around 10:30 PM in bistros and any French restaurant in Paris.
What is France’s national dish?
Pot au feu is known as the national dish of France and a local in French cooking.
What drink is Paris known for?
Paris is well-known for its champagne, and three grape varieties are most popular: Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir.
Is there a white dinner in Paris?
Yes, there is an annual white dinner hosted in Paris called Diner en Blanc. The location is revealed at the last minute, and participants are required to dress in white.
Do French people eat pasta?
Yes, pasta is a common French meal in almost every household.
