Laos: Three Weeks of the Best Plant-Based Eats
Laos was an unexpectedly magical place that captivated me from the very beginning. The scenery is beyond incredible, as you can see in the photos on my blog post about visiting Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoy here.
In addition to the landscapes and the incredibly kind people, the food really blew me away. In this post, I’ll be sharing with you my top food spots with the best plant-based options from across Northern Laos.
Two Little Birds Cafe, Luang Prabang
Location: Kingkitsalat Rd., Luang Prabang
Recommended Dishes: Any of the smoothie bowls, Larp Lettuce Wraps, & the Pad Lao
Price Per Dish: $60,000 - $70,000 Kip or $2.80 - $3.20 USD
I ate breakfast here every day of the week that I was staying in Luang Prabang. Their smoothie bowls are simply delicious. I highly recommend either the Pink Bowl or the Tropical Bowl. For lunch, I was also able to try almost everything on the vegan portion of their menu, and I have to say the Larp Lettuce Wraps (pictured on the right) were to die for, and their Pad Lao was amazing. Larp is the national fish of Laos and usually consists of minced meat mixed with tons of fresh herbs, onion, and lime. Their version was made from tofu, and I can’t recommend it enough.
All of their food was seasoned so well and priced so reasonably.
Vegetarian & Vegan Buffet, Luang Prabang Night Market
Location: The Luang Prabang Night Market
Recommended Dishes: Fill up on whatever looks good to you!
Price Per Dish: $50,000 Kip or $2.30 USD to load to your plate up
As I ate breakfast at Two Little Birds every day, I also had dinner at this buffet each night.
The man running the stall at Luang Prabang’s famous and lively night food market was lovely, and his food was delicious each day. As you can see pictured left, he offers a range of noodles, veggies, and tofu dishes to choose from.
Just load up your plate and enjoy!
Top Tip: Right next to his stall on the right side, there is a Chinese food stall that makes the most delicious red bean baos that you can snag for dessert for $10,000 kip or $0.46 USD each.
Kaiphaen, Luang Prabang
Location: 59 Xatikhoumman Road, Luang Prabang
Recommended Dishes: The Green Curry with Steamed Rice, Smoothies
Price Per Dish: $56,000 Kip or $2.60 USD
Firstly, this restaurant had amazing ambiance. An oasis from the hot streets of Luang Prabang, you could spend an afternoon here sipping on tea or coffee and reading a book or journaling.
As for the food, they offer a short menu with 2 or 3 plant-based options along with the rest of their menu. Based on the reviews, I tried the green curry with steamed rice, and it was delicious and recommendable.
The owners of this restaurant also run a charity that teaches local youth to cook, which is such a wonderful cause.
Come in here to escape the heat of the day and enjoy what feels like a 5-star meal for under $3.00; you won’t regret it!
Véla Cafe and Restaurant, Vang Vieng
Location: Middle Road, Vang Vieng
Recommended Dishes: Pad Kaphao, Lad Nah Sen Yai, Pad Lao, Pad See Ew, Summer Rolls, any of their smoothies
Price Per Dish: $60,000 Kip or $2.80 USD
This was another place I ate at almost every single day during my stay in Vang Vieng. This was one of my favourite restaurants during my entire trip to Laos, just because they have a whole vegetarian menu (be sure to say no egg!) and every single dish I tried was as good as the last. The portions are great, the smoothies are delicious, the ambiance is lovely, and the staff is very sweet.
The Pad Kaphao, which is stir-fried tofu with basil and rice, might be the top dish for flavor, followed by the thick noodles in the Lad Nah Sen Yai (pictured on the right).
Definitely stop by here to try their food, smoothies, and even their coffee - they serve soy milk!
Khappet Vegan, Vang Vieng
Location: Middle Road, Vang Vieng
Recommended Dishes: Larp Sandwich, Coconut Noodle Soup
Price Per Dish: $60,000 - $70,000 Kip or $2.80 - $3.20 USD
While in Vang Vieng, if I wasn’t eating at Véla, you could find me eating here. This is a truly special spot owned and operated by a husband and wife who have been vegan for many years.
Their portion sizes are HUGE, and their food is absolutely outstanding. Their larp sandwich, which I think was the size of my forearm, was truly an experience that must be had.
The wife-husband duo who run this place are also absolutely lovely. Having turned vegan for ethical reasons, they really put their heart and soul into their food.
Meanwhile, their coconut soup, which was also massive for one person, was the best I had while in Laos.
While I didn’t get to try their home-made burger, the owner was very adament that it was the best vegan burger ever made, so definitely something to keep in mind if you end up here.
Vegan Cafe Center, Vientiane
Location: Rue Samsenthai, Vientiane
Recommended Dishes: The Lunch Buffet!
Price Per Dish: $80,000 Kip or $3,70 for all you can eat plus unlimited green tea
I genuinely wish I could eat at this restaurant every single day for the rest of my life. I know it may sound dramatic, but this little vegan restaurant was a religious food experience for me.
The first night I came I ordered the Massaman Curry from their menu and it was the best curry I had had in my 6 weeks in both Thailand and Laos.
So, naturally, the next day I decided to come back for their all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. The owner had so many vegetables, tofu dishes, and unlimited rice to choose from.
The most delicious part of this buffet however, was the noodle, tofu and herb lettuce wraps you could make yourself with the most delicious sauce.
To top it all off there is an array of fruit, and a section of the buffet that served the beloved coconut jelly dessert with so many different jelly options to add to your coconut milk.
He also serves you unlimited green tea - which I think is the best green tea I’ve ever had.
If you are in Vientiane, this place is THE place to eat. You will also have the chance to meet the owner and chef, a sweet Laotian man name Pots who has been vegan for 28 years strong.
Vegan Reunion Cafe, Vientiane
Location: Vientiane
Recommended Dishes: Fried noodles with crispy chicken, wonton soup
Price Per Dish: $70,000 kip or $3.24 USD
Although simple, the meals I had at this restaurant were also delicious. I loved their mock crispy chicken, and their wonton soup gave me such nostalgia of my days living in China. They also have outdoor seating which was lovely.
In addition to their rather extensive menu, they sell to-go items such as baos, pre-made spring rolls, and soup in a baggie.
Overall highly recommend!
Vegetarian Master Ruma, Vientiane
Location: 0155 Hatxadi, Saylom Rd., Vientiane
Recommended Dishes: The Lunch Buffet!
Price Per Dish: $80,000 Kip or $3,70 for all you can eat plus unlimited green tea
This was the second all-you-can-eat buffet I tried in Vientiane. Although The Vegan Cafe Center takes my number one spot, this local lunch spot was also delicious. They had a wide variety of vegetables on offer, as well as different tofu dishes, and a special shout-out to their fresh spring rolls - I ate about 8!
Green tea is also free-flow here, which was lovely.
White Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant, Vientiane
Location: 4 Khun Bun Lom Rd., Vientiane
Recommended Dishes: Bhan Kung
Price Per Dish: $45,000 - $60,000 Kip or $2.10 - $2.80 USD
I ended up coming to this sweet little spot twice during my time in Vientiane, only to get their Bhan Kung. This dish is Vietnamese-inspired and I’d never seen it plant-based before. The texture of the soft rice paper wraps with the deliciously seasoned insides of various vegetables including mushrooms was just to die for.
In addition, the prices on this menu were probably the most affordable of the list. They also have a small store selling local products, all vegetarian.
