Eating Cheap in Paris: 8 dinners for €15 or less
Paris has a reputation for being romantic, fashionable, and as most are quick to add, expensive. While the food is almost always quite good, a nice dinner in the City of Lights can run up quite a tab.
We highly recommend treating yourself to a classic French meal at least once during your stay, but for those other nights when you’d like to reign in your budget, it’s wise to have a few cheap and delicious options in mind. And remember, if you want to splurge, you can always go for a nice prix-fixe lunch. There are several great lunch deals starting from €14 that will fill you up in style, and help you save later with a light dinner.
Tips for Paris hotels:
• The Best budget accommodations in Paris
• Simple ways to save on your hotel in Paris
• 11 Cheap hotels with lots of character and charm
Our favorite cheap dinners in Paris
With that in mind, here are eight trusted Paris dinner spots, all of which can be enjoyed for less than €10.
1. L’as du fallafel: Delicious Middle Eastern eats
A Paris classic and perennial cheapo favorite in the Marais, L’as du fallafel attracts foodies from all over the world. And for good reason! The falafel sandwich here is simply fantastic, and at around €8, it’s one of the best deals in Paris. The only downside: Be prepared to wait in a line (but it moves quickly).
32-34 Rue des Rosiers
4th arrondissement
+33 1 48 87 63 60
Metro: Saint-Paul (Line 1)
2. Breizh Café: Savory and sweet crepes
A short walk from L’as du fallafel, Breizh Café serves up some of the best crepes in Paris. Paris food expert and cookbook author David Lebovitz loves the buckwheat versions with egg, ham and cheese. Try a savory one for around €9-12, and you’ll be full and happy all night!
109 Rue Vieille du Temple
3rd arrondissement
+33 1 42 72 13 77
Metro: Saint-Sébastien – Froissart (Line 8)
3. Krishna Bhavan: Spicy Indian food for less
Paris may not be known for its Indian food, but this place is a great option if you’re looking for something to spice things up. At Krishna Bhavan, you can enjoy a hearty dish, side, and drink for about €10 around the corner from Gare du Nord.
24 Rue Cail
10th arrondissement
+33 1 42 05 78 43
Metro: La Chapelle (Line 2)
4. Higuma: Well-priced Japanese menu
Rue Sainte-Anne in the 1st arrondissement is home to many tasty Japanese restaurants that serve a range of budgets. Higuma offers the perfect balance of delicious food and low prices. A bowl of ramen here starts at only €7.50 and most dishes are under €10.
32 bis Rue Sainte-Anne
1st arrondissement
+33 1 47 03 38 59
Metro: Pyramides (Lines 7 and 14)
Related: Cheap hotels near the Louvre
5. Bistrot Victoires: Tasty salads and French fare
A perennial favorite, Bistrot Victoire is classic, cozy and ideal for those traveling on a budget who want to enjoy authentic French cuisine. Try any of their amazing salads for €10-11 each.
6 Rue la Vrillière
1st arrondissement
+33 1 42 61 43 78
Metro: Bourse or Sentier (Line 3)
6. Chartier: Classic French on a budget
A tried and true budget eater’s paradise, Chartier serves up no-frills classic French food at crazy good prices. We love it so much, we wrote an ode to it on our blog. Mains range from €8.50-13.50, an exceptional value in modern day Paris.
7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre
9th arrondissement
01 47 70 86 29
Métro: Grands Boulevards (Lines 8 & 9)
7. Candelaria: Cocktails and tacos
A key player in the Paris bar scene, Candelaria is also home to some of the best (and only?) tacos in the city. For about €6 per taco, you can save on dinner before heading back to the bar to splurge on their amazing drinks.
52 Rue de Saintonge
3rd arrondissement
+33 1 42 74 41 28
Metro: Filles du Calvaire (Line 8)
8. Le Comptoir General: West African food and a cool vibe
Packing a cool bar, thrift store, hair salon, museum, and more into one space, Le Comptoir General is also home to some delicious and affordable West African and Caribbean cuisine. Try the assiette africaine for around €10, and then stay for cocktails!
80 Quai de Jemmapes
10th arrondissement
+33 1 44 88 24 48
Metro: Jacques Bonsergent or Goncourt (Lines 5 or 11)
Pingback: Paris, Je T’aime ― Mais Je Suis Raide: Visiting Paris on a Budget - GlobetrotterGirls
Why is there only foreign food on this list.
Another very good one in this price range for lunch is Le Rubis, a stone’s throw from St. Roch Church in the first arrondisement. They have a top selection of wines by the glass, pichet, etc. English spoken. Note that they are closed for some remodeling in late December 2016 through the first part of January 2017.
‘Address: 10 Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France
Phone: +33 1 42 61 03 34
glad i found your article!
thanks dear,we are heading to Paris next week,cant wait to try falafel:)
Now this is a way to dine in Paris on a budget! These restaurants, whether they cater traditional French food or a different cuisine altogether, look like they take their food seriously. That’s the thing that you can always trust in Paris: food is holy and will be treated with respect and as well as prepared with pride. Thanks for sharing!
Well, some of them are cheap according to Paris standards – one can always pick up a sandwich from a supermarket or pack a picnic with stuff bought from the market and sit by the river and enjoy (which is also a way of feeling like a local in Paris :)) We were there recently and compiled a list of cheap eats – again on an average 7-10 € per person: http://parisisparis.com/guides/restaurants/
Good choices, all…
Here are a couple more for the mix:
Creperie Broceliande, at 15 Rue des 3 Frères, 18e, just below Sacre Coeur and a couple of blocks from Abbesses metro. Like Brezh, it’s heart is in Brittany, and the crepes of all kinds are wonderful. You can be full for 10€ including a glass of cider.
And the Flunch cafeterias (one near Pl. Clichy/Rue Caulaincourt, one a block from Centre Pompidou in R. Beaubourg and one somewhere in the Chatelet/Les Halles complex) You buy a main (beef/chicken/fish) and after you pay, help yourself to all-you-can-eat vegetables and frites. Drinks and dessert extra.