US flavors made in Paname

Despite the familiarity of its culture, the United States remains a fairly unknown country to me, as the only time I set foot there was for a single day during my trip to Quebec, when I took a quick trip into Vermont. In this article, I am offering a small selection (non-exhaustive, of course) of addresses to discover American gastronomy in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. As always, I update this article regularly as I test new places and make new discoveries.

Ice cream sundae with whipped cream, sprinkles, and cherry at Hard Rock Café.

Table of Contents

Cocoricains

This spot, created by two French-Americans, offers a chance to discover traditional American cuisine and show that American food isn’t just fast food, but also home-style cooking. The restaurant itself has a Parisian bistro feel to blend both cultures. On the menu, you’ll find plenty of dishes for fried chicken lovers—the chickens come from a farm in Normandy where they are free-range. Everything is genuinely good, well-prepared, and the atmosphere is extremely friendly.

Must-try: Greg’s eggs, the signature starter with 4 poached egg yolks in white wine, breaded and fried (€7.50); peanut soup, a homemade chicken broth with a generous touch of peanut butter (€5.50); meatball skewers, featuring marinated chicken made into homemade meatballs (€6.50); you absolutely have to try their classic fried chicken (plate version €13.90 or sandwich €12.90), the breading is delicious; for a drink, I recommend their homemade iced tea, which is very good; the house signature dessert, the banana bread tatin (€6.20); the coffee comes from Kawa, a brand I really like and have already mentioned in my selection of the best coffee shops in Paris.

Facade of the Cocoricains restaurant in Paris with customers and a motorcycle.

Modern bar with wine bottle shelves, leather stools, and a BOSTON poster at Cocoricains.

American meatball skewers with pickled red onions at Cocoricains Paris.

Two iced cocktails with gold straws on a wooden table at Cocoricains restaurant.

American fried chicken served with pickled red onions on a blue plate.

Woman eating creamy soup in a Parisian restaurant, American dishes on the table.

American meal top view with fingers holding a soup bowl, Cocoricains Paris.

Slice of upside-down caramelized fruit cake with whipped cream and coffee.

Interior of Cocoricains restaurant with American Airlines Boston poster and red wall.

Tested in 2024 - Invited

Cocoricains
6 rue Saint-Marc 75002 Paris
Price: Starters between €4.90 and €7.50 / Main courses between €12 and €15 / Sides between €2.50 and €4.50
The tip: Lunch set menus with main + side + dessert or drink (beer or soda) €17.50 or starter + main + side + dessert or drink €21

Mama’s Diner at Mama Shelter Paris La Défense

Mama’s Diner, located in the Mama Shelter La Défense hotel, offers an immersion into the retro 50s America with booths, Happy Days videos, and even a jukebox. On the program: a super friendly and welcoming team and a sweet/savory food and breakfast/brunch menu available all day long.

We tasted the pancakes with fried eggs, bacon, and maple syrup (Savoury Stack pancake €14.50), the granola with homemade muesli (€7 and it’s huge!), the avocado toast with baby spinach, pomegranate, and reduced balsamic vinegar (€13), and one of the burgers from the menu accompanied by homemade fries (between €18 and €19). For drinks, I recommend Mama’s lemonade (€5) or the smoothie of the day (€8). Finally, we also opted for the all-you-can-drink filter coffee for €3. The perfect combo for a Sunday lunch.

Plate of pancakes with fried egg and bacon at Mama's Diner Paris.

American dinner with pancakes, burger, fries, and smoothie at Mama Shelter Paris La Défense.

Interior of Mama’s Diner Paris La Défense, American style with jukebox and booths.

Bowl of granola with blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries at Mama Shelter Paris.

Woman holding a big crispy burger at Mama Shelter Paris La Défense.

Facade of the Mama Shelter Paris La Défense hotel with the Mama's Diner sign.

Interior of Mama Shelter Paris La Défense, American diner style with counter and stools.

Interior American diner style Mama Shelter Paris with jukebox and booth.

Illuminated white retro jukebox in an American-style restaurant at Mama Shelter Paris.

Tested in 2023 - Invited

Mama’s Diner
Mama Shelter Paris La Défense
10 Rue Jean Jaurès, 92800 Puteaux
Link to the restaurant’s website

The Hard Rock Café Paris

This temple of music and particularly rock, which I have already written about in more detail here and there, is a true American institution in Paris and around the rest of the world, even though the chain ironically was born in England… In terms of the menu, the Hard Rock Café incorporates the creation of 30 new dishes and 28 ‘revisited’ classics, offering authentic American cuisine (although the first Hard Rock Café actually opened in the heart of London!).

If you want to try something a bit typical, I advise you to take a look at the ‘SmokeHouse‘ dishes (American specialty with smoked meat) on the menu and also absolutely try their onion rings, which are just delicious! Another really appreciable point of the place is the convivial atmosphere and the casual nature of the servers. Here, there is no fuss, and above all, the employees know the establishment’s menu well; it’s always a good idea to ask them for advice when ordering.

Also note: every year, the Hard Rock Café Paris invites all fans of American culture to enjoy an authentic Thanksgiving menu that I recommend you try at least once.

=> See my full article on the Hard Rock Café Paris

Interior of the Hard Rock Cafe Paris with neon lights and customers on different levels.

Red cocktail with white foam served on a wooden counter at the Hard Rock Café Paris.

Whiskey Burger Hard Rock Café Paris with fries in a textured glass.

Framed photos and autograph of Sting at the Hard Rock Café Paris.

Creamy chowder on table with Thanksgiving menu Hard Rock Café Paris.

Slice of pecan pie with whipped cream on a white plate.

Several tests in 2015, 2022 - Invited

Hard Rock Café Paris
14, boulevard Montmartre 75009 Paris

Lazy Suzy

This brand from Lille opened a restaurant in the 5th arrondissement near the Gobelins. The address specializes in Smoke BBQ burgers and American street food. On the menu: pulled pork, wagyu brisket, pork ribs… All meats are marinated and then cooked in a smoker, respecting the ‘low and slow’ principle—a slow cooking method at a low temperature, which produces meat with a smoky flavor and a certain tenderness.

We tasted: the Tradition Burger with pulled smoked pork, BBQ sauce, coleslaw, and cucumber pickles (€10 or €14.90 as a meal); the Brisket Wagyu Sandwich with smoked wagyu beef brisket, homemade mayo, sucrine lettuce, red onion and cucumber pickles (€18 / €22.90 as a meal); fries (€4); lazy cookies (€3).

Cut sandwich, fries, and Lazy Suzy beer on a wooden tray.

Facade of the Lazy Suzy Smoke BBQ Burger restaurant in Paris.

Smiling waiter in a burger restaurant with a 'Lazy Suzy' neon sign.

Cut burger, fries, sauce, and Lazy Suzy beer.

Burger restaurant counter with espresso machine and illuminated menu.

Interior of the Lazy Suzy restaurant with customers eating at the counter and in booths.

Chocolate cookies under a glass cloche in a Parisian restaurant.

Restaurant lounge corner with red booth, wooden table, and Lazy Suzy neon sign.

Tested in 2022 - Invited

Lazy Suzy Paris
119B Rue Monge, 75005 Paris
Open every day except Monday
Price: Set menu with burger or sandwich + fries + drink starting at €14.90
Link to the brand’s website

Factory & Co

This chain is the benchmark for New York specialties. For my part, I went to La Défense to discover this 300 m2 address in the heart of the Les 4 temps Shopping Center. Here, like at Bruegger’s (which I mention below), after placing your order, you are given a beeper that notifies you as soon as your meal is ready, which is convenient.

Must-try:

The bagels with no less than 19 different recipes.
American pastries with an incredible cheesecake bar (raspberry, Kinder Bueno, brownie…), muffins, pecan pies, carrot cakes, key lime pies, cookies…
For ice cream, you can be tempted by Frozen Yogurt (€3.90) or Milk Shakes (€4.90)
A coffee shop section with a wide selection of coffees (between €1.90 and €4.20)
A small choice of Californian wines by the glass (€3.90) or by the bottle (€17)

Interior American restaurant with red Chesterfield sofas and cozy ambiance.

Factory & Co wall decoration: hamburger, beer, New York Bakery Café sign.

American meal with sandwich, bread, coleslaw, and soda on a black tray.

Interior Factory & Co Paris with leather booth and American posters.

Nutella Deluxe muffins in display case price 3.70€.

Slice of Key Lime Pie with whipped cream and lime wedge.

Kinder Bueno cheesecake slice, whipped cream, and chocolate pieces.

Slice of American Key Lime Pie with whipped cream.

Price: Classic, Deluxe or Ultimate menus / bagels between €9.90 and €17.40 (with menus) / burgers between €12.90 and €20.90 (with menus) / cheesecake bar €5.50 per slice

Tested in 2016 - Invited

Factory & Co
15 parvis de la Défense 9292 Paris La Défense
Castorama Zone, 1st floor
Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 8 pm

Memphis Coffee

Memphis Coffee is a network of restaurants directly inspired by 50s American diners. The chain offers menus, dishes, desserts, and cocktails in the purest US tradition. Launched in 2009 with a concept straight from the United States, the chain focuses on the authenticity of American tastes and the quality of products. What is really nice in these restaurants is the vintage decoration, 50s diner atmosphere; you feel like you’re in an old series, like Happy Days.

Regarding dishes, we obviously find burgers, but also hot dogs, fish & chips, New York bagels, or fajitas. For desserts, you can enjoy cheesecakes, milkshakes, and sundaes. The only small problem for Parisians is that the restaurant in Bonneuil-sur-Marne is for now the closest address to Paris in the Ile-de-France region, and without a car, it’s not necessarily easy to get there…

50s style American waitress statue in a neon and checkerboard decor.

50s style American decor with Popcorn, Candy Apples, Coffee, Iced Coffee signs.

Mozzarella sticks with sauce in a red basket on Memphis menu.

Burger, fries, onion rings, and coleslaw at Memphis Coffee with USA flag.

Pancakes, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, cherry, and syrup in American diner style.

Tested in 2015 - Invited

Memphis Coffee
28 Avenue des vingt huit arpents, 94380 Bonneuil-sur-Marne
Monday to Thursday: 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Bagels according to Bagelstein

At Bagelstein, you choose almost everything in your bagel, from the type of bread to the filling. They also ask for your first name, so everyone can call you by your first name (though nothing forces you to give the real one, which can lead to funny situations…). This, however, gives your order a small dose of conviviality and humanity (which blends perfectly with the atmosphere of the place).

For my part, I often frequent the BagelStein located in the Louvre and Opéra district in Paris. For the record, Bagelstein is a Strasbourg chain originally, which is now established in Paris (several addresses), but also in Nancy and Lyon. Bagelstein shops have in common an American-style decor, funny slogans, an offbeat humor present from the bathroom door to the definition on your meal tray (a must-read!)…

=> See my full article on the Bagelstein brand

Varied Bagelstein bagels: Multigrain, cinnamon-raisin, sesame, plain.

Cut stuffed bagel, wrapped in Bagelstein paper, decorated with frames.

Bagel filled with pink charcuterie, grilled peppers, and cream cheese, cut in half.

Bagelstein restaurant walls decorated with press frames and metal stools.

Tested in 2013

Bagelstein
13 rue des Pyramides 75001 Paris
Monday to Friday 10 am-6 pm. Closed August 12 to 18

The capital’s first Bruegger’s

It is in the Montparnasse district that the leader in bagels in the United States decided to settle its Parisian address. Founded in 1983, Bruegger’s today has more than 330 establishments in the United States, spread across 26 states, and the brand has built its reputation on the quality and authenticity of its bagels, made according to the mythical New York recipe! The restaurant plunges us into the world of New York lofts at the frontier between a coffee house and a bagel bar. Contemporary, urban, and cosmopolitan atmosphere with raw materials (bricks, wood, metal, etc.), a metallic glass roof, red neon lights, and furniture inspired by industrial references. After placing your order, you are given a beeper that notifies you as soon as your meal is ready, which is quite practical (as I was saying above).

Must-try: New York bagels, Anglo-Saxon coffee specialties, or a wide choice of US bakery items.

The bagels with a choice of 10 breads and 9 recipes: Sesame – Plain – Cheddar – Everything – Cinnamon-raisin – Whole Wheat, or Cheesy
Burger Buns, Wraps, or Rustic to choose according to your desire: Famous BLT, Chicken Broadway, Pastrami 5th Avenue, Mexican Spice,…
The Original Arizona Lemonade (€2.60 for M and €3.10 for L), a somewhat strange drink, far from our French-style lemonades, but which I recommend you try, if only once, for the discovery!
Milkshakes (€4.30), a bit too sweet for my taste, however, for dessert.

Interior American-style restaurant with New York photos and Bagelstein signage.

Cut stuffed bagel, fries, drink, and napkin dispenser on a wooden table.

Chicken cheese lettuce tomato bagel with fries and barbecue sauce

Cafe terrace with red chairs and tables in front of a stone wall in Paris La Défense.

Interior Bruegger's Bagels & Coffee with red brick wall and red seats.

Stuffed bagel cut in half with fries in a cardboard box.

Interior Bruegger's Bagels & Coffee with sauce and pickle rack.

Two Bruegger's Bagels & Coffee drinks with lid and straw on a wooden table.

Rack of American sauces French's, Classic Foods, Coors Light.

The little extra: you can also buy a selection of American products at retail at Bruegger’s, with their US grocery section.

Price: bagel (with side) between €5.90 and €6.60 / burger €6.60

Tested in 2016 - Invited

Bruegger’s Paris Montparnasse
Montparnasse Rive Gauche Shopping Center (at the foot of the Montparnasse Tower)
11 rue de l’Arrivée – 75015 Paris
Open every day from 7 am to 9 pm

Hutch Hot Dogs House, the real New York hot dog

On the program for the chain’s two addresses: hot-dogs served in the purest American tradition: with 16 cm milk bread, 19 cm chicken sausage, pickles, and grilled onions. Everything is prepared before your eyes to order and wrapped in white paper, and you can enjoy it standing in the street or sitting at one of the two tables set on the sidewalk on nice days. And finally, a sweet note that stays in the made in USA style, with a choice of muffin, cookie, donut, brownie, carrot cake, ice cream, or cheesecake.

Hot dog well topped with fried onions with fries, Paris address.

Slice of cake on a white plate with spoon on a red table.

Tested in 2013 - Invited

Hutch Hot-Dogs House
63 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis – 75010 Paris
3 rue Sainte Marthe – 75010 Paris

Braised beef rib with beetroot pieces on butcher paper.

Find all my restaurant tests in Paris below:
⇒ All my articles of restaurant tests in Paris
⇒ All my addresses for eating Burgers in Paris
⇒ All my addresses of American restaurants in Paris

MY GREAT ADDRESSES FOR AMERICAN RESTAURANTS IN PARIS
⇒ Paris Texas, PNY’s Texas barbecue
⇒ Melt, Texas barbecue
⇒ The Hard Rock Café Paris
⇒ Bagelstein’s bagels
⇒ Hutch Hot-Dogs House
⇒ Frame, the Californian brasserie
⇒ Le Rhino Rouge, meat smoker

MAP OF MY GREAT FOOD ADDRESSES IN PARIS AND THE ILE-DE-FRANCE

Restaurant Bar Pastry / Bakery Tea Room / Coffee Shop
Brunch Ice Cream Shop

Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Melle Bon Plan
Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization required before any use