If you’re traveling to France, you undoubtedly have French food top of mind. After mastering how to order food in French, you can savor some of the best cuisine in the world. No matter how adventurous of an eater you are, everyone is certain to find something they love to eat in France. Keep reading to learn about the best French foods to try in France, including the most iconic and some lesser-known dishes we recommend enjoying.
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What makes traditional French foods so famous?
France is well known for its champagne, baguettes, frog legs, and many more iconic dishes, desserts, and drinks. While these famous French foods can certainly be found all over France, there are many more dishes to try! Each of these traditional French foods is made with carefully (and usually locally) selected ingredients, and highly-trained chefs and pastry chefs are usually at the helm. The French take their food and its quality very seriously!
1. Ratatouille (vegetable stew)
Perhaps one of the most famous French foods, ratatouille is surprisingly simple: stewed vegetables. While the exact recipe may vary from chef to chef, this famous French dish is usually comprised of eggplant, onions, peppers, garlic, zucchini and tomatoes. You might recognize it from the Pixar film of the same name!
Ratatouille originates in the southern French region of Provence, so it is not surprising to find herbes de provence in this dish, such as thyme and rosemary. No matter which French region you travel to, you are sure to find ratatouille on the menu (especially in the colder months). A lot of famous French food includes meat, so ratatouille is an excellent option for vegetarians and vegans who are traveling to France.
2. Éclair
The famous French éclair has travelled the world with many copy cats, but once you try an authentic éclair in a Parisian cafe, you’ll never be the same. The ingredients used are the highest quality and the methods are distinct and particular to achieve the perfect shape, flavor, and appearance. Chef Marie-Antoine Carême created the first éclair in the 19th century in Lyon, France, and the name means “flash of lightning.”
3. Crêpes
One of the most exported French foods is crêpes. Made from a batter of flour, butter, milk and eggs, this pancake-like dessert is easy to make at home. It can be mesmerizing, however, to watch the experts make crêpes on their large circle griddles in your favorite French city. Top with Nutella, bananas, or simply lemon juice and sugar. You can eat some crêpes on the French holiday of La Chandeleur on February 2 to celebrate the upcoming arrival of spring.
4. Escargots (snails)
For the more adventurous eaters, escargots is a classic French food to try. Cooked in a bath of butter, garlic, and parsley, this dish is a great appetizer to any French meal. While this snail dish originates from the French region of Burgundy, you can find it at almost any traditional French restaurant. Don’t forget to saucer (clean up your leftover sauce with your bread) to get all that delicious sauce!
5. Galettes (savory crêpes)
The savory counterpart to crêpes, galettes are made with buckwheat flour, which makes them naturally gluten free. In the Northwestern regions of Brittany and Normandy, galettes are often eaten for dinner with various ingredients like ham and cheese or perhaps with an egg. Usually served with a crispy dry alcoholic cider, this French food is certain to fill you up (before your crêpe for dessert). If you choose to make these yourself, be sure to select high quality ingredients as the French would do!
6. Flammekueche (Alsatian tarte flambée)
A more unusual French food is Flammekueche or tarte flambée. This pizza-like French dish is native to the French region of Alsace, which has historically belonged to both France and Germany. Flammekueche is traditionally made with a thin crust, white cheese, and lardons (bacon cubes). Since this dish is a bit harder to find at a typical French restaurant, you may need to do some research in advance when traveling to France, but it will be worth your effort. If you’re heading to Strasbourg for a Christmas market, you’ll increase your chances of sampling this delicious French pizza.
7. Cassoulet (bean and meat stew)
Originally from the southwestern French region of Languedoc, cassoulet is a must-eat dish in France. This French speciality is made with white beans and the chef’s choice of meat(s). You might enjoy duck confit, goose, or pork sausage (or all three) in this slow-simmered stew. The French are very intentional about seasonal ingredients, so the meat may depend on the season. Cassoulet also uses duck fat to enrich its flavor, which might become the thing you crave the most when you return home.
8. French onion soup
Another traditional French food is French onion soup. As delicious as it is easy to make, this soup is (unsurprisingly) packed with caramelized onions and topped with bread and cheese. It’s best to add the bread and cheese at the end of cooking and to broil it to get the cheese nice and crispy. The bread used is often a day-old baguette, as a way to not let good bread go to waste. Traditionally, beef broth is used in French onion soup, but if making it yourself, you can use vegetable broth instead.
9. Coq au vin (chicken with red wine sauce)
A delicious French meal to try from the Burgundy region is coq au vin. This braised chicken dish is traditionally simmered for several hours with a red wine sauce. Coq au vin is also usually made with mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots (usually from the garden or local farmers’ market), which are also simmered in the sauce. Hearty and comforting, this is a great dish to eat in the winter months.
10. Raclette (melted cheese)
If you’re a fan of cheese, then raclette is for you. Although originally from Switzerland, this melted cheese dish is enjoyed all throughout France. Meat, potatoes, and other vegetables are cooked on a small grill on the table, then topped with the melted cheese right onto the plate. This is different from fondue, which has a communal pot of melted cheese in the center of the table. You’ll enjoy raclette on your own dish, a cheese-lovers dream! Gather your friends to enjoy this lovely traditional French food together, the French way.
11. Crème brûlée
France has no shortage of iconic desserts and pastries, and the famous crème brûlée is one we can’t skip mentioning. With medieval origins found in France, England, and Spain, each version of “burnt cream” dessert is delicious. But to achieve a true crème brûlée the French way, the sprinkled sugar on the top must be carmelized until it’s like hard candy.
You want to hear a “crack” when you break through to the mouthwatering creamy custard beneath, so tap it with the back of your spoon to check! The trick is to avoid heating up the rest of the custard and ruin its shape while you’re carmelizing the sugar. But the French have mastered this, so if you see it on the menu, don’t hesitate to order it.
12. Steak tartare
Steak tartare is a French food that is hard to find in the United States, so eat up while you travel to France! The origin stories of tartare are mixed between French Polynesia and Central Asia, but you could argue the French have perfected it. This carnivore dish is comprised of carefully prepared diced raw beef, capers, onions, and cornichons, then topped with a raw egg yolk.
Normally served with baguette slices on the side, this is a specialty that is not to be missed. You’ll certainly get your essential vitamins, choline, and bioavailable minerals in a single serving of steak tartare!
13. Kir royale (champagne cocktail)
If you’re interested in pairing a classic French drink with your meal, kir royale is an easy choice. Made with iconic French champagne and crème de cassis (black currant liqueur), this cocktail is a beautiful pink color and tastes similar to sparkling blackberries. Invented in Burgundy in the 1840s, this drink is often used to ring in the new year in style.
14. Tarte tatin (apple tart)
This classic French dessert is found in most pâtisseries (bakeries) and is made with apples or pears. The fruit is caramelized with sugar and butter and baked in a buttery pastry dough. This upside-down apple tart was invented by the Tatin sisters, who served it in their hotel. Tarte tatin is perfect for dessert after a dinner party, but you can’t go wrong grabbing a slice to go at any local pâtisserie.
15. Quiche Lorraine
A famous food in France you might already be familiar with, this baked egg dish was named for the region in which it was invented. Quiche Lorraine has a savory crust, filled with Gruyère cheese, bacon, and onions. In France you’ll find this dish served with a side salad, often with a mustard-based vinaigrette. Although eggs are more common for breakfast in the United States, Quiche Lorraine is a common French lunch dish.
16. Croque monsieur (ham and cheese baked sandwich)
Another French food you can find on most lunch menus is Croque monsieur. It’s not your average American grilled cheese and ham sandwich, either. This sandwich is made with ham, Gruyère and parmesan cheese, and a delicious bechamel sauce made from butter, flour, and cream.
The parmesan cheese goes over the top of the sandwich and is broiled to melt it down and make the flavor that much more addicting. If you like fried eggs, you can get one on the top of this sandwich, which then is called a Croque madame.
17. Kouign-amann (round Breton butter pastry)
Kouign-amann is a lesser-known, sweeter cousin of the famous croissant. While it’s almost mandatory to try a traditional croissant in France, you can take it a step further with this sweet delight. A kouign-amann has a round shape instead of a crescent-moon shape and is baked slowly to allow the butter to melt into the layers of the pastry. This decadent dessert comes from the northwestern region of France: Brittany. If you’re unable to find a fresh one, bring it home and heat it up in the oven to get the full buttery experience.
18. Bûche de Noël (Yule log)
For those wishing to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s in France the traditional way, make or buy a bûche de Noël (yule log). This chocolate Swiss roll is cut up and decorated with chocolate frosting to look like a log you just brought in from the forest. Add your favorite holiday cake decorations to make this a memorable way to say bonne année (happy New Year)!
19. Boeuf bourguignon (braised beef in red wine sauce)
Similar to coq au vin, this braised beef dish is also left to simmer for hours in a red wine sauce. Named for the Burgundy region in which it originated, Boeuf bourguignon (beef bourguignon or beef Burgundy) is made with beef brisket or marbled chuck steak, red wine, carrots, pearl onions, and garlic. Sage, thyme, and rosemary are also used as herb flavors in this dish. Julia Child made a famous version of this recipe that is still her most popular, though it involves many essential steps. Pair with a red wine from the Burgundy region for a classic French meal.
20. Salade niçoise
Named for its beach-side city of origin, Nice, this French food is perfect for those wishing for a lighter but satisfying meal during the hot summer months. This salad features hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, tuna and olives. You may also find peppers and artichokes added by some chefs. Served on a bed of lettuce with a vinaigrette, this surprisingly filling salad is perfect for an evening meal on your warm summer honeymoon in the south of France.
21. Tartiflette (potato and cheese casserole)
For those preferring a winter ski vacation in France, tartiflette is a hearty French food perfect for your après-ski. This baked casserole includes potatoes, lardons (bacon cubes), cream, onions, and cheese. You might say it’s the French version of scalloped potatoes. Native to the Savoy region in France, this French classic is sure to warm you up from the inside out.
Sample the best French foods after learning French with Rosetta Stone
Now that you know what you’re going to order, take your French language skills even further with Rosetta Stone. Master French food words and more with the ease of the Dynamic Immersion method. Travel with confidence and prepare to say bon appétit with Rosetta Stone!
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