Manda De Laos - Louang Namtha

Delicious! beautiful atmosphere in the night of the lily pond.

We had heard of this place from our friends so decided to try it out for ourselves. We were warmly greeted by the lovely service staff and promptly shown to our table, which was just next to the pond'. We ordered a full Laotian type dinner and was not disappointed at all with the quality and taste. What topped it off was a light rain just before sunset which provided us with a front row seat of the beautiful ripples dancing on the water. The 3 lily Ponds on site are a UNESCO Heritage site, so a very special experience dining. Truly a fantastic experience and highly recommended.

My experience from the moment I stepped into the restaurant and left, was fantastic. Managed to sit by the lily pond. Tried the tasting menu. I have to say the food was really quite tasty. The service staff were so friendly and warm, they would check on us time to time, to make sure everything is alright. The bill came up to about USD 135 but it was really every single penny. Thank you Manda de Laos for the hospitality, we had a wonderful night.

For that price we expected more than what was delivered. The food was unfortunately just okay. The presentation of the food is not good at all. Eating from a wooden board, from a bed of salad is not very elegant and absolutely not in line with the vibe of the place, which is beautiful and unique. The leafs of the duck were a bit overfried and oily. The coconut rice was darn sweet, neither fitting the buffalo nor duck. A fresh spark of lemon, something to refresh the tongue would make a difference in that heavy dish. Also, no free service water and the food was quite dry on its own. Ex-post I recommend the 426k tasting menu, so you don't risk to pick a dish that is not well. Or even better, just come here just before sunset for a drink or dessert. The food is not worth it at all.

The restaurant has a calming and peaceful atmosphere. The staff informed us about the dishes and even offered us a sample of the appetizer, a small sticky rice cake. The food had a unique and decadent flavor, although it was disappointing that the duck skin was tough and the Papaya salad was on the pricier side.