Laotian Chicken Phở in Savannakhet, Laos

Chicken Phở

by Lao Dern Restaurant in Savannakhet, Laos

One morning in Savannakhet, Laos, I stopped in at the highly rated Lao Dern Restaurant for breakfast. Everything on the menu looked great, but I decided to order the chicken pho.

While phở originated in Vietnam, it has a long history in neighboring Laos as well. The two countries share quite a bit of culinary and political history and culture, and it's not uncommon to find pho shops throughout the sleepy little Southeast Asian republic.

Laotian Chicken Phở in Savannakhet, Laos

The body of this dish lies in its broth. The soup is made by simmering chicken with lots of herbs and spices. The broth is filled with pieces of shredded chicken along with flavorful aromatics such as charred onions, ginger, fish sauce, and sugar.

Pho utilizes thin rice noodles which absorb the flavor of the broth and provide a hearty and comforting texture. The dish also incorporates bean sprouts, lime, coriander, chili, and other herbs for a complex and well-rounded flavor profile.

chicken pho in Savannakhet, Laos at Lao Dern Restaurant

The bowl of pho came with a platter of things to add to it, including a bowl of bean sprouts, green beans, a dish of spicy siracha-style sauce, and extra chilies, lime, and lots of herbs and veggies to add to the soup.

I recommend adding all of it. It only goes to add more texture, flavor, and filling to your broth, and really does complement the nice, mild flavors of the salty pho. It's traditional in Vietnam to be given a plate of herbs and vegetables, and I always eat them all.

vegetables, sprouts, flavorings, and sauces to add to a bowl of pho

I also ordered a cup of highly recommended Laotian iced milk coffee. The coffee was mildly sweet and perfect for cooling off and refueling before a day of exploring the city.

iced Lao coffee at Lao Dern Restaurant

Location

Lao Dern Restaurant is located at HP3W+P7M, Unnamed Road, Savannakhet, Laos.

Lao Dern Restaurant, Savannakhet, Laos

See the map for the exact location.