While a bowl of rice porridge may be a breakfast comfort food par excellence, there’s just something about a Western-style breakfast that can’t be beaten on a weekend, writes Evan Dixon.
Whether you’ve been living in Laos for decades or just visiting for a few days, sometimes the urge for a special morning treat just cannot be denied. Let’s take a look at some of the best places in town to satisfy that weekend craving.
Suzette
With the longstanding connection between France and Laos, what could be a better start to your day than a delicious French breakfast? Suzette, as the name suggests, specializes in the art of the crêpe. In that regard, it certainly does not disappoint, with a nice selection of light, sweet crêpes.
However, the savory galettes are the real draw here—much like a crepe, they’re composed of a thin pancake batter and some additional ingredients folded up in the center. Unlike a crêpe, though, they’re made with buckwheat flour for a crispier texture, earthier taste, and richer color.
Charmingly, each crêpe and galette served at Suzette is christened with a typically French given name, such as the Galette Hugo, featuring goat cheese and a medley of Mediterranean vegetables, or the Galette Marcel, with marinated salmon and arugula, citrus cream, and cheese. The menu is varied, though, and diners will also find some quintessentially French non-pancake items, such as the quiche Lorraine, or crunchy croque sandwiches.
Having long-since moved from their erstwhile downtown location to a more spacious spot just off of Lao-Thai road, the environment is light and bright, with a well-fenestrated and comfortably minimalist interior as well as outdoor garden seating. Additionally, this is a very family-friendly venue, boasting a small playground to provide an outlet for the more rambunctious youngsters following their post-crêpe sugar rush.
Suzette is located just a stone’s throw from the Korean embassy compound, and is open daily from 7:30 am until 9:30 pm, but closed on Mondays.
Danno’s Coffee Shop
Tucked away on a side street in Ban Sithan Neua, just adjacent to the Mekong River, Danno’s is a true hidden gem. This small, family-owned and operated café occupies a cozy interior space and lush garden adjoining a stately old colonial house. The laid-back ambiance of this small restaurant and café draws a host of regulars who come to lounge in the lush, quiet garden, and the home-style Western breakfast and lunch items are simple and well-done.
The croissants and pastries are fresh and homemade, and the coffee is brewed with care from beans specially sourced and selected by the manager. The croissant sandwiches – such as the bacon, egg, and cheese – offer a hearty and savory start to the day, while the pancakes are done to a “just like home” standard unmatched by many restaurants in Laos.
Danno’s Coffee Shop is open daily until about 5 pm, closed Mondays.
Sticky Fingers
With over two decades operating in Vientiane, Sticky Fingers café and bar (not to be confused with the eponymous Rolling Stones album) is certainly something of a local institution. The regular menu offers choice brunch items served all day, such as the well-balanced Tuk-Tuk Special, consisting of local-style rice soup, a Lao omelet, and a fruit shake, if you’re in for a taste of Lao breakfast. For those in the mood for something a bit heartier, the weekend special eggs benedict, in either peppered ham or smoked salmon varieties, really hits the spot.
Sticky Fingers is located near the Mekong on Rue Francois Nginn and is open from 10 am on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as for dinner on weekdays.
Skills Café
Although a bit further afield, Skills Café offers a great selection of delicious breakfast items in a comfortable outdoor dining area. What’s more, the restaurant also serves as a vocational and life skills training center for aspiring rural villagers hoping to make a better life in the capital, in addition to facilitating charitable donations to rural communities.
The menu boasts a host of home-baked breads and pastries. One of their best is the delectably chewy bagel, served in some delicious sandwich-like preparations—the salmon and avocado variety is especially satisfying. While a lot of the best items are more solidly in the lunch category, such as the wraps and salads, the decadent ice cream milkshake makes for a nice accompaniment to a self-indulgent breakfast… which we all deserve after a long, grueling work week.
Skills Café is located on Thadeua, opposite Sisattanak Hospital, open Tuesday through Saturday until 5:30.
Kung’s Café Lao
While this list is mostly focused on western breakfasts, and Kung’s Café Lao is technically more of a Lao restaurant, any discussion of breakfast in Vientiane would be incomplete without mentioning Kung’s. This long-time favorite spot, passed on via word of mouth from old to new generations of expatriates, is tucked away in an atmospheric back alley. Kung’s is famous for its delicious fusion dish – the mango and sticky rice pancake, as well as a creamy coconut coffee.
Kung’s Café Lao is located near Wat Simuang, and opens daily until about 4 pm.
