Great Meals on Offer in Luang Prabang, Laos

The outstanding food in Luang Prabang in Laos is one of the main reasons to take a detour. Laotian cuisine is paired with top-quality French-inspired cuisine to make this a gourmet’s paradise throughout Southeast Asia and among expats.

There is much more to Laotian food than rice and curry, as you will see when you visit the restaurants of Luang Prabang.

You might want to try one or two of the following restaurants for a taste of local flavours:

A laid-back and comfortable restaurant offering wholesome and hearty food and a friendly atmosphere. There are also dishes of water buffalo - a much more succulent meat in this part of the world than beef - venison, freshwater fish from the Mekong River and even turkey on display. It is best to serve the meal with a locally-produced rice wine or a glass of Beerlao, the country’s national beer, which is either spicy or mild.

It is also possible to sit and eat with locals at Paradise, another cozy and comfortable local restaurant in Luang Prabang. Located among the trees on the edge of town, it’s a picturesque spot to kick back with a cold Beerlao and enjoy some local delicacies like Mekong River squid fried up in a sweet & sour sauce or the popular aw laam - baked meat accompanied by green beans and aubergines.

One of Mr Hong’s favorite places to enjoy a bit of a local experience and mingling with Luang Prabang’s natives is Mr Hong’s, where he offers an incredible value for money menu that offers a variety of local dishes, including salads - both spicy and non-spicy - as well as vegetarian options and a lot of aubergine dishes. Later in the day, Mr Hong’s place transforms into a bar where visitors can kick back and enjoy the sunset with a strong cocktail.

It is also possible for vegetarians to find a variety of options in Luang Prabang. Travellers can usually find something appropriate to eat pretty easily and with the minimum of fuss since many Buddhists follow vegetarianism. Here are a few vegetarian restaurants in Luang Prabang city centre, but if you have trouble finding them, don’t hesitate to ask the staff at your hotel.

Probably the largest variety of vegetarian food in town can be found at Somchanh, which has been popular with vegetarians for some time.

A pretty yet relaxing restaurant, Naunenapha sets up its tables outdoors so that diners can enjoy the street scenes while they eat. Naunenapha is popular among backpackers because it offers local Laotian, Thai, and even western vegetarian food. It is also fairly affordable. In addition to offering high-quality vegetarian curries, the restaurant also allows people to bring their own freshly-baked bread from nearby bakeries.