We Ate 5 Meals in Paris for €20 (What Locals Actually Order)
In this video our nephew Mick, a local Parisian, takes us to his favorite places for cheap eats in Paris, each with a meal for under €20. If you want to eat well in Paris without blowing your budget, and skip the tourist-trap sandwiches, these are the kinds of spots locals actually line up for.
The five stops
- A loaded sandwich shop famous with Parisians: meat from the butcher, a pile of cheese, avocado and vegetables, toasted panini style. About €15 to eat in and €13.50 to go when we filmed. Come early and avoid 12 to 1.
- Chez Aline, a former horse butcher turned sandwich shop, for a classic jambon-beurre with generous ham, good bread and butter. Ours was €6.40.
- A burger chain near the Opera: two burgers, bacon cheddar fries and two drinks for €13.40, but the burger itself was disappointing.
- A neighborhood kebab with fresh salad, onion, tomato and cucumber, homemade fries and homemade sauces, for €9.40. There is a cheaper vegetarian option too.
- A Texas-style barbecue spot with several locations in Paris: pulled pork smoked for 10 hours, vinegar coleslaw and pickles. The sandwich was €11, or €16 with a side and a drink.
What we learned
The best value was not always the cheapest place. The kebab was our surprise favorite, and dollar for dollar we would eat it ten times before the burger. The barbecue was a little pricey for Paris, but the meat melted in the mouth. And a line of locals out the door is usually a very good sign. Prices are from when the video was filmed.
Our tips for eating on a budget
- Go early, before the noon to 1 pm lunch rush.
- Taking food to go is often a little cheaper than eating in.
- Look for places where everybody speaks French and the menu is short.
For more ideas at every budget, see our guide to 125 Paris restaurants and our Paris Guide Bundle with restaurant picks by neighborhood. If you would rather have a local guide show you around, book a Devour food tour.