food is the soul of a country - Quincy Jones .jpg

Today I will be sharing useful French expressions relating to organic food. I’ll also suggest some amazing Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants for you to try out in Paris!

A new trend of restaurants in Paris suggests the French are becoming more open to new, healthier ways of eating. The number of non-carnivores who prefer green to red is increasing. Rest assured, nowadays you are less likely to receive a quizzical look when stating your food preferences in a French restaurant.

For those of you who need to communicate in French with the waiters while in Paris, I have selected useful vocabulary and expressions that you can use in the restaurants as well as organic groceries stores. Also, phrases to comfortably discuss your food intolerances and preferences.

Useful French vocabulary and expressions related to your food intolerances or healthy preferences

“Je suis vegan”: I am vegan
“Je suis végétarien(ne)”: I am vegetarian
“Est-ce que vous proposez des plats sans gluten?”: Do you offer gluten-free dishes?
“Est-ce que vous avez un menu végétarien?: Do you have a vegetarian menu?
“Quels sont les ingrédients dans ce plat?”: What are the ingredients in this dish?
“Est-ce ce plat contient des allergènes?” Does this dish contain allergenic products?
“Je voudrais du pain sans gluten”: I would like gluten-free bread
“J’ai une allergie alimentaire”: I have a food allergy
“Je suis allergique au gluten”: I am allergic to gluten
“Je suis allergique au lactose”: I am allergic to lactose
“Je suis allergique aux arachides”: I am allergic to groundnuts
“Je suis un régime sans gluten, sans lactose”: I have a diet with no gluten and no lactose
“J’ai une intolérance au gluten”: I have gluten intolerance
“J’ai une intolérance au lactose”: I have lactose intolerance
“Je mange seulement des produits bios”: I only eat organic food
“Je mange seulement des produits frais”: I only eat fresh products
“Je mange seulement des produits sains”: I eat healthy products
“Je mange des produits anti-oxydants”: I eat products with antioxidants
“Je cherche un thé detox”: I am looking for a detox tea
“Je déteste la cuisine industrielle”: I hate processed food
“J’évite les protéines animales": I avoid animal proteins
“Je préfère les protéines végétales”: I prefer vegetable proteins

Pretty soon you will feel comfortable enough to confidently ask and receive helpful information. Give it a shot! Or, click here to find out more about our lessons

Vegetarian and Vegan restaurants in Paris: the top 4

Macéo

Address: 15 Rue des Petits Champs, 75001 Paris

Tel : +33(0) 1 42 97 53 85

Métro: Pyramides

Maceo: This traditional-looking restaurant near the Palais Royal in the city centre offers creative, gorgeously presented vegetarian cuisine as the centrepiece of its menu. There are several a la carte options. All the seasonal lunch and dinner menus are guaranteed to have at least one option for non-meat-eaters. You won't be presented with a bland vegetable platter, either. Here, the Japanese-born chef treats his vegetarian creations as just as important as the meat, if not more so.

Le Marais

Address: 54 Rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 75004
Tel.: +33(0)1 48874871
Metro: Hôtel de Ville or St-Paul

Le Marais: Formerly Aquarius, this restaurant is one of the best-known among the Paris vegetarian community. The menu is a combination of salads, wheat pancakes and savoury tarts, with fish dishes also a feature (puritans beware!). Organic wine is on the menu, but smoking is not, making it one of the few restaurants to offer a smoke-free environment pre-2008. Vegans should check with wait staff before ordering. There have been some reports of unfriendly service here.

Le Potager du Marais

Address: 22 rue Rambuteau, 75003
Tel.: +33(0)1 42 74 24 66
Metro: St Paul

Le Potager: Also located in the Marais, this restaurant is only a few steps from Centre Pompidou. The atmosphere is fun and homey. Hot soups, homemade tofu, and seitan bourguignon are all on the menu, which has a la carte and set menu options. Allow for between €10-€15 (approx. $13-$20) for an a la carte meal, and the set menu (starter, main course and dessert) costs €20 (approx. $26). All dishes are prepared with organic ingredients, and many vegan options are available.

Lastly, I have saved the best till last!

Le Grenier de Notre Dame

Address: 18 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris

Tel: 33+(0)143 29 98 29

Metro: St Michel

Le Grenier is the original and the best and is a Paris institution. The city’s first vegetarian and macrobiotic restaurant, it opened back n 1978 – and has had the same chef, Abib, and worked with the same local growers in Northern France, ever since. Recognisable by the distinctive front windows, where verdant plants and exotic specimens hang down from the first floor, inside it’s always packed – so book early.

L’Assiette Royale (17.95€) showcases ten different components, ranging from brown rice to seasonal vegetables to egg, avocado and soya. A riot of flavours, it’s a feast fit for a (vegetarian) king. With many of their ingredients organic and/or sourced from equitable suppliers, and plenty of vegan-friendly options too.

Private French lessons in Paris: Learn French with a personal touch

Whether you are in Paris for a short stay or you are an expat building a new life in France, French à la Carte provide personalized private French lessons to match your needs, learning abilities, schedule, and location in Paris.

For those who need to feel more at ease in their daily life in Paris or explore Paris while speaking French, we can teach you in real life situations or offer learning fulfilling outdoors activities. Such examples are gourmet tours and walking conversation tours.

At French à la Carte, we believe that learning a new language should be an engaging, rewarding, and life-changing experience. If you'd like to learn more, contact us to get in touch.

Contact Us

French Vocabulary for Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian Food