Many tourists want to enjoy some fresh seafood in Vientiane. That’s totally understandable, since fish, shrimp, crabs, lobster, and shellfish are very tasty and not everyone has access to it in their home countries. Vientiane may be landlocked, but due to the Mekong, a very large river, there are some freshwater fish species. Most seafood in Vientiane is served in traditional Laotian restaurants, but there are also some high-class French bistros. Not to mention that the restaurants are not your only option to enjoy some seafood.
Where to find seafood in Vientiane
Even Vientiane isn‘t a coastal area, there are plenty of options to enjoy seafood in Vientiane. That’s not surprising, since there are many wealthy Laotians in the capital and they often prefer more premium seafood over a local rice or noodle dish. Let’s take a look at some of these options.
Buy seafood from one of the markets
Do you see the picture above? That’s a market or more specifically an open-air shop that specializes in selling all kinds of seafood. Their offer ranges from fresh catch to frozen products. You can buy crabs, fish, shrimp, and many other seafood options. While this is more interesting for expats or locals, there are also some tourists that shop here. If you’re renting an apartment or a place with a kitchen, it’s a great option, provided you know how to prepare seafood properly. The prices obviously are going to be much less than what you’d pay at a restaurant. Bigger seafood stores aren’t that common, but they definitely exist. The one mentioned is located near Pha That Luang. Just show someone the picture, and they’ll point you in the right direction.
Eat seafood in one of the restaurants
The most obvious option is to visit different restaurants. Especially the places near the Mekong often sell fresh fish and seafood. There are also bars and similar places that offer seafood. The prices vary greatly, and so does the quality of the dishes served. Don’t forget that some of the dishes can be really spicy. Therefore, it can’t hurt to ask for the level of spiciness beforehand.
Eat seafood on the street
If you don’t want to cook some seafood by yourself or visit a restaurant, you can always try street food at various spots like the Vientiane Night Market. Grilled fried squid is commonly sold on the streets and the same goes for grilled fish. Additionally, dried fish is a popular snack. Many locals enjoy it with beer.
The best seafood restaurants in Vientiane
There are plenty of restaurants in Vientiane that offer seafood or specialized seafood dishes. Not all of them are fine dining. Some are more casual bars, others offer an all-you-can-eat buffet. We show you the best options, so you can choose one that fits your preferences.
Name | Opening times | Popularity | Must-try dish | Price | Location |
ບຸບເຟ້ທະເລລາວ Buffet Lao Seafood | 09:00-21:30 daily | medium | barbecued shrimp with mussels | cheap | |
Moon the Night Restaurant | 11:30-23:30 daily | popular | lobster with tamarind sauce | relatively high | |
Day&Nite Restaurant | 17:00-00:00 daily, Sunday closed | popular | steamed crab with lemongrass and ginger | average priced | |
Doi Ka Noi Restaurant | 11:00-21:00 on weekends | very popular | grilled fish with herbs and spices | relatively high | |
Kong View | 16:30-23:30, | popular | steamed fish wrapped in banana leaves | high | |
Sawan House Restaurant | monday 9:00-17:00 tuesday 09:00-20:30 other days 09:00-21:00, closed on Sunday | popular | spicy salad with shrimp | relatively high |
ບຸບເຟ້ທະເລລາວ Buffet Lao Seafood
Not as popular as the other seafood restaurants in our list. Still not a bad option, since the prices for the buffet are really affordable. If you just want to enjoy a lot of seafood, without having to pay high prices, you can’t do anything wrong with the Buffet Lao Seafood. In addition to seafood, there are also plenty of meat choices. You can grill or steam them.
Moon the Night Restaurant
What stands out is the huge outdoor area and the great selection. There are plenty of seafood dishes, even crab, lobster, and other fancy options. The Moon the Night Restaurant might not be the most expensive seafood restaurant in Vientiane, but it’s definitely one of the more pricey ones. The restaurant is often used for special events like business meetings.
Day&Nite Restaurant
Technically, the Day&Nite Restaurant is not a typical restaurant. Not because it doesn’t offer a lot of dishes – it totally does – but its atmosphere reminds more of casual bars. There are plenty of bar girls serving customers throughout the evening. Even if you’re not interested in the nightlife scene, the restaurant isn’t a bad choice. They have plenty of seafood options on the menu. One big plus is that it stays open until midnight. Most seafood restaurants in Vientiane close way earlier.
Doi Ka Noi Restaurant
The Doi Ka Noi Restaurant is without doubt one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Laos. Unfortunately, it’s only open on the weekends, so plan accordingly. If you happen to be in Vientiane during that time, you shouldn’t miss it, even if you don’t like seafood. Doi Ka Noi offers plenty of traditional Laotian dishes at a very high quality. It’s a must-visit for any fish lover.
Kong View
From all the restaurants on our list, the Kong View is the most expensive one. It’s one of the few fine dining establishments in the capital and immensely popular among the wealthy locals. It attracts regular locals or tourists looking for an upscale experience. If you want to eat at the Kong View, you’ll need a reservation. Just call a few hours in advance and you should be fine. Although it’s a fine dining location, you don’t have to worry about the portion sizes. They‘re pretty good. If you don’t want to spend too much, you can also order some affordable pad thai with shrimp or similar dishes.
Sawan House Restaurant
One of the major highlights of Sawan House Restaurant is the great variety of cheap classics like spicy salad and more expensive seafood dishes like grilled lobster. The restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere. Apart from seafood, we also recommend the desserts. They’re a great way to end the meal.
Where does the seafood in Vientiane come from?
Despite being near the Mekong River, some of the seafood obviously comes from elsewhere. The reason for that is simple: the Mekong alone cannot meet the demand in the city. That means that a lot of seafood in Vientiane is imported, especially from Thailand. Another important source are aquaculture farms. They’re used for popular seafood like shrimp.
Is the seafood in Vientiane expensive?
If the seafood is expensive or not, totally depends on where you’re from. If you’re from a Western country, you’re definitely used to pay way more than what you’re going to pay in Vientiane. Still, Laos is more expensive than Thailand and some other neighboring countries. That doesn’t mean you cannot eat cheap seafood. If you want to eat some nice dishes for little money, just go for street food. In bars or restaurants you‘ll have to pay way more.