If you love food and want to try something new, France is a country with many dining options, you will love them!
When most people think of France, they think of delicious food. And they are not wrong! French cuisine is one of the best in the world. But, what can be considered typical food in France? The options are enormous and so that you don’t feel lost, here are some suggestions.
What can you find in the typical food in France? Let’s go by parts
We are going to show you some of the typical food in France, giving you the name in French and the explanation of the dish, so you can order it knowing what you will get. Complete the list that we give you here with what we already told you that you can eat in Lyon.
Starters
Salade chèvre chaud (Goat salad)
This dish can be eaten as a starter or as a main dish, what will change is the quantity. The chèvre chaud (hot goat) salad is based on lettuce, accompanied by onions, tomatoes and vinaigrette, olive oil or balsamic vinegar; All this bed of vegetables is crowned with goat cheese served hot on top of toasted bread.
This is a basic salad on the menus of almost any French restaurant.
Foie gras (fatty liver)
This entry is eaten in France during special occasions such as Christmas, or found on restaurant menus, knowing that it will not be cheap. The French are very fond of foie gras, which literally means fatty liver, which is a food product from the enlarged liver of a duck or goose that has been specially overfed.
Œuf cocotte (egg casserole)
If you like eggs, you will love this entry. It is a casserole in which a half-cooked egg comes, so you can dip a piece of bread in the yellow part and enjoy. In addition to the egg, it can bring spices and other ingredients. On the menu, it will say what it brings besides the egg.
Shrimps
Sometimes you can find an entry with shrimp among the options of typical food that you can eat in France, in the case of being an entry dish it will generally have few shrimp, in the case of photo three.
Escargots (snails)
Snails are also very traditional in French cuisine, but there is a secret that Vicente told me: it turns out that the snail itself does not taste like anything, all the flavor will depend on the sauce that the snails bring, as can be seen in the photo.
To eat it, you will see different artifacts from the traditional fork and knife on the table, the most important being the small fork with which you can remove the meat.
Paté
Pate is a type of paste or spread made from liver and other organs, usually served with baguette bread and pickles. While it may not seem appetizing, pate is actually a staple in French cuisine. If you’re feeling adventurous, give it a try!
Soupe à l’oignon (onion soup)
Onion soup is a French classic that can be found in bistros and homes alike. This humble dish is made with onions, beef broth, and croutons, and is often topped with cheese for added flavor. While it may not be the most glamorous dish, onion soup is hearty and comforting, and perfect for a winter meal.
Huitres (oysters)
Fresh, plump oysters can be found on menus across France, often served simply with a squeeze of lemon and a glass of chilled white wine. Especially on occasions like New Years, they are quite popular and will appear on celebratory menus.
Fast or street food
Sandwiches
One of the most popular sandwiches in France is the jambon beurre (ham with butter) sandwich. This simple sandwich consists of a crusty baguette, a bit of butter, and thinly sliced ham. It’s a perfect combination of salty and sweet, and it’s easy to see why this sandwich is so beloved by the French.
If you are looking for something a little more substantial, there are other options that you will be able to see in the bakery, which is where they are usually sold. They are usually already made and displayed in a glass case.
Churros
In France, churros, just like crepes, are a type of fast or street food that can be found in many different places. They are usually made of fried dough and are often served with dipping sauces. While churros originated in Spain, they have become popular in many different countries.
There are many ways to eat churros. Some people like to dip them in chocolate or nutella sauce, while others prefer to eat them with caramel or fruit preserves. Churros can also be topped with sugar or cinnamon sugar. No matter how you eat them, churros are a delight!
Main courses
Something that personally has always caught my attention about the menus in France is that they tend to put rather far-fetched, or long, names to the dishes. Better to know, so it doesn’t surprise you too much.
Magret de canard (duck breast)
As with chicken, duck breast is a highly prized part, as it is the softest and easiest to eat meat of the animal. Depending on the restaurant, it will be prepared differently, for example, the one I show you here is covered with onion and sauce. This is a dish that Vicente loves.
Usually, it will come with vegetables or potatoes, in this case it comes with a purée.
Crêpes salées (salty crepes)
For both food and dessert, ordering crepes is a more than correct answer. Besides that, there are, as for the sweet version, plenty of combinations. For example, here the one in the photo is a crepe called complète, and it comes with an egg, ham and tomato sauce.
Cassoulet
In this selection of main dishes, one that can be considered as one of the most strong that you can eat in France, is the cassoulet, which is also delicious. This rustic dish comes from the southwestern region of France and is traditionally made with beans, pork, and duck; in many places you will be able to realize that it is a fairly copious dish.
Flammenkuche
It looks like a pizza, but it is not, it is the flammenkuche, which is a classic Alsace dish that is simple to make and delicious to eat. It consists of a kind of thin crust pizza topped with crème fraiche, onion and bacon. Then the dish is baked in a hot oven until the cheese is melted, and the crust is golden brown.
The flammenkuche can be served as an appetizer or a main course.
Burgers
Yes, I know that hamburgers sounds like a rather strange suggestion, since it is not a typical French dish. Also, I’m not counting it as fast food because this dish can be found in restaurants, and you can see a combination of ingredients that can be quite unique.
All this is to tell you not to dismiss the burger section if the restaurant you arrive at has one, rather you will see a new version of the already well-known burger.
Tartiflette
This is a dish to eat preferably when it’s cold, since it is quite abundant and warm. Originally from the Alps, tartiflette is made with potatoes, onions, lard (bacon), and Reblochon cheese. While it may not be the lowest calorie dish, it’s certainly delicious.
Raclette
This dish is served in an unconventional way, and preferably you should eat it with several people. Raclette is made by melting cheese and placing it on a plate, usually with potatoes and pickles and various deli meats. It is a hearty meal that will leave you satisfied.
To accompany
For French food, bread is what tortillas are for Mexicans, that is, bread is an omnipresent companion. The best known is the baguette, whose long, thin pieces of bread are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Cheese
In France, there are more than 400 types of cheese, and each region has its own specialty. Here are some of the most popular cheeses from across the country:
- Brie is a soft cheese from the Île-de-France region. It has a white rind and a creamy texture.
- Camembert is another soft cheese, but it originates from Normandy. It has a stronger flavor than Brie and is often eaten with crusty bread.
- Roquefort is a blue cheese that comes from the south of France. It is made from sheep’s milk and has a strong, salty taste.
There are plenty of other delicious cheeses to eat when in France, so don’t hesitate to ask your restaurant servers for recommendations!
Desserts
Crêpes sucrées (sweet crepes)
Sweet crepes are made from a simple batter that differs from that used for savory crepes, for this sweet version, you can eat them plain, the batter has sugar in it, or sprinkle on top some sugar, salted butter, chocolate, or a variety of other ingredients fillings, such as fruits, jams or nutella.
A special crepe to eat is the traditional crêpe suzette, served with orange liqueur and flambéed, delicious.
Moelleux au chocolat (chocolate sweet)
This cute little cake is made with dark chocolate and has a soft and sticky center, when you get to the center you will see how the delicious chocolate drips off. Moelleux au chocolat is often served with crème anglaise and sometimes whipped cream or ice cream.
If you’re looking for a chocolate dessert to eat while in France, moelleux au chocolat is a sure bet.
Fruit cakes
At dessert time, you can opt for a fruit cake, the one in the photo is a raspberry, but you can also find ingredients on the menu such as apple, strawberries, pear, cherries, blueberry, apricot, rubarb, among others.
Chocolate desserts
In addition to the dessert mentioned above, the moelleux au chocolat, on the menus you can find several desserts dedicated to delicious cocoa.
Waffles
You can also find this dessert as street food in the same cars where the churros are sold, just like the crepes you can add countless things on top, such as chocolate, jam or simply sugar.
The Canelés
Canelés are a traditional French pastry from the Bordeaux region. These are small cylinders with a caramelized crust and a soft, custard-like interior.
Baba au rhum
Baba au rhum is one of the desserts that can be seen in bakeries and on restaurant menus. This delicacy is made with rum-soaked sponge cake and is often served with a dollop of whipped cream.
Macarons
Macarons are a French dessert made with ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites. They usually have a chocolate, coffee or fruit flavor. They are usually served with tea or coffee and can also be used as an ingredient in other desserts such as ice cream or cakes.
Chocolates
To finish eating sweetly, another option is chocolate, which in France is an excellent option. They like chocolate so much, and they know how to prepare it very well, so much so that they even dedicate museums to it, such as the Varlhona Chocolate Museum.
Drinks
Coffee
In France, coffee is not just a morning drink, it’s an experience. From the moment you walk into a French café, you are enveloped in the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. You sit at a small table and watch as the waiter brings you a piping cup of hot coffee. Consider that if you simply order a coffee, what you will receive will be a small cup of concentrated coffee.
If you’re looking for more than just a cup of coffee, try a latte (café au lait). This drink is made with equal parts of strong coffee and steamed milk. For something sweeter, ask for a Café Crème, this delicious drink is made with espresso and topped with whipped cream.
Monaco
On those summer afternoons, one of the allied drinks of travelers will be Monaco, and no, it is not the territory where Grace Kelly was. This delicious drink is made up of beer, lemonade and strawberry syrup, which is what gives it its red color. While you take it, rest your feet from so much walking.
Champagne
France is well known for its wine and cuisine. But what about champagne? It is a type of sparkling wine that is made in the French region of Champagne. It is made from a blend of three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The wine is fermented in bottles with yeast and sugar, which gives it its characteristic bubbles.
Champagne has been around for centuries and was first created by Dom Pérignon in the 17th century. Since then, it has become a popular drink for celebrations and special occasions.
Aperitif
Aperitifs are an important part of French culinary culture, before a meal it is customary to have an aperitif, which is an alcoholic drink that stimulates the appetite. There are many different types, the most common being wines and cavas, but you can also find drinks such as Aperol Spritz, mojitos, kir, etc.
Wine
Something that is impossible to be missing from a French menu is wine. You can order a glass, a pitcher of a quarter liter or a bottle. There are many different types of wine: red, rosé, white.
Red wine is made from dark-colored grapes and has a strong flavor. It is the most popular type of wine in France and is often served with beef or lamb dishes. White wine is made from light-colored grapes and has a lighter flavor than red wine. It is often served with chicken or fish dishes.
Although it is true that there are rules on how to combine wines with the food you eat, at the end of the day, follow the rules you want and don’t be shy, you order the wine that you most crave and discover new flavors.
A lot of typical food to eat in France
As you can see, the list we gave you is huge and there are still many options of typical food that you can eat in France, so don’t hesitate to ask and experiment to discover new flavors.
In conclusion, when you are in France, be sure to try some of the delicious traditional foods that the country has to offer! From rich, creamy cheeses to freshly baked breads and exquisite wines, there is something for everyone to enjoy. So bon appétit and bon voyage!
