Eight Cheap Eats in Paris (Gourmet Chick in France)

For my final post on my month in Paris I have put together a list of the top eight cheap eats in Paris. Paris can be an expensive city but each of these suggestions are under 10 each. Save more cash by hiring a Velib to get around (1 hire fee per day) and fill up your water bottle at the beautiful wrought iron Wallace fountains which are everywhere in Paris.

1. L'As du Felafel This felafel shop in the Marais is legendary and once you have had a felafel there you will understand why. Each felafel is stuffed with golden balls of fried chickpea along with pickled red cabbage, salted cucumbers, eggplant and slathered with hummus along with a dash of harissa. Order from the window at the door and get even better value by ordering your felafel to take away. Price: 4. Details: 34 rue de Rosiers, Paris (Ph 01 48 87 63 60) Metro: St Paul. Closed Saturdays.

Croque monsieur at Le Comptoir du Relais

2. Le Comptoir du Relais Admittedly not everything on the menu is at Yve Camdeborde's bistro is a cheap eat but order wisely and you can feast on the most decadent Croque Monsieur that you are likely to ever eat. The toasted triangles of bread are filled with smoked salmon, comte and a dash of caviar. Read my full review here. Price: 9 Details: 9 Carrefour de l'Odeon, Paris (Ph +331 4427 07 97) Metro: Odeon. 3. Saigon Sandwich Banh-Mi from Saigon Sandwich must be the cheapest lunch in Paris. This tiny little shopfront makes only one thing: banh-mi. Order the special and you get a half crusty, light baguette filled with pork, salami, meatballs and cheese along with lettuce, fresh mint and carrot. The taste is fresh and zesty although there was quite a bit of gristle on the banh-mi that I tried. Still, it is hard to complain at this price. Price: 3 Details: 8 rue de la Prsentation, Paris 75011 (Metro: Belleville)

Banh Mi from Saigon Sandwich

4. Rose Bakery For a piece of Le Anglais in Paris head to Rose Bakery run by English/French couple Rose and Jean-Claude. You can get freshly made salads and quiches for a reasonable price. It's not the best lunch in Paris but when you factor in the bottles of water on each table and good quality brown bread and butter it is a good value option. Read my full review here. Price: 10 Details: 46 rue des Martyrs, 75009 Paris (Ph 01 42 82 12 80) 5. Le Bambou You can get brilliant Vietnamese food at this no frills eatery for bargain prices. It is hard to go past the pho however my favourite dish is the spicy beef served sizzling hot in a terracotta dish. Read my full review here. Price:7 to 8.50 Details: 70 Rue de Baudricot, 75013 Paris (Ph 01 45 70 91 75) Metro: Maison Blanche

Pho at Le Bambou

6. Creperie Oroyona There are a few creperies in action along the tiny Rue Mouffetard however Creperie Oroyona attracted me with its bright aqua exterior and window showcasing two large hotplates for frying the crepes. Your crepe will be cooked to order in front of your eyes by pouring on the creamy batter and deftly swirling it into a thin paste. Try the lunch deal where you can get a savoury crepe such as the fromage one I devoured, sweet crepe and drink for 5.50. Price: 5.50 Details: 34 Rue Mouffetard, Paris 75005 (Ph 01 43 366 046) Metro: Place Monge

Crepe from Creperie Oroyona

7. Au Rochere de Cancale There are lots of inexpensive cafes in the streets around Les Halles, however Au Rochere de Cancale is one of the picks of the bunch. The age of the cafe is

evident from the solid timber beams supporting the roof and the prices seem to be stuck in time as well. Don't worry though the feel is modern and the food is great. The salads here are fantastic and packed full of goodies or order the menu of the day. Desserts such as the tarte tartin start at 4. Price: 4 - 10 Details: 78 rue Montorgueil, Paris (Ph 01 42 33 50 29) Metro: Les Halles
Tarte tartin from Au Rochere de Cancale

8. Patisseries and boulangieres Finally, the best place in Paris for a cheap eat is of course a patisserie or boulangiere. Look out for artisian boulangiere which indicates that all products are made on the premises. Two of my favourites are Frederic Comyn and A La Flute Gana.