When it comes to foreign food, Korean restaurants dominate. There are many more than even French restaurants. Considering that Laos was a former French colony, that’s remarkable. In general, really many Koreans seem to live in Laos. And not only in Vientiane, but also in most other big cities. If you like Korean food, you’ll definitely find a suitable restaurant. Of course, most Korean food in Vientiane comes from South Korea, but you even have the chance to try North Korean food. If you’re interested, just go to the Pyongyang Restaurant. Even you won’t find it on Google Maps (anymore), from what we know, it still exists.
Korean chicken
Korean chicken is unquestionably one of the best things Korean cuisine has to offer. At least in our opinion. Korean style fried chicken has a very unique taste. Of course, it also depends on the variety you choose. There’s something for every taste, including spicy and not spicy chicken. One thing we love about Korean chicken is its incredible crispyness. It’s a real pleasure to chew on the fried chicken skin. On our picture you can get an idea of what you can expect from the Korean chicken in Vientiane. The picture was taken at the K-CHICKEN, CHICKEN & HOF. We ordered two different varieties with fries. An order we didn’t regret. It’s definitely worth checking out this Korean chicken restaurant, but there are also some others. Just check our table below, to learn more about the Korean food in Vientiane.
Korean barbecue
You’ll find Korean barbecues everywhere in the world. Vientiane is no exception. Basically, you can assume that wherever there are Koreans, there are also Korean barbecue restaurants. Everything is grilled. From different meats to seafood actually everything. In addition, there are usually a lot of side dishes. And if you want, of course, one or two beers. In our opinion, alcohol is part of a barbecue anyway. But well, that is a matter of opinion.
Typical Korean food
The Korean chicken or Korean barbecues are certainly something typical Korean. However, it’s not something that Koreans eat every day, but rather on special occasions or to hang out with friends. The typical Korean food is often vegetarian or vegan. If you like side dishes, you’ll like Korean restaurants. As a rule, there are many side dishes and sometimes they’re even free. A typical Korean restaurant would be the HanCOOK Korean Restaurant. It doesn’t only offer vegetarian specialties, but also sushi and even Korean barbecue. Definitely a good choice.
How much Korean food in Vientiane costs
You won’t have to pay much for street food and generally Lao or Thai dishes. Korean food is a bit more expensive. There are even some restaurants that are really high priced. However, the prices are still much cheaper than, for example, in Europe or the US. For southeastern standards, the prices are quite high. But it depends on what you order. There are also cheap dishes. In the end, especially the choice of the restaurant is crucial. The Korean food in Vientiane is definitely good. After all, there are many Koreans and consequently a strong competition.
The most popular Korean restaurants in Vientiane
We assume that you’re not just interested in the Korean food in general, but also want to know more about the different restaurants in Vientiane. The choices are really decent, since there are a lot of Korean expats in the capital of Laos and many of them opened their own businesses. Among the most common types are Korean BBQ restaurants. In the table below you get a better overview of some popular options.
Name | Opening Hours | Inside Shopping Mall | Popularity | Price | Location | Good Dish Option |
HanCOOK Korean Restaurant | 10:00-22:00 daily | No | very popular | relatively high | wagyu barbecue | |
Hawoo Korean Restaurant | 09:00-22:00 daily | No | very popular | relatively high | bibimbap | |
Hoon's Korea Cuisine | 09:00-22:00 daily | No | very popular | relatively high | kimchi jjigae | |
Bob Jeon Restaurant | 11:00-14:00 & 17:00-22:00 daily, Saturday closed | Yes | popular | cheap | chicken-fried steak | |
Yoree Korean Restaurant | 10:00-22:00 daily | No | very popular | relatively high | gyeranjjim | |
K-CHICKEN, CHICKEN & HOF | 12:30-00:00 daily | No | very popular | rather cheap | Korean fried chicken | |
Pyongyang Restaurant | 09:00-23:00 daily | No | popular | high | Nongbone Road | naengmyeon |
HanCOOK Korean Restaurant
Our personal favorite is the HanCOOK Korean Restaurant. It’s located very close to the Thai Embassy in Vientiane and offers a great selection of Korean BBQ. They even have high-quality meat like wagyu if you’re willing to pay more for your meal. In addition, there are also some other typical Korean dishes like bulgogi, kimchi, and tteokbokki. Due to its location near the embassy, it attracts many tourists, but you’ll also see a lot of expats here. Korean and Laotian customers are a bit less common than at some of the other Korean restaurants in town.
Hawoo Korean Restaurant
The Hawoo Korean Restaurant is another popular option, and it has significantly more Korean customers than the HanCOOK Korean Restaurant. That doesn’t mean it’s better. However, the quality of the ingredients is pretty high, and the service is efficient and friendly. Another plus is the comfortable interior. If you like dining in a cozy atmosphere with good lighting and nice decor, the Hawoo Korean Restaurant is definitely worth a visit.
Hoon's Korea Cuisine
Hoon’s Korea Cuisine is a restaurant chain that started in 1999 in South Korea and in 2013 expanded to Laos. Like almost all Korean restaurants in the country, it offers tasty BBQ, where you can grill your own meat. What stands out, are the plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. The variety of dishes is really nice, which makes this place a great option for families with kids. Due to its success in Korea, it’s no surprise that Hoon’s Korea Cuisine has plenty of Korean customers.
Bob Jeon Restaurant
From all the popular Korean restaurants, the Bob Jeon Restaurant is by far the cheapest. Unlike others, it’s located inside a shopping mall. The shopping mall is called Asean Mall. Unlike the Vientiane Center Lao, it’s commonly used for business or political conferences and less for leisure, though there are nice eating and shopping experiences. When it comes to eating, the Bob Jeon Restaurant stands out. They offer popular dishes like bibimbap and also have nice menus for a few bucks.
Yoree Korean Restaurant
Yoree Korean Restaurant offers a good selection of Korean dishes, including some nice starters like gyeranjjim. Many visitors appreciate the attentive and friendly staff. One remarkable feature is the decent wine selection. If you don’t like eating outside without a good glass of wine, this Korean restaurant might be a great choice. In general, a great place for eating in smaller or bigger groups.
K-CHICKEN, CHICKEN & HOF
What differentiates this Korean restaurant from most others is the focus on fried chicken rather than Korean BBQ. That also shows in the price: the K-CHICKEN, CHICKEN & HOF is pretty cheap compared to some other Korean restaurants. Another advantage is the fact that most of the food is great for takeaway — just eat at your hotel room or even on the way to your next destination. They have all kinds of fried chicken with different spice levels and toppings. A great choice for all chicken lovers.
Pyongyang Restaurant
And last, but not least, the Pyongyang Restaurant deserves a special mention on this list. The reason for that is simple: While almost all Korean restaurants in Vientiane and Laos in general offer food from South Korea, the Pyongyang Restaurant is one of the few that’s specialized in North Korean cuisine. The reason for that is, that Laos is one of the few countries that has good relationships with North Korea. There’s even a rumor that the earnings from the restaurant go directly to the North Korean government and are a way of obtaining foreign currencies. If you never tried North Korean food, the Pyongyang Restaurant is definitely a good choice. It’s a bit more expensive than most other restaurants in Vientiane, especially when it comes to beer and other drinks, but you rarely get the chance to try authentic North Korean dishes, right?