It's one of those neighborhood addresses that you can walk past once, twice, ten times, without really paying attention to what's going on inside. And, in doing so, miss out on the opportunity to make a delightful and exotic discovery. Such is the case with Luangpra, an Asian restaurant that has been established for a good number of years at the junction of rue Saint-Maur and rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud.
This large corner establishment was given a facelift several months ago, with sober decor and spaced-out tables, so you don't have to eat in your neighbor's lap - fortunately, because we hate that. And as Luangpra has no social network, there was only one way for us to get a feel for the place: go in and order food.
Luangpra celebrates not one but two gastronomies: Thai and Laotian cuisine , two countries that share much more than a long border. The menu says it all: all dishes here are home-cooked. A very good point. Another positive point is the very attractive prices. At lunchtime, starter/dish menus are €14 or €15. In the evening, starter/dish menus are €17, €20 or €23, depending on the dish chosen.
And let's face it, the starters and main courses on the 17€ menu are second to none. In fact, it's the menu we go for every time we visit! Luangpra has become our neighborhood canteen.
For starters, the great classics of Thai and Laotian cuisine are on the menu: a bevy of Laotian salads with lemongrass (beef, chicken, seafood; 8€-12€), the unmissable papaya salad (8€) that's a real treat for the taste buds, kung pao prawns (14€), and lemongrass-coconut chicken soup (10€). Traditional dishes to be accompanied by a Laotian beer, of course!
The rest is just as colorful and tasty: pad thaï (11€), steamed or fried whole fish (17€), sautéed chicken or duck (13€), and for vegetarians, a 17€ starter/dish menu based on pad thaï with vegetables or vegetable curry. Our favorite dishes? The ultra-crispy Thai chicken egg rolls, the grilled chicken skewers with satay sauce and homemade coconut milk (8€), and the green chicken curry with coconut milk (13€), made with homemade curry!
All available on the 17€ menu, proof that we're not pulling your leg. The only downside is that desserts are not included in any of the formulas, and whether it's banana fritters (5€), mango sticky rice (6€) or Thai coconut flan (5€), they're all devilishly appetizing.
No matter! Luangpra is proof that you should dare to take the plunge into the restaurants in your neighborhood - even those that don't look like much from the outside. You may well come across an affordable, tasty address, supported by attentive service, like this one.
Location
Luangpra
120 Rue Saint-Maur
75011 Paris 11
