Good to know
Good to Know
- Vientiane's street food markets—Talat Sao (morning market), Khua Din Market (morning), and Ban Anou Night Market—offer authentic, affordable, and fresh local cuisine at $1–$5 per meal.
- Sticky rice is a staple accompaniment to nearly all traditional Lao meals and is central to dining culture.
- Many restaurants, particularly mid-range ones, can customize spice levels upon request—ideal for those sensitive to heat.
- Padaek (fermented fish sauce) is a key ingredient in Lao cuisine and gives dishes a distinctive umami flavor; it's polarizing to newcomers but central to authentic taste.
- FoodPanda and Shopping-D offer reliable delivery if you prefer eating in your accommodation; Shopping-D specializes in groceries with flexible scheduling.
- French colonial influence is visible in the dining scene, particularly in fine dining and bakeries, reflecting Laos' historical ties.
- Vientiane's vegan and vegetarian scene is surprisingly robust, with multiple dedicated venues and affordable options, especially the Buddhist-run buffets at Vegetarian Master Ruma.
- Many local markets and street stalls operate early morning (5–8 am) and evening hours; central riverside areas and night markets cater to tourists and expats.
- Rimping and Viewmall supermarkets are best for imported or specialty items but expect higher prices; local markets and corner shops offer better value for fresh produce.
Supermarkets
Rimping Supermarket
- Neighborhood
- Central location (multiple branches)
- Description
- Large supermarket with extensive selection including bakery, meat and seafood counters, delicious ready meals, products from Laos, Thailand, and worldwide imports. Clean, spacious, friendly staff. On the pricier side for Vientiane.
Viewmall Supermarket
- Neighborhood
- Central Vientiane
- Description
- Premium destination for fresh, high-quality groceries. Hand-selected fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, and imported goods. Two branches including Main Branch and Phonsinuan Branch.
D Mart (Dongpalan)
- Neighborhood
- Dongpalan District
- Description
- Large home store offering groceries, dry foods, frozen meats, office supplies, home organization items, cleaning materials, good selection at competitive prices.
Mini Big C
- Neighborhood
- Multiple locations in Vientiane
- Description
- Widely represented chain for groceries and necessities. Many products imported from Thailand at slightly higher prices.
K-Mart
- Neighborhood
- Various locations
- Description
- Supermarket chain offering basic groceries and household items.
Parkson Supermarket
- Neighborhood
- Central Vientiane
- Description
- Supermarket accessible via FoodPanda for online grocery shopping and delivery.
Budget
Khao Gee Mae Sab
- Price Range
- LAK 25,000
- Neighborhood
- City Center
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Lao baguette sandwiches (Khao Jee Pa Tay)
Ban Anou Night Market
- Price Range
- LAK 30,000
- Neighborhood
- Riverfront/City Center
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Grilled meat skewers, sticky rice, street food
Pho Zap
- Price Range
- LAK 25,000
- Neighborhood
- City Center
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Vietnamese pho noodle soup
Chinatown Local Eatery (Niem Niuang)
- Price Range
- LAK 35,000
- Neighborhood
- Chinatown
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Barbecued meatballs, spring rolls
High End
Kualao Restaurant
- Price Range
- LAK 250,000
- Neighborhood
- Rue Samsenthai/City Center
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Upscale Lao cuisine, papaya salad, fried Mekong fish, with live cultural performances
Villa Opera
- Price Range
- LAK 300,000
- Neighborhood
- Rue Panya Sri
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fine Italian cuisine, handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, extensive wine selection
L'Adresse – Cuisine by Tinay
- Price Range
- LAK 280,000
- Neighborhood
- Behind Wat Ong Teu/City Center
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Authentic French fine dining, duck cassoulet, foie gras preparations
3 Merchants
- Price Range
- LAK 320,000
- Neighborhood
- Crowne Plaza Hotel/City Center
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Southeast Asian fusion, Indochine cuisine with modern twist
Mid Range
Lao Kitchen
- Price Range
- LAK 180,000
- Neighborhood
- Baan Anou/Rue Hengboun
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Authentic Lao cuisine, grilled Mekong fish, bamboo shoot stew
Soukvimarn Original Lao Foods
- Price Range
- LAK 100,000
- Neighborhood
- Chanthabouly District
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Lao dishes, khao piak sen, mok lao, sausage
Khop Chai Deu
- Price Range
- LAK 120,000
- Neighborhood
- Nam Phou/City Center
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Lao and international dishes, pizza, vegetarian options
Bor Pen Nyang
- Price Range
- LAK 150,000
- Neighborhood
- Quai Fa Ngum/Riverfront
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Lao-style BBQ, larb, seafood soup, riverside setting
Delivery Services
FoodPanda
- Description
- Food delivery app with wide restaurant and supermarket selection in Vientiane
Shopping-D
- Description
- Lao online supermarket offering same-day delivery of fresh produce, meat, seafood, and pantry staples with flexible scheduling
Michelin Restaurants
- Reason
- Laos does not have Michelin restaurant ratings or guide coverage
Local Must Try Dishes
Laap (Larb)
- Description
- Laos' national dish—a tangy minced meat salad made with various proteins (chicken, beef, pork, duck, or fish), lime juice, fermented fish sauce (padaek), fresh herbs including mint and cilantro, and typically served with sticky rice. Often customizable for spice level.
Khao Piak Sen
- Description
- Thick rice noodle soup in savory broth, fortified with pork, herbs, roasted chili with pork crackling, and sometimes blood jelly. A comfort food staple throughout Vientiane.
Khao Jee Pa Tay (Lao Baguette)
- Description
- French colonial-era baguette sandwich filled with house-made pâté, spring onion, coriander, pickled vegetables, and sometimes sausage or egg. A light but satisfying lunch on the move.
Sai Oua
- Description
- Traditional Lao sausage made with minced pork mixed with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and chili, cooked over charcoal until golden, cut into bite-sized pieces and served with sticky rice and dipping sauces.
Mok Pa
- Description
- Fish steamed in banana leaves, seasoned with lemongrass, kaffir lime, and herbs, served with sticky rice. Showcases traditional Lao cooking techniques.
Jaew
- Description
- Laotian chili dip made with grilled vegetables, chili peppers, sometimes fermented fish (padaek), garlic, and lime. Enjoyed with sticky rice or vegetables.
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Description
- Vientiane has a growing vegan and vegetarian dining scene with dedicated restaurants and animal-welfare-inspired eateries. Plant-based eating is accommodated across multiple cuisines.
Venues
Vegan Reunion Cafe
- Neighborhood
- City Center
- Description
- Only strictly 100% vegan cafe in Vientiane offering extensive menu of Vietnamese, Thai, and Lao dishes with mock meats. Open later than most restaurants, very affordable, family-owned with on-site grocery store for vegan products.
Coco & Co
- Neighborhood
- Namphou/Rue Setthathilath
- Description
- Popular Western-style vegan cafe in central Namphou. Instagram-friendly dishes including avocado toast, quinoa salads, vegan brownies, pancakes, and plant-based lattes. Menu rotates frequently. Great for digital nomads with WiFi and outdoor seating.
Vegetarian Master Ruma
- Neighborhood
- Central Vientiane
- Description
- Run by Vietnamese nuns as part of Buddhist practice, offering an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet Monday–Friday with rotating dishes (stir-fried veggies, tofu balls, curries, pad thai). Approximately 45,000–80,000 LAK ($2–$4 USD). Extensive on-site vegan produce shop.
Vegetarian In The Golden Age
- Neighborhood
- Hatsadi Saylom Road, Chanthabouly
- Description
- Vietnamese all-you-can-eat buffet with vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes including fresh stir-fried vegetables, marinated tofu, braised mushrooms, curries, and pad thai. Most items vegan but check dairy/egg content.
Le Plateau Cafe
- Neighborhood
- Central Vientiane
- Description
- Beautiful cafe with vegan-friendly dishes including a veggie bowl with roasted squash, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and pomegranates.
International And Other Cuisines
Pimenton Open Fire Steakhouse
- Cuisine Type
- Spanish/Steakhouse fine dining
- Notes
- Premium beef from New Zealand and Canada, Kobe sirloin steaks, extensive tapas menu with grilled sausages, octopus carpaccio, fried calamari. Business lunch available.
That Dam Wine House
- Cuisine Type
- Laotian and European fusion with wine focus
- Notes
- Overlooking the illuminated That Dam black stupa, extensive international wine cellar, Laotian and European dishes.
Tyson Kitchen
- Cuisine Type
- American, Canadian, pizza
- Notes
- Pizza lovers' spot with friendly staff, burgers, vegetarian options.
Xang Khoo
- Cuisine Type
- Lao with French twist
- Notes
- Traditional Lao restaurant featuring duck-based dishes, crepes, pizza, excellent wine and cheese selection.
Kong View
- Cuisine Type
- Laotian, Thai, and European fusion
- Notes
- Mekong riverside location with traditional Laotian-style decorations, indoor and outdoor garden seating, live singers.
Halal Dining
- Reason
- No widely documented halal dining venues identified for Vientiane
Gluten Free Dining
- Reason
- Gluten-free dining not systematically documented as a recognized accommodation in Vientiane restaurants; however, many rice-based Lao dishes and markets may naturally accommodate this diet
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Vientiane
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.