8 Must-Try Traditional Foods In France

traditional food in france
Sidharth
Sidharth  
Updated
| 4 min read

Surrounded by mountains all around, France has lush grounds suited to grow grapes, vegetables, herbs and grains all year round. This rewards them with the finest wine in the world along with a variety of scrumptious dishes to feast on. From simple onion soups to delectable coq au vins, French food is full of rich flavours and finesse. Traditionally, the French have revered and cherished food and are well known for their sophisticated culinary styles and practices. Prepared with top quality ingredients, the traditional food in France varies by region and uses simple recipes to draw out the best flavours. Here is a list of eight traditional dishes you must not miss out on when you are in France.

1. Bouillabaisse

bouillabaisse
Source: Photo by Flickr user stu_spivack used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Bouillabaisse is a traditional seafood stew that comes from the port of Marseille. It includes a variety of fishes, like the Mediterranean bony rockfish, and other seafood such as octopus, mussels, sea urchins and crabs. The broth is simmered with potatoes, onions, celery and Provençal herbs and spices. Served with pieces of bread and a paste of rouille sauce, the Bouillabaisse is a classic French dish. Originally cooked in big pots by the fishermen of Marseille, this delicacy is enjoyed by seafood lovers all over the world. Try the best Bouillabaisse at Chez Fonfon.

Chez Fonfon

Address: 140, Vallon des Auffes – 13 007 Marseille, France

Website: Chez Fonfon

Visited this place?

2. Coq au vin

Coq au vin (Bourgogne) 02
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Arnaud 25 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Coq au vin or chicken in wine, is a renowned chicken dish that exemplifies the spirit of French cooking. It is made of chicken braised with wine, bacon, mushrooms and garlic. To get the best flavours, this dish is slowly cooked until the meat is tender and is then covered with wine. Traditionally, Burgundy wine is used for preparation. However, local wines such as Jura (coq au vin jaune) and Champagne (Coq au champagne) can also be used to make this dish. Try the best Coq au vin at La Rôtisserie d'Argent.

La Rôtisserie d'Argent

Address: 19 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris, France

Website: La Rôtisserie d'Argent

Visited this place?

3. Ratatouille

Ratatouille
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Babsy used under CC BY 3.0

Ratatouille also called Ratatouille Niçoise, is a vegetable stew that originated in Nice. This stew is made up of tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, bell pepper, aubergine, thyme, basil, marjoram and other Provençal herbs. Originally made by farmers in Nice, this nutritious dish is usually served as a side dish or stuffing for other dishes such as crepes. This French stew will take up all the vegetables in your garden and tastes best when each vegetable is separately cooked and then combined to further enhance their flavours. Try the best Ratatouille at Chez Janou.

Chez Janou

Address: 2 rue Roger Verlomme, 75003 Paris, France

Website: Chez Janou

Visited this place?

4. Soupe à l'oignon

Soupe à l'oignon
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ludovic Péron used under CC BY-SA 3.0

This traditional French soup made with onions is generally served as a starter. Slowly cooked and caramelized onions are served in a beef broth along with cheese and croutons. Other ingredients such as chicken broth, cognac, butter and beef consume can also be added to suit varying tastes. This soup is adequately nutritious with copious amounts of fats, proteins and carbohydrates and has origins as old as ancient Romans when it was used as the staple diet for poor people. Since then, simpler methods of cultivation and an abundant supply of onions has made it quite popular. The French have this bowl of heartwarming soup for lunch or in the late evening as the ultimate comfort food during the winters. Try the best Soupe à l'oignon at Au Pied de Cochon.

Au Pied de Cochon

Address: 6, rue Coquillière 75001 Paris, France

Website: Au Pied de Cochon

Visited this place?

5. Beef Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon
Source: Photo by Flickr user jeffreyw used under CC BY 2.0

Originally from the region of Burgundy, Beef Bourguignon is a beef stew braised in red wine along with onions, mushrooms, garlic and herbs. A well-made beef bourguignon is generally served with a plate of noodles, rice or boiled potatoes. It is slowly cooked to tenderise the meat at optimal levels and later braised and stewed before adding carrots, onions, garlic and mushrooms. Try this sublime dish the next time you are in a French restaurant. You can’t really go wrong with this one. Try the best Beef Bourguignon at Le Souffle.

Le Souffle

Address: 36 rue Mont Thabor 75001 Paris, France

Website: Le Souffle

Visited this place?

6. Cassoulet

Bowl of cassoulet
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user BrokenSphere used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Named after its traditional cooking pot, the Cassole, this slow-cooked meal contains meat (usually pork and mutton), white beans, and duck confit. With origins in the provinces of Languedoc and Gascony, in the south of France, the cassoulet is rich and flavourful and is an authentic example of a peasant country dish in France. Traditionally it takes three days to cook the dish but there are other simple recipes that can make a delicious Cassoulet in a few hours as well. You can have the best cassoulet in La Fontaine De Mars.

La Fontaine De Mars

Address: 129, rue Saint-Dominique 75007, Paris

Website : La Fontaine de Mars

Visited this place?

7. Niçoise Salad

Salade niçoise
Source: Photo by Flickr user cyclonebill used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Originally from the French city of Nice, this salad is made of olives, eggs, tomatoes, tuna or anchovies, onions, green beans, and potatoes. All chopped up ingredients are later dressed in olive oil, mustard and vinegar to make this yummy salad. You can get the best Nicoise Salad in Lou Balico.

Lou Balico

Address: 20 / 22 Avenue Saint Jean - Baptiste 06000 NICE

Website : Lou Balico

Visited this place?

8. Tarte Tatin

Tarte.tatin.wmt
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Wmeinhart used under CC BY-SA 3.0

This upside down pastry with caramelized apples and sugar was accidentally created at the Hotel Tatin in south Paris. Trying to make an apple pie, the cook left the apples in butter for too long and later tried to rescue it by baking a caramelized upside-down version of the tart. Surprisingly, it was appreciated by the hotel guests and later become the signature dish of the hotel. Tarte Tatin can also be made with other fruits like pears, peaches, pineapples or tomatoes. You can get original Tarte Tatin’s in Hotel Restaurant Tatin.

Hotel Restaurant Tatin

Address: 5 Av. de Vierzon, 41600 Lamotte Beuvron

Website : Hotel Restaurant Tatin

Visited this place?

Feast on...

With varied gastronomic delights in every region, it is not difficult to find traditional dishes that suit your palate in France. Take your pick from the list of the above-mentioned delicacies and tickle your taste buds.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

When Sidharth is not traveling or writing, he can be found honing his Spanish, indulging in Netflix binges, reading, swimming in the ocean, or simply daydreaming in a hammock.

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore France
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.