When I got home from school today, I found Tony lounging on the sofa and our dinner waiting on the table. Daeng had prepared a concoction of stir-fried veggies, cashews and pork with steamed rice. Tony begged me to box it up for tomorrow’s lunch and go out to dinner instead.
Vientiane has a shocking number of restaurants for such a small city, but I’ve found that most online restaurant reviews and guidebooks focus on the same few. I decided it would be fun to venture off the beaten culinary path to check out – and report on – some lesser-known eateries. I was mulling this over in my head when Tony exclaimed, “I don’t want Lao food. I don’t want rice. I don’t want thinly sliced meat in broth. I don’t want vegetables I can’t identify. I want a burger!”
So, for now, the restaurant reviews are on hold. Instead, we’re heading out for burgers at Khop Chai Deu, a popular backpacker restaurant in the heart of town. Its menu features touristy gimmicks, such as insect appetizers. The food is mediocre. But they do have an upstairs deck with twinkly lights, and I am a girl who likes her twinkly lights.
I’m totally with Tony! I’ve been craving a burger, too. I did the exact same thing last Monday night. We packed up the yummy shrimp that the cook made and we went to Bud’s of San Francisco. The burgers were mushy, so I had a bite and gave the rest to Mike. I just want a good, American burger. Nothing fancy. Nothing mixed in the meat. I don’t want a burger with the consistency of meatloaf. I miss Moon River Diner!