POW! When it’s lunchtime in Vientiane, Laos there is only one place to hit…a joint called Doi Ka Noi…let’s check it out.
Doi Ka Noi is located in a little alley just off Sisangvong Road. . .book a good driver or cab, and they will get you here with no problem at all.
Once you arrive you see the gardens on the side of the building…the chicken coop…and the outdoor seating in the back. We enter the building, and the place is packed at 1:00 p.m. or so for lunch…popular place since the owner is a local Lao woman who has become somewhat famous championing Lao cuisine in print and on tv. Lots of expats like to eat here, and we are happy to join them.
Once settled in at our outdoor table in the back we get busy ordering: fried local fishes sort of like sardines, pork larb, sautéed greens, veggie salad with spicy dressing, housemade sausages, and sticky rice. . .all of this is totally delicious and has a bit of a kick that we always like. We wash it all down with a bottle French white, some special organic sauvignon blanc–it is wonderful and satisfying. . .mmmm, aaaahh!
Everything is so good that we come back for lunch a second time and do a broiled whole fish, more larb, sautéed veggies, spicy salads, potent dipping sauces, and a Lao chicken soup with sticky rice. . .again, everything is cooked fabulously and super tasty. They are out of the organic white that we liked during our previous visit so the owner’s husband brings us another bottle that suits us just fine, and we are good-to-go. Love it: the woman is rockin’ the kitchen, and the dude is rockin’ the beverages. . .nice work everyone–siep lai-lai!
So, if you ever find yourself in Vientiane lookin’ for good grub, then you gotta hit Doi Ka Noi at least once. . .all veggies come from their garden, chickens and eggs come from their coop, and all other items are sourced locally on a daily basis. . .different menu every day, but magical flavors no matter what they are serving. . .you will love eating here–I gar-ron-taaaaayy!
It’s lovely out there.
GlobeHug 