Luang Prabang 2017 - Manda de Laos Restaurant

One of the bonuses of staying at Maison Dala Bua is you are right next to one of the best restaurants in Luang Prabang - Manda de Laos. This restaurant is consistently ranked among the top restaurants in town - and is famed for its traditional Laotian family cuisine given a modern touch. 

The restaurant is in an open pavilion next to the UNESCO-listed lotus pond. It is stunning in its location and decor. Service is also very professional and courteous. 

The restaurant has a Tasting Menu as well as a la carte. We opted for a la carte and these were some of the dishes we tried. 

 Appetizer Wraps with Chili Dip - this was all about that chili sauce.

Stirfried Mushrooms. Nice earthy flavours. 

Grilled Fish with Herd Salad. The fish was fresh and sweet - the crispy bits were the star of the dish.

BBQ Chicken Wings - again it was all about that chili dip.

This is one of their signature dishes - Ping Dook Moo, pork spare ribs that has been sou vide and then grilled and glazed with a galangal, lemongrass and honey sauce. The pork was melt-in-the-mouth, really delicious. 

Grilled Buffalo Steak. Very juicy and tender, given a spicy kick with the kafir lime leaves, garlic chips and that chili dip.

Cheese and Rice Croquette with Herb Salad.

Prices at Manda de Laos may be on the high side relative to other restaurants in town - but the ambiance and the quality of the food more than made up for it. Booking is essential for this restaurant as the tables fill up fast.