SEP LAÏ, a Laotian restaurant with a terrace in Paris’s 9th arrondissement.

Laotian cuisine continues to fly under the radar in Paris, where the Thai and Vietnamese scenes are more plentiful. Nestled in the 9e arrondissement, SEP LAÏ invites diners to discover this cuisine through a menu that highlights several of Laos’s iconic specialties.

The restaurant champions a faithful take on traditional flavors, with dishes conceived in a spirit of cuisine de partage. The menu centers on signature plates that showcase the balance of fresh herbs, acidity, textures and the distinctive seasonings of Southeast Asian cuisine.

To get a sense of what's on offer, a few dishes reveal the restaurant’s character. For starters, the crispy rice salad (nem thadeua) pairs crunchy textures with aromatic herbs. The papaya salad, lighter and more refreshing, carries a slightly tangy and zesty note.

On the plate, the lap bœuf, a herb-seasoned beef tartare, is among the specialties commonly associated with Lao cuisine. The mok poisson, a steam-cooked parcel wrapped in a banana leaf, is served with riz gluant, a central staple in this culinary tradition. Another highlighted preparation is the khao lam, sticky rice cooked inside a bamboo tube with coconut milk and black beans.

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To finish the meal, the menu highlights, in particular, the pandan-infused mango sticky rice or the Lao coconut flan, in keeping with the ongoing flavor lineup.

When the weather is good, the establishment gains an extra asset: its large terrace set on a pedestrian street. A criterion that can tip the balance for those looking for a restaurant with a terrace in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, in a lively area near the Opéra, the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, the Grévin Museum or the Rue des Martyrs.

SEP LAÏ is led by chef Ken Teso, who also shares his culinary culture on the restaurant's social channels. The stated goal is to offer a cuisine faithful to the spirit of Laos, grounded in simplicity and sharing.

“Our aim isn’t just to introduce Lao cuisine; it’s to stay true to what it really is—a cuisine built on sharing, simplicity, and authenticity, just as it is in Laos.”

With its Laotian cuisine, its central location and its terrace, SEP LAÏ is a go-to option to diversify from Paris's more widespread Asian restaurants and to discover a cuisine still underrepresented in the capital.