Savannakhet
Keep your eyes peeled for smoke from the grill and uniformed officials – two signs of a good place to eat in Laos. This tin-roofed, dirt-floored place…
Must-see restaurants in Central Laos
Central Laos
Ping Kai Napong specialises in grilled chicken, but the menu is a virtual tour of Lao cuisine, ranging from salads (the duck láhp – minced salad with…
Savannakhet
In these two nearly linked knots of vendors, you'll find dishes including kòw Ъęeak sèn (round rice noodles served in a broth with pieces of chicken or…
Central Laos
Rich, garlicky bowls of kòw Ъęeak sèn (noodles in a broth with chicken or deep-fried crispy pork belly), served here with wheat-and-egg noodles. A few…
Savannakhet
Chez Boune has a French-speaking owner, a handsome wood-decked dining room, and is one of the better places in the area for Western food. If you want to…
Savannakhet
This buzzy vendor does kòw jee, Vietnamese-style baguette sandwiches, including options with egg – a great breakfast. There's an English-language menu…
Central Laos
Every evening, a small but high-quality night market appears just east of the bus stop, serving some very tasty Lao food. Dishes are take-away only, but…
Savannakhet
Mae Tik sells a delicious kòw Ъęeak sèn (thick noodles served in a slightly viscous broth with crispy deep-fried pork belly, chicken or fish) in…
Nakai–Nam Theun National Park & Around
Linked to the guesthouse of the same name and located at the edge of the reservoir created by the Nam Theun 2 Dam, views, tasty Lao food and real coffee…
Central Laos
Classy and low-lit, this fine restaurant is as sophisticated as sleepy Tha Khaek gets. Based in a pretty French colonial-era building, the open-range…
Phu Hin Bun NPA & Tham Kong Lor
Cheap local and Western dishes, combined with friendly service, make this simple new spot the favourite of most travellers. The English-speaking owner, Mr…
Savannakhet
This international cafe has an eclectic menu of Tex-Mex, Americana, Indian and more. It's an air-conditioned retreat on a hot day and offers its own…
Phu Hin Bun NPA & Tham Kong Lor
Close to the entrance to Tham Kong Lor, this semi-alfresco, fan-cooled restaurant serves up noodles, fried rice and pork láhp, as well as Western…
Savannakhet
Savannakhet's original travellers' cafe; come here for a refreshing air-conditioned vibe, a full menu of coffee drinks, and homemade pastries.
Central Laos
Our French friends will have to excuse the spelling, but this is a delightful little cafe opposite the post office. Mains are limited to salads and…
Savannakhet
A huge colonial-style compound is home to one of the city's most upscale restaurants and a linked cafe. The likewise huge menu is an around-the-world tour…
Savannakhet
This riverside restaurant is one of the only places in town to offer great Mekong views. The hefty menu spans Lao, Thai and Chinese dishes, but Lao Derm…
Central Laos
This glass-fronted cafe overlooking Fountain Sq offers a fusion menu of Lao, Thai and international dishes in a cool atmosphere, both figuratively and…
Central Laos
Head to this busy place alongside the river if you fancy tasty Lao favourites such as pîng kai (grilled chicken) and sticky rice for next to no money…
Central Laos
With dining in the garden or indoors, this is a popular local place serving a mix of Thai, Thai-Chinese and Lao dishes, but be warned that karaoke is also…
Savannakhet
This nightly food market brings 20 or more stalls to the Savannakhet Plaza area in the heart of the old town. This means barbecued skewers, steaming…
Souksabaiy (Samile) Restaurant
Central Laos
This riverside spot is atmospheric with lanterns hung from the walls, and decked verandahs under the shade of trees where you can coolly work your way…
Riverside Snack & Drink Vendors
Savannakhet
The riverside snack and drink vendors are a great place for sundowners, serving cheap big bottles of Beerlao (10,000K) and sìn daat (Lao hotpot barbecue)…
Central Laos
There's a strip of outdoor grilled-meat restaurants named after their cooks (Ms Noy, Ms Kay etc.), all specialising in duck. Find them on the waterfront…
Savannakhet
This cheap-as-chips hole-in-the-wall near the Catholic church dishes up Thai-leaning Lao dishes, including noodles, fried rice, salads and crispy fried…
