Places to Eat in Vientiane
The eating scene in Vientiane is a thriving one. New restaurants are mushrooming and you are never short of choices. Street food, flavoursome as all around the country, is a great way to get initiated with local culinary traditions.
Street Food
If you want something affordable and quick, then Vientiane street food is on point. Head to the Ban Anou Night Market located along the Khoun Boulom road. At first, the whole place might seem rather small and cramped, but never mind – the number of stalls is more than enough. We would recommend tasting a steaming bowl of sticky rice (khao niaw) – which is one of Lao’s beloved dishes. Simple but delicious.
Along Lane Xang, the largest boulevard in Vientiane, which starts from the Presidential Palace and goes all way long to Pha That Luang, there is a variety of street food stalls and street restaurants. Make sure you try the laap – a traditional dish that is pretty much a spicy meat salad consisting of chicken, pork, duck or fish. You can choose the vegetarian version of it if you please, made with mushrooms and tofu.
Local Food
Whenever we travel to a new place, we enjoy trying out local dishes. We think that this is a part of a complete traveling experience. Some of the delicious dishes to try are traditional noodle soup, richly aromatic curries, grilled fish, eggplant dip, and spicy sausages. Once you have a look at the menu, you’ll find it difficult to choose.
Tamnak Lao (23 Singha Road) supplies authentic and delicious Lao cuisine dishes in a refurbished colonial house. If you have no ideas on what to order, a good option would be the six-course tasting menu which comprises classic Lao dishes such as sun-dried beef, Mekong fish, spicy seafood salads, and others. After it you can claim you have an idea of what Lao food is like!
Another excellent restaurant, a bit on a pricey side though, is Amphone (Setthathirath Rd). Enjoy traditional Lao meals in an elegant setting. Do not leave them without tasting their eggplant dip, curries, and laap.
Western and International Food
If you’re not up to trying local dishes, there are plenty of international choices as well. No wonder that Vientiane presents some terrific options for French specialties and (surprise!) Italian food. Bistro 22 (Samsenthai Rd, 500m from Lane Xang) is a go-to for meat lovers: the 2 lbs. steak meal or rack of lamb will make your evening.
L’Adresse de Tinay (follow a small lane just south of Wat Ong Teu) has earned its right to be listed among the very best French eating places in Vietiane. Best choice is the delicious three-course menu for LAK80,000/USD10 (lunch) or LAK160,000/USD20(dinner).
If you feel like taking a pizza, we recommend to consider Ai Capone (Francois Ngin Rd): the wood-oven pizza is mouthwatering. The restaurant is run by the Italian chef so be prepared for an authentic Italian meal!
Cafes and Coffee Houses
If not synonymous to the world class coffee, Vientiane is definitely one of the places in Asia where you can have your caffeine fix. Good-tasting coffee (well, French baguettes, too, and these two pair so well!) is ubiquitous in Vientiane. Many local shops use coffee beans that are grown in Laos, mostly in Bolaven Plateau, what makes the entire experience even better. Here are a couple of our favourites but do not hesitate to explore more!
Benoni Café is a popular meeting point for coffee and lunch. Its convenient location is a major plus; also, the menu presents some nice choices. The morning croissants will pamper your taste buds. Coffee and fresh juice go for about USD2 (LAK16,000). The service might be slow now and then (depending on your luck), but if you stick around, you’ll be happy you did so. Look for it in Setthathirath Rd (part of Phimphone Market, beside Joma Bakery Cafe).
Another cosy and attractive coffee house cum internet shop, Café Nomad, offers to their customers computers to use free of charge. It’s an excellent spot for breakfast and lunch, and it has a mixture of traditional Italian and local dishes. The Bulgogi beef Panini is to die for: if you get hungry and need something more substantial than a cup of coffee, go for panini. Located in Ban Dongpalanthong, 70m from the Thai Consulate (what actually adds more points to it!).
Want a coffee shop which meets the highest requirements of an avid coffee lover? Try Naked Espresso. Choose your favourite from their long list of various coffees or ask them create a latte for you following your own instructions. We’re fans of the angel man and tulip models. Beside coffee, the menu presents a bunch of decent choices for fresh food, too: sandwiches, eggs, salads or pasta. Manthatourath St, southern end close to Quai Fa Ngum.
