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Pita et shawarma
© Miznon

The 18 best cheap eats in Paris

Saving up your coins? From killer kebabs to big brasserie lunches, we’ve got your budget trip covered with the

Written by
Antoine Besse
,
Aitor Alfonso
&
Time Out Paris
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The food in Paris is out of this world, but it can weigh heavily on your wallet. The city has something like 120 Michelin-starred restaurants (putting it only second to having the highest number in the world), and if you grab a snack in the wrong spot you could be looking at accidentally spending €20 on a sandwich and a drink. 

But hey, even in a bougie city like Paris, there’s always going to be something affordable hiding round the corner – you just have to know where to look. Lucky, the team at Time Out Paris know their stuff, and have spent years scouring the city for its best affordable snacks, testing everything from bibimpap to ramen and €15 lunch deals. We know, it’s a hard life. Without further ado, here are the best cheap eats in Paris right now.   

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Antoine Besse is the food and drink editor at Time Out Paris. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Best cheap eats in Paris

Bistrot Mee
Bistrot Mee

1. Bistrot Mee

Don't judge a book by its cover: this Korean restaurant may have chic decor, but it offers authentic dishes from the country at seriously reasonable prices. From plump mandoo dumplings to whelk salad, and from bulgogi galore to one of the best bibimbaps in Paris, sizzling in its stone bowl, in short, you must head to the beloved Bistrot Mee.

Galerna
© Galerna

2. Galerna

This Basque-Spanish spot serves up a crowd-pleasing lunch deal for €20, featuring Iñigo Ruiz Rituerto’s simple, balanced and precise cooking in beautiful open space. Galerna’s evening tapas menu is more expensive, but still reasonable. 

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Miam Miam Cool
©Antoine Besse

3. Miam Miam Cool

In this cosy little room with a striking mural and three tables of six, you’re seated elbow to elbow with fellow fans of authentic Sichuan cuisine. The menu at Miam Miam Cool is concise, featuring noodle soups (priced between €10-13), topped with meat or dumplings – you can adjust the heat from 0 to 3 spice level, and even 1 packs a punch. 

Le Blainville
Le Blainville

4. Le Blainville

Le Blainville is a spot with old-school decor, but you can trust it wholeheartedly for a proper bistro-style lunch: a mimosa egg for €4; veal shoulder with sautéed Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and parsnips for €16. It’s hearty, delicious, and seasonal, and in the evening, the tapas won't even dent your wallet either. We’d say it’s the best value for money in the area. 

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Mama Kossa
© Roch Debache / Mama Kossa

5. Mama Kossa

In this vibrant Barbès eatery with wax prints, exposed brick and wicker lights, named after one of Manu Dibango’s hits, Flora Dibotti and Didier Piquionne blend Afro-inspired cuisines: a bit of Senegal, a touch of the Caribbean, a hint of Louisiana, and plenty of street food influences. At lunchtime, you can fill up with a hearty bowl of Mama Kossa’s Djalon rice topped with chicken and pikliz (a pickled veg slaw) for €9.90. It’s a seriously good deal. 

Ika
Photograph: Antoine Besse

6. Ika

Ika is a tiny canteen only seats six in total, and is a must-visit for fans of home-style Japanese cuisine. Aki, the owner who transitioned from tourism to cooking, specialises in Japanese curry, which is milder than the Indian version. She offers it with vegetables, chicken, or beef, and the set lunch (€19) includes a starter and unlimited tea. 

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Ave Pizza Romana
BEATRICE.MOLEY

7. Ave Pizza Romana

The Parisian outpost of Roman-style pizza sure has style, with its white cinder block bar, stripped-down walls, imposing mirrored ceiling and stylish servers. But what do you eat in such a brutalist setting? Well, how about a beautifully simple Margherita with buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and basil? Or perhaps the divine Parma rossa featuring 22-month-aged Parma ham? From noon to 1pm on weekdays, Ave serves up these bad boys from €6. You heard us!

Kolam
Kolam

8. Kolam

In a tiny spot on Lancry Street with its neo-kitsch decor, cool kids Lahiru Weladawe and Médoune N’Diaye Doherty whip up Sri Lankan recipes seldom tasted in these parts. Take, for example, Kolam’s traditional crepe made from rice flour and coconut milk, perfect for filling with a rainbow of toppings.

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Algerian
  • Butte-aux-Cailles
  • price 1 of 4
  • Recommended

Among the good spots in Butte-aux-Cailles, Chez Mamane is an institution. A tiny room on rue des Cinq Diamants, this couscous canteen is packed with neighbourhood regulars every night, who gather at the bar or on the pavements to share their apéritif with those who've been drawn to what is known as the ‘best broth in Paris’. Try the Couscous Royal or the chicken couscous, both of which can be shared between two. 

 

Royal China
©Antoine Besse

10. Royal China

At Royal China, a discreet Shanghai-style eatery in the 3rd district, they take homemade seriously. As soon as you step in, you’ll see chefs bustling in clouds of steam, crafting dumplings, rolling out pancake dough or juggling stacks of steamer baskets. And guess what? Hearty plates of stir-fried noodles are just €10.50. 

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