You arrive in Paris.
It’s 12:32 pm.
You’re hungry… very hungry. You look around: a bistro that looks nice, a bakery that smells like warm butter, three neighborhood restaurants, and a kebab shop open 24/7. You want to eat well, but you hesitate… and the panic slowly rises.
 

Good news: this guide is here to help you avoid eating anything random and to understand what Parisians really eat, far from clichés and tourist traps.
It’s also the topic of the latest episode of the podcast Ohlala la France — but here, you’re going even further: typical dishes, meal times, trends, mistakes to avoid… everything you need to eat like a real local.

 

Clichés vs Reality: what people really eat in Paris

In the collective imagination, Parisian life is summed up as:
→ Croissants every morning
→ Foie gras every lunch
→ Cheese and wine every evening
 

Well yes, it can happen — especially the cheese and wine 😉 — but the reality is quite different.
 

Paris is a multicultural city, influenced by cuisines from all over the world: Asian, North African, African, Italian, Lebanese, Latin American… You can eat ramen at noon and a quiche in the evening.
 

Real Parisian food is a mix of French traditions and modern trends, easy, varied, and quick. Parisians have a fast-paced lifestyle: they often eat simple meals, sometimes on the go, and they love choosing the dish of the day.

 

Meals throughout the day in Paris
 

a) The Parisian breakfast

The typical French breakfast is nothing extravagant. No 4-star hotel omelette. No huge buffet.
 

The classic version:

  • Butter-and-jam toast

  • Coffee or espresso

  • Orange juice
     

The modern version, especially in trendy cafés:

  • Homemade granola

  • Artisanal pastries

  • Matcha latte

  • Pain au chocolat (or “chocolatine”… but not in Paris 😄)
     

Parisians love pastries, but they don’t eat them every day. It’s more of a weekend treat or a small moment of joy before the metro.

 

b) The Parisian lunch: the key meal of the day

In Paris, lunch is sacred. Many people take a real break to eat.
You’ll often find:

  • A lunch menu: starter + main or main + dessert

  • Classics: steak-frites, quiche lorraine, Parisian salad, croque-monsieur

  • Neighborhood canteens with a dish of the day
     

But Paris is also the city of quick lunches:

  • Ham-butter sandwich

  • Local bakery

  • Takeaway meal

  • Falafel in the Marais

  • Poke bowl, a huge trend in recent years
     

Eating fast but eating well: that’s very Parisian.
 

c) The Parisian dinner: theoretically light (but not always)

In the evening, Parisians should eat light: soup, salad, vegetables…
But between us… that’s not always what happens.
 

You’ll often find:

  • Bistronomic cuisine

  • Fish of the day

  • Gratin, risotto, homemade pasta

  • Sharing plates for a dinner apéro (very popular)
     

Dinner is also an important social moment: going out with friends, birthdays, after-work events, casual dinners…

 

The dishes people really eat in Paris

Even if Paris doesn’t have a very defined “regional cuisine,” some dishes have become iconic in the capital.
 

Everyday classics:

  • Boeuf bourguignon: not originally Parisian, but found in many bistros

  • Confit de canard: a must-have in traditional restaurants

  • Entrecôte-frites: the French dish everyone loves

  • French onion soup: perfect after a night out, served in some late-night bars

  • Escargots: not eaten every day, but iconic for visitors

  • Croque-monsieur / croque-madame: quick, good, efficient, very Parisian
     

Must-try pastries:

  • Chocolate éclair

  • Millefeuille

  • Religieuse

  • Lemon tart

  • Paris-Brest
     

 

Current Parisian food trends

Paris evolves every year, and this year is no exception.
Here are the current trends:
 

Vegetarian and vegan cuisine

Everywhere, all the time.
100% veggie restaurants, plant-based fast-good, creative dishes based on vegetables.
 

Asian influence

Ramen, udon, soba, bibimbap, bao.
Paris loves Asian food: accessible, flavorful, comforting.
 

Chic street food

Artisanal smash burgers, reinvented tacos, gourmet kebabs, signature sandwiches.
 

Specialty coffee shops

XXL cookies, all-week brunch, cinnamon rolls, specialty coffee.
 

Short supply chains and local produce

A strong eco-friendly movement: local producers, ethical grocery shops, natural wines.

 

How to eat like a true Parisian?

Here’s what locals do — and what you can do to avoid eating like a tourist.
 

✔️ 1. Choose small neighborhood bistros

Avoid chains near monuments.
Go where the menus aren’t written in English.
 

✔️ 2. Look for handwritten menus

A sign that there’s a dish of the day, meaning fresh products.
 

✔️ 3. Order the dish of the day

That’s what Parisians order.
Often the best value for money.
 

✔️ 4. Eat on the go

Bakeries, markets, delis… that’s the Parisian DNA.
 

✔️ 5. Avoid “tourist trap” terraces

You recognize them easily: menus in seven languages and astronomical prices.

 

Mistakes to avoid when eating in Paris

Even experienced travelers get fooled.
Here are the common mistakes:

  • Choosing the first restaurant near the Eiffel Tower

  • Thinking a good restaurant must be expensive

  • Forgetting to book dinner: fatal mistake

  • Leaving a big tip: in France, service is included
     

One or two euros is a nice gesture, but not an obligation.

 

Eating well in Paris is easy… if you know where to look

Paris isn’t just haute cuisine.
It’s a delicious blend of traditions, modern trends, and everyday habits.
 

The most important thing? Be curious, get out of touristy areas, taste, try, observe what locals order.
 

And you — what do you want to try in Paris?
French onion soup? Croque-monsieur? A melt-in-your-mouth boeuf bourguignon?
 

If you also want to speak like a real Parisian, not just eat like one…
👉 Join our conversation classes.
We’ll teach you to speak French naturally, without stress, in real-life situations — just like in Paris.