France Food: 20 Dishes to Try

A quintessential French bistro dish featuring a perfectly seared cut of beef (often bavette or entrecote) served simply with a mountain of crispy, thin-cut fries and a simple sauce.

LuvsMG481 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

A rustic, savory tart from the Lorraine region, made with a rich custard of eggs, cream, and smoky bacon lardons in a flaky pastry shell.

Donna Alvita (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Melted cheese scraped fresh from a wheel or a small individual pan, served with boiled potatoes, pickled gherkins, and onions, offering a warm and savory experience.

Superbass (CC BY-SA 4.0)

This iconic Savoyard dish combines potatoes, smoky lardons, onions, and rich Reblochon cheese, baked until golden and bubbling.

Benoît Prieur (CC0)

This simple chickpea flour pancake is cooked in a round, copper pan until the edges are crispy and charred. It is the signature street food of the region, best eaten warm from a paper bag.

Paul Downey from Berkhamsted, UK (CC BY 2.0)

The quintessential French laminated pastry, renowned for its flaky layers and buttery richness, best enjoyed fresh from a local boulangerie.

Photo by Muhammad Fawdy on Pexels

Thin, versatile pancake served sweet with sugar or Nutella, or savory (galette style with buckwheat flour) with ham, cheese, and egg, making a satisfying quick meal.

David Monniaux (CC BY-SA 3.0)

A quintessential French dessert with a rich vanilla custard base topped with a contrasting layer of hardened caramelized sugar that cracks when tapped.

Takeaway (CC BY-SA 3.0)

A classic French stew of chicken braised in red wine, traditionally served with mushrooms, lardons, and pearl onions; in Tours, it often uses local Chinon or Bourgueil wine.

Beck from East Midlands, United Kingdon (CC BY 2.0)

A classic French toasted sandwich, featuring layers of ham and Gruyere cheese, grilled until bubbly and golden, often coated with a touch of Bechamel sauce.

Photo by Huy Phan on Pexels

A classic French pastry of flaky, buttery dough wrapped around a bar of dark chocolate, perfect with morning coffee or as an afternoon treat.

Luc Viatour (CC BY-SA 3.0)

A soft, airy flatbread with a distinctive leaf-like shape, often flavored with olives, anchovies, or herbs, making it a perfect snack or accompaniment.

Photo by Marina Leonova on Pexels

This fried or baked savory pastry is Monaco's national dish, traditionally filled with Swiss chard, ricotta cheese, and often rice or pumpkin, making it a unique local starter or snack.

Lemone (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The simplest, most iconic French sandwich, highlighting the quality of a fresh baguette, good ham, and rich butter.

Boulanger: Nat / Photographer: Nat (CC BY-SA 4.0)

This light, airy sponge cake, often flavored with lemon or orange zest, is a simple yet elegant regional classic perfect with coffee or tea.

An expertly curated selection of regional French cheeses, showcasing the country's diverse dairy heritage, often served after a main course.

CC BY-SA 3.0

A hearty Alsatian signature dish, this features sauerkraut slowly simmered with various cuts of salted pork, sausages, and often potatoes.

Miguel Discart (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Small, flat square pasta, typically made from buckwheat or wheat flour, often served au gratin with local cheese, cream, and sometimes bacon.

Hollowed-out vegetables like zucchini, tomatoes, or bell peppers are stuffed with a mixture of ground meat, breadcrumbs, garlic, and herbs, then baked until tender.

Tangopaso (Public domain)

A thin, buckwheat flour crepe often filled with classic combinations like ham, cheese, and a fried egg, offering a satisfying and versatile meal.

Andy Li (CC0)