Luang Namtha Laos – Best Places to Eat

Though Luang Namtha has several decent addresses serving western food, to get the real taste of the place go for Lao cuisine. Spicy, flavoursome and full of local herbs, it is healthy, cheap and delicious.

Street Food and Markets

The central night market is by far the place to go if you have only one night to spend in Luang Namtha. The market is open every day from around 5.00pm and although there are a few souvenir and local products shops, the main thing is absolutely the food. Expect a large choice of local, authentic and cheap Lao food in a genuine atmosphere with lots of friendly locals willing to make a chin-chin and share a cold Beer Lao with you.

Everything is cheap with prices starting at LAK5000 for small snacks and ranging between LAK10000 and LAK15000 for main dishes. The market closes quite early during the rainy season while in dry season it stays open until 11.00pm, making a good spot to hang out even after dinner. Long tables in the covered area have enough seats to accommodate everyone.

What to Eat

Traditional spring rolls are everyone’s favourite snack, while spicy noodle soup will set your mouth on fire. Fried bamboo fritters filled with pork or chicken are delicious and are absolutely ok even for those who don’t appreciate spicy food. Roasted eggplants are a great choice not only for vegetarians. Everything tastes better accompanied with sticky rice – feel free to use your hands; expect weird looks if you use spoon or fork to eat it.

There are some exotic dishes that can be challenging for some. A little snail salad or deep fried grasshoppers are just an example of some of local specialties which may look strange for a Westerner.

Local Restaurants

If you feel like eating in a comfortable and quiet atmosphere, don’t miss Lai’s Place, a small charming restaurant just off the main road in the south of town. The owners are a Tai Dam family, extremely friendly and caring about the customers. A locals’ favourite, Lai’s Place has become exceedingly popular among tourists because of their fantastic (considering you’re in Laos) burgers. But in our opinion the reason to go there is not the Western food, but the delicious, authentic and cheap Lao and Thai menu.

Spring rolls in peanuts sauce, Northern Lao noodles, fried rice, pad thai, Thai curries, sticky rice pancakes are just some of the choices available. If you don’t know what to order, ask Lai for recommendations, and she will suggest for you something surprisingly tasty and cooked with seasonal fresh ingredients. One of the guys working there speaks sufficient English to make the ordering process smooth and simple. Several vegan and vegetarian options are also available. Prices are affordable with almost everything coming for less than LAK20,000.

Western and International Food

Not only one of the most popular guesthouses in Luang Namtha, Zuela Guesthouse (to the west of the main road, close to the night market) is also a great spot to have dinner, grab a beer and socialize with fellow travellers. The huge English menu features Lao and Western food, and both options are equally tasty and cheap. The staff speak good English and the service is extremely fast – quite a rarity in Laos!

Try the laab to get a taste of one of the Lao specialties. It is a minced meat salad with spices and ground toasted rice. It usually comes really spicy and fresh vegetables and sticky rice is served on the side to help you soften the flavour. The majority of the Lao dishes will come for LAK20,000 while western food is slightly more expensive. If travelling by your own, get a bottle of Beer Lao, everyone’s favourite in South East Asia, and take a seat at one of the large tables in the outdoor section. It will be a matter of minutes before you’ll find new friends to have dinner with.