The short answer
Phakhao Lao Restaurant: what visitors should know first
Yes for mixed groups, since the Lao and Thai menu covers meat and a few marked vegan dishes. Strict vegetarians should tell staff about eggs and fish sauce when ordering. Confirm hours before you go.
Diet
What we checked
- Vegan options. The menu clearly marks vegan dishes, alongside others that are not vegan. Checked November 2026 · Source
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
Useful facts
Phakhao Lao Restaurant facts at a glance
- Location
- Lane near Wat Chan and Wat Ong Teu, Vientiane
- Dining style
- Sit-down Lao and Thai, dishes for sharing
- Price signal
- Moderate; confirm current prices
- Signature order
- Try: duck laap, fried fish in tamarind sauce
- Good for
- Mixed meat and vegetarian groups
Why it matters
Why Phakhao Lao Restaurant is worth your time
A shared Lao and Thai menu is useful for the common family problem of one vegetarian and several meat eaters. Here the same table can order duck laap and a marked vegan curry, without anyone being sent to a separate vegetarian restaurant.
Its position in an alley close to Wat Ong Teu and the riverside also makes it an easy lunch break in the old centre, where many of Vientiane's temples sit within a short ride. Directory ratings are middling to good rather than outstanding, so go for a practical, flexible meal and ask questions about ingredients.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Duck laap
A minced-meat Lao salad the guide singles out here.
- 02
Marked vegan dishes
About three to five are clearly marked, per Spinach; ask about eggs and fish sauce.
- 03
Fried fish in tamarind sauce
A shared dish alongside sticky rice.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Start by deciding who at the table eats meat. The restaurant is cited for duck laap and for fried fish in tamarind sauce, with Lao and Thai dishes meant for sharing. Add sticky rice and a vegetable or soup dish, and let the group split dishes so each person tries a little.
For vegetarians, one directory describes a vegetarian section with massaman or panang curry and pad Thai, and says about three to five vegan dishes are clearly marked. It also says the owner will adjust dishes by leaving out eggs and fish sauce if asked, so say so when ordering and repeat it if the dish arrives with an unexpected topping. Tofu, mushrooms and beans are the usual proteins.
Since this is a mixed menu, the kitchen also cooks meat and fish. Strict vegans and anyone avoiding cross-contact should speak to staff first and decide whether that arrangement suits them.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Tell staff about egg and fish sauce when ordering
- Confirm opening hours first
- Share dishes so everyone can try several
- Ask the driver to drop you at the lane
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Alley off Wat Chan Lane, near Wat Ong Teu and the Mekong
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Best time
- Lunch or dinner; one listing shows daily 11am to 10pm
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Reached by a short lane near the river, so ask a taxi or tuk-tuk to drop you close and check the surface of the alley before walking an elder in on a wet day. Table service in a sit-down room.
- Tickets and access
- Sources do not describe a booking system. Go at ordinary meal times, share dishes, and check hours first with your hotel since listings change.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Phakhao Lao Restaurant
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Reached by a short lane near the river, so ask a taxi or tuk-tuk to drop you close and check the surface of the alley before walking an elder in on a wet day. Table service in a sit-down room.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Are there vegan dishes?
Spinach says about three to five dishes are clearly marked vegan on a mixed menu, and that staff are knowledgeable. Ask about eggs and fish sauce.
Is it a vegetarian restaurant?
No. It serves meat and fish too, so it suits mixed groups rather than strict kitchens.
When is it open?
One listing says daily 11am to 10pm. Confirm locally before going.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
