3 Meat-Free Joints to Check Out in Paris
Paris is a city known for its culinary delights. But what happens when you're a vegetarian or vegan in the land of blanquette and filet mignon?
Some restaurateurs still tend to think that making a plant-based dish is a matter of removing the meat from a French specialty. Not to mention those who simply do not offer any vegetarian or vegan options on the menu, apart from salads.
This can be a real problem for the almost 10% of young French people who no longer eat meat, as well as for international students who come from countries with more diverse plant-based cuisine.
That is why the team at Paris à la Carte decided to share with you some of our favorite veggie spots in town. Whether you are on a vegan or vegetarian diet, we hope you will find some good options for your next meal in Paris!
Tien Hiang: the oldest Asian and vegetarian restaurant in Paris
Let's start with Tien Hiang, the oldest Asian and vegetarian restaurant in Paris. This family-run business serves up classic Southeast Asian dishes like pad thai and pho in a vegetarian version.
They also offer a delicious Lôc lac, a Cambodian specialty, made with a vegetable protein substitute instead of beef. You can find Tien Hiang on rue Bichat, near the Canal Saint-Martin.
Tien Hiang
14 Rue Bichat | 75010 Paris
Sun - Mon, Wed - Thu*: 12–14h30 , 18h30–22h30
Fri - Sat: 12–2:30 PM, 6:30–11 PM
*(Closed on Tuesdays)
Cloud Cakes: a 100% vegan coffee shop
Being vegan should not deprive you of the pleasures of French pastry, often cooked with cream and eggs. That's where Cloud Cakes comes in.
This 100% vegan coffee shop, located in the 2nd and 9th arrondissements, offers a wide range of vegan breakfasts, brunches and snacks! And if you can't make it to the shop, no worries, you can order their pastries three days in advance.
Cloud Cakes
6 Rue Mandar | 75002 Paris
Mon to Sat: 9–19h
Sun: 11h30–15h30
AMAP: fresh vegetables to support local agriculture
If you’re living on a student budget and prefer buying your own vegetables to cook at home, joining an AMAP can be a great option.
AMAPs (in English: associations for the protection of peasant agriculture) were created to connect farmers with consumers who want to buy locally and reduce waste. In Paris, there are several AMAPs where you can regularly receive a basket of vegetables with known origins and production methods. This is a great way to eat healthy, support local agriculture, and reduce waste.
Did you know that approximately 1/3 of the world's vegetable production is thrown away before being put on the market? With AMAP, leeks that are too small and carrots that are too crooked will find a reason to exist.
As Paris continues to embrace alternative food options, it's exciting to see the city's plant-based culinary scene evolve and expand -- slowly but steadily. Maybe one day the French capital will become the city of vegetarian and vegan delights. One can dream, right?
➡️ 💌 Remember to share the newsletter with any of your friends who’ve bravely moved to Paris — or are thinking of doing so! If you have any suggestions for content, please feel free to reach out via parisalacarte@substack.com.