After moving to a better hotel near the riverside it was decided to go out for some Laotian restaurant food, rather than street food. This took us to Kong View Restaurant, officially one of the best places to get local fare.
Located down by the riverside and seemingly in what can only be described as a Chinese enclave Kong View is regularly rated one of the 10 best restaurants in Vientiane. Was it though worth the hype?
What the Kong View Restaurant?
Kong View in Vientiane is a lively spot with sweeping views of the Mekong River, making it a local favorite since its founding in 2008. It’s all about Lao and Thai fusion here, with dishes that showcase fresh, bold flavors. Classics like Laotian larb, spicy papaya salad, and grilled river fish take center stage, making it a prime stop for those craving authentic flavors with a twist.
The overall vibe here is of a relaxed riverfront with live music played by a Filipino band and beautiful people dressed to the nines in the bar equally at home with the scruffy diners, such as myself.
The Kong View Menu
Boating a big menu that is not too over the top it is split between local dishes, Thai fusion, as well as Chinese fare – no doubt influenced by the large amount of Chinese people in the area. This includes most favorites from the region with picking what you actually want one of the hardest jobs.
Drinks wise things are pretty decent too with lots of fresh juices, draft Beer Lao and Carlsberg, as well as a fairly decent cocktail list. They also have soju, more proof of Jinro’s and the ROK’s soft power within the region.
And the food?
I personally delved into some Lao Rice Sausages – Sai Gok, deep fried dry beef – Sen Lod, raw shrimp – Goy Goong , and an almost raw beef starter. Alas I could not find the name for this.
Sai Gok is about as Laotian as you can get with these sausages available pretty much everywhere. The kicker with these is the rice inside that makes them really hearty, with this being extremely well completed by the dipping sauce.
Sen Lod I had not had before, but was one that I really wanted to try. A little spicy and almost getting towards Lao jerky style it was another great compliment to the overall meal.
Goy Goong, or raw shrimp is quite literally an obsession of mine and indeed something I only knew existed over the last 5 years. Growing up I was told this was a no no, but in fact it is one of my favorite dishes. I have had this throughout Cambodia, at Harmonique in Thailand, as well as at Thor in Rangoon.
Things in Laos are a bit different with the shrimp cut open in the middle to look almost like a flower, with garlic and chili added while rested on a bitter melon. I personally left out the melon before dipping it in the super spicy sauce. An absolute gem and worth the trip itself. Alas this dish seems to always trouble my stomach, but it is so good I honestly do not care.
And the lightly cooked beef? What was not to like. This was all washed down with two pints of Beer Lao used to chase a bottle of Soju.
And all these for a small group of people came to less than $40, with them even taking cards, something far from a given here.
The verdict on Kong View Restaurant
Walking distance from the China zone this place is obviously not just an institution, but a full fledged night out. The ambience here is perfect and with the riverside view one might almost so romantic too.
The service here is great, although knowing some Chinese will help you. Yes it is not as authentic as a dirty Lao street diner, but if you want to try some of the best authentic local dishes then you really cannot go wring here.
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Kong View Location and Address
Kong View Restaurant and Bar is located at 183 Souphanouvong Avenue, Vientiane, Laos. It’s a popular riverside spot known for its beautiful views of the Mekong River.
Located on a quiet back street it is about 3 km from downtown Vientiane.