Alright, so I kept hearing bits and pieces about this place, Crying Tiger, over in Paris. Friends mentioned it, saw a couple of things fly by online, you know how it is. Sounded like decent Thai food, especially the grilled stuff. Figured I had to check it out myself, see if it lived up to the whispers.
Finding it wasn’t too bad, tucked away a bit, which I kind of like sometimes. Less chaos. Walked up and the first thing I noticed was the smell. You know that charcoal grill smell? Yeah, that hit me right away. Good sign, I thought. It looked pretty busy even from the outside, lots of people milling about, seemed popular.
Getting Inside and Settling In
Stepped inside, and wow, it was packed. Definitely buzzing. The vibe was lively, maybe a bit loud, but in an energetic way, not annoying. Lots of chatter, clinking plates. The decor was simple, nothing too fancy, which felt right. It felt like a place focused on the food, not fussy decorations. We managed to grab a table after a short wait. The staff seemed rushed off their feet but were doing their best, weaving through the tables.
The Main Event: Food Time
Okay, the menu. Had a good look. Obviously, I had to try the dish they’re named after, right? So, the ‘Crying Tiger’ beef was a must. We also decided to get a few other bits to share:
- The Crying Tiger (Tigre qui Pleure): Grilled beef, sliced up, served with that spicy dipping sauce.
- Some Pad See Ew: Always a good benchmark for Thai noodles, I reckon.
- Spring Rolls: Just needed something crispy to start.
- Sticky Rice: Essential with the grilled beef.
Ordering was quick, despite how busy they were. Then the waiting game began, watching all the dishes fly out of the kitchen. Smelled amazing.
Food started arriving pretty fast, actually. The spring rolls were hot, crispy, standard stuff but good. Then the main dishes landed. The Pad See Ew looked decent, good wok hei smell. Tasted pretty solid, nice chewy noodles, good flavour, maybe could’ve used a tiny bit more sauce, but I enjoyed it.
Now, the Crying Tiger beef. Looked great. Nicely charred on the outside, sliced thin, looked tender. Took a piece, dipped it in that sauce… oh yeah. That’s the stuff. The beef itself was cooked well, tender like I thought. But that sauce! It had a real kick. Properly spicy, tangy, bit salty, bit sweet – everything you want. It definitely lived up to the ‘crying’ name if you took too much sauce, ha! Really, really good with the sticky rice to soak it all up.
Wrapping Up
We finished everything. Plates were clean. The service, while busy, was efficient enough. They cleared plates, got us the bill when we asked, no major hiccups. It wasn’t super attentive, but they were managing a full house, so fair enough.
Overall? Yeah, I get why people talk about it. The Crying Tiger dish itself was the star, absolutely worth trying if you like grilled meat and a proper spicy kick. The atmosphere is lively, maybe not the place for a quiet, intimate dinner, but great for a fun meal with friends. It felt pretty authentic. I left feeling satisfied, taste buds tingling. Would I go back? Definitely, especially for that beef. Just gotta be prepared for the crowds and maybe book ahead if you can.
