Kualao Restaurant — Restaurant in Vientiane Capital

Bad Service and Bad Food!!!! Completely unimpressed! After reading the reviews I was excited about eating here and after my simple lunch I was so disappointed. I walked-in for lunch and right behind me was a family of 6. They were acknowledged and sat right away while I was left standing alone (I did NOT resemble this family in anyway). After standing there for several minutes while the staff behind the bar ignored me I finally got the attention of the waiter and was seated at an empty table without silverware or any other condiments that were on other tables. I ordered the corn and pork cups, sautéed asparagus, sticky rice and a beer. The beer and complimentary fried snack (think papadum) arrived right away. My food soon arrived and I had no silverware with which to eat it. The corn cups were all corn and not other flavour but corn and could I find any pork! The sticky rice was cold and so gelatinous that it was absolutely flavourless. I only ate the one mouthful to taste and that was it. The sautéed asparagus were served warm - nothing exceptional. After I finished my meal I waited and waited and was unable to get the attention of the staff. The staff NEVER once smiled checked-in on me or made eye-contact with the exception of my waiter - who I only saw twice (to take my order and to deliver my terrible lunch). The waitstaff - mostly women - gathered behind the bar together and never looked into the restaurant an d chatted amongst themselves (I could see them from where I was sitting). I observed that the table of 6 had good and attentive service service. There were two other tables occupied here and they both left just after I was seated and so it was essentially empty. I finally approached the bar to ask for my check were two of the staff were sitting and eating and it took them a couple of minutes to look-up to see me standing there. they looked at each other and giggled and one stood and presented me my bill. I paid my bill (300,000) and left. I do NOT recommend at all. There is no excuse for the terrible service - not at the prices they are charging. Spend your...

Established in 1994 and located at 134 Samsenthai Road at the junction of Setthathilath Road, Kualao Restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in Vientiane, Laos, serving traditional Lao cuisine in an elegant and historic atmosphere of a restored French colonial- architecture villa.

With a spacious space of over 2000 square meters, Kualao has an interior design that harmoniously combines French architecture and traditional Lao features, creating a unique atmosphere for diners.

Kualao opens daily for lunch from 11:00 a.m until 2:00 p.m, and again for dinner from 6:00 p.m until 10:00 p.m. A housse band plays tradictional music and dance performance every evening at 19:00 p.m to 21:00 p.m. Private dining rooms are also available.

Kuala Lumpur cuisine is renowned for its use of fresh local ingredients to prepare traditional Lao dishes. The varied menu includes dishes such as:

Sticky rice (also called glutinous rice), which is steamed in a woven bamboo basket Grilled dry river-algae with sesame sprinkled Pakao: a large set menu served on a traditional rattan platter that includes small portions of many of the most common Lao dishes. Or Laam: A signature stew with a combination of many vegetables and meat, creating a rich flavor. Larb: Minced meat salad mixed with roasted glutinous rice, lime juice, fish sauce and mint leaves Koi Khai Mot: a kind of salad featuring ant egg, meat (usually raw), with sliced shallots and other flavorful bits, all tossed in a thin, acidic sauce. Mok Pa: Mekong River fish steamed with aromatic herbs, wrapped in banana leaves. Tam Mak Hoong: Green papaya salad mixed with fresh tomatoes, fish sauce, lime and sugar, creating a distinctive sweet and sour flavor. Grilled Luang Prabang-style sausages served with a savory jaew paste for dipping. Nam Vaan: A fresh fruit dessert combined with rice balls and coconut milk, served in a fresh...

I enjoyed a great meal here with wonderful service. It's more expensive than most places around here, but I thought it was worth the splurge and wasn't disappointed. I ordered the fish laarp with ant eggs, the dried beef or lam and rice balls in coconut milk.

The salad was interesting. The menu described ant eggs as being "jungle caviar" and I think that's a pretty apt description.

One of the locals said that they enjoy hot soups on hot days and even though that's counter-intuitive for me, I thought I'd give it a go. The stew was very tasty with lots of greens, but it was not in fact a good choice for a hot day and I felt like I was having hot flushes or something. I decided that I couldn't finish it off (only ate half) and explained to the staff that I did enjoy it, it was just making me too hot. I don't know whether they understood what I was saying, whether they thought I was saying the restaurant was too hot or if they just noticed my excessive perspiration, but they set up a fan just for me (which was really sweet, if a little embarrassing). My temperature returned to normal not long after I gave up on the rest of the soup. Long story short - the beef or lam is delicious but best suited for less hot weather and the staff do whatever they can to make you feel comfortable even though they don't seem to have much English.

I thought the rice balls in coconut milk would be cold, but they were actually hot. Luckily, this didn't seem to affect me.

The atmosphere was nice and I think it would be really great when they have music and dance in...