5 Phenomenal Sandwiches in Paris I’d Go Out of My Way to Eat

One of the great things about eating in Paris is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get something delicious. You can walk into just about any boulangerie, grab a sandwich from the display case, and have a pretty great lunch for relatively little money.

But there are a few sandwiches around Paris that I think are worth going out of your way for.

These aren’t necessarily hidden gems. In fact, some have developed quite a following, and you might have to wait in line to get your hands on one. But each has something a little special about it, whether it’s an unusual combination of ingredients, or just a particularly good take on a classic.

Here are five fantastic sandwiches in Paris I’d happily make a detour to eat again.

1. Chez Alain Miam Miam

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

What makes this place a little different is that you get to build your own sandwich. You choose one meat, one cheese, and as many vegetables as you like.

Meat options include ham, pastrami, spicy chicken, smoked trout, and cecina de León (Spanish cured beef), along with Cantal or Comté cheese (I recommend the Comté!), which they slice fresh right in front of you. You can also load it up with vegetables: tomatoes, mushrooms, avocado, pickled onions, and lettuce.

Every sandwich costs the same, regardless of your toppings: €13.50 to go or €15 to eat on-site.

This kind of customizable sandwich is common in the U.S., but much less so in France, where you’ll usually find sandwiches already assembled and waiting in boulangerie display cases.

You can have your sandwich served cold or pressed into a hot panini (I went with the latter), and it really lived up to the hype. The bread was chewy without being too tough, the cheese was wonderfully melty, and all the ingredients came together into a deliciously savory combination.

It’s one of the most viral lunch spots in Paris, and after trying one myself, I think it absolutely deserves the hype. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Address: 26 Rue Charlot, 3rd arrondissement, or 3 Rue Pastourelle, 3rd arrondissement

2. Rôtisserie Segar

This little rotisserie shop on Rue Mouffetard has a big display of chickens roasting right out front, with freshly cooked birds constantly coming off the spits and new ones going on.

They put that freshly roasted chicken to excellent use in their chicken Caesar sandwich, which comes filled with juicy chicken, lettuce, bacon, Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing.

At €10, this was a fantastic sandwich. The chicken was incredibly moist and juicy, the baguette was perfectly crusty, and the other ingredients tasted high quality and fresh. I love a good Caesar salad, and this sandwich version was just excellent.

Plus, Rue Mouffetard is just a great place to stroll and take in the vibes. It’s one of Paris’s oldest streets, and the narrow lane is pedestrianized. It’s actually a market street, lined with dozens of food shops, cafés, and little boutiques.

If you can, try to come on Saturday or Sunday morning around 10am-12pm, when lots of people are out shopping and strolling. You might even catch some street musicians performing.

I’d suggest starting at Square Saint-Médard, at the southern end of the street, and walking uphill toward Place de la Contrescarpe, a lovely little square with a fountain and cafés. It’s a great way to experience the Latin Quarter, with a great sandwich along the way.

Address: 111 Rue Mouffetard, 5th arrondissement

3. Le Petit Vendôme

Le Petit Vendôme is a traditional French bistro near Place Vendôme that’s become particularly well known for its jambon-beurre sandwiches.

A jambon-beurre is one of the most classic French sandwiches, made with a baguette, butter, and ham. It’s about as simple as a sandwich can get, and you can find versions of it around Paris.

But the one at Le Petit Vendôme really is fantastic. They start with a high-quality baguette, spread it with butter from a massive mound sitting behind the counter, and add generous slices of bone-in ham, carved fresh in the shop rather than pulled from a package of thinly sliced deli meat.

I’m actually pretty picky about ham and don’t like all kinds, but the ham here was high quality and excellent.

They include sliced pickles, and you can also add cheese to your sandwich — I went with Cantal.

The combination of the crusty bread, butter, ham, pickles, and cheese was just delicious, and I practically devoured the whole thing. It’s €6.50 for the standard sandwich, €8.50 with the cheese addition.

This sandwich has gotten a lot of attention, and I think it deserves it. Is Le Petit Vendôme the only place to get a great jambon-beurre in Paris? Of course not. But would I come back here for another one? Absolutely.

(And come back for dinner, the steak-frites here is one of my favorites in Paris).

Address: 8 Rue des Capucines, 2nd arrondissement

4. L’As du Fallafel

Located on Rue des Rosiers 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.

This part of the Marais is known as the Pletzl, a historic center of Jewish life in Paris. It’s a bustling area with Jewish bakeries, restaurants, and takeaway counters, and Rue des Rosiers is particularly well known for its falafel shops.

L’As du Fallafel has quite a few different sandwiches on the menu, including shawarma, grilled chicken, schnitzel, spicy sausage, chicken curry, and grilled meatballs. But the falafel sandwich (€10) is their specialty, and it’s what I’d order again and again.

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 creamy hummus, plus their signature sauces, including a small amount of their spicy sauce on top.

The flavors were seriously incredible. Everything tasted so fresh, and the combination of crunchy vegetables, warm falafel, and creamy sauces made the most satisfying lunch.

Next time, I think I’d ask for more of the spicy sauce. The heat wasn’t too intense and it actually 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.

Address: 34 Rue des Rosiers, 4th arrondissement

5. Le Chardonnay

A croque-monsieur is one of the classic French sandwiches everyone should try at least once in Paris. It’s essentially a French grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich, typically topped with creamy béchamel sauce and melted cheese, then broiled until golden.

You’ll find croque-monsieurs on café menus around the city, but the version at Le Chardonnay is probably the best I’ve had anywhere in France.

Unlike most of the other sandwiches on this list, this isn’t something you’ll pick up at a takeaway counter and eat as you walk around Paris. Le Chardonnay is a sit-down restaurant, and you’ll eat it with a knife and fork.

What makes their croque-monsieur so good is the addition of truffle cream, which gives the sandwich an extra depth of flavor. And then there’s the top, which is broiled until it’s deliciously golden and crispy.

At €22, its the most expensive sandwich on this list. But it’s also a far cry from the premade croque-monsieurs you’ll sometimes find sitting in boulangerie display cases or at street vendors, waiting to be reheated.

It takes a little more time and effort than grabbing something to go, but if you want to try a really excellent version of this traditional French sandwich, I’d highly recommend it.

Address: 3 Rue Bachaumont, 2nd arrondissement

Looking for More Great Food in Paris?

A great sandwich is just one of the many delicious things to eat in Paris! If you’re planning your trip, here are a few more food guides I’d recommend:

• 15 Unwritten “Rules” of Dining Out in France – What to know about French restaurant etiquette, from ordering to paying.
• My Favorite Restaurants in Paris – More places I’ve personally eaten at and loved, from traditional French bistros to beautiful restaurants with memorable settings.
• 15 French Desserts You Need to Try – All the sweets you should try during your trip.

If you want everything in one place, my Paris travel guide page pulls together neighborhood guides, attraction and museum guides, foodie recommendations, and travel tips in one hub.