Everything you need to know about Parisian sandwich shops

Everything you need to know about Parisian sandwich shops

Today, I will be telling you everything you need to know about Parisian sandwich shops! At lunch, the Parisians usually opt for a sandwich so they can head back to their work. While in Paris, you will probably feel like having a quick lunch too, mostly because Paris is an incredible city with so much to see and to visit. One does not want to waste some precious time!

When one goes to eat at a restaurant for lunch, they get comfortable, and might eat a little too much. I don’t know about you, but speaking for myself, after eating a little too much, the digestion makes me feel sleepy! And that’s something you really don’t want to happen while in Paris, because there’s a lot of walking and sightseeing to do! So, if you’re like me and you rather grab a sandwich so you can continue your activities, read on and find out everything you need to know about Parisian sandwich shops!

What makes a good sandwich?

First of all, you need to know that the bread is the key ingredient to our sandwiches! Most of the sandwiches sold throughout the city will obviously be baguette sandwiches, since we are the country of the baguette! In Paris, you can forget about white bread. Besides, sandwiches made with white bread usually get soaked in sauce, while the baguette ones maintain the texture of the ingredients and their flavours. I believe that once you try one of the traditional baguette sandwiches in Paris, you will go back home craving for it forever!

The freshness of the ingredients are also very important for a sandwich to be good! When one buys sandwich in Paris, they do not want tin canned vegetables in it! The freshness of the ingredients is usually visible to the naked eyed! Also, a good sandwich is one that has been made on the day, not the day before!

If you want to be an expert on how to identify a good sandwich, I recommend you to join our food tour. On our food tour, the locals will give you the best tips on how to make sure your money is well spent and that you are eating homemade sandwiches with baked baguette bread from the morning!

How can I tell if a sandwich shop is good?

In Paris, the common way to tell if a sandwich shop is good is by checking if the sandwiches are made in front of you! If the sandwiches are made right in front of you, you kind of feel more secure about what you’re about to it! However, very few places do it, because lunches are an extremely busy hour! Since it is a rush hour, most places prepare several sandwiches options and are then showcased for you to choose. As sandwiches go, fresh sandwiches are continuously made.

What are the best sandwich shops in Paris?

In my opinion, the boulangeries (“bakeries”, in English) are the best sandwich shops in Paris! The content of the sandwiches are quite basic, but will be to everyone’s liking. You get to have fresh ingredients with freshly baked baguette. The boulangeries offer lunch menus, that include a pack of chips, or a dessert with a drink to go with your sandwich. I can guarantee you won’t spend more than ten euros. You can have a simple but delicious lunch for less money you would think you’d spend. Plus, since a sandwich is practical, you can go to a park and enjoy the Parisian lifestyle! Plus, warmer days are coming and the gardens are flourishing, so having a sandwich in one of Paris gardens definitely sounds like a great idea!

You will find many great boulangeries around the city. The areas I think have the best sandwich shops are the Montorgueil and the Marais neighborhood. You also have the boulangerie chain Paul, that is quite similar to the Pret A Manger chain you find in the United States and the United Kingdom, which you will easily find in Paris.

Nonetheless, if you want a special recommendation, you can go to Miss Bánh Mi at 5 rue Mandar, a little street that crosses the rue Montorgueil. Their sandwiches are made with traditional French baguette (from the Eric Kayser bakery) and filled with fresh ingredients inspired by Vietnamese street food, such as grated carrot, homemade soya mayo, chili, fried onions and many more flavours! They have very few sandwich options but they are the best! Over the years, they have improved their recipes! You also have vegan options, which is definitely a great asset!

I’ve now told you almost everything you need to know about Parisian sandwich shops! In a few words, the best Parisian sandwich shops are boulangeries. In boulangeries, you will find macarons, éclairs, pains au chocolat, croissants, and plenty more delicious Parisian pastries! But, you will also find many sandwiches for you to pick for lunch, try the classic “jambon-beurre“, the most typical and traditional sandwich in Paris! It was only in 2017 that the burger sales have exceeded the “jambon-beurre” ones. Now that spring has arrived, summer is one step closer, which means the hot days are on their way! Having a sandwich while seating in one of the Jardins des Tuileries benches or in the Jardin du Luxembourg is simply the best idea!

See you soon in Paris!