We get it—you came to Paris to enjoy world-famous French cuisine. But here’s the problem: many restaurants cash in on tourists by serving overpriced, mass-produced versions of classic French dishes.
Instead of an unforgettable meal, you could end up with microwaved food, stale bread, or a dish that no Parisian would ever order.
🚨 But don’t worry! Here’s how to avoid the biggest food tourist traps in Paris and what to order instead.
Some of these dishes might surprise you… but trust me, Parisians know better! If you see these on the menu, think twice before ordering.
👉 Worst of all? Some of these cost DOUBLE the price of better, more authentic options.
Let’s dive in…
1. French Onion Soup (Often Frozen & Overpriced)
You probably picture a steaming bowl of French onion soup, topped with golden, melted cheese and crispy bread. But the reality? In many tourist-heavy cafés, what you get is a microwaved, pre-made version that’s been sitting in a vat all day.
❌ Why It’s a Tourist Trap:
- Most restaurants serving this dish don’t make it fresh—they just reheat a mass-produced mix.
- The cheese and bread topping is often low-quality, soggy instead of crispy.
- Locals? They never order it outside of winter and only in high-quality bistros.
💸 The Scam:
Tourists pay €12-15 for a dish that costs pennies to make—and rarely lives up to expectations.
✅ What to Order Instead: Soupe de Poisson (Fish Soup)
This flavorful, rich fish soup is a favorite in authentic Parisian brasseries. It’s always fresh, homemade, and served with garlicky rouille sauce and croutons.
👉 Where to Find It:
- Bistrot Paul Bert (Classic French bistro with incredible soups.)
- Le Bar à Huîtres (Great seafood-focused brasserie with fresh soups.)
- Chez Michel (Known for their fish dishes and hearty French flavors!)
2. Croque Monsieur (Low-Quality Bread & Cheese)
You’d expect a delicious, crispy grilled sandwich with rich cheese and ham, right? But at many Paris cafés, you’ll get a greasy, disappointing mess!
❌ Why It’s a Tourist Trap:
- Cheap white sandwich bread instead of crusty artisan bread.
- Rubbery, mass-produced cheese that doesn’t melt properly.
- Minimal or poor-quality ham, often tasteless and dry.
- Served soggy and microwaved instead of crisp and golden.
💸 The Scam:
Cafés in tourist areas charge €10-12 for a sandwich that’s lower quality than a €5 supermarket snack.
✅ What to Order Instead: Jambon-Beurre Sandwich (Ham & Butter Baguette)
This is THE real Parisian sandwich. It’s simple yet absolutely perfect when made right. You get:
- A fresh, crusty baguette
- Real French butter
- High-quality jambon de Paris (ham)
👉 Where to Find It:
- Chez Aline (A tiny, legendary sandwich shop known for perfect jambon-beurre!)
- Maison Landemaine (A great boulangerie with top-tier ingredients.)
- Le Petit Vendôme (Authentic Parisian café with some of the best sandwiches!)
3. Escargots from Tourist Cafés (Bland, Overpriced, & Frozen)
Escargots (snails) are one of the most famous French delicacies, but if you order them at the wrong restaurant, you’re getting mass-produced, low-quality escargots.
❌ Why It’s a Tourist Trap:
- Most tourist trap places use frozen snails instead of fresh ones.
- Overcooked and rubbery texture.
- Way too much butter & garlic (used to cover up poor quality).
💸 The Scam:
Some tourist restaurants charge €15-20 for a plate of frozen, low-quality snails that lack the rich, garlicky flavor of fresh escargots.
✅ What to Order Instead: Fresh, High-Quality Escargots from a Real Bistro
For delicious, expertly prepared escargots, you need to visit a place that actually cares about fresh ingredients and traditional preparation.
👉 Where to Find It:
- L’Escargot Montorgueil 🏆 (One of the most famous escargot restaurants in Paris!)
- Bouillon Pigalle (Affordable but authentic—perfect for first-time escargot eaters!)
- Le Comptoir du Relais (Classic bistro known for doing French dishes right.)
4. Macarons from Tourist Shops (Overpriced, Dry, and Low Quality)
Macarons are a must-try in Paris—but the ones sold in souvenir shops and tourist-heavy bakeries are often dry, artificial, and overpriced. Many stores sell factory-made macarons that have been sitting out all day.
💸 The Scam:
Some places charge €2-€3 per macaron for low-quality versions, just because tourists expect to buy them!
✅ What to Order Instead: Macarons from an authentic Paris bakery
Go to a real pâtisserie for freshly made, perfectly balanced macarons.
👉 Where to Find It:
- Pierre Hermé 🏆 (Considered the best in Paris! Rich flavors like rose-lychee & passionfruit-chocolate.)
- Ladurée (A classic choice, but best enjoyed fresh.)
- Jean-Paul Hévin (For chocolate lovers—his chocolate macarons are legendary!)
5. Steak Frites at Tourist Cafés (Tough Meat & Frozen Fries)
The classic French steak frites sound great, but most tourist cafés serve tough, low-quality beef with frozen supermarket fries. A dry steak + soggy fries = overpriced disappointment.
💸 The Scam:
Restaurants in touristy areas charge €25+ for cheap cuts of beef that Parisians wouldn’t order.
✅ What to Order Instead: High-Quality Meats
For a real Parisian steak experience, go to a specialty bistro that sources high-quality meat and makes fresh, crispy frites.
👉 Where to Find It:
- Le Relais de l’Entrecôte 🏆 (Famous for unlimited steak frites with their secret sauce!)
- Boucherie Les Provinces (A butcher shop where you pick your own steak and they cook it for you!)
- Robert et Louise (Old-school bistro with a wood-fire grill—amazing meat!)
6. Crêpes from Street Stalls in Tourist Zones (Rubbery & Flavorless)
A warm, freshly made crêpe sounds amazing—but many street vendors in tourist hotspots use pre-made batter that results in bland, rubbery crêpes. Some places even microwave pre-made crêpes instead of cooking them fresh.
💸 The Scam:
Vendors near Montmartre, Eiffel Tower, and Notre-Dame charge €5-€8 for low-quality crêpes with cheap Nutella.
✅ What to Order Instead:
Find a real crêperie that makes light, crispy crêpes with fresh, high-quality ingredients.
👉 Where to Find It:
- Breizh Café 🏆 (The gold standard! Gourmet crêpes with organic buckwheat flour.)
- La Droguerie du Marais (Tiny spot in the Marais—fresh, made-to-order crêpes.)
- Chez Alain Miam Miam (Known for huge, delicious sweet & savory crêpes!)
7. Cheap Champagne from Souvenir Shops (Fake “French” Champagne!)
🍾 Why It’s a Tourist Trap:
Many souvenir shops and even some restaurants sell cheap sparkling wine labeled as ‘Champagne’—but if it doesn’t come from the Champagne region, it’s not real Champagne! Some bottles are just low-quality Prosecco or generic sparkling wine.
💸 The Scam:
Tourists pay €30-€50 for fake or mass-produced “Champagne” that costs €5 in supermarkets!
✅ What to Order Instead:
If you want real Champagne, check for a “Champagne AOC” label or go to a wine bar that serves quality French bubbly.
👉 Where to Find It:
- Legrand Filles et Fils (Historic wine shop with top-tier Champagne selections.)
- Caves Augé (Oldest wine shop in Paris, with amazing Champagne options!)
- Dilettantes Champagne Bar (A Champagne-only wine bar—perfect for tasting real French bubbly!)
Final Thoughts: How to Eat Like a Local in Paris
- Avoid restaurants with menus only in English. Look for places with French-language menus (with translations available but not dominant)
- Skip places that push waiters outside to pull in tourists.
- Look for busy restaurants with locals, not just tourists! A good mix of both locals and tourists is a good sign that the food is Parisian approved.
- Opt for restaurants with seasonal, changing menus (not the same menu all year)
Recap: The Worst Tourist-Trap Foods & What to Eat Instead!
❌ French Onion Soup → ✅ Soupe de poisson (fish soup) at a brasserie
❌ Croque Monsieur → ✅ Jambon-beurre sandwich from a boulangerie
❌ Escargots from Tourist Cafés → ✅ Fresh escargots from a real bistro
❌ Macarons from Tourist Shops → ✅ Macarons from Pierre Hermé, Ladurée, or Jean-Paul Hévin
❌ Steak Frites at Tourist Cafés → ✅ Real steak at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte or a butcher bistro
❌ Crêpes from Street Stalls in Tourist Zones → ✅ Fresh crêpes from Breizh Café or La Droguerie du Marais
❌ Cheap Champagne from Souvenir Shops → ✅ Real Champagne from Legrand Filles et Fils or Dilettantes Champagne Bar
This 10-page Paris travel guide includes:
- Practical tips for visiting Paris
- The best foods to eat in Paris
- The best restaurants in Paris (my top picks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- The top things to do and see in Paris (including day trips, scenic tours, museums, attractions, and more)
- The best (and worst) places to stay in Paris, including my top picks for hotels in each area
All links in this PDF are clickable so you can book your tours and hotels directly!