Luang Prabang Travel Guide

Eating Out

Wander down the main street, Xiang Thong and you’ll find the bulk of the city’s most popular eating establishments with places offering local cuisine as well as food for those in need of a western fix. Sakkarine Road is another good area to start looking for somewhere to eat, while down at the Mekong River Shore, you can have a romantic early dinner and watch the sunset against a very scenic backdrop. There are plenty of other eateries scattered around the city and a walking tour combined with a willingness to try something different are what’s needed to eke out the more interesting establishments.

If it’s just a snack that you’re after, then both the day and night markets offer vendors who cook up some tasty little creations that are ideal for filling that empty spot in your stomach between meals. Again you need to be a little adventurous and take a risk on things if you are going to get a true taste for the local cuisine.

Must try dishes include the ever-popular noodle soup known as Pho, which is essentially a Vietnamese import that has made its way into every country in Southeast Asia. Typically the dish comes with beef, rice flour noodles, local green vegetables and a rich broth enhanced with the addition of fried garlic and coriander. Pho can be found pretty much everywhere in Luang Prabang and vegetarians will also find plenty of places offering a meat-free alternative; although should be sure to stipulate that meat broth is not used in places where English is understood.

Tam Mak Houng is another popular dish that visitors with a liking for spicy foods should consider trying. Essentially a salad made with raw papaya, this ubiquitous appetiser is akin to Thailand’s Som Tum and is made in a pestle and mortar with garlic, tomato, peanuts, fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, soy sauce and fresh chilli. Baguettes are also commonly available and are part of the legacy of the French colonialism of the 20th century. They are always fresh and generally eaten for breakfast with pate, another French creation, and washed down with a strong and sweet coffee.