Welcome to Heng Lay Restaurant: A Little Slice of Cambodia in Lowell

“ This restaurant is small but homey. It's a gem in the corner of lowell. I passed by it so many times but did not get a chance to try them till now and we can't wait to come back and try others. Their price is relevant and tastes awesome. Enjoy our pictures! ”

“ Loved the visit. Food was great. Clean inside and staff are friendly. Take-out option on line was simple. ”

“ Very small corner restaurant in Lowell, but they have amazing food. The fried squid was so crispy, yet so juicy. The meekathung is good, but in my opinion, viet Thai's is better in flavor. I also got the lemon soda and it was nice and sour, I just wished it was a bit sweeter. Aside from what I ordered this day, I've also tried their soups and they do not lie when they say they have the best somlaw machu kreung. Soooo good. Definitely recommend. ”

“ Been coming here for years. I'm pretty sure I've tried every khmer spot in Lowell. Competition is tight but I will have to say out of all of them, Heng Lay is my favorite. Cha Kreung and BBQ Chx are some of my go to dishes. ”

“ This place is small with about 7 tables of 4 and 2 round tables for a bigger party. There many Cambodian restaurants in Lowell but this is my favorite because their price is reasonable and food quality is better. For breakfast they absolutely have the best beef stew noodles and Phnom Penh noodles. For lunch I tend to order either the beef lok lak or bbq chicken with rice. The rice dish portions are large, too! This small restaurant is family run, from cashier, server, to kitchen staff. It's like going home for meals. They do a lot of takeout business as well. ”

“ Tiny tiny restaurant with incredible food! This was my first time trying Cambodian food and I would recommend this place to others in a heartbeat. Nothing screams "comfort food" better than their hot bowls of noodle soup. I tried the beef stew noodle ($10.50 for medium, $13 for large). The noodles came with fresh bean sprouts and limes. At first I thought that the cuts of beef looked tough, but once I took a bite I discovered that the beef was so tender it melted on my tongue. The broth wasn't too spicy, but was super flavorful. The portion was satisfying and great for its price. I also tried the special noodle soup ($9 for medium, $11.50 for large). The broth was much lighter than the beef stew, but was flavorful and comforting in its own way. The noodle soup was topped with bits of fried garlic which added a lot of flavor. The server kindly explained how to eat the trey proma ($16) on the Khmer traditional food part of the menu. It came with a bunch of fresh vegetables (cucumber, eggplant, cabbage, Thai chili, steamed broccoli, limes) and a generous bowl of rice. The fried fish "cake" had a lot of egg and was very savory. ”

“ Heng Lay is a cozy, hole-in-the-wall that dishes up a taste of home. It is the kind of soul-warming experience that envelops you in memories of simpler times, like wandering into grandma's bustling kitchen, enticed by the aromas of a multitude of soups and stews simmering away. We'd wandered in, enticed by the idea of hot soup on a cold day and ended up ordering a feast. Beef Lok Lak (5/5): Don't be fooled. This dish is more humble in appearance than in taste. Each cube of tender beef was perfectly seared and seasoned, leaving you eager for your next bite before you'd even swallowed the first. Because this dish is first stir-fried, then coated in a sweet and savory sauce, the beef's texture is unique and what I like most about it. Fun fact: The stir-fry step--where you shake the wok or pan constantly to give the beef an even sear--is what gives the dish its other name - Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac). Stir-fried Chinese Broccoli (5/5): A classic staple on the dinner tables of most East Asian households, Heng Lay serves up their leafy greens with plenty of garlic and oyster sauce. Chicken Wings (5/5): These were a last minute addition as we'd already ordered so much food, but the thought of chicken wings was too tempting to resist. We were so glad we caved in. Their hunky wings were not only crispy but oh so juicy. Best of all, they were coated in the most addictive of fish sauce glazes you'll have the pleasure of tasting. Beware--they do come with a kick! Fried Squid (5/5): Heng Lay's crispy, juicy, slices (not rings!) of tender, chewy squid had the whole table fighting over every last piece. Pork Intestine w/ Pickled Vegetables (5/5): I'm not usually a fan of pork intestine, but because we ordered for the table, I tried some anyway. I was shocked by how much I liked it. Unlike a lot of pork intestine I've had, the taste of theirs was not overwhelming at all. It came in a light oyster sauce, and when paired with the tangy pickled vegetables, made for a balanced bite. This to me is comfort food at its finest and is one of the most underrated dishes I've had in a while. Phnom Penh Noodle Soup (5/5): I would almost consider Phnom Penh Noodle Soup to be a deeper, bolder cousin of the more commonly found wonton noodle soup. Their broth truly warmed the soul and portions were more than generous. I loved the ground pork and shrimp that were included as toppings. If it were not for the vast distance between my current place of residence and the humble offerings at Heng Lay, this family-owned spot would surely be on my rotational list of dinner options. ”

“ Some of the best meals I have had always seem to be after a long day of hiking and Heng Lay is no exception. A truly authentic Cambodian dining experience, every dish we got here managed to delight! As a heads up, parking is a bit tight but we came at an off time so we were able to get a spot in the back. Given that we were absolutely starving, we went a little overboard with the ordering but miraculously was able to finish a majority of the dishes. We ordered: Salt and Pepper Calamari: Absolutely delicious and fried to perfection. The calamari was also coated in that classic salt, pepper, and jalapeño combo that is sure to be familiar to many! Phnom Penh Noodle Soup: This is the star dish here, I would liken it a lot to pho but with mostly pork products and al dente egg noodles that soaked the porky broth up! We were picking the whole bowl up by the time we got to the bottom! Beef Loc Lac: Another classic Cambodian dish. The sauce was perfect and I have no idea how they got their morsels of beef to be so tender and moist. This is absolutely addicting when paired with some rice. Pork Intestines with Pickled Veg: Do not let this dish intimidate you! The pork had none of that "intestine-y" flavor and was actually slightly crisp on the outside. The pickled vegetables serves with this dish also helped cut through some of the pork fattiness. Fried Chicken Wings: Yes, yes, these aren't the most authentic choices but these may be some of the crispiest and juicy wings I have ever had. The exterior makes that satisfying crunch when you bite down and you have to watch out for all the hot chicken juice that erupts forward - simply sublime! Sauteed Chinese Broccoli: Of course you have to offset all that meat with some veggies. This is a classic Chinese dish where greens are sauteed with oyster sauce, sesame oil, and healthy amounts of garlic. A safe bet! Let me just also add that the pricing is incredibly reasonable and the staff are quite friendly! I would drive all the way to Lowell JUST to come here! ”