The best burgers in Paris are a tall order, in a city devoted to fine dining and elite restaurants. But our hunt for perfect patties and fantastic fries turned up more than snooty gourmet versions of the American classic (though a few of those as well). The obsession with fine ingredients that has gripped burger-makers in New York and London for the last few years has caught on in the French capital too, with happy results: Our 'Best burgers in Paris' list includes full-on American diners, signature restaurant versions and even a jolly burger truck, proving that French versions of US cuisines are much more than just a load of old viande hachée.
Did we miss your favourite Parisian spot for American-inspired dining? Let us know in the comments below.
A large wooden bar, stools, suspended lighting and a menu which promises to offer you ‘the four corners of Asia on a plate’ that being Japanese katsu chicken, Korean bibimbaps, Vietnamese boa buns and Thai pad thais. A mix of cuisine that a few people may find a little disconcerting, but that doesn’t really matter because we’ve come to Goku for one only excellent reason: the burger, voted as the best in France at the most recent French burger awards.
Baozi steamed buns, a staple of Chinese and Indonesian cuisine, are the latest Parisian food craze. To prove it, here comes Siseng, a trendy new eatery whose signature dish is the Bao Burger: a fusion meal that revisits the American classic, serving it with an Asian sauce, sandwiched between two warm, slightly sweet baozi in lieu of the traditional bread.
A brilliant little burger joint, which takes the traditional American burger and gives it the French terroir treatment. Nowhere’s been left out, with regional specialities from all over France wedged between delicious sesame seed buns from the bakery next door. There’s fourme cheese from Ambert, tomme cheese from Savoie, Saint-Nectaire cheese...
A little corner of kosher Brooklyn lost in the Marais, Schwartz’s is all hot dogs, pastrami, pecan pie and onion rings. The area’s locals swap family news with the waiters, and mix easily with hipsters among the old film posters, red leather banquettes and checked tablecloths.A must-try is the pastrami sandwich, a mountain of dried beef wedged between two hunks of bread, served with fries and a little pot of coleslaw for €16.50 (or €19 for the version with veal). Or you could go for one of the numerous burgers (€12-€24), from classic cheeseburger to avocado, or even the Rossini (steak, foie gras, rocket and port sauce) – impressive, if not quite as decadent as its price would suggest. Also a good bet are the milkshakes (€7.50), often with real chunks of Oreos or other biscuits, though you’ll want to save room for dessert: the strawberry cheesecake is one of the best in Paris – and at €7 a slice, it should be.Overall, Schwartz’s wins out with its friendly service and boisterous atmosphere, but feels slightly overpriced. That doesn’t seem to put anyone off, however, as two more branches have opened recently: on Avenue Niel in the 17th, and Avenue d’Elyau in the 16th.
Fresh ingredients, home made chips and French beef have been on offer at the Camion Gourmand since December 2012. Fresh ingredients are bought and cooked on the same day, making up their selection of incredibly generous burgers. They come in four versions: classic, Seguin with goat’s cheese and honey, the Vicomte with comté cheese and pepper sauce...
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