Phonsavanh has a surpringly broad offer of food for a provincial town its size. There are about 32 proper restaurants and many Pho noodle-soup shops. You can easily find Chinese, Vietnamese and Lao restaurants but also some specials:
Craters caters to Western tastes with a menu of pizza, burgers only so-so and other favourites. It does have a nice interior design compared to the other places in town.
Nirvana is a bamboo style bar and restaurant that offers both Lao and Western food. Located on a side street off the main road, at the edge of the old airstrip in the centre of Phonsavan.
The best Lao Food you get in Maly Hotel including a very special interior design with lots of bombs and other knick-knack.
A favourite with travellers is the Vietnamese Simmaly at the corner opposite the MAG visitor centre. Portions are huge and friendly service.
Next to the ATM there is now the first and only coffee shop, Plain of Jars Coffee, of Phonsavan.
A long time favourite with Lao and NGO workers is the Sangha Restaurant. This restaurant serves simple but good food at very reasonable prices. Food is mainly Lao but there are nice steak or chicken and chips to be had. Service can be indifferent.
Nisha is an Indian restaurant that serves Indian and Lao food, for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. The interior is very unassuming but the food is recommended. Service can be very slow when busy 1-2 hours from ordering to table.
Vasana Hotel has a good and nice restaurant with a pleasant view.
Auberge de la Plain des Jarres - Phoupadeng Hotel has an excellent French restaurant with cuisine influenced from the Alsace, which is completely in its own league. Highly recommend. Not cheap.
If you are a group of people have some Lao-style hotpot, called Sindard. Best place is Sindard Phompid also known as Wave Bar in some travel guides opposite Maly Hotel.
More Information on restaurants at the official Lao National Tourism homepage Lao National Tourism Organisation, there click through to Phonsavan
