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Never judge a book by its cover we are told, and this maxim could equally apply to restaurants. Whilst Asian themed establishments and decor are currently flavour of the month, perhaps the most authentic Thai restaurant in Paris looks nothing like a Bangkok eating establishment, but instead exactly like the 1950s Parigot bar it once was. The brown brick façade and original yellow bar signs give a curious perspective, with only the black lettering stuck on the signs showing that this is indeed a Thai restaurant.
Open the book though, and the story on the inside is a very different one. Suddenly we are transported to the banks of the Mekong, to a cosy, bamboo and jasmin scented room. The tables are low, with benches that you almost need to be a contortionist to sit on, but once you are in place you can relax and enjoy the fantastic food prepared downstairs. Notable items on the menu are the fragrant, fresh salads, with spikes of chilli and twists of citrus, or the spicy (rare in Paris!), aromatic curries. As it is a small venue with a big reputation, reservations are strongly recommended.
Details about this spot (Show on map)
Krung Thep | Restaurants (Thai) | Main course from € 12.00
93, Rue Julien Lacroix | Belleville/Nation | +330143668374
19:00 – 23:00 daily, some lunchtimes
I live near Belleville, and I am a chef. My cooking specializes in Asian cuisine. I travel to Thailand 4 times a year for pleasure and business, and I can tell you that the Thai food serve at Krung Thep is very authentic and tasty. If you could handle spicy food then it would be even better as many of the dishes serve at Krung Thep are spicy.
I have only one negative comment to say about Krung Thep, and that is the service. The owner or the manager that was one time a man, now a woman, and the servers are quite cold. They rarely smile and are not receptive, which is unusual as Thai people in general are very friendly and love to smile.
Make sure to make reservation before you come, because the restaurant is small.
Hi Iza, and thanks for your comment. I would tend to agree with you about the service, which can be a little brusque. However I feel that this place is all about the quality of the food and the atmosphere you can create with friends rather than the quality of service.
By the way, I live near Belleville too and I would be interested in trying your cuisine! Where are you based as a chef?
Ah my favourite Thai restaurant in Paris (Europe even) is in SbL! The same staff have been working there for years (I first went there about 9 years ago) with maybe 1-2 new additions in all this time, and I did wonder if their reservation is due to language barrier (apart from the owner/manager) as they appear to get what we want to order but not much of the random banters we inject.
Still, the food is great and for that reason, I’ll always go back and yes, my friends well make up for the atmosphere and fun for the evening