Thai times on a Saturday night

Lao Lane Xang is famous for two things. Lao Lane Xang, and Lao Lane Xang 2. After experiencing amazing success with the first, the owners opened Lao Lane Xang 2, directly across the street. Following in Parisian footsteps, #2 is beautifully decorated, high class and has a great selection of wines. Unfortunately, we couldn't get in.

I had been reading about both restaurants for a while and was itching to try some authentic Thai in Paris. The perks of living in the dubbed "China town" of Paris: we are surrounded by all different types of Asian cuisines at great prices. Lao Lang Xang is a 10 minute walk from our house, so we gathered a group of girls and headed out for dinner on Saturday night. We naively anticipated getting in easily, since we were pulling an American and eating at 7:30 instead of 9:30. No cigar. We apparently needed a reservation and the restaurant was booked for the entire evening. I now understand why it is one of the most popular restaurants in Paris. After chatting with the bouncer he suggested we head across the street and try the original.

Lao Lang Xang is a small, hole in the wall neighborhood restaurant that is a staple of the 13th. Luckily we snagged a spot on the wait list, waited 15 minutes, an were then ushered and seated at a small table squished between two other parties. The menu was very extensive and I could not decide what to order. With the help of my other thai partakers I decided on chicken curry. We split an order of vegetarian eggrolls to start. Stella ordered the chicken and seafood fried rice, Ari the chicken pad-thai accompanied with shrimp, and Rachel ordered the vegetarian pad-thai.

The eggrolls were delicious and, like usual, I requested three extra cups of sauce. Not too oily or stringy, each warm bite contained a medley of veggies. I also tried it wrapped up in lettuce and dipped in the sauce.

My curry was one of the preferred dishes of the table. Spiced coconut milk, veggies and chicken definitely hit the spot that frigid evening. I did have to add some salt and noodles (I had been craving noodles, so I took some from Ari's Pad thai) but it was a wonderfully done, simple Thai curry that left me full and content. I actually couldn't even finish half so it became the communal curry and was definitely the favorite. Ari and Stella wished their food was spicier; both found their dishes a tad bland for Thai. However, we have sadly learned that the French are not big fans of spices, even in their Asian food. Most of the ethnic meals we have tried have lacked the necessary kick that we crave.

The chicken curry

Chicken/seafood fried rice

Overall I really enjoyed the meal and am dying to go back to try the other two dishes I was deciding between. We ended up talking to the couple next to us, Americans from Minnesota, who ate at this restaurant every time they came to Paris. They had about seven dishes to split between the two of them and I could not help but drool over the smells wafting from their table.

The restaurant was packed and always had a wait. I am also interested in this Lao Lang Xang 2, which has a similar menu and prices, but somehow has garnered an impressive reputation as one of the best Thai restaurants in Paris. One down, Two to go.