Octie Appetie: L'Elephant Restaurant, Luang Prabang

03 September 2022

L'Elephant Restaurant, Luang Prabang

Previously:

Luang Prabang Walking Street and Food Market

For our last night in Luang Prabang, at first we wanted to eat at Tamarind restaurant as we had them twice last time and we're still longing for more (check out the reason why in my previous blog, click here). Unfortunately, the shop closed on that day and we wandered around the city and we found another seemingly a nice restaurant nearby. It is called L'Elephant Restaurant that serves French and Lao cuisines.

Tum Luang Prabang

I wasn't so sure to order this dish at first. Because it's kinda hard to get the right taste of a homey hearty dish in a fine restaurant. However, this papaya salad was pretty good. It changed my perception. Although it is slightly lighter compared to the one from Je Tim restaurant, but it has a nice balance of flavour and their vegetables are very fresh.

Sundried pork

Lao appetizer set

Of course, you haven't been to Luang Prabang if you haven't tried their kai pen or fresh water green algae. It is like a seaweed sheet with some sesame seeds and a little bit of sliced garlic on top. It needs to be eaten together with jeow bong or chili paste. The appetizer set also comes with Lao sausage and sundried beef. Taste wise, it was good but not up to a great-standard yet. Kai pen from Tamarind restaurant, for me, is much better.

We ended our meal with a coconut creme brulee.

Luang Prabang airport

Our flight was 10am, so as normal we always arrive airport about 3 hours before departure especially after covid, it takes longer in checking passenger travelling documents. So we arrived in Luang Prabang airport at around 7am and at that time, the main glass door was opened but there were no one there, litterally not a single person there, not even the security. Apparently, the airport opens at 8am. The airport is pretty small so arriving here 2 hours before your flight will still leave you plenty of time.