Tamarind
Good for: food, Solo Travellers, service, Families, atmosphere
Not good for: service, people who want real lao food, atmosphere, food
- Address
- Ban Wat Nong
- Website
- Phone
- 020-7770484
- Price
- meals US$2.50-4
- Hours
- breakfast & lunch
Lonely Planet review for Tamarind
Chic little Tamarind injects a great deal of style into the Luang Prabang dining scene, inventing its very own make of ‘Mod-Lao’ cuisine. The à la carte menu boasts delicious sampling platters with bamboo dip, stuffed lemongrass and meuyang – DIY parcels of noodles, herbs, fish and chilli pastes, and vegetables. With a day’s notice they also serve banquets (per person US$6 to US$8) with variations like a Lao Celebration Feast (Pun Pa), and the degustation-style Adventurous Lao Gourmet. Dishes include whole fish, marinated in local herbs, stuffed with lemongrass and barbecued in banana leaves, traditional eggplant and meat stew, or Lao-style barbequed pork. Meals are enhanced considerably by the owners’ detailed explanation of the ingredients and how they’re eaten. The fruit coolers are divine on a hot day and the khai pene (seaweed), chilli pastes and teas (which you can buy) are wholesaled to restaurants around the world.
Traveller reviews for Tamarind (9)
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Ordinary
frank1970 does not recommend this,
In summary, food is average, portions are small and prices are steep. Good for first time visitors to Luang Prabang. There are other smaller less commercialized (no lengthy marketing ploy in their menu about introduction to lao food and charities they support etc etc) restaurants within the vicinity.
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This restaurant is not authentic.
vientianeboy does not recommend this,
I live in Lao and eat out a lot. Yes the cause is good, but do not think that Tamarind serves authentic lao food; it does not. There are many far better places around. I also object to the fact that they have a poor wine list and yet charge a ridiculous amount for corkage.
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not real lao food
whatthehell does not recommend this,
no service ! had to get up and ask if I could make an order after 30 minute wait, and when the dishes I ordered did arrive had to request a napkin, cutlery and a plate to eat off!!!,
its good to see people trying to do something "authentic" but the food should also taste authentic, not broad to appeal to a western travelers!
the bamboo and vegatable soup had no fragrant herbs, chilli or pa dek in it,
and the jeaw (dips) plate was very Flat tasting, also in laos traditionally this dish would be served with a number of herbs, raw and boiled vegetables that could be "dipped" in to the sauces, not just with sticky rice, which if I am to believe what is written in their menu is exclusively laotion, Thai food is oily with coconut milk in everything, and a mythical place where pigs fly!!!
thumbs up for effort thumbs down for authenticity,
I also hear they are moving to a larger building, so hopefully while serving more tourists the standard will remain broad
Good for: tourists
Not good for: people who want real lao food
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Favourite restuarant
eliahann recommends this,
Having read so many good reviews about this restaurant I decided that it had to be on my list of places to try. It did sound tantalising, and so it was. I was not disappointed, nor were my dinner companions. The menu is interesting, the food authentic, and our meal was delicious.
We ordered the set priced Fish Pun Pa which started with some sticky rice and a tasting plate of dips. The dips were very tasty and were great with the sticky rice. Proceed with caution if you are particularly sensitive to chilli. Then out came a whole fish steamed in banana leaf. It was nicely cooked, moist, beautiful flavour and quite delicious. Along with this we were served a huge platter of assorted vegetables, herbs and other things such as shredded banana flower and peanuts, AND a platter of assorted leaves including lettuce. The idea being that you take a leaf, put on whatever combination of ingredients you feel like plus some fish, roll it up, dip it and eat it. I love this concept and I really enjoyed eating this way.
This was followed by a platter of fresh local fruits and a bowl of purple sticky rice with fresh grated coconut. Not being a fan of rice pudding I was a little wary, however I was won over. Yes, it was delicious and a perfect way to finish the meal.
The menu/food was well explained as was the method of eating. We could not fault the service. One word of advice - Lao food is, by nature, hands on. If you have a delicate constitution you are well advised to wash your hands thoroughly before eating at any establishment in Laos, or anywhere for that matter. -
A lovely cafe and a great cooking school
currajong recommends this,
Well I must say I found Tamarind delightful, washed my hands under running water (what cafe were you in?). I went there because every time I passed on the way to my guest house, it was packed. This is my first review for LP, and will write about other places, but Tamarind was my favourite. The food was really thoughtfully presented, and the owner was there the night I ate, explaining everthing. The bamboo soup was delicous, the sampling platters fascinating. All the staff were wearing shoes as they came out of the kitchen, and the glasses clean. (How do you identify faeces by the way?). I went on to do the cooking class, which is in the most magical setting. Food and hygiene standards were excellent.
Good for: atmosphere, food, Groups, Solo Travellers, service, Families
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Tamarind - Eat at Your Own Risk
jumpamonkey does not recommend this,
My beer glass was brought to the table with fresh feces on it. I confronted the staff in the kitchen and was shocked to find that the kitchen was in total disarray, disgustingly dirty and the staff handling food in bare feet and with filthy hands. I complained, asking them to wash up and discovered there was no functioning sink or any running water for staff or guests to wash hands. Explains why my beer glass had fresh feces on the rim. This may once have been a nice place to eat but the owner is no longer present on a regular basis, the staff couldn't care any less about your experience and it is far from sanitary, despite pages of the menu dedicated to outlining their guidelines of clean food preparation. We informed all the other patrons of the situation and the entire restaurant evacuated. Better avoid this has-been spot.
Not good for: atmosphere, food, service
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Tamarind
hik recommends this,
Tiny place but the very best place to try out real Lao (and Luang Prabang) fare! All seemed very fresh and well prepared, which is not a given in the centre of this very touristy town. Service was quick, sweet and helpful. They also sell recipe books and the great dried seaweed.
Good for: food, Budget Travellers, Groups, Solo Travellers, service
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Memorable seaweed - Pity about the service
goanna2 recommends this,
This was to have been a highlight of my stay in Luang Prabang. The owners have gone to great lengths to provide travellers with authentic Lao cuisine. The restaurant, tucked in a side street has charm and the menu provides several choices for vegetarians. Pumpkin soup and sticky rice. Perfect. Pity about the waitress. When my order was being taken, I was assured that both were vegetarian. I explained that I was very strict, no shrimp or fish paste please. I understand, enough! she said. The soup arrived - it was delicious, The dried seaweed, yum. The sticky rice had a blob of sauce on top. Is this tamarind paste? I enquired. No answer. I stirred it, took a bite and delivered it to my paper napkin. Why have you given me fish paste? You want another bowl of sticky rice instead? Yes, but why did you give me fish paste? No answer. Bill time, Pumpkin soup and two bowls of sticky rice. You asked for another bowl of sticky rice, so we charge you!
Good for: Romance, atmosphere, food, Budget Travellers, Solo Travellers, Families
Not good for: service
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