Caractère de Cochon

Skip it and go to the food market across the street!! The line up is deceiving. There was maybe 15people in front of us which turned into 1:45mins of waiting because they explain all the different meats and cheeses to every party of 2-3. There’s even a sign that says they help one group at a time! Once you are in, you get the option of Italian or french meats so of course we went for the French. I got two different types of meats, truffle cheese, butter and artichoke in my sandwich. My husband got a sandwich, a beer and a coke. It came up to €52.80!!! We toke maybe 10mins in the small shop itself. Our sandwiches were good but not for almost 2hours of our life in line, while in Paris and definitely not for that price again. While we waited, we had taken turns walking the market across the street and the food looked so much better. There was so many food options and there was also a deli shops there, I say go and make your own sandwiches for far less the money!

I would recommend disregarding reviews of people complaining about the wait and price. I stopped by, not knowing there would be a line, in the blistering heat/sun. The jambon was amazing, the people were incredible my passionate about the food they made and ensured you chose the best option for what you wanted. They even offered umbrellas for the people waiting in line to shield them from the sun. The wait was worth it, the price felt worth it for the sandwich. I tried the garlic ham and butter - highly recommend! Don’t let people who look for things to complain about on their vacation deter you. Worth the stop!

I’m not the kind to bash a place, but one has to be honest about their personal experience. I’ve walked past this spot many times and always noticed a long queue of people waiting for the famous jambon-fromage sandwich, but I never wanted to waste that much time waiting. One hot July afternoon, I passed by and, to my surprise, there was no queue. So I decided to give it a try; It’s a beautiful, cozy little place that serves one person at a time, taking the time to explain the different ham and cheese options; from truffled to smoky ham & from cow to sheep cheese. Suddenly, I understood how 15 people in line could easily turn into an hour-long wait. I ordered the classic jambon-fromage with butter and cornichons. The verdict? The taste was definitely good, but it left me wondering: would I really wait an hour for this? Probably not, especially when a sandwich this simple could be made at home.

Interesting place but the 20 euro sandwich had a razor thin slice of ham that didn’t even cover all bits of the bread, some nice shaved cheese and a gob of butter. Tasted like a baguette with butter. And my one razor thin slice of ham sandwich doesn’t look anything like the ham filled sandwiches on their Instagram site. I was really hoping for something special at this well-known place but they fell well short of delivering.

It's good. The staff take their time to explain each cut of meat and are great at recommending cheese pairings to go with it. We got the truffle white ham and smoked cured ham. Well worth the 1hour we waited.

You want to try a classic jambon beurre, you’ve heard about this spot, you’ve seen an Instagram story or two (or ten). They all tell the truth. This sandwich absolutely rules. Besides the sando itself, the experience is unique: the staff only let in one group at a time to make sure you get exactly what you want. Cooked ham vs cured, goat vs cow’s cheese, cornichon, whatever you want - you’ll get it on your sandwich with all the help from the delightful staff. We spent about 8 minutes waiting, 5 minutes inside, and then had our sandwiches 2 minutes later. 15 minutes at this place - well well well worth it. This is a must visit and, should I return to Paris, Caractère will be one of my first stops.

Got the best the best of and loved it. The line does take forever but worth it. The staff was fantastic, the bread was fresh and meats and cheese were perfect.

The staff were friendly and gave great recommendations, which helped us decide on our sandwich. We went with the Noir de Bigorre with Brie, and it tasted fantastic. That said, it’s definitely on the pricey side for a sandwich, so just keep that in mind if you’re popping in for a quick bite.

Everything we saw on videos, read in the reviews, led us to this Saturday where we were prepared to wait in line for hours. I'm just kidding, not hours, but maybe 30 minutes, LOL. The line wasn't large, but the store owner only allows 1 group at a time, so you don't feel pressured to order something you don't want. The signature sandwich is the Jambon Beurre, a baguette smothered with butter and your choice of ham salted, cured, smoked from Spain, France, or Germany. If you want to add cheese, they offer sheep, cow, and goat. I ordered mine with Spanish ham and sheep's milk cheese. My wife ordered a cheese and butter. When talking with the owner, we purchased an additional 2 sandwiches for our flight home. I asked for the original Jambon Beurre, and my wife wanted the pastrami we paid and left our pick-up time tomorrow would be 11:00. Let's get to the meat of it, my sandwhich was Bomb!!! The baguette crunches, butter creamy, cheese sharp, and the spanish ham magnificent. Now it's Sunday morning, and I'm heading out to pick up the 2 for the road trip home. I showed up and there he was smiling and said, "Give 2 minutes. I want to package the sandwiches so you can eat them when you're ready on the plane or at home." When he came out, he handed me this beautiful package containing our sandwiches. She shook my hand and said until the next time you're in Paris. Let's just say we took them home and shared them with the kiddos, and they gave 2 thumbs up devoured both. Customer Service 5 Stars Store Experience 5 Stars Flavor 5 Stars Location Le Marais Don't take my word for it if in Paris stop by and grab one or two for yourself. You won't regret it!!! Oh, and if you want to sample the hame or cheese, just ask, and they will.

On our recent trip to Paris, we had a Michelin starred meal. We waited two hours for dinner at another restaurant. We hit up a different bakery every morning. Yet this simple ham and butter sandwich may have been the best thing I ate. The trickiest thing about here is getting there when it's open. We came one day at about 3pm in the afternoon and they were closed. Came back a few days later, saw a line of people outside, and knew we were good. And there will always be a line if they're open because they only let one person or group in at a time. And here are two words I thought I'd never say: "ham consultant". Once you do get in the store the employees here will guide you through their whole selection to ensure you leave with the perfect jambon buerre. They separate their hams into two sections: the drier, cured kind more like a prosciutto, and the cooked uncured ham that's more reminiscent of a deli ham. They have several different hams in both categories and several cheeses as well. Each may have a different flavoring like garlic or rosemary, and you'll be walked through each option. I got their finest uncured ham with comté, while my wife got a cured truffle ham with truffle cheese (our ham consultant ensured us there's nothing wrong with doubling up on truffle). We took our sandwiches to a nearby park and chowed down on a couple of the finest sandwiches I've ever had. It's a simple combination of ham, butter, and cheese on a baguette but it's definitely worth the wait.

The ultimate in the traditional French ham and butter baguette. Choose your ham and butter baguette. Choose ham from France Spain or Italy. Fabulous.

Caractère de Cochon's jambon beurre is touted as the best sandwich in Paris, and after making a beeline there as soon as we got off the plane and tasting the sandwich in person, I believe it. So simple, so perfect. A small, crowded charcuterie mecca, it draw fervent crowds, though on a Saturday afternoon we only had to wait 10 mins. The proprietors are very friendly and welcoming. The sandwich menu was incredible; I wish I could've tried everything on it. No tables, but we brought our sandwiches to a nearby park and had a lovely picnic.

So simple, so French and so damn good. Day 2 in Paris and a little wander in Le Marais. Honestly even after traveling through Paris an many other regions it's amazing how a simple Jambon du pays sando can make your day.

Amazing sandwich shop. They offer simple meat, cheese, and butter sandwiches on a baguette. Definitely a must try if you enjoy meat/cheese boards and/or baguettes. There was a long line because it's popular and the service is excellent. They'll take their time and help you pick out the items for your sandwich. You can choose between French, Spanish, and Italian options for the meat and cheese. I enjoyed it so much I considered eating there a second time. It's a tiny shop, take out only, and you can also get wine to go.

Tasty, fresh, and authentic!! Wanted to try a classic jambon beurre while in Paris! Small and charming place, were friendly in helping you choose which type of ham and if you wanted cheese. Went with the classic cooked ham as well as the cooked garlic ham with compte a cheese they recommend! Simple and delicious:))

Very good ham and cheese! I got the cured ham and it was about €18. Definitely worth it for the quality. The store is quite small so they only allow one person or a small group inside at one time. It's like any other deli in regards to how it smells in the shop - just a bunch of meat. And if you don't know exactly what you want, ask all of the questions that come to mind. They're very helpful.

This sandwich shop is on so many best jambon-beurre lists, so I knew I could not miss it. The menu is extensive and a bit overwhelming for your overseas tourist, but the folks working at the shop were incredibly patient and so very helpful. If you look closely at the different types of meat and cheese they offer, you'll find individual sandwich pricing beneath each type. The left case is cured meats and the right is "raw" aka not dried meat. Cornichons can be added for a small fee to your sandwich. I opted to go totally traditional and just put meat and cheese on mine. This sandwich was DELICIOUS. Totally worth the 2,15€ metro ride across town. Don't miss this one!

The Jambon sandwich was awesome!!!! Worth the wait and the propietor was so kind as to serve us just before closing for afternoon ciesta. Great place!

Tiny space but tons of amazing cured meats, delicious cheese and brined/pickled things. I was in a choucroute mood so had the Alsatian -- three homemade sausages with sauerkraut and some melted raclette. It was massive and delicious -- definitely hit the spot on a cold afternoon. My wife had the jambon-beurre and said it was the best she had ever tasted. Super nice guys inside -- let them make you a sandwich and then find a bench in one of the many parks tucked into the Marais.

This was one of the best things we ate in Paris! We ate the truffle hams too fast, so I forgot to take pictures haha. We tried a few different meats: the truffle ham cooked, truffle ham cured, and the pate with pickles. I loved everything, the cuts of meat were so thin and tasty. If you don't like cured meat and don't eat salty, the cooked meat was just as good! The bread was amazing, and the butter and cheese went so well in the sandwiches. It's a little expensive, but it's worth the price!

Ridiculously good sandwiches. Just incredible. Excellent cured meats, cheeses and bread. Cool little vibe and energy as well. This is a can't miss

The best!!! We met the owner and spent some quality time with him in the city! Sweetest man! We are always visiting Paris and this is the only location we get our jambon buerre from! I really hope he can open up a place in NYC!

This tiny shop is just outside the very busy Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges. And while there are long lines inside the marché for a variety of sandwicheries, I whole heartedly suggest this little shop. The owner/proprietor takes a little time to make suggestions for each patron. I got a spicy ham, manchego, butter, and pickles sandwich on a warm baguette--that the owner had just picked up from next door--and it was so delicious. Sure it sets one back about $12 but I'd pay it again in a heartbeat.

We found this gem while researching for our trip on YouTube. It's truly a small shop packed to the ceiling with meats. The owner saw us standing by the menu outside like the confused tourist we are and invited us in and proceeded to tell us about all the meats we could choose from. There were so many to choose from that we were overwhelmed with choices. we asked the owner what he recommends and he laughingly said "the most expensive one" and of course we said, "bring it on!" Great guy. Very personable and explained everything so patiently to us. The most expensive cut was actually a cured meat from spain but we wanted French food so opted for the less expensive one from France (why buy Spanish meat in France? We will get that in Spain ) I posted the pic of the meat we got. It was delicious. We also go one that was a pate and one that was cooked with truffles. Delish! We want to come back to get some for our plane ride home

Caractère de Cachon was tip on our list of must-try places in Paris. We saw on a Paris food vlog that the sandwiches from there were phenomenal. They simply come with butter, cheese, and meat, but it's the quality of the meat that speaks for itself. My fiancé and I stopped by around 4:00pm on a Thursday. The place wasn't too busy, so we got to exchange pleasantries with the server. He told us about the special diet of the Iberico pig, which is why it's at such a high premium per pound. I don't eat pork, but it was fun learning those facts. In general, the server offered great customer service and helped me pick out a type of for my sandwich. I don't recall the name, but I got a cured beef with an intense flavor. It had a nice, earthy taste to it. I had the sandwich with butter, cheese, and cornichons per recommendation of the server. As simple as thee sandwich was, it was absolutely epic. It was the most expensive sandwich I had at around 20€ and was also worth every penny.

This place is simply amazing! Who thought a simple sandwich with butter would be so highly regarded? The bread is fresh and crispy, the mix of cheese and cut of meat goes so well together and the butter gives it that creamy deliciousness. The owner who is always working the front is incredibly friendly and takes his time helping the customer find a personalized blend of the flavors that they'll enjoy. This is an absolutely personalized experienced where you won't feel rushed and can enjoy what they have to offer. There is no complexity to the menu as the owner helps you choose what you'd like by helping you understand what the flavors of each type of cut of meat and cheese is like. The line can build up here and there due to the one at a time experience you'll find here, but that isn't a negative in any way. The customer service gets an A+ and the food itself is just as amazing! Definitely a can't miss!

Ok I'm a baguette sandwich enthusiast. Nothing beats a simple baguette sandwich for a quick lunch! This is my dream place. You pick your meat, cheese and they make it fresh for you. First time I tried the aged French ham (melts in your mouth and not salty) with light tasting cheese. Yum. The sandwich ended up being 19 Euros. Not cheap but worth every dollar. But I think not everyone will appreciate the high quality ingredients here nor willing to spend that much for a sandwich. But my first time experience here was priceless.

Every time we come through Paris, we try to go to Caractere de Cochon for sandwiches. It's a small shop, but has such an amazing variety of meats and cheeses. It's France, so commenting on the excellent quality of the meat is a bit useless given that most French sandwich shops will have excellent meat quality. The people there are incredibly friendly and helpful as well. I've seen a few comments on here discussing the high prices, but my husband and I had no issue with the prices. The sandwiches were around 12-15 Euro which is standard for where we live in Chicago.

Phenomenal sandwiches. You get to pick your meat and cheese and butter. You will love it.

This place is a bit of an overpriced tourist trap. We spent 80 euro for "life changing" cured ham sandwiches which tasted like a sandwich you would get from any butcher with cured ham. We were upsold to the 16.90 Euro sandwich times 4 and then another 2 for cheese. The sandwich was good but not much better than just around the corner for a fraction of the price. Oh well, live and learn...

We are from Canada. We just spent a week in Paris and rented an apartment close to Marches Des Enfants Rouge. Our first day in Paris we bought a sandwich from Caractere de Cochon. The sandwich was amazing and the gentleman who helped us spoke some english and offered very good customer service. On our last day in Paris we returned to the store and the older man who was there spoke no English, was unaware I understand french, and called us assholes. The sandwich they made us that day had very little meat in it. Not friendly at all. It's a shame to treat tourists in that manner who are providing business to his store. What will he do when the city is run over by more tourists for the Olympics?

I saw this place recommended a ton on foodie sites and tiktok so I had to check it out. When I walked in I was very intimated by the small butcher shop and hAd to ask if they made sandwiches thankfully staff was patient and spoke english. I got the french ham and conte cheese and it was amazing!

This is a must while in Paris. A hole in the wall type sandwich place but the sandwiches are amazing! They do jam and butter rolls that will blow your mind.

You can't leave Paris without trying one of their jambon burre. AMAZING!! I ordered three sandwiches one with truffle cooked ham with Comte, dry French ham with Comte, and Iberico ham with Comte. All there were delicious.

This place is life-changing! I first found out about this boucherie from watching the Off Menu: Paris episode on Youtube, and I just knew we had to stop by here when we were in Paris. Walking into the store can feel a little overwhelming at first. There are a huge selections of different meats, and the store is a bit small and cramped. If this is your first time, make sure to get the classic Jambon Beurre, a ham and butter sandwich. For the meat, you'll likely be asked to choose between the cured ham or the boiled ham. The cured ham is much stronger in flavor, but we thought the boiled ham was overall more enjoyable. This was our first time trying a Jambon Beurre, and we loved the sandwich so much we immediately went back after we ate it to get another. The owner had run out of bread by then, but he just told us to wait for a few minutes, walked to the end of the block to buy some fresh baguettes, and then made our sandwich right before us. That's how you know your sandwich is fresh!

Food is as amazing as the pictures. One of the highlights in our foodie trip. We were nervous because there wasn't any English on the menu but the owner walked us through our options in English and we loved EVERYTHING! Only drawback is, yelp is not always accurate in listing when it is open, so expect it to be closed sometimes, even if Yelp says it's open.

I was really looking forward to this place, as jambon-beurre sandwiches are one of my favorites. The stop is tiny tiny but filled to the actually ceiling with a huge variety of hams, cured and not, from al over. It was so overwhelming to choose that I literally just went with what the lock guy before me ordered, which was perfect and delicious! I was so sad not to be able to bring any of the many mini sausage they sold with me, as it was the first leg of a 14 day trip. Everything looked soooo good and was all very reasonably priced. The sandwich itself was also fairly big, which I kept in my coat pocket and nibbled on occasionally.

Phenomenal sandwich shop! So glad we went out of our way to this gem. There isn't a menu, you simply pick the bread you want and salted or unsalted butter. The hard choice is what delicious meat to go with! However, the owner broke it down into two categories- cured and uncured. He then made recommendations on which were his favorite. There isn't any seating here, as the shop is small. We ended up eating our sandwiches and walking around the area. You can easily plan ahead and take your lunch to a park to enjoy.

Best jambon beurre (ham and butter) sandwich I've ever had in my life! You choose the ham and cheese. They hams range from high quality to the best in the world. The owner is very friendly and nice. He helped us choose and that sandwich was incredible. Not cheap because we chose the premium ham but incredible.

Excellent boucherie in the Marais. It's a tiny shop located next to the bustling market Les Enfants Rouges. Admittedly I am not a big meat eater, but their "snowball" is LIFE CHANGING. It's a small piece of cured pork infused with truffles and coated in parmesan cheese. RUN, do not walk, to this shop to try it. While it's not cheap, it's incredibly unique and delicious! Added plus is that the shop owners are absolutely adorable.

Great sandwich with a nice place to sit and people watch. We got the Jambon (ham) with butter, the most popular sandwich...delicious!!!!

Charming and knowledgeable owner who is happy to explain how each ham is prepared and what makes it special. The little shop is jam-packed with yummy goodness. I loved the ham smoked and packed in hay. Though, everything we bought there for our Paris pique-nique was delicious.

I stopped in here with a "Paris by Mouth" tour. My husband and his friend said their prosciutto (the virgin lady pig one) was the best they have ever had. My husband said this was the best thing that he had in Paris. Definitely do not miss this place!!