What are the must-try foods in Paris?

This is a list of the best foods to try in Paris, even if it’s a quick trip!

In the land of love, these 5 popular dishes in Paris are worth the hype. Sometimes I expect the most popular dishes of a certain city or country to be a let down –  so overdone they tend to lose their authenticity. But not here. I noticed that the Parisian people are too proud to let their cultural dishes fall by the wayside and instead they make subtle twists to continuously update their presentations while keeping the traditional flavors center-stage.

5 Famous Foods to Try in Paris

French Macarons

Almost too pretty to eat, these decorative and often bright colored treats are essential to have while in Paris. I must admit, the first time I came across a macaron I felt a little like an ogre about to chomp down on something so dainty. I also thought that surely nothing that looked so cute would ever be able to deliver on taste. The craze was clearly because of their looks, right? So wrong. In fact, macarons start with such a subtle base – sugar, egg whites and almond flour – they’re able to take on a range a flavors beautifully. I’ve always been a sucker for pistachio but I’ll always opt for the most unique flavor offered.

The perfect macaroon is one that is so soft to bite into and pleasantly chewy to eat. No matter the flavor you choose, there is almost always a slight hint of almond.

Here I’m eating a Poppyseed-Raspberry Macaroon in Luxembourg Gardens. Talk about embracing a trip to Paris!

Buckwheat Galettes

One of my favorite dining experiences EVER in Paris was the morning I discovered Buckwheat Galettes and French Cider. I loved the combination, and that particular experience so much I’ve featured it in my Quest for the Best series as being the best Galette. These savory crêpes and cider are from the Brittany region in northwestern France.

When cooked properly, these galettes are paper thin, crispy and lacey and the buckwheat flour has a sweet but savory flavor. I’ve had my fair share of soggy galettes around Paris that are gummy and flavorless.

The base of a galette is typically filled with either Swiss or Gruyere cheese, slightly runny egg, along with a combination of additions like smoked salmon, mushrooms, spinach, onions, etc.

The experience is capped off with a dry, refreshing French cider that I’d swap out any mimosa for in a heartbeat. You know a place is “the real deal” if the French cider is served in mugs.

Stinky Cheese + Fresh Baguette

It seems that anywhere you look in Paris, a fromagerie (cheese shop) and boulangerie (bread shop) dot the street corners as often as Starbucks do in NYC. The French are serious about the quality of their bread and nothing pairs nicer than bread and cheese (and wine.)

I highly recommend asking for suggestions from the cheese shop employee. In fact, if you know nothing about cheese except that you hate soft cheese, perhaps type that into Google Translate on your phone. I always find this helpful for any language barrier. Google Translate isn’t perfect, but it’ll get the point across.

Try writing something like “Hello! Can you help me find a nice cheese? I like soft cheese and prefer a mild flavor.” Select English to French and show them your phone if you notice a language barrier and more often than not, they will be excited to help.

If you’re in the area of Luxembourg Gardens, I highly suggest packing a blanket, wine, wine cork, a few glasses, napkins and knives before picking up your bread and cheese so you can head directly for a beautiful picnic.

Escargot

The quintessential French dish that turns many American heads: Escargot. I think the idea of eating snails is tougher to handle mentally than physically for those not initiated. But in order to become a true foodie, I feel like everyone has to try it at least once.

I had to be brave, like the first time I tried an oyster. But oysters has much milder flavor than snails do.

First off, the snails served will still be in their shell and almost always served soaked in tons of garlic, herbs and white wine. The snail itself will taste a bit gamey, like liver and a bit minerally like the soil. It’s texture is chewy like a dense mushroom or overcooked mussel but shouldn’t be too rubbery as you’d expect, if cooked properly.

Pair it with a chilled glass of rosé  and enough bread for soaking up the garlic sauce.

Steak Frites

Nothing quite satisfies the tastebuds like a perfect rare cut of top-rated beef, crispy fries and a herbed mustard sauce with a touch of sweetness. You can find steak frites at almost any brasserie, where it’s common to see whole families dining until late in the evening.

Expect incredibly rare beef, maybe not like you should expect while in Florence, but close. Steak frites is a go-to meal but my favorite place to get the renowned dish is at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte. You can read more about it on my suggested itinerary for how to spend a day in Paris.

What else should you do while in Paris? Check out my guide for Paris: Sites + Bites.

Can’t get to Paris at the moment? Spoil yourself with my recipe for Buckwheat Galettes and grab a dry French Cider to pair with it for a fancy weekend brunch.