Where to Eat Good Ratatouille in Paris?

Where to Eat Good Ratatouille in Paris?

*Originally published by Natalie on November 2019 and Updated by Vanessa in October 2022 and Updated by Vanessa R on September 2023 and Updated by Diana K in May 2024

Ratatouille: a dish made famous by the animated film of the same name!

Ratatouille is a French national dish that is made by stewing a variety of vegetables in oil. It is often served cold, but there are different variations and trends to this meal that has been around since 1778.

Any semi-decent traditional restaurant in Paris should have ratatouille on the menu. It’s by no means a difficult dish to find in the French capital, and it’s equally as easy to make yourself at home if all else fails.

Here are a few spots where the ratatouille is good… real good.

by Behnam N – Wikimedia Commons

Chez Janou in Paris

Chez Janou is in le Marais and has a bit of a cult following when it comes to French food fanatics. Nearly everything on the menu is worthy of praise, so it comes as no surprise that is would be one of the best places to eat good ratatouille in Paris.

Chez Janou is actually one of few restaurants on this quiet street on the le Marais outskirts. It seems to be perpetually packed with people from all over the world, all of them eager to try the dishes of the nation.

Chez Janou in Paris – by Chez Janou – Uploaded by them

Their ratatouille is superb. It is cooked traditionally the way they do in the south of France where it originated. The Mediterranean flavors are evident and having this as your starter meal is a really impressive journey of taste before you dig into something more hearty.

A really lovely spot for a night out in Paris. I highly recommend it!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Address: Monday to Sunday — 12pm to 3pm // 7pm to 12am

ADDRESS: 2 Rue Roger Verlomme, 75003 Paris, France

Metro STATION: Chemin Vert

Bistrot Richelieu in Paris

Bistrot Richelieu is a wonderful and authentic French bistro near the Louvre Museum in the heart of the city. Finding ratatouille is a sure thing at just about every bistro in the city, but this one is particularly good.

They also do a really great French onion soup; another dish that is held near and dear to the nation. You can tell that the food is authentic because locals come here to dine as well, which is rare considering the restaurant’s proximity to some of the most chaotic tourist attractions in town.

Bistrot Richelieu in Paris – by Bistrot Richelieu – Sourced from their website

There is a beautiful little patio outside of this restaurant where you should definitely request seating.

If you’re dining with someone I recommend sharing the soup and ratatouille as your starters, and then moving on to a main course of your choosing.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Address: Tuesday to Saturday — 8:30am to 10:30pm

ADDRESS: 45 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris, France

Train STATION: Pyramides

Cafe Louise in Paris

The ratatouille at Cafe Louise was recommended to me by a friend while I was going through an experimental vegetarian phase. If you’ve ever tried to dine vegan or vegetarian at a traditional French restaurant then you’ll know the struggle.

I loved my ratatouille at Cafe Louise. On that note, I loved the whole restaurant as well. I came here for dinner, but I think my next visit will be for their famous Sunday brunch when everywhere else in the neighborhood is closed.

Cafe Louise in Paris – by Cafe Louise – Uploaded by them

In true Parisian bistro style, Cafe Louise is open morning until morning; you can start eating here at 7am all the way through until 2am the following morning. So if you fancy a ratatouille at one in the morning, you know where to go!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Address: Monday to Sunday — 7am to 2am

ADDRESS: 155 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris, France

Metro STATION: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Le Potager du Marais in Paris

During my veggie journey I also came across this spot in le Marais, called le Potager du Marais.

It’s an all vegan restaurant, one where they have spent a lot of time morphing tofu into meaty replicas. Their ratatouille is by no means the most impressive thing on this menu, but it is delicious.

Le Potager du Marais in Paris – by Le Potager du Marais – Uploaded by them

The intention behind le Potager du Marais was to provide a spot where people can enjoy all of the French classic dishes without them being covered in butter, cream and meats.

What to expect from the menu? Lasagna, creme brulee, blanquettes, croquettes, artichoke dip, and of course, ratatouille.

There are a few gluten free options for those in need, too.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Address: Wednesday to Sunday — 12pm to 3pm // 7pm to 10:30pm

ADDRESS: 24 Rue Rambuteau, 75003 Paris, France

Metro STATION: Rambuteau

Le Boui Boui in Paris

Back to the Louvre district we go for our last good spot to eat ratatouille in the city.

A charming little bistro with all the French classics you know and love. The ratatouille is on the starter menu and is a really refreshing dish to start your meal experience here.

The owner is usually sauntering around, available to offer any advice on the “top picks” of the menu. Of course, the ratatouille falls amongst them, and the kitchen are very proud of their rendition of this timeless meal.

Le Boui Boui in Paris – by Le Boui Boui – Sourced from their Facebook

Something worth noting is that no one who works at le Boui Boui really speaks or understands English. In that way, it’s wonderfully authentic, and you’ll get to practice your food ordering in French skills.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Address: Tuesday to Saturday — 10am to 3pm // 7pm to 11:30pm

ADDRESS: 11 Rue Marie Stuart, 75002 Paris, France

Metro STATION: Étienne Marcel

Le Bistrot Flaubert

Chef Nicolas Baumann and financier Stéphane Manigold have taken over the intimate café with flea market decor that was first opened in the 1980s by chef Michel Rostang, who also created it. The kitchen is run by Korean-born chef Sukwon Yong, a former coworker of Rostang. With his Asian take on French bistro cuisine, he has turned this establishment into one of the most intriguing and enjoyable dining destinations in western Paris. Korean beef tartare with avocado mousse and puffed rice, as well as lumache (snail-shaped pasta) with rabbit confit, red curry, and kimchi, are two dishes to look forward to. In a pricey neighbourhood of Paris, the prix fixe lunch is a true steal.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS:10 Rue Gustave Flaubert, 75017 Paris, France

Metro STATION: Ternes

Booking.com

Restaurant Arnaud Nicolas

Award-winning charcutier and chef Arnaud Nicolas has brought back a bygone era of French cuisine with his superbly crafted pates, sausages, and terrines. The room has battleship-grey mouldings, exposed stone walls, and a beamed ceiling. It is located on a verdant avenue in the silk stocking Seventh Arrondissement.

As the first course, a changing menu featuring seasonal vegetables is followed by roasts and meat pies, two delectable Gallic delights that have been enjoyed since at least the Middle Ages. In addition to salmon koulibiak for two, beef cheek braised with carrots in red wine, veal sweetbreads with girolles mushrooms, and a decadent chocolate souffle, Nicolas showcases his culinary skills with turbot cooked with cep mushrooms.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS:46 Avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, France

METRO STATION: École Militaire

Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée

Chef Jean Imbert made sceptics in Paris drool last September when he debuted his menu of traditional French cuisine at his new named restaurant, following the shocking news in June 2021 that chef Alain Ducasse would replace him in the kitchens of the Hotel Plaza Athénée.

Imbert, who shuns some of his younger counterparts’ brash inventiveness, declares, “I believe in the rich traditions of French food. Imbert delicately modifies and revamps traditional dishes to make them elegantly modern, as seen in a signature dish like a deconstructed vol au vent (typically a pastry case filled with crayfish, veal sweetbreads, and mushrooms in cream sauce), which arrives at the table with the plated ingredients hidden under a round golden pane of delicate puff pastry.

PRACITCAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS:25 Av. Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France

METRO STATION: École Militaire

Chez L’Ami Jean

The bustling Left Bank bistro of Chef Stéphane Jego is always full. Jego is one of the few chefs in Paris who can produce exquisite traditional French bistro fare that has been subtly updated. Since purchasing the 1930s building from a Basque rugby pub almost twenty years ago, he has hardly used it.

You won’t mind the sporadically slow service or rowdy regulars because the hearty dishes, frequently inspired by southwestern French rural fare, are so profoundly fulfilling. On the menu are dishes like roast lamb with smoked oregano, roast lamb with thyme and garlic, and light and fluffy rice pudding.

PRACITCAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS:27 Rue Malar, 75007 Paris, France

METRO STATION: La Tour-Maubourg

Restaurant David Toutain

At Agapé Substance in Saint-Germain, David Toutain first dazzled Paris after working with Alain Passard and Marc Veyrat. Now that he owns his own restaurant, his tasting menus, which range in price from 70 to 250 euros, serve some of Paris’ most daring and intriguing cuisine.

Consider meals like pan-seared foie gras in a baked potato bouillon with black truffles, a monochromatic white cuttlefish composition with yuba, and virtually transparent Parmesan gnocchi that has been seasoned with the juice obtained from hours of cooking the cheese at very low temperatures.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS:29 rue Surcouf, Paris, Île-de-France

METRO STATION: La Tour-Maubourg

Find some time between hunting down good ratatouille to enjoy a free guided walking tour through your favorite Parisian neighborhood! They depart daily from all over the city center.

5 Side Dishes That Go Well with Ratatouille

1. Flank Steak

Photo by Food Photographer on Unsplash

If you’re like me and can’t live without meat, you should serve your ratatouille with a great, big, meaty steak. Any cut will do, but a nicely cooked flank steak is a surefire winner. The beef is a joy for the senses thanks to the delicious tastes of the bell peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant! This hearty, nutrient-dense meal is excellent for lunch or dinner.

2. Pork Chops

Photo by Junior REIS on Unsplash

Pork is a great choice because ratatouille goes well with various kinds of meat. Get some moist and tender pork chops to go with it if you want something rich and decadent to complement the freshness of the vegetables. Yum.

3. Lamb

Of course, ratatouille pairs beautifully with steak and pork chops. A leg of lamb that has been expertly seasoned, however, pairs best with this vegetable stew. There is a solid reason why it is the most well-liked Provencal combo.

A grilled leg of lamb with a marinade of olive oil, thyme, rosemary, garlic, lemon, salt, and pepper offers a rich taste that is a lovely counterpoint to the ratatouille’s subtlety. Your tastebuds will undoubtedly be thrilled by the subtle balance they together provide.

4. Veal

It’s wonderful to pair Ratatouille with something chewier and drier because it’s so incredibly wet and soft. The perfect meat for the dish is a lean, delicious piece of veal. The additional flavour, texture, and nutrition that veal provides are all wonderful bonuses! These ingredients work well when combined to make a fulfilling supper.

5. Italian Sausage

Photo by Beau Carpenter on Unsplash

For a ratatouille explosion of meat and vegetable delight, crumble up some savoury and smokey Italian sausage and sprinkle it on top!

Even better, for a stew that is much more delicious, why not boil the vegetables in some of the sausage fat? While the flavour combination may not be as nutritious, it is still worth the spend because it strikes all the right notes.

As you hunt down some good ratatouille, don’t forget to savor the local cuisine. Our food tour of Paris can lead you to the best culinary delights in the city.

Side Dishes That Go Well with Ratatouille

1. A Nice, Big, Juicy Steak

Photo by José Ignacio Pompé on Unsplash

Flank steak is the perfect hearty accompaniment to ratatouille’s medley of vibrant veggies. Just imagine thick slices of juicy, well-marbled beef sizzling on the grill, absorbing those lick-your-lips smoky notes.

Let that steak rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow all those delicious juices to be reabsorbed. Then cut across the grain into tender strips and fan them out next to a mound of ratatouille.

The rich beefiness is going to beautifully contrast the bright, fresh flavours of the ratatouille. With each bite, you’ll get an explosion of summer’s finest produce along with that unmistakable steak satisfaction. ​Hearty yet healthy, flank steak lets the ratatouille shine.

2.  Pork Chops

Pork chops are a classic staple that can steal the show at any dinner. Just picture this: thick, juicy chops sizzling away in a cast iron skillet. The When they’re hot off the stove, the exterior is crispy perfection while the inside remains tender and succulent.

Every bite delivers an explosion of savoury, melt-in-your-mouth flavour. Pork chops have a delightfully rich taste. It definitely pairs beautifully with all sorts of sides like roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad. Simple yet deeply satisfying, pork chops are a no-fuss way to put smiles on every face at the table.

3.  Polenta

J.P.Lon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 This creamy cornmeal porridge has a mild, subtly sweet taste that won’t overpower the vibrant veggies. It provides a luscious backdrop for the ratatouille to truly shine. Polenta is such a versatile side too. It can be served soft and velvety right off the stove, or let it firm up and then grill or fry slices until deliciously crispy on the outside.

Either way, the corn flavours mingle beautifully with the ratatouille’s tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and herbs. Polenta is a rustic dish that pairs particularly well with the homey comfort of a classic French ratatouille. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and can be easily made vegan for those with dietary restrictions.

4.  Roasted Potatoes

Nothing complements the fresh ratatouille quite like roasted potatoes. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and infused with rosemary, thyme, and garlic- those are the potatoes am taking about. Just imagine sinking your teeth into those golden-brown potato wedges, their crispy edges giving way to pillowy insides that soak up all the delicious ratatouille juices.  Plus, roasting the potatoes brings out their natural, buttery richness. It’s like getting a warm hug on your plate with every satisfying bite. Trust me, you’ll be going back for seconds (and thirds!) of this classic combo.

5.  French Baguette

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

There’s nothing quite like a homemade French baguette, fresh out of the oven. The crust is perfectly golden and crisp, making that satisfying crackling sound when you slice into it. ​Paired with ratatouille, it becomes the perfect tool to scoop up every bit of that savoury, colourful medley of vegetables.

The rustic charm of a freshly baked baguette not only complements the dish but elevates the entire meal.  A homemade baguette pairs wonderfully with almost anything, from creamy butter and jam to savoury cheeses and charcuterie. Or just get some from your favourite bakery.