The story
On rue de Belleville, in the heart of Paris’s 19th arrondissement, Lao Siam has been a fixture since 1985. The restaurant’s longevity speaks for itself: for decades, it has been a reliable address for Lao cuisine in a neighbourhood known for its vibrant melting pot of Asian influences.
The setting is straightforward and welcoming, the kind of place where the focus stays on the plate. The menu draws on the traditions of Laos, offering dishes built around fresh herbs, sticky rice, and bright, balanced flavours. While the restaurant’s own website does not detail specific dishes, the consistent crowds and its recognition by Michelin point to a kitchen that executes with confidence and consistency.
That recognition came in the form of a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026, an award given for good quality, good value cooking. It is a fitting nod to a restaurant that has quietly served its community for nearly forty years, without fanfare or trend-chasing. Lao Siam remains a steady, unpretentious spot for authentic Asian cuisine in Paris.
Recognition
Details
History
good quality, good value cooking
Dimly lit like a Siam temple, this Belleville embassy for southeast Asian cuisine has been welcoming in hungry diners for 35 years! The menu that’s as long as the Mekong brings together dozens of numbered must-try eats, to be eaten with your chopsticks while seated shoulder-to-shoulder with the other guests. A few of those specialties include: crispy rice squares with a marvelous coconut, shrimp and pork sauce (T18A); Laotian sausages with loads of lemongrass (T21); an intense papaya and pickled crab salad (T17C); lovely pan-fried prawns with vermicelli noodles and a ginger-garlic-chili broth (T33); or a crying tiger special with the house’s spicy sauce (S20). For dessert, there are flambéed banana beignets or fresh mango artistically carved like a porcupine. // A.A.
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