Laos Food Hunt: Missing the Cheap Yummy Food of Thailand

If you’re from the Philippines traveling around Southeast Asia, it’s so easy to compare food costs. Well, me and my buddy weren’t actually in pursuit of the cheapest foodstuff. We’re in search for the best value for our very little money because quality not necessarily comes with a hefty price. To cut it, I missed Thai food when we were in Laos.

It was three weeks of noodle soup, sticky rice, grilled chicken/sausage and Beer Lao. The saving grace was the beer. We explored the towns of Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Pakse and Vientiane and every time, we get the same sad feeling after eating; we’re not satisfied and happy. The least of my favorite food places during our backpacking trip around Southeast Asia.

I could blame it on our tight budget but no, there’s nothing special in Laotian food, if I could be blunt about it. That’s why we find it pricey, I guess, compared to Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand where a dollar can go a long yummy way. Moving on, here’s a rundown of what we had in Laos (check here for discounted tours, transportation and activities in Luang Prabang).

Luang Prabang

Fried spring rolls - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62)

Grilled Pork - 10,000 Kip (US$ 1.24)

Grilled sausage - 10,000 Kip (US$ 1.24)
Sticky Rice - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62)

Champasak

Iced coffee - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62)

Rice dish with 3 viands - 15,000 Kip (US$ 1.86)

Grilled sausage - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62)
Grilled liver - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62)
Crispy pork rind - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62)
Sticky Rice - 2,000 Kip (US$ 0.25)

Khao soy | Noodle soup - 15,000 Kip (US$ 1.86)

Assorted balls - 12,000 Kip (US$ 1.49)Sticky Rice - 2,000 Kip (US$ 0.25)
Surprisingly, we loved this.

Vientiane

Fried Chicken - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62) each
Grilled sausage - 3,000 Kip (US$ 0.37)
Sticky Rice - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62)

Beef rice dish - 20,000 Kip (US$ 2.48)

Grilled chicken - 15,000 Kip (US$ 1.86)

Fried Rice - 20,000 Kip (US$ 2.48)

Grilled banana with coconut shavings - 5,000 Kip (US$ 0.62)

20,000 Kip Buffet in Vientiane
Working Buffet
Barn Hatsady, Saylom Road, Vientiane, Laos
Contact Number: (+856) 20.55.705.795
Open Hours: Mondays to Fridays | 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Facebook Page

Next time, we’d bring more moolah to spare on food when traveling to Laos. But I'm still missing Thai food. Those cheap superb street food.

---