Laotian restaurants in Laos
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A
Makphet
Run by Friends International (www.friends-international.org), this small restaurant trains homeless youths to cook and wait tables. The modern Lao cuisine is both interesting and tasty.
reviewed
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B
Kangaroo Sunset Bar
This Australian-run place is a decent sunset and evening drinking hole (it does have the coldest Beerlao in town), and the Lao, Thai and fusion-ish food is very edible indeed. The garlic bread and prawn rolls are delicious.
reviewed
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C
Bunmala Restaurant
It’s a little out of town, but this open-sided, timber-floored restaurant is about as archetypal Lao as you can find – and the food is great, too. There are all manner of Lao favourites, including pîng pét (roast duck), pîng pąa (grilled fish), pîng lîn (roast cow tongue) and pîng kai made from particularly plump chickens. For a classic Lao meal, order the (very hot) tąm màa-hung (papaya salad), kąeng naw mâi (soupy bamboo-shoot salad), sticky rice and draught beer. Delicious. It’s best to come in the evening when the full range of pîng is on offer and the draught beer is US$0.50.
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D
Nokeo
Nokeo is one of the last remnants of the old Vang Vieng. There are no bells or whistles, but it’s been around for years because it serves consistently good Lao food at prices low enough that locals can afford to eat here. The succulent ping paa is excellent, as are the various làap and curries. It’s the most Lao place to eat in Vang Vieng.
reviewed
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E
Riverside Houay Restaurant
The only thing broader than the Mekong view at this restaurant is the menu. A huge array of Thai and Lao is on offer with some good seafood dishes including fried prawn cakes. The tôm yám and curries come in all manner of meats, or you can just tuck into an omelette. It has a particularly ambient setting, although the cheesy Thai pop music detracts a little from it.
reviewed
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Maly Lao Food
Great, authentic Lao food is served at this casual eatery. House specialities include a range of exotic meat dishes made with buffalo, deer, turkey or fish, green papaya salad, and sáa (minced fish or chicken salad with lemon grass and ginger). Lao beer, rice whisky and local rice wine are also available.
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F
Saovaly Restaurant
The French and Lao food here is wonderful, with subtle flavours and artistic presentation complemented by attentive but not harassing service. And all for very reasonable prices. It’s just a pity the atmosphere is so, well, living room –when we ate here it was to the dulcet tones of Martin Tyler on a Man U TV re-run.
reviewed
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G
Soukvemarn Lao Food
Don’t be put off by the location down a dirt alley from That Dam – the Lao food at Soukvemarn is very good. Specialities include kąeng pąa khai mot (fish soup with ant larvae –in season) and làap pąa (spicy minced fish salad), among many others. The family who manage it make good conversation, too.
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H
Muang Neur
There’s plenty of fragrant Lao cuisine to be had at this humble little restaurant, like whole crisp fried fish stuffed with ginger and garlic, spicy seafood soup with lemongrass, and delicious fǒe. It also advertises itself as the Gecko Bar for those in need of lào-láo.
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I
Le Belle Epoque
For a taste of colonial-era luxury it’s hard to beat this restaurant in the Settha Palace Hotel. The menu is mainly French but also has a Lao component; dishes include braised lamb shank with organic mash potato (US$13.50) and the delicious flat noodles with grilled eggplant and cream sauce (US$5.50).
reviewed
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J
Paradise Restaurant
This ambient spot resides in a quiet neck of the woods and serves great Lao and Luang Prabang specialties like sweet and sour Mekong squid, or áw lám – stewed meat with green beans and eggplant. Diners sit at picnic benches in a leafy courtyard.
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K
Panda Restaurant
The huge menu at this modest, open-air restaurant encompasses everything from (divine) pancakes and eggs to fish on tomato chilli, beef with basil and tasty tofu fry-ups. The fruit shakes are also delicious and it’s run by an affable family.
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L
Xuan Mai Restaurant
Xuan Mai serves top-notch fǒe (US$0.80; the chicken fǒe is best), khào pûn (white flour noodles with sweet-spicy sauce), fruit shakes and even garlic bread. Open until midnight, it’s the best place for a late feed.
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M
Tamnak Lao Restaurant
If you mention Tamnak Lao to locals, they will be impressed. It has a well-earned reputation for excellent Lao and Thai food. You can sit inside or in the manicured garden, and there is a traditional dancing show most nights.
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N
Simmaly Restaurant
Simmaly’s menu may be simple, but what it whips up it does well. Fried spicy meats, rice dishes and good noodle soups. Service is friendly and speedy and it’s popular with both tourists and locals.
reviewed
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O
Nut Pop
On an atmospheric timber deck surrounded by foliage, this restaurant serves great Lao dishes like peppery hot pork, baked fish or chicken with chilli and lime.
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P
Tum Zaap
This new hole-in-the-wall is a reflection of the growing sophistication of Lao youth and their palate, serving Lao cuisine with a modern twist.
reviewed
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Q
Nang Khamtip
Some of the best fǒe, khào píak (rice soup) and khào sáwy in Laos.
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R
Ban Vilaylac Restaurant
Hidden between Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan and Wat Chanthabuli, this romantic little place serves tasty Lao and Thai food.
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S
Xokxay
This place serves a similar menu.
reviewed
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T
Xokxay
Authentic Lao food at this friendly hole in the wall is renowned for its noodle dishes, fried rice and salads. The crispy fried shrimp is lovely.
reviewed
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U
Mekong Riverside Restaurant
On the river, tucked just behind PVO, this comparatively formal riverfront eatery offers a small menu of tasty Lao staples supplemented by snacks you won’t find at home; deep-fried underground singer (cricket; US$2.50) with your Beerlao, anyone?
reviewed
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V
Mr Hong’s Coffeeshop & Restaurant
Mr Hong draws a steady clientele with his long menu of reasonably priced Lao dishes like jeow eggplant, and láap pet (duck salad). The cocktails are potent and the conversation easy.
reviewed