France is renowned for its culinary traditions and fine dining. When you think of ‘fast food’, you don’t necessarily think of France. The French like to eat on the go, though, and you’ll find plenty of popular and quick options if you want delicious French food in a hurry.
For the French, manger sur le pouce means ‘to eat on the run’. When you’re visiting France, you can, too. There are all kinds of fresh and tasty ‘fast foods’ available.
Where to go
It’s romantic to find an outdoor table at a café or restaurant and eat al fresco or en terrasse, while you watch the world go by. It’s definitely a more leisurely (and more expensive) option but it might not be your choice every day, especially when there are so many other things you want to see and do.
For those times when you don’t have time, try these instead:
- Supermarkets. Most large supermarkets (supermarchés) have a range of ready-to-go foods
- Street stalls. In most large towns, especially those close to popular tourist attractions, you’ll find everything from roasted meat and vegetables, burgers and Asian foods to more French alternatives, such as baguettes, crêpes and pastries
- Bakeries. The boulangerie (mainly for bread) and the patisserie (for cakes and pastries) will soon be your best friends. In smaller towns and villages, you can buy everything at the same place
- Specialists. Look for crêperies, kebab shops, Asian traiteurs (takeaway places with limited seating) and burger bars.
For a French flavour in fast food
Sometimes you’ll crave your familiar fast food. When you’re travelling, though, there’s nothing better than eating like the locals.
Try these French favourites:
Baguette: A long loaf or ‘French stick’. A baguette sandwich – just called un sandwich – might be filled with various ingredients, such as ham, cheese, tuna and salad. It’s a quick and tasty option.
Boudin blanc: This is a sausage made from pork or chicken, often grilled or fried, and served as a quick snack or street food. Boudin noir (black) is a variety that contains blood and is found more often in the south.
Cakes and pastries: French cake shops (pâtisseries) and bakeries (boulangeries) offer a huge range and you’ll be tempted to buy more than you need. Try one of France’s famous cakes, such as a Paris-Brest, a religieuse, a macaron or a mille-feuille. Viennoiserie is the general word for pastries; favourites are pain au raisins, pain au chocolat and chausson aux pommes (like an apple turnover).
Crêpe: A thin pancake filled with sweet or savoury ingredients, commonly found at food stalls and specialist crêperies.
Croissant: A buttery, flaky French pastry, often enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack.
Croque Monsieur: A grilled ham and cheese sandwich, often topped with béchamel sauce. The bread is usually dipped in beaten egg before it’s toasted. It’s a classic option in French cafes and street stalls.
Croque Madame: It’s just like a Croque Monsieur, but with a fried or poached egg placed on top.
Frites: You might know them as ‘chips’ or ‘French fries’. You’ll find them served with steak dishes (steak-frites) or as a side dish, with various dipping sauces.
Galette: A savoury buckwheat crêpe, filled with cheese, ham, or eggs. Galettes are a speciality of Brittany but you can find them everywhere. There are sweet options, too.
Gyros: A sandwich made with thinly sliced rotisserie meat (usually lamb or chicken), served on pita bread with vegetables and sauces; it’s inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine.
Kebab: especially popular in urban areas. French kebab shops serve tasty sandwiches filled with grilled meat, salad and a choices of sauce. They often come with frites.
Merguez Sandwich: A grilled spicy lamb or beef sausage served in a baguette or pita bread; you’ll find this at street food stalls.
Pizza: France has its own take on pizza, often featuring thin crusts and a variety of toppings.
Quiche: A savoury egg pie, filled with ingredients such as cheese, spinach, ham and vegetables. Two popular varieties are quiche Lorraine (eggs and ham) and quiche Florentine (egg, cheese and spinach). Quiches are available at bakeries, cafes and supermarkets.
Socca: A large, thin, crispy pancake made from chickpea flour. It’s a snack or street food, commonly found in the Nice area. It’s usually sold by the slice.
Tartiflette: A comforting dish made with potatoes, reblochon (a soft cheese), lardons (bacon pieces) and onions. It’s especially popular in the French Alps.
Tarte Flambée (Flammekueche): A thin, crispy, pizza-like dish topped with cream, onions and bacon or other ingredients. You’ll find them everywhere in Alsace, where they originated; they are available but more expensive in other areas.
Fast food in France usually has quality ingredients and is well prepared, even in quick-service establishments. It’s ‘fast food’ but it’s generally of a high standard and tastes good..
You’ll find some of the usual American fast-food chains to provide you with comfort food in the extremely unlikely event you can’t find anything French to tempt your tastebuds.
If you would like to know more about formal French dining, see these Francy That! articles:
