Region: Southern Laos> Province: Khammuan> Location: Tha Khaek

Tha Khaek

The restaurant selection in Tha Khaek is even poorer than in Savannakhet, but there are some decent options. The Tha Khaek Travel Lodge serves Laos and western food that's consistently tasty -- noodles, laap, meatballs and potatoes, and goulash all appear on the menu at reasonable prices. The chicken Caesar salad is excellent. Dishes like T-bone steak and fried chicken are also on the menu, but seldom actually available. They'll do a meat and veggies barbecue for you and your friends if you like -- US$5 per person, let them know a day in advance. The Travel Lodge is also the main gathering place for travellers in the evenings, sitting around the nightly campfire, swapping stories and drinking Beerlao until the place runs out.

The Southida Guest House offers sukiyaki and Korean-style barbecue over a charcoal fire set in the table -- the meal we had there was quite affordable and delicious. We were eager to try out the lamb chops appetizer, but that requires at least 3 hours notice. There's another Sukiyaki place, called, appropriately, Suki Yaki, on Vientiane Road near the boat landing. The restaurant at the Phou Khanna Guesthouse has a nice atmosphere -- on a platform along the road, offering Laos and Western food and attracted a good mix of locals and travellers.

You might also check out the Keysone Food Garden, one block south and two blocks east of the boat landing, which boast two restaurants, garden seating, and an ice cream parlor.