By: Nicole Long – Laos country director
Where:
LPB Restaurant
Luang Prabang, Laos
What I ordered:
-Mixed Fruit Shake
-Ordered a la carte from menu:
Fried Spring Rolls
Luang Prabang Sausage
Mok Pa – fish steamed in banana leaves
Spicy Fish Curry Soup
Stir fried chicken with vegetables and peanuts
Sweet and spicy dipping sauce
Steamed Rice
This month I decided I wanted to try one of the many restaurants along the Mekong River. Anyone who takes a leisurely walk down by the riverside will see that the banks are littered with restaurant choices offering a place to rest your feet and gaze out onto the mighty Mekong while trying some traditional Laos food. The only problem with these prime spots is choosing the best place! So, I figured that I would devote some time to inspecting some of these restaurants over the next few months to narrow down the choices.
Surprisingly, I have not tried every single restaurant along the Mekong River in town, but I have eaten at most. I decided to go to one of the places I hadn’t visited in years since it was a good friend of mine’s favorite restaurant on the Mekong. He was an expat living here and felt that LPB Restaurant had the best Lao food and amazing views. He also claimed that he would frequently see locals there eating and felt that made it the most authentic since most of those restaurants do not cater to locals, but more to tourists.
I do have to say that the views are spectacular since the restaurant is poised nicely on a recently rebuilt brick patio that juts out from the river bank. It is coolly shaded by surrounding trees and umbrellas, which is most helpful in the hotter months. I really enjoyed the location as it wasn’t too close to the river and not at street level. It was quiet and pleasant.
I have to note first and foremost that I am adventurous with my food and am always up to try anything. Even though I have not eaten at all the restaurants along the Mekong, I have however eaten almost every traditional Lao dish there is to this part of the country. I know what real, home cooked Lao food should taste like. I eat at the locals market almost every day for lunch!
Since I feel I am a bit of an expert I have to say that I did not feel that the items I chose for lunch were up to par with the Lao food I have come to love. Also, I want to note that this restaurant is like many along the river, sometimes what you think you ordered isn’t what actually comes out on the table.
I ordered a mixed fruit shake. I was given a mango fruit shake. I ordered garlic chicken with cashew nuts. I received chicken with veggies and peanuts (no garlic and not much of a taste). The fish cooked in banana leaf was made with a stinky fish that over powered the herbs, but was edible. Luang Prabang sausage is one of my favorites of Luang Prabang so I am picky, and I would have to say this sausage was not as good as most I have ever tried.
The tastiest items were the spring rolls with spicy sweet dipping sauce and the fish curry soup. I really liked that the curry had a lot of veggies beyond the usual potatoes and eggplant. It wasn’t too spicy and was yummy over steamed rice.
This restaurant serves only Lao food and is catered mostly to tourists. I have lived in Luang Prabang for 3 years and I didn’t walk away thinking I had eaten the real deal. Nonetheless, some of the items were tasty and I thoroughly enjoyed the view and my surroundings.
Perhaps I just didn’t order the best items? Perhaps I just disagree with my expat friend’s taste buds?
Regardless, I will continue to hunt for the best of the best on the Mekong and until then, there is nothing wrong with grabbing an afternoon cocktail at LPB restaurant and watching the sunset.
