Need some options for cheap eats while visiting Paris? I’ve got you covered. You don’t have to eat a ham sandwich every day to stay within a certain budget. Here are 7 great options for eating in Paris for under 20€, without losing any of the flavor or thrill.

1. L’Avant Comptoir

This is a seriously fun place to get bang for your buck. You can get a hearty charcuterie board overflowing with some of the best charcuterie in France (Eric Ospital). Make a meal out of that alongside a few slices of their unique and addictive bread (flavored with saffron and a dash of piment d’espellette).

Said bread should of course be slathered with some of France’s finest butter (help yourself from the heaping mound of community Bordier butter from Brittany).

And I do mean heaping.

Of course, don’t forget the community cornichons (baby French pickles). But good luck, because their gourmet bites will tempt you to go beyond charcuterie, bread & butter. The hanging signs show you the photo and price.

There’s also the beautiful selection of natural wines. There’s no wine list – it’s in the heads of the fun, friendly (and busy) staff. So tell them what kind of wine you’re looking to drink – white, red, or sparkling? Light or full bodied? Funky or classic?

They’ll pour you a taste to see if you like their recommendation. Glasses are around 7€, so don’t worry about accidentally ordering a 25€ glass. I think the most expensive glass I’ve gotten was 12€ for a remarkable wine.

I have happily passed many an evening here with a couple glasses of fascinating natural wines and a mixed planche of charcuterie. It’s easy to do that on the cheap. Though to be honest, I usually can’t resist ordering several of the (still very affordable) little hot dishes.

It’s standing room only, which means you’ll probably start talking to your neighbor at some point. It only adds to the fun, but if it’s too crowded for you to squeeze in, they have 2 sister wine bars: L’Avant Comptoir de la Mer (next door to the original) and L’Avant Comptoir du Marché (a 3 minute walk away).

L’Avant Comptoir always makes for a fun evening, especially if you’re traveling solo.

2. YARD CAVE

Foodies & chefs flock to YARD Cave and its little bistro restaurant next door. You’ll find a lot of chef and industry people at the wine bar (Cave) on their nights off – typically Sunday and Mondays nights, sharing bottles of natural wine and snacking on cheap bar plates.

They are located in the northeast corner of Paris by the Père Lachaise cemetery, and YARD Bistro offers one of the best lunch deals in town. If you want to try contemporary French market cooking at a fraction of the price, go here for lunch. You can get 2 courses (starter/main or main/dessert) for 16€ or all 3 courses for 19€, and there are three options in each category.

Last time I went for lunch, I had watercress soup with a poached egg, a piece of perfectly pan-roasted fish with tomatoes, and a chocolate ganache with sea salt that I still dream about.

The wine bar (YARD Cave) is on the left and bistro on the right.

At the wine bar, you can go at night to get a few small plates along with very affordable bottles of wine. I went with three friends recently, and we each walked out paying 25€ each for food and wine, which is insane.

If you want their lovely, and more substantial, dishes on the cheap, then head to the bistro for lunch.

3. L’As du Fallafel

I absolutely can’t resist getting a bursting-with-flavor falafel sandwich from L’As du Fallafel whenever I find myself in the Marais. People say it’s the best falafel outside of Israel, and for 6.50€, it can’t be beat.

Line up (guaranteed to be a line, for good reason), place your order, and pay the man patrolling the line. Then step up to the window to receive your warm pita filled with hot and crispy fried falafel, soft and caramelized roasted eggplant, fresh cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, yogurt sauce and “sauce piquant”, (literally “spicy sauce”; i.e. harissa). The harissa is my favorite part. Take it over to Places des Vosges to enjoy.

4. Crepes – Legit crepes.

And finally, there is the mighty crepe. You can get a cheap and filling ham & cheese crepe from any stand in the city, followed by a banana and Nutella dessert crepe. With that combo, you’ll be as happy as can be for about 8€ (for two crepes).

Even better, to stay under 20€ but still eat great quality, you can go to an official crepe restaurant like Breizh Cafe, hailing straight from the motherland of buckwheat crepes: Brittany.

They use pristine ingredients and have a wide variety of options. You can get a savory lunch crepe with cured ham, egg, mushroom and hot melted cheese (above), or opt for a light and healthy vegetable crepe.

And of course, when you go to a crepe restaurant, there’s always the dessert crepe. In this situation, I have to recommend the salted caramel crepe. It will leave you speechless as you ponder moving to France.

There’s a Breizh Cafe in the Marais, off the adorable pedestrian street Rue Montorgueil in the 2nd, and near Odeon in the 6th. Each restaurant takes reservations which can be smart in the summer. There are also many traditional crepe restaurants located around Montparnasse (I’m a big fan of Josselin).

5. Zia

If you’re visiting the Eiffel Tower on the weekend, don’t miss the opportunity to have brunch at Zia on your way over.

They have a beautiful, bright little space just around the corner from the Champ de Mars, where they serve Dutch baby pancakes with fried eggs, bacon, and Comté for 17€, a breakfast burrito for 16€, or avocado toast with cucumber and poached egg for 15€.

During the week, they have fresh salads at lunch for 13-15€ and a lunch formule with ample dishes that change according to what’s in season. They also have artisanal coffee and a small selection of craft beers and natural wines.

6. Chez Alain Miam Miam

People are obsessed with this guy, Alain. He makes ridiculously good gourmet sandwiches and crepes inside the Marché des Enfants Rouges, a covered market in the Marais. You’ll see the line for his stand, which often takes around 30 minutes if you don’t show up early.

Why? Because he lovingly crafts each sandwich made to order himself, filling it to the brim with whatever meats, cheese, and veggies you want.

If you’re starving and don’t want to wait, the market has plenty of cheap and satisfying eating options. Or just show up early to avoid the wait so you can experience his hand-crafted sandwich and crepe wizardry.

7. A Gourmet Picnic

And of course, not to be missed (in good weather anyway), is the all time favorite outdoor Parisian standby, a glorious picnic. You can make your own spread of cured meats, baguette, cheeses, fruit, pastries, and wine without coming close to breaking the bank.

You could even get a roasted chicken with a baguette, tomatoes, and an avocado, and feel incredibly satisfied while dining al fresco staring at the Eiffel Tower or the gorgeous buildings along the Seine.

Pro tip: Don’t forget napkins, plastic knives, plastic cups, and a cork screw (though neighboring picnickers will likely let you borrow their cork screw, which can be a fun way to make friends).

An outdoor picnic spread on a warm summer evening in front of an epic monument, bridge, or sunset view of the Seine can rival even the fanciest of restaurants in your rolodex of unforgettable meals. You don’t need a lot of cash for that kind of dining happiness.