Restaurant in Paris, France
Top-ranked cheap lunch, no reservation needed.
Chez Aline is a lunch-only sandwich counter on Rue de la Roquette in the 11th arrondissement, ranked three consecutive years on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in Europe list (peak: #63 in 2023). Walk-in only, no reservation needed, and well under €15 a head. The takeout-friendly format makes it one of the most practical high-quality lunches in the neighbourhood.
If you are eating lunch in the 11th arrondissement and your budget is single-digits, Chez Aline is the answer. This is a sandwich counter on Rue de la Roquette that has placed on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in Europe list three consecutive years — ranked #63 in 2023, #90 in 2024, and #93 in 2025 — which makes it one of the most consistently recognised low-cost lunch spots in Paris. It opens Monday through Friday, lunch service only, and closes by 3:30 pm. If that window fits your schedule, go.
Chez Aline operates out of a former horse butcher's shop on Rue de la Roquette, and the room carries that history in its bones: tiled walls, compact footprint, no frills. Seating, if available, is tight. This is not a sit-down restaurant , it is a counter where you order, collect, and either eat standing, take a seat if one opens up, or walk. The physical space tells you exactly what kind of visit this is: quick, casual, focused entirely on what is in your hands. For food enthusiasts visiting Paris to eat across formats and price points, this is the format at its most stripped back. Think of it as the counterpoint to a three-hour lunch at L'Ambroisie or an evening tasting menu at Arpège.
Given the spatial constraints and the lunch-counter format, takeout is not a secondary option here , it is the primary mode. The sandwiches are built to travel. Eating at a nearby park, on a bench, or back at your accommodation is a completely legitimate and arguably preferable approach, particularly on days when the counter is packed. The food holds well enough for a short carry. If you are building a day around the 11th and want to eat well without committing to a full restaurant sit-down, picking up from Chez Aline and eating outside is a practical and satisfying plan. Compare this to Alidoro in New York City or Pane Bianco in Phoenix , both are sandwich destinations that reward the same approach: order, carry, eat somewhere with a view. Chez Aline fits that model cleanly.
This works leading for solo visitors and pairs who want a fast, high-quality lunch without reservation logistics. It also works for food-focused travellers who want to understand what Paris does at the affordable end , not just at the Michelin tier represented by Le Cinq or the creative tier of Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen. Groups of four or more will find the counter format less comfortable. It is not a special occasion venue , it is a great-sandwich venue, which is a different and entirely valid category.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Address: 85 Rue de la Roquette, 75011 Paris. Reservations: No booking required , walk in. Booking difficulty: Easy. Budget: Cheap eats tier; expect to spend well under €15 for a full lunch. Dress: No code , come as you are. Leading approach: Arrive before 1:00 pm to avoid the midday rush; takeout is a practical and recommended option if the counter is full.
Chez Aline holds a 4.7 rating across 355 Google reviews, which is a strong signal for a casual counter with no particular marketing apparatus behind it. The Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in Europe ranking , three consecutive years, with a peak of #63 in 2023 , puts it in the top tier of affordable eating in one of the most competitive food cities in Europe. For context on how seriously OAD takes its cheap eats list: it is one of the few credible external rankings that covers the sub-€20 lunch category with the same rigour applied to fine dining. A placement here carries weight.
The 11th arrondissement has a concentration of casual and independent food operations that punches well above its tourist profile. Chez Aline sits within that ecosystem. If you are planning a Paris trip across multiple days and want to eat across price points and formats, our full Paris restaurants guide covers the full range , from counters like this to the Michelin tier. You can also find our Paris hotels guide, Paris bars guide, Paris wineries guide, and Paris experiences guide for broader trip planning. If your itinerary extends beyond the capital, the same food-focused approach applies at Mirazur in Menton, Flocons de Sel in Megève, Troisgros in Ouches, Auberge de l'Ill in Illhaeusern, Bras in Laguiole, or Paul Bocuse in Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or.
No dress code. This is a casual lunch counter in the 11th , jeans, trainers, whatever you are wearing that day. Nobody is getting turned away for how they are dressed. Come as you are and focus on arriving before the rush.
It is a counter, not a sit-down restaurant. You order at the front, collect your sandwich, and find a spot , either inside if space allows, or outside. It operates lunch hours only, Monday to Friday, and closes at 3:30 pm. Ranked three consecutive years on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in Europe list, it has a credible track record for quality at this price point. Go before 1:00 pm if you want to avoid a wait.
No , and that is not a criticism. It is a sandwich counter with no reservation system, limited seating, and a sub-€15 price point. It is the right place for a great weekday lunch, not a birthday dinner. For a special occasion in Paris, look at Kei or L'Ambroisie instead. Chez Aline earns its OAD ranking by being excellent at what it is , not by being what it is not.
Specific menu details and current allergen information are not available in our data. Given the sandwich format and the small-counter operation, the leading approach is to contact the venue directly before visiting if you have serious dietary requirements. The limited format may constrain options compared to a full-service restaurant.
Lunch is the only option. Chez Aline is open Monday to Friday, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm exclusively , there is no dinner service. Plan accordingly and treat it as a midday stop rather than an evening meal.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chez Aline | Sandwiches | Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked #93 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked #90 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked #63 (2023) | Easy | — |
| Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen | Creative | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Kei | Contemporary French, Modern Cuisine | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| L'Ambroisie | French, Classic Cuisine | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Le Cinq - Four Seasons Hôtel George V | French, Modern Cuisine | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Pierre Gagnaire | French, Creative | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in Paris for this tier.
No dress code applies here. Chez Aline is a casual sandwich counter on Rue de la Roquette, and the format is strictly lunch-counter and takeout. Come as you are — this is a weekday lunch stop, not a sit-down restaurant.
Arrive during the 11:30 am to 3:30 pm window, Monday to Friday — it is closed all weekend. No reservation is needed or possible. The operation is compact and fast-moving, so expect to order at the counter and either eat in tight quarters or take your sandwich out. Chez Aline has ranked in Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in Europe list three years running (most recently #93 in 2025), which tells you the quality ceiling is higher than the format suggests.
No. The counter format, takeout-first setup, and weekday-only hours make it a poor fit for celebrations or anything requiring atmosphere and table time. For a special occasion in Paris, a sit-down restaurant with a reservation structure is the right call. Chez Aline is worth a dedicated detour, but as a lunch, not an event.
No specific dietary accommodation policy is documented for Chez Aline. Given the sandwich counter format and the pace of a lunch-only operation, options are likely limited and may not be easily modified. If dietary restrictions are a serious concern, contact them directly or plan a backup.
Lunch is the only option — Chez Aline does not serve dinner. Hours are 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday only. If you are planning an evening in the 11th arrondissement, this is not your venue for that meal.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
