10 classic French dishes—and the best restaurants in Paris to try them

Hoping to experience a gastronomic journey on holiday? There’s no better place than Paris. Not only did the idea of a restaurant first originate here, French food is also known for its use of fresh seasonal ingredients, as well as attention to detail and technique.

You can try the best dishes in Paris on a food tour like this tasting tour around Le Marais, or browse markets with locals. But if you’re keen to embark on your own food adventure, we’ve curated a list of 10 must-eat food in Paris.

Before refrigerators were invented, the French developed the process of confit to preserve meat during the cold winter months. Duck confit is a salt-cured piece of duck that’s cooked in its own fat, resulting in meltingly tender meat and one of the finest French dishes. The remaining duck fat is often used to cook a side dish of potatoes.

Where to eat: The ever-crowded Bistrot Victoires serves a stellar duck confit in generous portions; come early or prepare for a wait. We also recommend La Grange Aux Canards—it’s no surprise that “The Duck Barn” is an expert in duck confit, with juicy meat that slides right off the bone.

Beef bourguignon, also known as bœuf à la Bourguignonne, is a French beef stew braised in red wine. Typically flavored with carrots, onions, garlic, and mushrooms, this hearty stew is a staple of Parisian bistros. Julia Child, who shone a spotlight on beef bourguignon in the cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking, described the dish as “one of the most delicious beef dishes concocted by man.”

Where to eat: Check out Au Bourguignon du Marais, where this house special is served in a little cast iron pot, filled with vegetables, potatoes, and tender beef. You can also try this traditional dish at Le Perraudin, a classic French restaurant conveniently located between the Luxembourg Gardens and the Panthéon.

Another bistro staple, a croque monsieur sandwich is made with thinly sliced ham and creamy cheese. Like a French toast, the bread is often dipped in beaten egg before it’s cooked. Its variation, the croque madame, simply includes a poached or fried egg on top.

Where to eat: Fric-Frac is a new restaurant vowing to bring the iconic sandwich to the masses, with modern variations like the “Shaolin,” which incorporates sweet soy sauce and Thai basil. Or go back to basics at Les Deux Magots, where you can people-watch while savoring a croque monsieur and hot chocolate.

A crêpe is a very thin pancake that originated in western France during the 13th century. A sweet crêpe is often made with wheat flour and served with a wide variety of fillings, such as jam, chocolate spread, preserves, maple syrup, and more. A savory crêpe, also known as a galette, is usually made with buckwheat, cheese, ham, mushrooms, and meats.

Where to eat: With top-notch organic ingredients, Breizh Café Le Marais embodies its slogan, La crêpe autrement (the crêpe done differently). Don’t forget to enjoy the delightful range of apple ciders available. Creperie Broceliande is a friendly local crêperie offering freshly-made crêpes, galettes, and ice cream. And while you’re in Montmartre, why not embark on this tasting tour of gourmet French food, where you’ll get to sample everything from cheese to chocolate?

Moules-frites, which literally means “mussels fries,” is a popular Belgian dish available in most French restaurants. This dish can be prepared in many different ways, such as marinière (white wine and onion sauce), natures (steamed with celery, leeks, and butter), à la crème (sauce thickened with flour and cream), and à l'ail (cooked with sliced or minced garlic).

Where to eat: Originating in Belgium, Léon is a brasserie with branches all over Paris. The restaurant specializes in fresh fish and mussels, which are served in large buckets. Or swing by Le Cafe Bruant for a great moules-frites lunch deal, where you can choose between three preparation styles and enjoy beer, coffee, and a generous portion of fries.

Did you know that people have been eating snails since the Stone Age? In fact, ancient Greeks and Romans considered escargots to be a superfood due to their high nutritional content—escargots are high in protein and low in fat content. In France, land snails are typically cooked with garlic butter, chicken stock, or wine.

Where to eat: Taste this iconic appetizer at Bistro V, a traditional French bistro run by chef Alan Kassi. We’ve also heard great reviews of Le Petit Pontoise, whose “heavenly” escargots come from a little farm near Paris.

Coq au vin, meaning “rooster in wine,” is a French dish of chicken braised in red wine, lardons, and mushrooms. Just like beef bourguignon, this “drunk chicken” recipe was popularized by Julia Child, who considered coq au vin as one of her signature dishes.

Where to eat: Michelin-starred Le Coq & Fils serves this classic dish with free-range chicken. Come by on Tuesdays to enjoy coq au vin paired with egg tagliatelle for lunch. Another must-try is La Jacobine, a small restaurant in the Latin Quarter.

There are numerous accounts of the macaron’s origins, ranging from Cormery to Venice, but what we can all agree on is how delightfully tasty this sweet treat is. A macaron, as we know it today, is a meringue-based cookie with buttercream, ganache, or jam filling. The best macarons have a crisp, airy shell and an ever-so-slightly chewy interior.

Where to eat: Enjoy afternoon tea in Ladurée’s elegant tea rooms. Founded by Louis Ernest Ladureé, it was his grandson, Pierre Desfontaines who catapulted the bakery to fame with the double-decker macaron. We also recommend Angelina, a historic tea room once graced by Coco Chanel. Apart from candy-colored macarons, you’ll also find excellent hot chocolate here.

A baguette sliced open, spread with butter, and filled with slices of local ham. Every day, over three million slices of the humble jambon-beurre (ham butter) sandwich are sold in France. Also known as the Parisien, the jambon-beurre first appeared in the 19th century market Les Halles as a protein-rich snack for workers.

Where to eat: Try this casual dish at Le Petit Vendome, praised by GQ Magazine. At Chez Aline, you can get a sandwich made to order right in front of you. You’ll even get to choose the type of ingredients you’d like, from Prince de Paris ham to pickled veal tongue.

According to legend, King Louis XV once returned to his hunting lodge to find the cupboards empty except for onions, butter, and champagne. That evening, French onion soup was born. Today, soupe à l’oignon is made with beef broth, caramelized onions, and often served with a piece of cheese-covered bread on top.

Where to eat: The French onion soup by chef Christian Le Squer is like no other—the three Michelin-star Le Cinq jazzes up this hearty soup with truffles, sweet onions, and thyme. For a more classic version, try Le Bistrot Mazarin or Au Pied de Cochon, a popular spot for a midnight snack.

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