Luang Prabang Restaurants

We were really spoilt for choice for restaurants in Luang Prabang there were so many located along the sides of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. It was wonderful to sit next to the river at sunset and watch the sun go down while sipping a cold beer lao or coconut milk fruity shake.

Food was tasty and cheap everywhere we went. There were local Laos dishes, Thai dishes, baguette sandwiches, pizzas.

Going to the toilet was a little strange as it involved using the toilet in the restaurant owner's house. You just stroll into their front room, walk passed family members reclining on the floor, pass the kitchens where they are making your meal and ask to be pointed in the direction of the loo.

Every restaurant we visited on the river provided an excellent location and great value.

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Whilst all the Lao standards are on offer here, along with a few concessions to Western palates, the speciality is the "Lao barbecue", very similar to a meal I had had in Thailand a few weeks before. As it was Xmas Day the first time I visited, I thought I would treat myself to a barbecue, although treat is hardly the right word, as my meal cost just over £2 (about $3 US). For those of you not familiar with the concept of the Southeast Asian barbecue, allow me to explain.

A metal brazier affair surrounded by a reservoir is put over a bucket of burning charcoal set in your table and you basically make a soup of barbecued meats, veg and glass noodles yourself, although I defy any one human being to eat the amount of food offered. You are served raw shrimp, squid, chicken, pork and beef accompanied by tomato, about three kinds of wild mushroom, the local watercress, pak choi, some sort of a flowering plant and Heaven knows what else. You barbecue the meats and seafood on the top of the brazier.

The photos give some idea I hope.

The idea then is to fill the reservoir from the "soup" which is really stock and add the noodles and vegetables to cook. You then season the whole affair with tamarind sauce and chopped garlic and transfer to your bowl. It was delicious and a suitable repast for the Christmas meal. I was on the point of asking the waiter to send my compliments to the chef, then I remembered it was me and it might have seemed conceited.

The service was attentive and very friendly so, as it was Christmas, I had a couple of cocktails although I rarely drink spirits. The lychee martini was particularly good.

There are many barbecue places in Luang Prabang but this one is highly recommended.

Update February 2013.

I was revisiting this tip today and found I had only attached one image due to internet limitations in Luang Prabang, so I have added a few more now. Isn't it amazing there is always something more to do on your VT pages? I should add that after I wrote this tip, I used to visit here regularly and became very friendly with the staff and the ownders family, some of whom are seen in one of the images. The two young ladies on the extreme left and right were two of the delightful waitresses there and both were studying at the local teacher training college, funding their studies by waitressing which seems to be a common practice here. After my efforts in Big Brother Mouse I used to drop in here for a coffee and invariably ended up giving impromptu English lessons. I really hope I did not hinder the poor girls studies too much.

Favorite Dish: The "Set 1" barbecue as detailed above.

I've eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner here during my time in Luang Prabang. Always delicious. But even more than the food is the dramatic riverfront scenery and beautiful wooden building and furniture. Yet in all this luxury there is a certain homeyness that makes you want to stay long after you've eaten. The staff are competent and sincerely friendly. They have done an excellent job of becoming part of the ambiance that is Luang Prabang.

Favorite Dish: Breakfast = Superbowl. A large serving of about 10 kinds of fruit topped with homemade yogurt and the best granola (muesli) ever tasted. Anywhere.

Lunch = Fried rice with a coconut milk mango shake. Or for my western cravings, a cheeseburger or a tuna melt on a whole wheat bagel. It's suppose to be on toast, but they put it on a bagel for me - at no extra charge!

Dinner = Laap, eggplant, stir-fried mixed veggies and sticky rice. Or maybe another cheeseburger.

They have the full menu descriptions, prices and photos on their website.

The House Restaurant in Luang Prabang, Laos is simply the best food for the price. Friendly staff, beautiful garden seating and a great beer selection. A must go!

Favorite Dish: Kebab, Steak and Beef Stew hits the spot every time.

This is a really small local hangout tucked away next to the old bridge in Luang Prabang. Run by a young couple (Loulou and Vanphaeng) its a great place to meet the locals and have some great food. No menu, no restaurant name sign but easy to find next to the river. Just ask for whats good on the night (usually duck or pork etc) and of course the ice cold Beer Lao!

Favorite Dish: BBQ Duck is a must try! Not sure what they marinate it in before grilling it but its wonderful. The pork is great as well. Ask for vegetables and sticky rice as a side dish.

While at the night handicraft market you may come across an alleyway on the Mekhong side that is lined with many stalls where you can eat. Halfway down on the right hand-side there are 2 vegetarian stalls with perhaps a selection of 20 different foods to choose from. Grab a plate and load it up with the selections you choose, this will cost 10,000 kip and will be well worth it.

Try taking your breakfast at one of the restaurants by the Mekhong where you can idle over your meal and watch the activities on the river. Many boats will be jamming the tourists in for trips upriver and other will be crossing to the other side. There are many restaurants at the side of the river, we tried a few, they were all reasonably priced and the food was fine

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When strolling around the night market you will come across a few hawkers selling baguettes stuffed with ham, cheese, veg, eggs, tuna or just about anything you desire. These are probably the best baguettes in the whole of Laos, and very filling too!! Also purchase a fresh fruit shake from some of the other stands, the fruit is already cut up and placed in plastic cups so you can have the shake of your choice. Recommend the dragon fruit shake. Baguettes start at around 10,000 and shakes are 5,000