When you move to Paris, suddenly everyone wants to come visit you.
It’s wonderful to see so many friends and family, but their visits present a dilemma: Where should you eat?
Where do you go for meals that are not only so delicious that you don’t mind eating there repeatedly — but doing so will not break the bank?
See, I’d love to be able to take every one who visits me to Verjus or Café Constant, but I simply don’t have the budget.
So after a year of playing host, I’ve been able to compile a list of my favorite wallet-friendly places to eat in Paris.
If you want to know where I’d take you if you ever came to visit me in Paris, this is the definitive list. If someone’s in town, if another blogger wants to meet up — nine times out of ten I end up at one of these places. I’ve been to each one so many times, I know the staff and often they recognize me as well.
So to celebrate the close of my first year in Paris, I proudly present:
Where to Eat in Paris on a Budget
{MEALS}
Breizh Café
109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003
Metro: Saint-Sébastien – Froissart (I prefer to go to Hotel de Ville and walk through the Marais)
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
What to order:
In this cozy little restaurant in the Marais, €5 you will get the best salted caramel crêpe of your life. For a more filling meal, order a savory galette (€7-10) — or get both, and split the food (and cost) between two people.
Le Nemrod
51 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006
Metro: Rennes
Open every day
What to order:
The croque monsieur is essentially a ham and cheese sandwich. The croque madame takes it one step further by adding an egg on top, and Le Nemrod takes that a hundred steps further with their amazing croque poilâne, a €10 meal that never fails to leave guests so full they usually don’t even have room for coffee.
L’as du Falafel
34 Rue des Rosiers, 75004
Metro: Saint-Paul
Closed Saturdays
What to order:
All of this is yours for just €5.50 at L’as du Falafel, a joint in the Marais so popular you can tell you’re getting close just by the number of people you’ll see walking down the street holding falafels. There’s often a long line, but don’t worry — the staff move so quickly you won’t be in it for long.
Cyclo
78 Rue de Belleville, 75020
Metro: Pyrénées
Closed Sundays
What to order:
I’ve tried my fair share of Asian restaurants in Paris, but none satisfy a craving for Vietnamese food better than Cyclo. While the pho is decent, it’s their authentic bo bun (€8) that keeps me coming back for more.
{SWEETS}
Le Moulin de la Vierge
166 Avenue de Suffren, 75015
Metro: Sèvres-Lecourbe
Closed Thursdays
What to order:
Look, I’ve tried more eclairs than I can count in the past year, so I’m just going to call it: This is the best café éclair in Paris. (€2.30 each)
Pierre Herme
Various locations, check here
What to order:
While my favorite is actually the salted caramel, for a taste of Pierre Hermé’s genius you have to try one of his more unique flavor combinations — olive oil and mandarin is a proven crowd pleaser; the more adventurous might also like to try his foie gras macarons. (€1.95 each)
Kooka Boora
53 Avenue Trudaine, 75009
Metro: Pigalle
Open every day
What to order:
This Australian café is the ultimate place to have a light lunch and get work done thanks to their free wifi and tolerance for people who nurse a single cappuccino (€3.50) for hours on end. Of their various pastries and breads, I’d highly recommend the carrot cake (€4).
Pozzetto
39 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004
Metro: Hotel de Ville
Open every day
What to order:
This Italian shop serves up gelato made from fresh ingredients in a variety of flavors, from which you can choose as many as you like no matter the size cup or cone. Pozzetto also pulls the best espresso shots I’ve ever had in Paris. (Gelato starts at €3.90)
Berko
23 Rue Rambuteau, 75004
Metro: Rambuteau
Closed Mondays
What to order:
The cheesecakes at Berko are filling enough to replace an entire meal, and come in so many flavors it’s hard to decide on just one. The mini cupcakes, pretty as they may be, aren’t as satisfying so I’d recommend passing on those. (Cheesecake €4-5 a slice)
Angelina
226 Rue Rivoli, 75001
Metro: Tuileries
Open every day
What to order:
At €8, Angelina’s chocolat chaud may not be the cheapest in terms of value, but it’s a Paris institution and everyone should go at least once — if not for hot chocolate, than for a mont blanc, or simply to sit in the beautiful tea room. If, like me, you’re not a huge chocolate fan, try the chocolat chaud blanc (white hot chocolate) instead of the famously rich chocolat l’africain.
Have you been to any of these places? Which one’s your favorite? If you have a favorite meal or restaurant in Paris that you think deserves to be on this list, let me know!
I'm an American writer in Paris and serial expat addicted to living abroad. I believe in traveling while you're young – and that it's possible to balance long-term travel, a career, and a relationship at the same time. I first moved abroad at 18 and have been permanently overseas since graduating in 2010. I've built a career in media and journalism through living in China, Singapore, and Paris, and covered sports events from London to Azerbaijan. I currently travel solo while engaged to someone 6,000 miles away. 
I’ve got to put a word in for the mogador macarons at Pierre Herme. Passionfruit and chocolate and that famous speckled shell — to die for.
Totally agreed (but no surprise there, I’m a die-hard Pierre Herme loyalist — if they weren’t €2 a pop I’d probably buy a box every day) and that’s a good one since mogador’s always in stock. I wanted to suggest some of the holiday flavors but they won’t be around very long :/
Mmmm, YUM! Do you ever get tired of food over there, or is it just so good that getting tired of the food doesn’t happen?
I do get tired of a certain type of food after a while — no matter how good French food may be, sometimes you just want to leave the baguette for a good bowl of noodles!
Salted caramel cheesecake?! Oh man, Paris and its crazy wonderland of deserts. :9
Salted caramel, speculoos, oreo, red velvet…that place seems to have it all
Just came across your site and this list of best places to dine. We are headed to Paris in January and I have printed this list to take with us. Thanks for sharing!
Great timing! Hope you’ll find it useful, Patti — let me know how your trip turns out!
My 11 year old and I are spending a week in Paris at the end of April, and I came across your site while getting ideas for places to eat. Thank you!!
I’m already drooling over the Salted Caramel cheesecake!
No problem! Enjoy your trip!
WHAT AN AWESOME LIST!! Am definitely bookmarking this for future foodie outings in Paris. I am a big fan of the Breizh Café myself :)
x Milsters
(http://www.littlepiecesoflight.com/)
I’m surprised you haven’t been to all of these places already! If you want me to join, you know where to reach me…
The last time I was in Paris, I self-catered the entire time (no hardship when you’ve got bread and cheese that good!) because of the price of dining out, so this is a list I will cherish on my next visit! I admit, I did splurge once and had a falafel somewhere in the Marais (perhaps the place you mention?) and it really was good!
Definitely not hard to do — in fact, whenever friends are willing to come over to my place instead of going out, we just grab a load of cheese and wine at the supermarket and a baguette at my local boulangerie — and it’s still less than €10!
I think I may have to come and visit you…don’t leave Paris anytime soon, OK?
One of my co-workers was doing some things behind me and stopped when he noticed the screen and was reading over my shoulder saying how everything looks delicious haha!
You better come quick, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here… Thanks for letting me know about your co-worker, that kind of made my day!
Hi dear… thanks for the tips… In fact, I wanted to go to Cyclo last time my parents visited, but it was so empty that I thought it wasn’t good. But if you say it is really good and now I also know what to order I might be giving it a new visit :)
wish you a wonderful day,
From Paris with love, Vicky
Oh no! Definitely pop in the next time you’re in Paris. Thanks for reading, Vicky!
I would eat at any of these places in a heartbeat! I’m particularly craving falafels right now, and there is always room for cheesecake!
“There is always room for cheesecake” — so very, very true.
See… that bo bun looks pretty dang close to the real thing, E. Lol, I can’t believe we came so close yet were so far – we should have visit. :(
Haha yes but it’s still €8 and on the other side of town so I really have to commit myself to a trek out there! Not like Vietnam where you just walk out your door and, bam, there’s some cheap, delicious pho right on the street. And I KNOW I cannot believe you guys didn’t pass through Paris!
UM I need to eat all of this. Immediately. Especially the bo bun.
Dude. Let’s go. You know where to reach me.
Yikes. I could have used this two months ago. You are making me hungry
Keep this coming
Turner
Sorry Turner — you’ll just have to come back to Paris sometime soon!
Yep, I’d be happy if you took me here. Except not going to lie I’d totally have to have you direct me to the Chipotle.
Haha I would be more than happy to go to Chipotle with you!
YES. I love me some L’As du falafel. No idea how they get their falafel so darn crispy and addictive. I will drain half of bottle of that squeezey hot sauce on the tables too. Very un-French!
And Pierre Hermé. sigh. I miss that man and his macarons.
Sounds like it’s time for you to make another visit =)
I love Pozzetto! I remember unexpectedly coming across it on a hot summer day a few years back and thinking it was some of the best gelato I’d ever had, and I still think that.
It’s a great find for sure, especially when the weather’s a bit nicer!
Wow, all of those places look absolutely fantastic! Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll surely keep them in mind. If you are still in Paris in a year or two I’ll come stalk you – I mean, visit!
I hope you do!
This is top! and visitors from overseas?? i’ve had weeks where it felt like I’ve never left home at all! Your list is awesome :)
x, Grace
Thanks Grace! Would love to know where your top spots are, you’ll have to take me some time!
These all sound delicious, especially the eclairs. Yum!
They are incredible, I’m so glad I don’t live closer to the eclair shop or I’d be eating one every day and gaining twenty pounds off them alone!
You had me at salted caramel cheesecake! YUM!!!
Oh man, they’ve got so many flavors of cheesecake and cupcakes, it’s kind of ridiculous.
Awesome list. I’ve very impressed that they’re not all €9.99 like so many # under €/$/￥ lists that you see out there :)
I was also lucky and well prepared for this list- just had a slice of our bouche de noel or I’d be hunting down a macaron on Christmas Eve in NYC!
Girl please, I am a total cheapskate. Also, in Paris they use €9.90 not €9.99 :) By the way, love that you know to prepare before my food posts now haha!
looooove l’as du falafel, the falafel are as big as your head, it’s crazy! i’ll have to check your list before my next visit!
They are — I haven’t eaten one in months because I know I actually get too full from them! Let me know the next time you pop over for a visit :)
What a great list! Paris can be so expensive, but its great to know I can eat delicious foods on a budget! Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks Kae Lani! That’s exactly why I wrote it — so people like me on a budget don’t feel like they have to miss out on the amazing food in Paris :)
Hi,
I just discovered your blog, and I really like it so far :)
I’m a french parisian living somewhere else at the moment, and it’s very interesting to have your views and opinions about my city. Some of your posts make me feel homesick actually, it means you’re doing a good job :)
Anyway, if people are still reading this post, maybe you should try this too:
-If you have a nice weather (probably not in january ^^), go to Saint-Michel, enjoy Notre Dame cathedral and go buy a Berthillon sorbet in almost any café in the area (St Louis Island). It’s amazing.
-You probably know what a crepe is, with butter and sugar or nutella etc … But did you try the salty version sometimes called “galette” ( made with a different flour). The most famous kind is the “complete ” (full), with ham, cheese and egg but there are many others and a lot of em are under 8 euros. Try breizh cafe, 109 rue vieille du temple, 75003 or creperie du comptoir, 3 carrefour de l’odean, 75006.
Well, I can give a few more ideas, but I don’t know if people are still gonna read this, just in case, enjoy your trip :)
Hi Jeff — yes, if you’re feeling homesick that is definitely a compliment, so thank you! Cheers for the other recommendations as well, I’ve been to Breizh (many times…they know me there now) but I haven’t heard of the others so will try to check them out!
Ok, I just noticed that the crepe thing was your first entry.
I’m gonna hide somewhere … with my shame. Sorry about that
Haha no worries Jeff!
great post. definitely will use as our food guide for incoming paris trip!
Glad to be of help, enjoy your trip!
Edna, reading your descriptions of these restaurants made me soooooo hungey for all of the food you described. We’ll be visiting Paris for the month of June staying in the Marais. We will definitely try every one of your recommendations.
Thanks,
Norman
Glad I could help, enjoy your trip! I love the Marais, it’s a great place to live!
any good budget meals around Arc de Triomphe, effiel tower or the louvre? i have 24 hours in Paris coming up in May and while your list is great, i dont think i will have enough time to visit them as i will be mainly around all the touristy areas. the cheesecake looks amazing! :)
What a great list! We tried L’as du Falafel and loved it. We are there for lunch three times in our month long visit.
Paris is an expensive city for sure but you can actually holiday (and really experience it) without feeling like your missing out on anything or having to sit at home and eat toast. We have been living and loving Paris for under AUD $70 a day (including accommodation).
Wish I had known this list of yours, when we visited Paris !! However, we still have 2 to-do’s in Paris:L the Eiffel Tower (we were there twice and haven’t been on it) and the Arab Art Museum