Restaurant and street food
❃ Restaurant and street food
-
ສຳລັບສອງຄົນ
[ sam lap song khon ] -
For two people.
-
ມີໂຕະຫວ່າງບໍ່?
[ mi to vang bo? ] -
Do you have a free table?
-
ນັ່ງຢູ່ນີ້ໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ nang yu ni dai bo? ] -
Can we sit here?
-
ຂໍເມນູແດ່
[ kho menu dae ] -
Menu, please.
-
ມີເມນູພາສາອັງກິດບໍ່?
[ mi menu phasa angkit bo? ] -
Do you have an English menu?
-
ກິນຢູ່ນີ້ ຫຼື ເອົາເມືອ?
[ kin yu ni lu ao mua? ] -
For here or to go?
-
ກິນຢູ່ນີ້
[ kin yu ni ] -
For here.
-
ຊ່ວຍເຊັດໂຕະໃຫ້ແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ suay set to hai dae dai bo? ] -
Could you wipe the table, please?
-
ຂໍບ່ວງ ແລະ ສ້ອມແດ່
[ kho buang lae som dae ] -
A spoon and a fork, please.
-
ຂໍໄມ້ຖູ່ແດ່
[ kho mai thu dae ] -
Chopsticks, please.
-
ຂໍເຈ້ຍເຊັດປາກແດ່
[ kho chia set pak dae ] -
Tissues/napkins, please.
-
ມີອາຫານແນະນຳບໍ່?
[ mi ahan naenam bo? ] -
Do you have any recommendations?
-
ສັ່ງອາຫານຢູ່ນີ້ບໍ່?
[ sang ahan yu ni bo? ] -
Do I order food here?
-
ລໍຖ້າຈັກນາທີ?
[ lo tha chak nathi? ] -
How many minutes to wait?
-
ອາຫານມາແລ້ວ
[ ahan ma laew ] -
The food is here.
Diving into the culinary scene of Laos is a highlight of any trip, but it involves navigating a very relaxed and informal dining culture. Whether you are walking into a family-run restaurant or pulling up a small plastic chair at a bustling street food night market, the atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious. You won't typically wait for a host to seat you; instead, you find an empty spot and ask, "Can we sit here?" (ນັ່ງຢູ່ນີ້ໄດ້ບໍ່? - nang yu ni dai bo?). If you are with a companion, you can simply point and say, "For two people" (ສຳລັບສອງຄົນ - sam lap song khon). Once seated, you will often need to ask for the menu, as they are not always brought automatically: "Menu, please" (ຂໍເມນູແດ່ - kho menu dae). Because Laos is a major hub for backpackers, many places have an English version, so you can ask, "Do you have an English menu?" (ມີເມນູພາສາອັງກິດບໍ່? - mi menu phasa angkit bo?). A ubiquitous feature on Lao dining tables is a small box of tissues and a container holding cutlery. It is a common, widely accepted local practice to grab a tissue and give your spoon and fork (ຂໍບ່ວງ ແລະ ສ້ອມແດ່ - kho buang lae som dae) or chopsticks (ຂໍໄມ້ຖູ່ແດ່ - kho mai thu dae) a quick wipe before eating. When placing your order, the vendor might ask if you are eating "For here or to go?" (ກິນຢູ່ນີ້ ຫຼື ເອົາເມືອ? - kin yu ni lu ao mua?). If you choose to take it away, do not be surprised when your meal, including hot soups and curries, is expertly poured into a clear plastic bag and tied with a rubber band. Embracing the plastic chairs, the communal table condiments, and the vibrant street noise is the first step to experiencing authentic Lao gastronomy.
Other sections
Keep your progress
Enjoying the phrasebook?
Create a free account to save favorites, track your study, and continue where you stopped.