Eating French cuisine is as quintessential as seeing the Eiffel Tower when visiting Paris, France. In this Paris food guide from the video-editing platform VEED, you’ll learn which 12 famous French foods in Paris you should eat — and one delicacy you shouldn’t!
If you seek out local cuisine when you travel, check out the rest of our Foods Around the World series. We have food guides for China, Dubai, Ireland, Japan, Latin America, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Singapore.
Now, continue reading to find out which 12 popular foods from France are worth eating when you visit Paris.
Disclosure: This foodie guide to eating the most popular French foods in Paris contains affiliate links. When you click on or make a purchase via one of these links, I may earn a commission.
Why Should Food Lovers Visit Paris?
Paris is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe, home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks and attractions, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum.
Though there is plenty to see and do in Paris, eating the most famous French foods is a must. Paris is such a food lover’s destination that foodie visitors are even making slow-motion videos to demonstrate how delicious the food from France is.
France’s food culture has a long and rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, and French cuisine is widely regarded as one of the first modern cuisines. Did you know the first cookbook was published in France in 1393? It contained over 600 recipes!
Of course, French food has evolved since then, yet it has retained its reputation as one of the world’s most delectable. French chefs are famously known for using fresh, high-quality ingredients, and cooking in France is an art.
Due to its famous cuisine, visitors from around the world travel to Paris and other renowned food and wine regions in France to savor authentic French cooking.
12 Famous French Foods in Paris
Now that you know a little bit about the history of French food and what makes it so special, it’s time to talk about some of the most popular French foods to try while visiting Paris. Here are 12 famous French foods that you must try at least once, but we certainly wouldn’t blame you for wanting second helpings.
Baguettes
The baguette is a well-known French staple. This long, thin bread loaf is typically made from wheat flour, water, yeast, and salt. It’s perfect for sandwiches or enjoying simply with a bit of butter.
Coq au Vin
Coq au vin is a traditional French dish that you’ll often see on menus at Parisian restaurants. This famous French dish is chicken braised in red wine until it’s incredibly tender, accompanied by mushrooms and lardons. You’ll find it mouthwateringly delicious once you tuck into this wholesome dish.
Crêpes
Another popular food in France that you’ll easily find in Paris is the French crêpe. In France, crêpes are thin pancakes commonly served for breakfast or dessert. Typically, French crêpes are made with wheat flour, milk, eggs, and a small amount of sugar. Crêpes in Paris can be eaten plain or filled with fruit, chocolate, or cheese.
Croissants
Indeed, the croissant is one of the most iconic French foods. This flaky, buttery pastry is absolutely delicious and perfect for breakfast or a snack. You can find croissants at pretty much any bakery in Paris, so be sure to pick up one (or two!) during your visit.
Croque Monsieur
The croque monsieur is a savory hot sandwich of ham and cheese, usually Gruyère. It’s said to have originated at Parisian cafés. So, why not give this famous Parisian sandwich a try at one of the best places to eat croque monsieur in Paris?
Escargot
Escargot is a traditional French hors d’oeuvre of cooked snails, most often prepared in herb or garlic butter. If you’re feeling adventurous, be sure to give escargot a try while you’re in Paris!
French Cheese
Did you know France is home to more than 400 different types of cheese? With so many varieties, it’s no surprise that cheese is one of the most famous French foods! Whether you prefer a creamy brie, a salty comté salé, or a tangy Roquefort, you will likely find a famous French cheese to suit your taste. While in Paris, try to taste as many different types as possible!
French Onion Soup
Of course, another popular food in France is onion soup. It is a hearty soup made with onions, beef broth, and various spices. Usually, it is topped with a piece of bread and cheese. It’s a tasty winter meal, but you’ll find French onion soup served year-round at restaurants in Paris.
Macarons
In addition to croissants, macarons are another popular French pastry. These colorful meringue-based confections have a thin crust and a soft, chewy center. They’re often filled with flavored creams or jams. You can even learn how to make this famous French confection during a macaron cooking class in Paris!
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a classic French dish of vegetables—such as eggplant, bell peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes—cooked in a tomato sauce and often served with rice or pasta. It is a healthy and delicious meal that you should definitely try while you’re in Paris.
Soufflés
Soufflés are light, airy French desserts of egg whites, sugar, and flavored custard. They’re usually served hot out of the oven, and they come in a variety of flavors. Chocolate soufflés are particularly popular French desserts, but you can also find fruit-flavored soufflés or savory ones made with cheese.
Steak Frites
Steak frites is a well-known French dish. It consists of steak and fries, usually cooked to perfection. This simple but incredibly delicious dish is one of the most famous foods in France.
French Delicacy to Skip: Foie Gras
Among the many delicacies of French cuisine is foie gras, which is made from the fatty liver of a duck or goose. Sought after by gourmands for its rich, buttery flavor, foie gras is said to be unlike any other duck or goose meat. In French cuisine, it is often prepared as a mousse or pâté.
Why don’t we recommend eating foie gras in Paris? Unfortunately, the livers of ducks and geese are fattened through a process called gavage, a form of force-feeding.
For about two weeks before slaughter, the birds are fed more than they would typically eat on their own through feeding tubes placed through their beaks and down their throats. This practice can cause a bird’s liver to swell up to 10 times its normal size and has been deemed cruel by animal rights groups.
To protect animal rights, foie gras production has even been banned in at least 20 countries. We encourage you to skip eating foie gras in Paris, and we don’t think you’ll miss it, considering there are so many other classic French foods to try in Paris. However, if you want to try this delicacy while traveling in Europe, this Spanish farm produces foie gras from wild geese without using force-feeding methods.
How Do I Pick a Restaurant in Paris?
If you’re looking for a delicious and authentic French meal in Paris, you’ll need to know how to pick the right place among more than 44,000 Paris restaurants.
Whether you plan to dine at a French restaurant awarded a Michelin star or one of the famous Paris cafes, here are a few tips for dining in the French capital.
Look for a Crowd
The hottest French restaurants are usually popular with the locals, so be sure to check out some of the neighborhood spots. It’s typically a good sign if a restaurant is full or a crowd is waiting to eat there.
Avoid Tourist Traps
Many restaurants in Paris cater to tourists, but they often lack the quality and authenticity you’re likely looking for. Instead, focus on finding hidden gems that are off the beaten path.
Check Menus Beforehand
Many restaurants in Paris post their menus online. Look at the menu ahead of time to see what kinds of dishes the restaurant offers. This will give you a general idea of whether or not the restaurant is right for you.
Trust Your Instincts
If you walk into a restaurant and it just doesn’t feel right, it’s probably best to move on. There are so many excellent restaurants in Paris that you’ll surely find one you love.
Ask the Locals
Lastly, consult the local Parisians you meet if you’re unsure where to eat. Your hotel concierge will likely direct you to a high-quality French restaurant and may even make a reservation for you.
With these tips, we hope you’ll have a delicious and authentic French meal while traveling in Paris.
Paris Food Tours & Activities
In addition to dining at French restaurants, bakeries, cafés, and markets in Paris, you can taste French cuisine on a Paris food tour.
Sample French cheeses, wines, pastries, and chocolate on a food tour of Montmartre, or meet local artisans as you eat your way through the oldest neighborhood in Paris on a Saint Germain des Prés food tour.
When in Paris, why not learn to bake like a pâtissier? Taking a cooking class, you can learn to make macarons, chocolate éclairs, or other famous French desserts.
Is a Parisian food tour or French pastry cooking class not the ideal activity for you? Paris offers even more culinary activities, including wine-tasting events, dinner cruises on the Seine, and guided day trips from Paris filled with food and wine tastings.
Find and Book Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
Where Foodies Should Stay in Paris
If you are craving a buttery croissant or savory cheese soufflé after reading about the famous foods from France featured in this post, then perhaps it’s time to book a trip to Paris! To start planning your trip, explore our recommendations below for highly rated Paris hotels.
Located near the Champs-Élysées, this luxurious five-star hotel, housed in a 19th-century mansion, features a world-class spa, a private library for hotel guests, suites with wine cellars, and chef Jérôme Banctel’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Gabriel.
At this French château in the quiet and elegant 16th arrondissement, you can relax in the Greco-Roman-style thermal baths of the Guerlain Spa and dine at the Michelin-starred Bellefeuille, where chef Julien Dumas crafts seasonal dishes using the freshest ingredients, including vegetables from the hotel’s organic garden.
A hidden gem near the Latin Quarter, this three-star boutique hotel receives rave reviews for impeccably clean and stylish rooms, a delicious daily breakfast, and welcoming staff.
Paris is a city that has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for amazing art and history at the Louvre or want to see the Eiffel Tower light up the sky, there’s no shortage of things to do in this City of Lights.
Which popular French food would you like to try in Paris?
Of course, no trip to Paris would be complete without tasting croissants, macarons, and the other French foods mentioned in this post.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on French food. Please share with us your favorite French dish or which one you’d like to try in Paris by leaving us a comment below!
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