Vientiane has quite a few vegetarian restaurants and also plenty of non-vegetarian places that serve vegetarian food. Here’s an overview of what we managed to find.
Khua Din Vegetarian Buffet
This was my favorite place to eat in Vientiane, as there was a huge selection of food at the buffet. Unfortunately it’s not open in the evenings. The meal above plus two fresh spring rolls cost 25,000 Kip ($3.10). The food looked much better in real life than in the photo above. It’s located at the edge of Khua Din Market – see below for directions.
The food here was very good. As well as the hot dishes, there were also fresh spring rolls and some fake meats available. All were included in the price, so it was excellent value for money.
The shop was quite basic and the front is used to park motorbikes, so it’s sometimes difficult to even get into the shop.
Khua Din Vegetarian Buffet Details
Address: Khua Din Market (off Nong Bone Road)
Directions: Walk northwards along Nong Bone Road for around 100 meters from the junction with Khouvieng Road. You’ll pass lots of tuks tuks and vendors selling fruit and cakes. You’ll then come to a basket shop (top left of image above) on the corner. Turn right immediately and you’ll find yourself in a market lane (top right of image above). Walk for around 100 meters and you’ll see Khua Din Vegetarian Buffet on your left. Just look out for the big yellow sign (bottom of image above).
Telephone: 021-251-615 or 030-980-7563 or 030-941-6017
Opening Hours: Sun-Sat 09:00-16:00
Reunion Cafe
This is a great place to eat, as the food is delicious and the menu is also in English, along with photos of many of the dishes.
We ate here as soon as we arrived in Vientiane, and opted for the Veggie Chicken With Ginger, Spicy Mushrooms and Somtum (Papaya Salad). Portions were bigger than we usually get in similar restaurants, and all were delicious. These three dishes along with rice came to a total of 60,000 Kip ($7.50).
Reunion Cafe is a small family run business that also has a small shop area.
Reunion Cafe Details
Directions: Walk westwards along Rue Samsenthai (in direction of one-way traffic) until you come to Khun Bu Lom Road. Cross that road and keep walking for around 100 meters. You’ll see a car parts shop on your right with a Bridgestone sign outside. Turn right in the small lane directly after the Bridgestone sign. Reunion Cafe will be around 100 meters down the lane on your right. Directly opposite it you’ll see Phounsup vegetarian restaurant. They both have yellow flags outside the shops.
Telephone: 020-2221-4668 or 020-5599-3844
Opening Hours: Sun-Sat 08:00-20:00
Phounsup Vegetarian Buffet
We saw this place when we visited Reunion Cafe but didn’t eat there. It has a vegetarian buffet Monday to Friday lunchtimes, and also has a minimart which open much longer hours.
Phounsup Vegetarian Buffet Details
Directions: Walk westwards along Rue Samsenthai (in direction of one-way traffic) until you come to Khun Bu Lom Road. Cross that road and keep walking for around 100 meters. You’ll see a car parts shop on your right with a Bridgestone sign outside. Turn right in the small lane directly after the Bridgestone sign. Phounsup Vegetarian Buffet will be around 100 meters down the lane on your left. Directly opposite it you’ll see Reunion Cafe. They both have yellow flags outside the shops.
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-14:00
Vegetarian In The Golden Age
We ate here a few times and can highly recommend it. It’s a mainly Vietnamese buffet place at lunchtimes where you have rice and a choice of hot and cold dishes that are on display. But they also have an extensive menu that you can choose from. You might need to ask for it, as we didn’t see it until our second visit.
The buffet is mainly from 11:00-14:00, but some will will still be available later. Come early to get the best choice. But remember that there’s also a menu that you can order from.
There is lots of seating inside plus a few tables outside as well. You get soup and iced Chinese tea with your meal. Cost is 25,000 Kip ($3.10) per person. It’s very reasonably priced.
The outside seating is also used as a cafe area, as they serve coffee and other drinks here. It’s worth coming here just for the Vietnamese coffee.
Look for the big banner outside the shop and you’ll find it easily enough.
No English is spoken here. Just take a plate and add rice and your choice of buffet items.
Vegetarian In The Golden Age Details
Address: 0155 Hatsadi, Saylom Road
Directions: Turn into Saylom Road from Avenue Lane Xang and keeping walking for 300-400 meters until the road curves to the left. Once you’ve turned the corner you’ll see the restaurant on your left. Just look for the big banner above the entrance.
Telephone: 020-5969-779 or 020-5550-5305
Opening Hours: Sun-Sat 07:00-19:00
Vegetarian Stall At Talat Sao Mall Food Court
We didn’t eat here but saw it when we went to buy a smoothie in the food court. The food on display look uninspiring and I don’t think I’d want to eat there. Khua Din Vegetarian Buffet and Vegetarian In The Golden Age (both mentioned above) are both only a few minutes’ walk from here and are better choices.
There is plenty of seating at the food court and a choice of around 30 food stalls. The smoothie stall is great – it’s about 4 stalls to the left of the vegetarian food.
You’ll see the above sign at the junction of Avenue Lane Xang and Khouvieng Road.
Vegetarian Stall Details
Address: 3rd Floor Food Court, Talat Sao Mall
Directions: Talat Sao Food Mall is located between Avenue Lane Xang and Nong Bone Road, along Khouvieng Road. The food court is on the 3rd floor and the vegetrian stall is No. 29.
Opening Hours: Sun-Sat early-16:00
Hotels In Vientiane
For our first few days in Laos we stayed at the excellent AV Hotel. We chose the Executive Suite, which is 45 sqm, and were very happy with our stay there. For other hotels is Vientiane, check out Agoda Vientiane Hotels.
