Delightfully Diverse: Dining in Paris
Hungry travelers in Paris need not fret. There are thousands of incredible cafes, restaurants, bistros, and bakeries for you to satiate your hunger at. There are also tourist traps that are often close to the attractions where the food is mediocre and expensive. I had the worst French onion soup at one of these places! Luckily I did eat at some of the best restaurants in Paris that serves cuisines ranging from classic French to Korean BBQ. Here are the places I absolutely loved and if you find yourself hungry in Paris, you can check them out too!
This casual Greek/Mediterranean restaurant is situated at the ground floor of Galeries Lafayette Paris Hausmann. It’s the perfect place to stop by for a deliciously healthy lunch in the middle of your shopping adventures. The eye-catching counter full of gorgeous fresh salads and baked goods will call out to you in the midst of all the other beautiful food in the vicinity.
The magnificent stained-glass dome in Galeries Lafayette is worth a visit too, and if you go to the rooftop of the mall, you will be able to see the Eiffel Tower.
40, Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
There are four Pho 14 restaurants situated throughout Paris but we went to the one in the heart of Quartier Asiatique in the 13th arrondissement. Quartier Asiatique is the largest commercial and cultural community for Asians in Paris so there are numerous Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian and Cambodian stores and restaurants in the area.
Pho 14 is especially popular with locals so if you go during peak lunch or dinner hours, be prepared to wait! The menu features not only the beloved pho, but also chả giò (deep fried spring rolls) and my personal favorite bánh cuôn (freshly steamed flat rice rolls with mushrooms and pork).
If you happen to go to Paris in the middle of summer, this is the place to be because it’s the only restaurant I went to that served freezing cold drinks with multiple cubes of ice.
129 avenue de Choisy, 75013 Paris
I did not know this when I dined there but apparently L’Avenue is a place that American celebrities love to go to for paparazzi shots. This really explains the group of loud American tourists who pulled up in two huge black Escalades and pushed their way in front of us. I’m quite sure they belonged to one of the Real Housewives franchises, but I’m not sure which one.
Even though L’Avenue attracts the rich and famous, you can be an average Joe and still be treated really nicely by the servers. You do have to book ahead of time because it is a popular restaurant and if you are not in a business lunch meeting, I’m afraid they will seat you in the room with all the noisy tourists.
The food is priced on the higher end but everything was deliciously cooked and impeccably plated. The morel mushrooms pasta in cream sauce blew me away! I would dine there again even if they seat me in the same room with the Real Housewives of every county!
The restaurant is located at the historic Avenue Montaigne, originally named Widows’ Alley in the 18th Century because women in mourning gathered there. Today, the area is lined with high-end fashion stores like Fendi, Chanel, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, amongst others.
41 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris
Tel: 01 40 70 14 91
Established in 1879, Le Bon Bock is the oldest restaurant in Montmartre. Stepping into the restaurant is like stepping back in time. The owners kept the original décor with dark wood panels, old paintings and a large chandelier which add vintage charm to the restaurant.
They serve classics like French onion soup, crème brûlée, duck confit, and grilled salmon with hollandaise sauce. To be honest my salmon was a touch overcooked but the soup and dessert were spot on!
2 rue Dancourt, 75018 Paris
Located at the top floor of the luxury mall Le Printemps Haussmann, Brasserie Printemps is a casually elegant restaurant serving modern French cuisine. It has several options for set lunches but I suggest you pick dessert in any of the options!
The best part of the restaurant is the incredibly colorful dome of the mall that almost covers the entire area. Created in 1923, the dome is a tribute to Paris and its love of fashion. The tables right under the dome have glass mirror tops so the mesmerizing stained-glass mosaic is reflected onto them. It’s one of the prettiest restaurants I’ve ever eaten at!
64 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Bong Restaurant is located in a quiet neighborhood that is walking distance to some of the attractions. Depending on where you’re coming from, you might walk past beautiful parks and monuments. When you reach Bong, the sweet and smoky aroma of BBQ will invite you in.
Many reviewers say that you need a reservation but we managed to get a table on a random week night. The food was authentic and the meat were nicely marinated. I especially loved all the banchans (side dishes) that filled our table.
6 avenue de la Republique, 75011 Paris
Tel: 01 48 07 86 54