Rating 14 Of Paris’ Most Viral Food Spots: Here’s How They Stack Up

When it comes to food, Paris doesn’t mess around, and there’s no shortage of incredible restaurants and patisseries across the city. However, a few have become especially famous thanks to social media, making regular appearances on users’ feeds.

I visited 14 of these viral food spots to see how they compare in real life. Some totally lived up to the hype… others, not so much. Here’s my honest take on Paris’s most viral eats.

1. Le Relais de l’Entrecôte

Le Relais de l’Entrecôte has a simple concept: they serve one dish: steak.

When you sit down, the only question you’ll be asked is how you want it cooked. You’ll start with a small green salad with walnuts and a light dressing, followed by a plate of steak smothered in the restaurant’s signature green sauce and a generous serving of fries.

Once you finish, they bring you a second helping: more steak, more fries, more sauce.

This spot has gone mega-viral, and since they don’t take reservations, waits can stretch more than an hour.

So, is it worth it? I really enjoyed my meal. The green sauce was phenomenal (I love a good sauce), the fries were crispy, and the walnut salad was simple but excellent. The steak was tender, though I personally thought it was a bit under-seasoned. It felt like they let the sauce do all the heavy lifting.

While it’s not THE best steak-frites I’ve had in Paris (that title goes to Le Petit Vendôme), I’d still eat here again. Would I wait an hour in line? Probably not.

There are three locations: one in the 8th arrondissement near the Champs-Élysées, and two in the 6th (one off Boulevard Saint-Germain, and one south of the Luxembourg Gardens). I went to the 8th for weekday lunch, arrived about 30 minutes after opening, and only waited 10 minutes— not bad at all.

Overall rating: 8/10, would recommend if the line isn’t bad

2. Pink Mamma

Pink Mamma is an Italian restaurant in the Pigalle neighborhood, just south of Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge. It’s gone viral for its incredibly picturesque interior, especially the spiral staircase and the top floor, which feels like stepping into a sun-drenched garden.

I ordered their signature dish, the truffle pasta (the one you’ve probably seen all over Instagram). The pasta was fresh mafalda, cooked al dente, and coated in a creamy truffle and mascarpone sauce.

I’ve seen people both rave about and hate on this dish, but personally I thought it was a very nice pasta dish. I’m not claiming that it’s THE best pasta in Paris, but was it delicious? Absolutely.

The restaurant spans three levels, all of them beautiful, but the top floor is the one you’ve seen online. To sit up there, you’ll need a reservation right when lunch or dinner service starts. Walk-ins won’t be seated upstairs, and later reservations usually end up on the lower floors. Still, anyone can pop up the staircase for a photo.

Overall Rating: 8/10, would recommend

3. Cédric Grolet’s Trompe-l’œil Desserts

Cédric Grolet is one of the biggest names in French pastry, with millions of Instagram followers and countless viral videos showcasing his famous trompe-l’œil desserts.

These intricate creations look just like real fruits on the outside, but inside they’re elaborate pastries with all sorts of fillings and textures. His lineup includes peaches, apples, raspberries, mangoes, and plenty of other fruits, although he’s also made some fun creations like peanuts and popcorn.

I’ll be honest, with all the hype surrounding these desserts, I half expected to be a little let down. But I was absolutely blown away.

I ordered the raspberry, one of my favorite flavors. It’s maybe a bit less realistic than some of his other creations simply because it’s so much bigger than a real raspberry. The peach, mango, and apple are much closer to their actual size and really could be mistaken for actual fruit.

But the flavors and textures were incredible. There was a thin, crackly outer shell, followed by a creamy vanilla bean layer and a luscious raspberry center with chunks of real fruit suspended in a smooth, lightly sweetened, almost jammy glaze.

Even though it’s a decently sized dessert, it felt surprisingly light. I ate the whole thing myself and was kind of wishing I’d bought another one.

At around €18–€25 each, these are definitely expensive pastries. Lines outside the shop can also get long, although you can order ahead for pickup at least a day in advance. I’d recommend doing that if you know what you want, since pickup slots can fill up.

Overall Rating: 10/10, absolutely worth the hype.

Important Note: There are multiple Cédric Grolet locations in Paris, but La Pâtisserie du Meurice par Cédric Grolet (6 Rue de Castiglione) is the only one that does the fruit-shaped desserts.

4. Du Pain et Des Idées

Du Pain et Des Idées is a charming boulangerie that’s gotten a lot of hype for their chocolate pistachio escargot – a flaky, rolled-up pastry with a light pistachio and chocolate chip filling.

I’ve had similar types of pistachio pastries in France before and enjoyed them, but the flavor of the pistachio in this one was just a little bit off for me. The pistachio flavor almost felt too bright, if that makes sense.

However, when I was there, I also picked up a tarte aux figues (fig tart). I think this was a seasonal offering (I was there at the end of August, in peak fig season), but OMG.

This might have been my favorite pastry from that entire trip. The pastry was so flaky, the figs were so flavorful and juicy, and it was topped with a light crumble. SO GOOD.

Overall Rating: 6/10 for the pistachio escargot, but the tarte aux figues was a 12/10 for me. Overall would recommend this bakery.

5. Chez Alain Miam Miam

Chez Alain Miam Miam is a small shop in the Marais known for its made-to-order panini sandwiches, and the line is almost always out the door.

You choose from several thinly sliced meats, two types of cheese, and five veggies, all for one standard price. You can have it cold or pressed into a hot panini (I went with the latter).

This kind of build-your-own sandwich is common in the U.S., but not in France, where sandwiches are usually premade and waiting in a boulangerie display case.

Chez Alain absolutely lived up to the hype. The bread was chewy but not too tough, the cheese perfectly melty, and the flavors came together in a satisfyingly savory way.

I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Overall Rating: 10/10, no notes

6. Peppe Pizza

Peppe Pizza is one of the hottest pizza spots in Paris right now, with multiple locations and often long lines to get in. Its Google rating is wild: 4.9 out of 5 stars. They specialize in thin-crust pizzas with puffy, blistered edges.

I ordered the Multicolored Burrata pizza, topped with burrata, tomatoes, and pesto — a flavor combo I love. I had high hopes.

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver. The flavors were fantastic, but the pizza itself was undercooked. The crust was doughy, and the center had no structure: the toppings slid off, and the slice just flopped around. Basically, it was soggy.

To be fair, maybe I got unlucky and mine just happened to be underdone. But since it looked perfectly cooked when it arrived, I’m not entirely convinced.

So, unfortunately, Peppe Pizza is a no for me.

Overall rating: 5/10 — would not recommend. (Soggy crust is a huge no for me, but the flavors were fantastic, so I’ll give a little benefit of the doubt.)

7. Carette

Hot chocolate, or chocolat chaud, is practically a Parisian institution, even if coffee usually steals the spotlight. And of all the places serving it, Carette is easily the most famous online.

The setting couldn’t be prettier: a silver pot of hot chocolate, delicate teacups, and a towering pile of whipped cream on the side. The drink itself lives up to the hype: thick, rich, and velvety, like sipping melted chocolate.

I’ll admit, my personal favorite is still Angelina (it’s not nearly as viral, but it’s the OG for me). Still, Carette comes very close, and it’s just as photogenic as it is delicious.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

8. Chapon et la Chocolaterie de l’Église

Chocolate mousse has been taking the Paris social media channels by storm lately, seducing visitors with heaping spoonfuls served on plates at Chez Janou in the 3rd arrondissement, or filled into little to-go cones at Chapon et la Chocolaterie de l’Eglise in the 6th.

I went to try the viral mousse at Chapon, which is tucked just behind the Église Saint Sulpice church.

Thick and rich yet still somehow light and creamy— this mousse was incredible and I’d highly recommend it.

Overall Rating: 10/10

9. Bouillon Pigalle & Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse

Paris’s bouillons date back to the late 19th century, when they served quick, affordable French meals to workers. Today, they’ve become incredibly popular again, thanks to their inexpensive menus, traditional French dishes, and, at some locations, gorgeous historic dining rooms.

Unfortunately, after eating at two different bouillons, I have to say I’m pretty underwhelmed.

My first experience was at Bouillon Pigalle, which is a more modern restaurant without the elaborate Art Nouveau interiors that some of the historic bouillons are known for. The food was just okay. Of the two starters, main course, and dessert I ordered, the œufs mayonnaise was really the only thing I particularly enjoyed.

I decided to give bouillons another chance at Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse, which has a magnificent historic dining room filled with Art Nouveau details. The setting was absolutely beautiful, and I could see why people would want to eat there.

Unfortunately, the food still didn’t impress me. It was definitely better than my meal at Bouillon Pigalle, but ultimately pretty unremarkable. And even in the middle of the afternoon, there was a very long line just to get seated.

I understand the appeal of getting a cheap, traditional French meal in a beautiful setting, but personally, I’d rather spend a little more for food I actually enjoy. After two visits, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to eat at either one, especially if it means waiting in a long line.

Overall Rating: 5/10, wouldn’t recommend

10. Ladurée

Ladurée is one of France’s most iconic patisseries, best known for its macarons. I’ve tried a lot of macarons in Paris, and Ladurée is my top pick overall. The texture is perfectly chewy (not too soft, not too crisp) and the fillings are creamy and flavorful.

There are quite a few Ladurée locations across Paris, but for the full experience, head to the one at 75 Avenue des Champs-Élysées. While there is a macaron takeaway counter, I’d recommend heading into the sit-down restaurant with an elegant dining room that feels straight out of a Parisian dream.

We ordered a full meal, several macarons, and hot chocolate, and everything was incredible.

Overall Rating: 9/10

11. Maison Louvard

Maison Louvard is a café-boulangerie that’s gone viral for its “crookie”: a cookie-croissant hybrid. It seems like a dream combo, right? I mean, who doesn’t love cookies and croissants? This sounds like the best of both worlds.

The crookie is basically a croissant filled with a gooey cookie dough-like spread and topped with baked cookie dough. I was really surprised, but I didn’t like this one very much at all. The croissant and the cookie both lost their signature crispness, and the texture ended up too soft.

And surprisingly, it was way, way too chocolatey, becoming a melty mess on everything as I tried to eat it.

I know people rave about this one, but it just wasn’t for me.

Overall Rating: 5/10, would not recommend

12. Café de Flore & Les Deux Magots

Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are Paris’s two most famous literary cafés. These iconic spots attracted writers, artists, and philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Pablo Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway, who came to talk, write, and debate in the early 1900s.

They sit right across the street from each other in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and between their history and picture-perfect façades, both have become major social-media darlings.

Both serve classic café fare and are known for their hot chocolate. I’ve tried the chocolat chaud and a few dishes at each, and for me, there’s a clear winner.

While Café de Flore might be trendier, it was a big miss. The hot chocolate was weak and watery (easily my least favorite in Paris), and the onion soup was equally underwhelming.

Les Deux Magots, on the other hand, delivered: the hot chocolate was thick, velvety, and rich, and the rest of my meal was solid. I wouldn’t say it was incredibly delicious, but it was enjoyable.

Overall Rating: Café de Flore – 4/10, Les Deux Magots – 7/10.
Would I go out of my way for either? Maybe not. But if you’re nearby and want the experience of dining in a historic, beautiful café, Les Deux Magots is the one I’d choose (and you can always stop by Café de Flore for a photo after.)

13. L’As du Fallafel

Located in the heart of the historic Jewish Quarter of the Marais, L’As du Fallafel is one of the most famous street food spots in Paris.

You can either sit down in the restaurant or order from the takeaway counter, which is what I did. While waiting, you can watch the fresh falafel balls constantly being dropped into the fryer, which is oddly mesmerizing.

I ordered the famous falafel sandwich, stuffed with crispy falafel, eggplant, shredded vegetables, tomatoes, onions, and a creamy sauce, plus their spicy sauce on top. The flavors were honestly incredible. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, and the combination of crunchy vegetables, warm falafel, and flavorful sauces made for a very satisfying meal.

Next time, I think I’d ask for more of the spicy sauce. I requested a light amount, but it wasn’t too spicy and added a lot of flavor.

If you’re ordering takeaway, I’d recommend walking a few minutes to nearby Jardin Joseph Migneret to enjoy your meal.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10, would recommend

14. Maison d’Isabelle

Maison d’Isabelle is a classic Parisian boulangerie that won the title of Best Croissant in Paris back in 2018, and it’s truly well-deserved. The croissant is perfectly flaky on the outside and tender inside, exactly what you hope for in a great one.

Certainly, there are plenty of amazing croissants in Paris, but this one is as good as they come. If you’re in the area, it’s absolutely worth a stop.

Overall Rating: 10/10, would recommend

The Wrap Up

To summarize, these are the restaurants or shops I’d overall recommend:

• Le Relais de l’Entrecôte
• Du Pain et Des Idées
• Chez Alain Miam Miam
• Carette (and Angelina)
• Chapon et la Chocolaterie de l’Église
• Pink Mamma
• Ladurée
• Les Deux Magots
• L’As du Fallafel
• Maison d’Isabelle
• Cedric Grolet

And these are ones I wouldn’t recommend:

• Peppe Pizza
• The bouillons
• Maison Louvard
• Cafe de Flore

Hopefully this helps you prioritize which spots to visit on your next trip.

Of course, while it’s fun to try out some of the viral foodie spots, one of the true delights of Paris is getting off the beaten path and discovering a corner bistro or neighborhood boulangerie that’s not Insta-famous.

Often, these places you stumble into become your favorite meal of the trip! So don’t be afraid to just see where your feet take you. Bon appétit!