Vy Da - Paris 13th

Vy Da 
15, boulevard de Port Royal
75013 Paris
Tel : 01 47 07 37 75
Closed on Sunday for lunch service (except with a reservation, or for certain take out dishes listed on the menu)
Metro : Les Gobelins

→ 1st review (in French)

The Pitch
The menu specifies "Specialities from Central Vietnam".
This is a joint for a quick meal in the heart of an area that doesn't have many of them (Les Gobelins). The genuineness of the couple that runs the place ( the wife runs the kitchen and the husband handles the front of the house), of the locale itself, and of the cuisine is so unique in Paris that this is an address worth knowing.
Sometimes the wait is a little long, but the family ambiance is so strong that you go there just wanting to have a calm moment to taste healthy home cooked food. On days when there's a lunch or dinner rush, service can be a little chaotic, but things always work out in the end.


















The Meal
Vietnamese dumplings


















Nems


















Sticky rice with chicken, served with coconut, sesame, and peanuts


















½ bottle of rosé, 2 starters, 2 main dishes = 14 euros per person

My Canh - Paris 13th

My Canh

84, rue Baudricourt

75013 Paris

Tél : 01 45 70 87 36

Closed on Mondays

Metro : Tolbiac


















The Pitch
A restaurant run by Cambodians of Chinese descent, that serves a mix of Asian cuisines (Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese). Quality food in a nice atmosphere. This is a place to come with a light heart for an easy, honest meal, in a warm and friendly environment.

The Meal

Mussels with basil


















Fried rice and Peking chicken














Eel


















Thaï Flan

Lao Thaï - Paris 13th

Lao Thaï 

128, rue de Tolbiac

75013 Paris

Tél : 01 44 24 28 10

Fermé le mercredi

Métro : Tolbiac


















The Pitch
It's one of the restaurants recommended by so many people that it's considered an institution in the 13th arrondissement. It serves Laotian and Thai cuisine. Looking at the menu I got the impression that it was essentially Laotian, but when I called they told me quite the contrary. In any case, they are from Laos. I still have a lot of things to taste before I make my definitive decision, but it was very good, with a family atmposphere.

I'll be honest: one thing I don't like is when waiters give you a story to give you a table for two in a restaurant that is two-thirds empty under the pretext that a group might suddenly burst in and fill the restaurant. I got away from him right away and got in good with the owner, who was very nice and came over personally to give us suggestions. She was lovely, as was the second waiter. The first waiter was not unpleasant or mean, but should have been more flexible, on a slow week day evening at 9:15 PM.
Other than that, I'm happy I finally went and look forward to exploring the menu in more depth.

The Meal
Thai iced tea























Seafood dumplings























Spicy dried beef with sticky rice
















Sorry, no pictures for the rest :
- duck in coconut milk
- homemade mango ice cream

Pho Mui - Paris 13th

Pho Mui
97, avenue d'Ivry
75013 Paris
Tél : 01 45 83 70 68
Open every day from 8:30 AM to 10 PM
Metros : Tolbiac, Maison Blanche






















At Pho Mui, the Pho is as good as ever.

















And the taro dessert is perfect.

Yuan Xin - Paris 13th

Yuan Xin
9, rue Philibert Lucot
75013 Paris
Tél : 01 45 85 73 16
Metro : Porte de Choisy
Closed on Tuesdays

The Pitch
There are restaurants, (or at least meals), where it's love at first bite. This is one of them! I thought I'd seen everything when it comes to traditional Cambodian/Vietnamese restaurants in Paris. Then, on the advice of Chinese acquaintances with Cambodian roots, and of Sophie of Chez P'tit Pois, I went to Yuan Xin.














It's a tiny place tucked away on a side street, with a menu that's short but sweet – more concise than I've ever seen. The clientèle that day was composed entirely of Asian diners in their 50s, chatting and enjoying their meal, and Asian businessmen eating alone. Though the restaurant has a Chinese name, my waiter confirmed that it serves mostly Vietnamese cuisine.
Let me repeat – the menu is perfect, I've never seen anything like it in an Asian restaurant like this. This lunch was a real favorite of mine.
In some of the online reviews I read, some people thought that the restaurant's specialty, Hainan chicken with rice, was a little bland, or said there's a line on busy days. I'll concede that it's possible my lunch was particularly well done. In any case, this is still a great place, I'll go back.


The meal
Steamed ‘Kampot’ dumplings with bamboo shoots, shrimp and ground pork served with a spicy sauce.














Fish soup (chopped hake) with vermicelli and coconut milk; jasmine tea.


















The menu
Left Page
Top : House Specialties
Bottom : Vietnamese

Right Page
Top : Rice
Bottom : Salads