7 Places to Eat in Luang Prabang, Laos

POST UPDATED December 2022

One of my favorite things to do in Luang Prabang is eat. Luang Prabang was once under French rule which has left some impact on the food – especially the bread. There are 7 places to eat in Luang Prabang that really stood out to us and had us coming back again and again. We found a great mix of western indulgences and delicious local fare. Here are our top 7 places to eat in Luang Prabang.

JOMA

JOMA describes themselves as a “slice of North American cafe culture in Southeast Asia” and they’re absolutely spot on with that. In addition to their coffee scene they have amazing sweets like their cinnamon buns + amazing strawberry milkshakes. Plus, their food is absolutely delicious as well. Matt and I loved every sandwich we had there. Also, their hummus platter was super delicious and makes for a perfect snack. Another thing we love about JOMA is their passion for sustainability and giving back to local communities. You can find JOMA in Vientiane, Hanoi and Phnom Penh as well.

BAMBOO GARDEN

We happened to stumble upon this awesome little restaurant because we happened to be staying down the road at a guesthouse. They have the best chicken fried rice and veggie fried rice that I’ve ever had. It’s owned by a local family and we quickly became regulars here during our three-week stay. Their portions are huge and two people could easily split one plate.

SAFFRON COFFEE

Saffron is my preference for all things coffee. Although JOMA’s coffee is good, I think that Saffron’s is great. Like JOMA, they also have food and sweets as well. This was my favorite place to get a beautiful + delicious breakfast. Matt always got their breakfast bagel, but I was all about their Gingerbread pancakes with ice-cream, bananas and chocolate syrup. Sounds like a strange combo, but it totally works. It’s super indulgent and absolutely wonderful. Plus, the atmosphere is pretty wonderful. 
Want to learn more about their coffee? Check out my post on their coffee tour here. 

NIGHT MARKET VEGETARIAN BUFFET

I’ve heard mixed reviews of this place, but I have to say that I’m obsessed with it! The night market is filled with lots of different food options, but my favorite is the vegetarian buffet. It’s full of awesome vegetarian dishes including several noodle options! We came back here a couple of times to stuff our faces for less than $2. That’s right, you get to fill a bowl as full as you can for less than $2 – it’s perfect to split with someone if you can.

AMIGOS – Temporarily Closed

Amigos was a godsend for my Mexican-food-loving husband and my ques0-loving-self. Although, it isn’t exactly Mexican food like you’d get in Mexico or even southern California or Texas, it’s still delicious. You are, after all, in Laos. This restaurant is owned by the sweetest Laos + Canadian couple who were both very personable and passionate about helping people experience Laos. There are two locations: this one and one in Vang Vieng and both are awesome. Our favorites here were the pork enchilada and the queso. Oh, and the sweet tea is unreal if you have sweet tea cravings the way I do.
As of Dec. 2022, Amigos is temporarily closed. I’ve sent a Facebook message asking if/when they plan to reopen and will update this when I get a response.

UTOPIA – Temporarily Closed

Utopia is a favorite hangout for backpackers. They have one of the coolest locations, including a bamboo deck that overlooks the Nam Kahn. With a motto of ‘Zen by day, Groovy by night‘ you can’t go wrong. They have local dishes, western dishes, drinks, smoothies and even pizza! You can come by for everything from sand volleyball in the morning to candlelit dinner + drinks on cushions to great music.
As of Dec. 2022, Utopia is temporarily closed. I’ve sent a Facebook message asking if/when they plan to reopen and will update this when I get a response.

NHAMKONG CAFE – Permanently Closed

This was recommended by our sweet friend, Mira, who we met up with for breakfast one day. It’s quaint, totally delicious and has a local cafe feel for sure. It sits very near the Mekong river and the walls are open, so it’s a great location. It is a much more humble location, but their food is fantastic. They had the super-sweet iced coffee that Southeast Asia is known for and their bagel breakfast sandwich was superb.
Unfortunately, this restaurant was a casualty to 2020.

Booking.com

This is just 7 places to eat in Luang Prabang, there are even more options! We had so much fun finding local favorites. Have you been to Luang Prabang? Which eateries + cafes were your favorites? 

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