Heng Lay – Paris (75013) en

Another chinese-vietnamese place that I didn’t know about! Recommended to me by a 716 reader that I wish to thank here. Family atmosphere, Lok Lak specialty but lots of other things as well. However, the menu is a bit all over the place so be ready.

It’s located at the top of avenue d’Ivry, by car you have to go all the way to the marshalls to take it in the right direction.                   It really doesn’t look like much, it’s a little isolated compared to the others.                                                                                                                It exists since 1989, but was originally called “Miam Miam”.

One of the best things about the place. I called on a Sunday late afternoon to see if they were open, a nice lady answered and told me that yes, but that we had to be in by 8 pm, because they closed at 8:30 pm. I called later to confirm that we would be there by 8 pm, and it was the same nice lady on the other end.                                                                                                                                                                          When they saw us coming with our scooter, they immediately knew it was us and one of them said to me: ” it’s you that called?” I like this little attention to detail, it shows that they are aware of what’s going around them.

They were always there for us. They ate when we ate, it was cute.

Appetizers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 We started off with some egg rolls , classic but delicious! Already we could hear them fry in the kitchen, afterwards I appreciated the freshness of the salad and mint, but also the fact that they brought us each a plate and a saucer, which counts for attention to detail.

Mains                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The person with me ordered their famous Lok Lak rice.                                                                                                                                                          I confirm, worth the trip.

The house soup special ( shrimp, calamari, pork pâté, pork liver)                                                                                                                                       I chose it on the boss’ recommendation, and even though I was sure I took a picture of it, it’s nowhere to be found. Let’s just say that I was happy to try a soup that wasn’t Pho, and at the beginning everything was going well: A nice big soup with both meat and seafood, fine rice noodles, a good broth, and lemon. But I have to say that by the end, I’d had enough of the liver. I’m not usually unsettled by these kind of foods, but it was a bit nauseating by the end.                                                                                                               Special note for the beer prices, they’re all at 3 euros, including the Saigon, hallelujah!

Dessert                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           A three color dessert ( che ba mau) that I forgot to take a picture of.

An Asian restaurant in the 13th district in which there are two cooks in the kitchen and two in the room, when there are no clients is always a good sign.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The customer service was heart warming and nice that day. The menu offers certain specialties and seems a bit random in certain places, so some work should be done on it.                                                                                                                                                                                  In any case, it’s a place that we’ll remember.