Organization
Cheng Heng
Cheng Heng is a Cambodian restaurant on University Avenue West in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[1] It is owned by Kunrath Lam and Kevin Lam and stands in the stretch of University Avenue known as Little Mekong, between Mackubin and Galtier streets. It has served Cambodian stir-fries and spicy curry soups for more than 20 years.[1][2] The owners have given part of the restaurant's earnings to build schools in Cambodia.[1]
Food
The menu is full of noodle and rice dishes, substantial soups, coconut-milk curries and stir-fries.[1] The restaurant says its dishes follow recipes handed down through generations.[3]
Among the Cambodian dishes are chha kroeng, strong with lemongrass; machu angkor, a sweet-tart mix of squash, pineapple, tomato, lotus stem and mint; and banh xiung, vermicelli noodles topped with egg roll, onion and beef.[2] Pahok Ktiss is lightly spiced ground pork with ginger and lemongrass, topped with peas and served with fresh vegetables. Chean Chuen is a fish fillet deep-fried in a light batter and topped with ground pork and lemongrass. Chive cakes are rice dumplings filled with fresh chives, crisp outside and soft inside.[4]
The soups include a mild, slightly sweet, bright red Cambodian curry noodle soup with carrot, onion, chicken and rice noodles; a sweet and sour noodle soup with basil, mushrooms and quail eggs; and Tam Yam, with a broth of kaffir lime and lemongrass and quail eggs.[4] Other plates include roasted chicken over rice with a sunny-side-up egg, a noodle soup with shrimp, sliced beef, meatballs and honeycomb beef, fried fish fillet with ginger sauce, soybeans and ground pork, Cambodian egg rolls, and fried shrimp with peppers.[3] Cambodian red tea is left to drip, then stirred with sweetened condensed milk and poured over ice, and young coconut water comes in the coconut.[4]
Visiting
In 2011 it had no bar, took no reservations and offered vegetarian dishes. As of 2023 it took reservations through its website and hosted catering, private events and parties.[3]
Press
Heavy Table reviewed Cheng Heng in July 2011.[4] Explore Minnesota includes it in its guide to Asian food in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and Visit Saint Paul lists it in its restaurant directory.[2][5]