Khao Moo Daeng, or Red Pork with Rice in Savannakhet, Laos

Moo Daeng, or Red Pork

by Xokxay Restaurant, Savannakhet, Laos

I was in Savannakhet, the sleepy Laotian town sitting on the Thai border. It's a popular place for tourists and expats to take a "visa run" due to the convenient Thai consulate.

Savannakhet is a sleepy town, and I found it a little difficult to find places to eat. While I loved everything that I had at Lin's Cafe, I was looking for something a little more local, and decided to sit down at Xokxay Restaurant, a small open-air streetside shop, for a plate of khao moo daeng, or red pork with rice.

moo daeng, or red pork, by Xokxay Restaurant, Savannakhet, Laos

Khao moo daeng is a traditional dish popular in both Thailand and Laos. Barbecued pork (similar to Chinese char siew) is served with a sliced boiled duck egg and a generous serving of a sweet and savory thick Chinese-style red barbecue sauce and eaten with a portion of steamed white rice.

Typically served with a bowl of plain broth on the side, this is a hearty, filling dish, and one of my favorites when I'm traveling.

Xokxay Restaurant is nothing fancy. It consists of a small open-air kitchen and two mismatched tables set out along the road. The food is simple yet delicious.

a plate of khao moo daeng served with rice and a bowl of broth in Savannakhet, Laos

Location

Xokxay Restaurant is located at HP4W+RQ9, Savannakhet, Laos. It's just down the road from St. Teresa's Cathedral and across the street from nearby Lin's Cafe. 

Xokxay Restaurant in Savannakhet, Laos

The restaurant is a very small local restaurant with two small tables set up along the street.

Xokxay Restaurant with tables on the street

See the map for the exact location.