What is your favorite French food? Whether you’re planning a trip to Paris or simply love French cuisine, exploring traditional dishes is a must. Discover our Top 10 French dishes, complete with descriptions, pictures, and video recipes so you can try them at home!
And if you’re eager to not only taste these dishes but also learn more about French culture and language, consider exploring our French Transformation Program. It’s perfect for enhancing your French language skills, including practical phrases for dining and travel.
1. Crêpes
Crêpes are versatile French pastries, available as sweet crêpes (crêpes sucrées) or savory galettes (crêpes salées). They can be filled with a variety of ingredients, from simple sugar to elaborate combinations like ham, egg, and cheese. Originating from Brittany, crêpes are popular worldwide.
🇫🇷 “Je voudrais une crêpe avec Nutella, s’il vous plaît.” “Bien sûr, une crêpe au Nutella, c’est délicieux!”
🇬🇧 “I would like a crêpe with Nutella, please.” “Of course, a Nutella crêpe, it’s delicious!”
2. Confit du Canard (Duck confit)
Confit de canard is a French delicacy, often using duck but also goose or pork. The meat is marinated in salt, garlic, and thyme, then slow-cooked in its own fat. This dish, a specialty of the Gascony region, is typically served with roasted potatoes and garlic.
🇫🇷 “Quels sont les accompagnements pour le Confit du Canard?” “Il est servi avec des pommes de terre rôties et une salade.”
🇬🇧 “What sides come with the Duck Confit?” “It’s served with roasted potatoes and a salad.”
3. Coq au Vin (Rooster with wine)
Coq au Vin, a dish popularized by Julia Child, is made with chicken braised in wine, mushrooms, bacon, onions, and sometimes brandy. While traditionally made with rooster, chicken or capon is often used. Variations include Coq au vin jaune (Jura) and Coq au Riesling (Alsace).
🇫🇷 “Je prends le Coq au Vin.” “Oui, c’est un excellent choix avec un verre de vin rouge.”
🇬🇧 “I’ll have the Coq au Vin.” “Yes, it’s an excellent choice with a glass of red wine.”
4. Boeuf Bourguignon (Beef stew)
A classic from Burgundy, Boeuf Bourguignon is a stew made with beef braised in red wine, garlic, onions, and mushrooms. This dish showcases how traditional peasant dishes have been elevated to haute cuisine. It’s celebrated during the Fête du Charolais in late August.
🇫🇷 “Est-ce que le Boeuf Bourguignon est servi avec des légumes?” “Oui, avec des carottes et des champignons, dans une sauce riche.”
🇬🇧 “Is the Boeuf Bourguignon served with vegetables?” “Yes, with carrots and mushrooms, in a rich sauce.”
5. Ratatouille
Hailing from Provence, Ratatouille is a stewed vegetable dish made with tomatoes, garlic, onions, zucchini, eggplant, and herbs. It’s often served as a main course or a side. The dish’s preparation varies, with some chefs preferring to cook the vegetables separately.
🇫🇷 “Le Ratatouille est-il végétarien?” “Oui, c’est un délicieux mélange de légumes frais.”
🇬🇧 “Is the Ratatouille vegetarian?” “Yes, it’s a delicious mix of fresh vegetables.”
6. Soupe a l’ognion (Onion soup)
This traditional soup, made with caramelized onions and beef stock, is topped with croutons and melted cheese. Its flavor is enhanced by the caramelization process, sometimes finished with brandy or sherry.
🇫🇷 “Puis-je avoir la Soupe à l’Oignon avec du fromage en plus?” “Bien sûr, plus de fromage, c’est toujours mieux!”
🇬🇧 “Can I have the Onion Soup with extra cheese?” “Of course, more cheese is always better!”
7. Steak Tartare
Steak Tartare consists of raw minced beef or horse meat, seasoned with capers, pickles, and sometimes a raw egg. This dish likely evolved in Germany from a Russian influence and is traditionally served with extra garnishes.
🇫🇷 “Le Steak Tartare est-il servi cru?” “Oui, c’est traditionnel et très savoureux, mais on peut le saisir si vous préférez.”
🇬🇧 “Is the Steak Tartare served raw?” “Yes, it’s traditional and very flavorful, but we can sear it if you prefer.”
8. Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine, originally from Germany’s Lorraine region, is an open pie filled with an egg and cream custard with smoked bacon. Later variations included cheese, and if onions are added, it becomes Quiche Alsacienne.
🇫🇷 “Est-ce que la Quiche Lorraine est servie avec une salade?” “Oui, avec une salade verte fraîche.”
🇬🇧 “Does the Quiche Lorraine come with a salad?” “Yes, with a fresh green salad.”
9. Macarons
Macarons are delicate cookies made from meringue and almond flour, filled with ganache, buttercream, or jam. They come in a variety of flavors, from traditional to unusual, such as foie gras or matcha.
🇫🇷 “Quels parfums de macarons avez-vous?” “Nous avons framboise, chocolat, vanille, et un spécial matcha aujourd’hui.”
🇬🇧 “What flavors of macarons do you have?” “We have raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, and a special matcha flavor today.”
10. Tarte Tatin (Apple Pie)
Tarte Tatin, an upside-down apple tart, was created accidentally in 1898 by Stéphanie Tatin. The apples are caramelized in butter and sugar before the pastry is added on top. It’s served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
🇫🇷 “La Tarte Tatin est-elle servie chaude?” “Oui, avec une boule de glace à la vanille en accompagnement.”
🇬🇧 “Is the Tarte Tatin served warm?” “Yes, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.”
