A culinary capital renowned for its elaborate pastries, steak frites, cheese and wine, Paris isn’t by any means perfect. Recent investigations revealed that many of those carefully prepared dishes that tourists dine on in restaurants are nothing more than reheated frozen meals (more on that here in English). Zut alors…

Diners looking for a cheap meal (under €15, let’s say) can often be tempted towards some of the inexpensive prix fixe menus boasting large choices of dishes with markedly unseasonable flavors. The result? It’s likely to be a mediocre meal that has, often, been microwaved.

But fret not, it’s not like all restaurants in Paris are doing this! There are plenty of affordable options for good, fresh, natural, and even organic options if you know where to look…

Yummy vegetarian at Krishna Bhavan. Photo: Ted Drake

SuperNature
12 Rue Trévise, 75009 Paris
Web site

We’ve talked about their burgers, but SuperNature has so much more to offer. Fresh, seasonal foods, organic options, even a veggie burger are all on the menu without breaking the bank. In between a freshly pressed juice and a tasty yet light dessert, try any of their veggie-heavy main dishes or stop over for brunch on the weekend for some homemade granola and a selection of organic bread and jellies.

Merce and the Muse
1 bis rue Dupuis, 75003 Paris
Web site

With a selection of quality coffee and surprising desserts, this little American-run shop in the upper Marais also has a selection of homemade quiches and salads made from products delivered straight from the market every morning. While fresh and often organic food is the order du jour at Merce’s shop, don’t forget to grab a carrot cake or other tempting dessert. Ask for it to go and enjoy a picnic in the nearby Square du Temple.

MOB
30 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris

Also in the Marais district, MOB may not have any tables, but it offers patrons an entirely vegan-menu that can be enjoyed in the Square du Temple a few blocks north or the gardens at the National Archives right down the street. This is the place to enjoy a French take on vegan burgers, “chicken” nuggets, and a variety of cookies and cakes. I’d go back for the citrus cake and for the delicious the yucca fries with the accompanying sauce—a great change from the frites that so many places serve.

Krishna Bhavan
24 Rue Cail, 75010 Paris

If you want to explore another side of Paris, head north towards the Gare du Nord to check out the vibrant Indian community in Paris. Krishna Bhavan is a favorite for inexpensive, but delicious vegetarian Indian food. The spices and flavors will make you forget that there’s no meat, and the price of a generous meal (with gulaab for dessert, of course) will leave you plenty of money for your pastry fix in the morning.

Bob’s Juice Bar
15 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris
Web site

A staple of fresh food in Paris, Bob’s Juice Bar sells a selection of freshly ready-made salads and pastries along with the signature squeezed juices and smoothies. Today it is a mecca for health foodies in Paris, and the owner has even has several cook books out in French about smoothies, muffins, and most recently his book on his favorite New York pastries. A must if you’re in the Canal Saint-Martin area.

Your favorite fresh food in Paris?

Where else do you suggest for a fresh, healthy, but inexpensive meal in Paris? Share with us by leaving a comment!

Also in our guide: If you’re also hungry for an affordable hotel in Paris, stop by our city guide to read objective reviews of our favorite hotels, all of them visited, inspected and reviewed by our editors. Read more in our Paris guide.

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Here are some vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Berlin worth checking out:

Yellow Sunshine
Wiener Straße 19
Tel: 030 695 987 20
Web site

You can have your döner and eat it too. Kreuzberg’s vegetarian/vegan fast food joint does Berlin staples meat-free. Currywurst? Check. Hamburgers? Of course. Don’t let the title “fast food” fool you, though. The wait can be quite long–it’s that popular.

Die Rebellion des Zimtsterns
Schlesische Straße 38
Tel: 030 612 888 98

This tiny bad-ass cafe on action-packed Schlesische Strasse is vegan. Grab that butterless, dairy-free apple strudel and down it with soy latte. Daily lunches are €5.

Samadhi
Wilhelmstrasse 77
Tel: 030 224 888 50
Web site

Samadhi serves vegetarian Thai and Vietnamese dishes–whoop de doo, you may say. But, notice the prime location–right by the Brandenburg Gate.

Yoyo Foodworld
Gärtnerstraße 27
030 49 787 384
Web site

This 100% vegan joint is a stone’s throw away from the Boxhagener Platz flea market in hip Friedrichshain.

More advice: If you’re also hunting down the perfect hotel for your trip, be sure to swing by our city guide to read our reviews of our favorite cheap Berlin hotels, all of them inspected and photographed by our editors.

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Here is what the city has to offer in terms of vegetarian, vegan and kosher restaurants and markets, which often also specialize in organic and fair trade food.

Il Vegetariano
Via delle ruote, 30r
http://www.il-vegetariano.it/

This is the best-known vegetarian restaurant in Florence, literally named “The Vegetarian.”  The prices are pretty low, starting at €4-6 for “primi piatti” (light dishes), and €8-9 for “secondi piatti” (main dishes). They pride themselves on using fresh organic ingredients and offering a menu of both vegetarian and vegan options.

The set up is similar to a cafeteria, so when you arrive go straight to the cash register in the back. There you can pick out your meal, pay for it and bring your receipt to the food bar to be served. Don’t forget about excellent desserts and wine, which again are all organic and vegetarian or vegan.

Caffellatte
Via degli Alfani, 39

I know it seems odd to send vegans to a cafe with “milk” in the name, but trust me on this one. This cafe deserves its own (non-veg /vegan) post for its huge cappuccinos and caffe lattes and to-die-for desserts with homemade warm cream sauce. (Side note: If you don’t order the special sauce, Vanna, the elderly woman who runs the place, will hound you for the rest of your stay about why you didn’t get the cream sauce!)

However this small cafe, housed strangely enough in an old butchery with marble butcher counter and all, also offers a vegetarian and vegan menu at mealtimes. You’ll find cheeses made from vegetable whey, fair trade cocoa and organic vegetables. It’s not the cheapest meal in Florence, but it’s worth it for the quality of the food and the ingredients, the cozy atmosphere, and the passionate Vanna who takes pride in her small establishment and her homemade treats.

Dolce Vegan
Via San Gallo, 92r

This recently re-opened pastry shop and mini-market is a great place for a snack. The shop bakes their own vegan sweets, such as croissants, danishes, cookies and tartlets, as well as salty snacks such as sandwiches and mini pizzas. The atmosphere may be a bit banal and stark, but the sweets are delicious! The mini-market in the back room offers a wide range of vegan foodstuffs as well as refrigerated items like drinks and tofu.

Ruth’s Kosher Vegetarian Food
Via Luigi Carlo Fanno, 2
http://www.kosheruth.com/inglese.htm

Those of you who would like to stay kosher during your trip will find that there are a few options; however, they are almost exclusively located in the area around the Synagogue. In Via dei Pilastri (between the San Marco and Sant’Ambrogio areas) and Via Luigi Carlo Fanno, which houses the Synagogue, you’ll find various kosher restaurants and mini-markets, although they do seem to have shorter hours of operation than other markets you’ll find in the city. Ruth’s, in particular, is well known for its tasty dishes, which are both kosher and vegetarian, and its warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Special diets at the grocery store

Dairy alternatives such as soy are easily found in most supermarkets. There is a large brand, Valsoia, that makes a range of soy milk, yoghurts, ice cream and other staples when doing some budget-friendly grocery shopping. You can also find a lot of great vegetarian options, such as tofu and seitan, at local Asian markets sprinkled around the city.

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Fair enough. But remember that this is also the land of the Mediterranean diet. Fish, fruit, nuts, steamed greens, and delicate salads are also on the menu in the Catalan capitol. Healthy eating is not hard to come by in Barcelona if you know where to go in the city. Until recently, it was a headache to be a vegetarian, but now this too is no big deal in Barcelona.

For your five daily doses of fruit and veggies, here are my local recommendations:

Fresc Co
Locations throughout Barcelona

Fresc Co is a buffet-style restaurant with an enormous salad and pasta bar. This is a good place for vegetarians and picky eaters because there are no surprises and you take only what you want. It’s also a steal, at about €10 for lunch or dinner. The downside is that Fresc Co does not score high in the charm or uniqueness department but the price makes up for this. There are many Fresc Co locations in Barcelona; visit the website for more information.

Sesamo
C/Sant Antoni Abat 52 08001
934 416 411

Not only is this cute spot vegetarian-friendly, it is also organic! In the hip El Raval neighborhood, Sesamo is a bit hidden, so check your map before heading over—it is worth the journey. Tuesday through Sunday the restaurant offers a set meal for €15, which includes three course, bread, and a drink. To some Cheapos this may seem a bit pricey, but portions are large and €15 is an excellent deal for a three-course lunch in Barcelona.

Ra
Plaça Gardunya, 3-4
933 014 163

Another one of my old favorites is Ra Restaurant, which also offers a set meal for €13 on weekdays and weekends alike. Ra is a popular choice for locals and tourists because it is right off Las Ramblas and has one of the nicest outdoor terraces in the city center.

Ra is not a veggie restaurant, but it always offers a veggie option, usually lasagna or some other delicious creation. Ra changes its menu all the time, but the eats are always tasty. I have never been disappointed at Ra, and I have been there many times. Tip: Go before 1:30 PM or you WILL NOT get a table.

Juicy Jones
C/ Hospital, 74
934 439 082

Amazingly, there are even vegan options in Barcelona! Juicy Jones offers vegan fare, smoothies, and fresh squeezed fruit juice. There are a few Juicy Jones around the city, but I am only familiar with the ones in the Gothic Quarter and El Raval. Dreadlocks, hipsters, and new generation hippies abound at Juicy Jones, sipping guava shakes and warming up with homemade soups in the winter months. The prices are reasonable for the high quality.

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Vegetarian/Vegan restaurants in Paris

Being a vegetarian in France is something of a punchline, and veganism is all but unheard of. However, there are some options for herbivores in Paris. A vegetarian friend of mine recommends Macéo (15 Rue des Petits Champs) and Brasserie Lutetia (45 Boulevard Raspail), both of which have vegetarian menus.

She further suggests using the website Happy Cow to search for restaurants in Paris. The site lists four vegan eateries, and includes several other vegetarian and veg-friendly options.

While it may not be “real” French cuisine, you can also try Asian restaurants, which may be more used to the idea of meat-less dishes. Check out the Chinese and Vietnamese places in Belleville in the 19th and 20th Arrondissements.

Celiac/Wheat-free dining in Paris

My dad is a celiac, so when he came to visit me he looked up gluten-free restaurants on CeliacHandbook.com. Le Charlain (23 Rue Clauzel) was on the list, and we enjoyed a great meal there – with a delicious flour-less chocolate cake for dessert.

Celiac disease is not as well-known in France as in places like Italy, but it is possible to find wheat-free dishes in most restaurants. Just tell your server, “Je suis allergique à la farine” (I’m allergic to flour). Stay away from mysterious sauces, and (depending on the restaurant’s recipe) you most likely won’t be able to eat the “frites,” either.

Disappointingly for my dad, we couldn’t find any bakeries in Paris that make gluten-free products. Naturalia, a chain of natural food stores, sells some wheat-free bread products, but they generally aren’t the same quality you’d find in the United States.

Lactose Intolerance and Other Allergies

Although the French are fond of cheeses and cream sauces, it should be easy to avoid dairy products in most Paris restaurants if you make your intolerance known. Simply say “J’ai une intolérance au lactose” (I’m lactose intolerant). Another option is to try kosher meat restaurants, such as those you would find in the neighborhood of the Rue des Rosiers.

Similarly, for other food allergies it’s just a matter of telling your server. Start with “Je suis allergique aux…” (I’m allergic to…). Some common allergy words include “noix” (nuts), “fruits de mer” (seafood), and “graines de sésame” (sesame seeds).

Tell Us

Are you a vegetarian, vegan, or have a food allergy? How was your experience eating out in Paris? Let us know!

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Berlin bursts with street food kiosks specializing in Cheapo-friendly treats. It’s easy to snack on anything from Turkish Döner kebabs to vegan cheeseburgers here. But one speedy snack has been around the longest: the currywurst.

Invented in 1949, currywurst is a colorful concoction of sliced sausage, ketchup-like tomato sauce, and curry powder, served on a ridged cardboard plate with a pile of fries (or a roll) is one of the city’s most iconic meals. The high-fat, high-calorie snack is hardly health conscious, but that doesn’t stop Berliners from snarfing down 70 million currywursts each year!

A grand opening for one hot dog!

This street food standby, available at “Bude” (kiosks) throughout the city (and country) made national headlines this past weekend when the Deutsches Currywurst Museum (Schützen Strasse 70, one block east of Friedrich Strasse, U-bahn: Stadtmitte, open 10 AM to 10 PM daily), nestled on a quiet street around the corner from Checkpoint Charlie and the Mauermuseum, opened its doors.

The low-key grand opening, which featured a dancing sausage and free samples, attracted about 1,500 visitors and a gaggle of pro-vegan protesters dressed in pig and cow costumes (see photo).

Vegan protesters get riled up at the opening.

I was one of the first in line to visit the small museum, which charges a decidedly Cheapo-unfriendly admission of €11 (€8.50 for students). Furnished with a sausage-shaped couch, oversized “drips” of tomato sauce suspended from the ceiling, and a life-sized model of a sausage “Bude,” the museum covers every imaginable aspect of the Currywurst, from its 1949 invention by the Berliner snack stand owner Herta Heuwer to the ecological lifecycle of the snack’s cardboard serving plates. (It even acknowledges—but ultimately dismisses—Hamburg’s rival claim that it is the Currywurst’s true birthplace.)

The privately run museum, which cost €7 million to realize, is full of bells and whistles (including a “prepare-your-own Currywurst” computer game) and fun factoids, but it ultimately disappoints with superficial exhibits (in German and English) that stretch the theme too far.

It takes less than an hour to make your way through the entire museum. Some displays, including four model refrigerators representing the eating habits of different Berlin households, are only loosely linked (at best) to the currywurst.

A bit of currywurst history—for free

The museum’s most interesting display provides a brief history of the snack. Heuwer invented currywurst on September 4, 1949, during the lean, post-World War II years, when food was strictly rationed and Germans had to be creative in the kitchen. Based on the national staple—sausage—and ingredients introduced to the city’s residents by British occupying troops, currywurst struck a cord and became a Berlin institution. She went on to patent her “Chillup” sauce in 1959.

The snack eventually traveled to the rest of the country—and the globe. A map in the museum shows that currywurst is available in Bali, Bangkok, Oklahoma, and New York City, where the German-run sausage shack Hallo Berlin! doles out the Berlin export.

Because of the high admission price and superficial exhibits, I don’t recommend a visit to the museum. But I do encourage you to sample the storied street food at one of the city’s countless currywurst stands. Keep in mind that you may be asked to choose between mild or “scharf” (spicy) sauce or a sausage with or without “Darm” (casing) when ordering.

Where to get a currywurst in Berlin

The two most famous “Bude” are Prenzlauer Berg’s historic Konnopke’s Imbiss (Schönhauser Allee 44a, at the base of the Eberswalder Strasse U-bahn), which has been around since the 1940s, and Kreuzberg’s up-all-night Curry 36 (Mehringdamm 36, U-bahn: Mehringdamm), a draw for the city’s club-goers and bar-hoppers.

Vegans don’t have to miss out: tofu-based varieties are available at the sister vegan eateries Yoyo Food World (Gärtner Str. 27, U-bahn: Frankfurter Tor) in Friedrichshain and Yellow Sunshine (Wiener Str., U-bahn: Görlitzer Bahnhof) in Kreuzberg. Don’t expect to pay more than €5 for your own personal taste of Berlin history.

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