Laos Food
in Pakse (Southern Laos)

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Photo Courtesy of Anna Lee (flickr.com)

"Where to eat and relax"

What's so special about Laos food?

The typical food in Laos' food culture, is sticky rice served in a basket. The best part is that you eat it with your hands. It can be weird digging your fingers into the basket, but once you've tried it, you can't stop! ;-)

Sticky rice is usually complemented with meat or fried/grilled fish, and some vegetables. It's a simple meal, but damn it tastes good!

Important ingredients in Laotian food are lemongrass, Lao fish sauce (padaek) and galangal.

Morning Market

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Laos food in Pakse

Morning market in town sell cheap fruits, vegetables, hot soups, barbequed chicken, sticky rice etc. And it's so cheap! Like, sticky rice with some grilled chicken cost about 7000 Kip!

And most importantly, fried banana cakes!!! I got a bag of those on my birthday (and a bottle of Lao whisky) Awh... I miss those!

Food Markets

Stop by the huge food market outside Pakse on your way to the Bolaven Plateau!

They have a vast variety of fresh fruit, meat, vegetables and so much more! It`s impossible to try everything (even if you want to), but you should at least have a go with their juicy papayas, sweet pineapple and lichee!

Average prices for meals: Up to 12.000 Kip (around 1 US dollar)

Noodle soups: 1000-2000 Kip

Beer Lao: 3000-4000 Kip

Soft drinks (Coke etc): 2000 Kip

Restaurants

There`s a small restaurant with a nice garden and outdoor seating area (I can`t remember the name…!) You can sit outside on wooden chairs, and have your morning coffee and breakfast. They also have Thai food and delicious fruit juices.

It`s located in a side street of Road 13, near Lankham Hotel.

Average price for meals: 1-3 US dollars

Jasmin Restaurant
& Where to get Indian food

Jasmin Indian restaurant is just across Lankham Hotel. It offers Indian and Malay dishes at reasonable prices.

Otherwise, Nazim Indian Restaurant (next to Phonosavan Hotel and Jasmin) can tempt you with mouth-running veggie samosas! Most meals cost between 10.000-20.000 Kip. Not bad huh?

Tour Lao

Tour Lao Cafe/Restaurant is located on Road 5 on the southern end of the market plaza, and serves excellent fried fish meals, burgers and fries. You can sit outside in a lovely setting and listen to a local music band, playing soft Lao music.

We went here for my birthday, and it was nice and awfully relaxing to just drink cold Lao beers while listening to their music.

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