As in other cities in Laos, you’ll find enough food in Luang Prabang. In addition to street food, many restaurants cater to the needs of tourists. It’s totally up to you if you want to eat Lao food or Western food. There are also some other cuisines but be warned because not all of them are very authentic. So let’s take a look at some of your options.
Asian food
Unsurprisingly, Luang Prabang offers mostly Asian food. Especially Lao and Thai dishes are everywhere, but you’ll also find Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese food. We recommend trying the pad thai here since it has a very unique taste.
Western food
Like in every more touristic city you’ll find enough Western food. For example, there are burgers, fries, spaghetti,
and steak. Of course, you’ll also many baguette shops here, but unlike in Vang Vieng and Vientiane, most aren’t as authentic. That’s because many baguette shops you’re going to see cater to tourists and not to locals. You may like them tho. There are many options.
Vegetarian and vegan food
We were surprised by how much vegetarian and vegan food Luang Prabang has to offer. You’ll even find a buffet at the night market. So if you don’t eat animal products or meat you’ll still have enough options. No need to starve!
Other cuisines
As a touristic city, Luang Prabang has to offer some other cuisines too. That’s the case and, among others, you’ll find some Indian restaurants. Well, we have to disappoint you, because the Indian restaurants in Luang Prabang aren’t as good as those in Vang Vieng or Vientiane. The taste actually isn’t bad and they’re cheaper, but the food isn’t as authentic. One example: Instead of the traditional Indian cheese Paneer they’ll serve you tofu. For us, that’s a no-go, but they might not have many options due to high import costs. After all, Luang Prabang is in the middle of the mountains and not easily accessible.
What does the food in Luang Prabang cost?
How much you’re going to spend on food, strongly depends on your choices. If you mostly eat Lao dishes, especially at street stalls, even in the city center you won’t have to pay much. That also applies to most restaurants with Lao food, since only the very touristic ones are pricey and those usually also offer Western food. That said you’ll have to pay more for dishes of other cuisines like Indian, Italian or Vietnamese. There are a few exceptions tho: Western dishes like burgers are usually cheap too since even in Laos they’re common as fast food.