Serves meat, vegan options available. A spinoff of the original L'Elephant restaurant next door. Offers a daily changing, prix fixe, three-course raw vegan menu for lunch (note that bee products are used, so please check when ordering). From 2:30-8:30pm it's drinks and desserts only. Air-conditioned and with open-air tables as well. A retail area sells books about the South East Asia botanic and assorted natural products like coconut oil, mosquito sprays, natural soaps, and herbal teas. Reported closed, Feb 2020.
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Kounxoua Rd, Ban Vat Nong, Luang Prabang, Laos
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 17 Feb 2020 by SP
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Added by sglcklch on 20 Dec 2012
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11 Reviews
First Review by sglcklch
SP
Points +1430
disappointing - Edit
I went for dinner and was excited to order the five course vegan set but that feeling didn't last long. First of all it's not entirely vegan because at least one of the dishes has bee pollen. Secondly, while the dishes may be presented well they aren't all that flavourful. It really wasn't worth the price.
Read moreRegarding the bee pollen, a previous reviewer mentioned they would write to the restaurant about this, not sure if they did or not. When I told the server that the dish was not vegan because of the bee pollen he said he knows. When I asked if they could give me the dish without animal products, or even a different vegan dish, I was met with much resistance. I insisted a couple of times and eventually they brought me something. Whatever it was, it certainly was not worth my effort.
Cons: some dishes contain bee pollen = not vegan
Guest
leahconroy
Points +61
Great vegan 5 course set menu - Edit
Four different vegan (beegan: some contain honey) set menus (5 courses) as options for lunch/dinner (Asian/French fusion). Everything was very fresh and really tasty, great service. More upmarket than most places in Luang Prabang but a nice treat!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Great setting and ambiance, Flavor some food
Cons: Probably one of the most expensive places in town, Honey in some of the vegan dishes
Guest
rnevet
Points +20
Amazing Vegan Lunch - Edit
We choose the Vegan set menu. Everything was amazing, the friendly service, the tasteful interior and the food oh the food! Fresh interesting combinations, beautifully presented and an explosion of flavors! Go there.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2014-12-16
Guest
Gillsabroad
Points +198
innovative raw menu - Edit
Tastefully decorated and attention to detail defines this restaurant. The menu is no longer 100% vegan, carrying a vegetarian range and you can order from the sister restaurant next door which offers the full range of meat and fish dishes. Whilst there is an innovative vegan menu it was disappointing to be brought butter with the bread and no alternative offered.
Read moreSaturday night was quiet - my friend and I were the only guests. With three attentive waiting staff it felt a little oppressive. Courses came and went with unseemly speed and when not engaged with that there was plenty of water and wine pouring going on as well as replacement cutlery... You get the picture!
That said the menu was creative and the food was delicious, my meat eating friend enjoyed the vegetarian set. My only gripe was the vegan desert. Billed as 'fruit crumble' I could barely hide my disappointment when a plate of finely chopped fruit covered in banana purée was presented. No crumble in sight! :(
Pros: four well planned vegan set menus , beautifully decorated restaurant , excellent organic wine list
Cons: more meat options than vegan , service was overly fussy and far too quick. we fel
Guest
waveruss
Points +243
5 star gourmet vegan set menu - Edit
Flip straight to the back pages of the menu to find the 4 different vegan set menus. They include a drink, soup, starter, main, dessert and herbal tea. Worth the price and lovely lovely staff. The soup and main from the B set were outstanding, and the dessert from the D set was delicious.
Read moreGuest
SonjaCPA
Points +5270
delicious french asian fusion - Edit
As part of our VegVoyages tour, we had lunch at their restaurant as well as having them cater our farewell dinner at a different location. The food was amazing. Creative, beautiful, delicious, raw, just a joy to eat. Based on what we were served, I would rank it a five, but I never saw a whole menu or their non-vegan items. Definitely a must if you are in Luang Prabang. There's too many dishes to mention, so just check out the photos. Their restaurant has a lovely décor and is very clean. The staff are attentive and friendly. Go!
Read morePros: delicious french asian fusion, lovely decor, nice staff
Cons: not all vegan
Guest
jaz151
Points +249
Posh nosh! - Edit
I felt a bit awkward in this posh little restaurant, the staff are almost too attentive, watching you eat! Got vegan set menu D, the food was all tasty and quite unique. If the chocolate is actually dairy free I'm really impressed!
Read morePros: Tasty, different, speedy service
Cons: Expensive, small portions not very filling
Guest
m@earthville
Points +9950
So-called vegan set menu is great, but NOT VEGAN - Edit
First off, L'Eléphant Vert is a lovely place and their wholesome "ethno-botanical" menu is a very welcome addition to the Luang Prabang dining landscape.
Read moreWe very much enjoyed our three meals there and were thrilled by the flavors, colors, and textures. Clearly, the chefs know their way around the kitchen.
Unfortunately, the chefs apparently do not understand the meaning of "vegan." Their so-called "vegan" set menus are advertised as containing "no animal products," but during our February 2015 visit there were at least three items on these set menus that contained animal products (namely honey and bee pollen). We have written to the owners to advise them that the meaning of "vegan" (or "végétalien" in French) is "not consuming or using any animal products nor anything tested on animals" and thus a vegan diet is strictly comprised of plants and minerals. So, hopefully they will change the menu in the future, but we suggest other vegans keep raising this point to make sure they take notice.
On our three visits, we asked our waiters to have our dishes made without any honey or bee pollen, and they kindly agreed once they understood (which took a little work at first). The food was inventive and consistently delicious the use of organic and local produce is much appreciated.
Bottom line: L'Eléphant Vert does great food in a pleasant atmosphere, but vegans should not trust the "vegan" declarations on the menu and should take special care to make sure there is no honey or bee pollen in the food you order. Based on experience we would recommend speaking to one of the senior wait staff, as not everyone here understands English (or French) well enough for this purpose.
Free WiFi (expires after one hour).
Pros: Delicious menus that can be made vegan
Cons: Some animal items mislabeled "vegan"
Guest
Richard Myers
Points +766
A Real Treat - Edit
While travelling with Veg Voyages, we ended up here for a noon meal. Veg Voyages, by the way, is an amazing company and if you like to travel and eat, this company is the one you need to check out.
Read moreThe restaurant is clean and bright, the service is excellent and the food is great with very high marks for presentation. All the dishes served us were excellent.
Even the dessert, chocolate with coco beans and fruit slice were over the top for flavour. A fine eating experience.
Pros: Food presentation, Interesting flavours, Attentive service
Guest
anarchistanimal
Points +563
A vegan gem in Luang Prabang - Edit
I went to Elephant Vert 3 times when I visited Luang Prabang. The vegan set menu is superb! It's gourmet and mostly raw. It really is a special experience you shouldn't miss. I had delicacies such as vegetable noodles in fresh coconut milk, Lao mushroom and baby aubergine laab, beautiful exotic flowers with tomato sambal, a lime and tamarind elixir, and a divine cashew cream dessert. It was all excellent: raw vegan food as good as the raw vegan restaurants I've been to in Europe, and using local ingredients and Lao flavours. The combinations of dishes very carefully thought-out, the flavours are perfectly balanced and the presentation is immaculate.
Read moreAt 120,000 kip (lunch time price) it's more expensive than other local places, but totally worth it, and a third of what you'd pay for the same experience in a rich country. You get 4 (light) dishes and 2 drinks. It changes everyday.
If you're doubtful about raw vegan food, this place will convince you of how good it is. It's also the perfect way to eat to give you energy and keep you cool in the hot weather.
The atmosphere is elegant, air-conditioned, and peaceful, with a lovely view of Vat Nong.
They do use bee pollen sometimes, so ask if you want to avoid that.
Pros: Gourmet raw vegan creations, Amazing variety, Lao flavours, fresh local ingredients
Cons: Shares premises with non-veg restaurant
Guest
sglcklch
Points +3293
Wow! - Edit
I have to admit that I was skeptical when I first looked at the menu. It seemed uninteresting and too simple for the hefty price tag (at least by Lao standards). I just didn't think there could be quality raw vegan food in Laos. Man was I ever so wrong!
Read moreFood was absolutely fantastic. I was presented with an amouse-bouche to begin with - two savory crackers and a spiced drink, whose quality kept my hopes high for the rest of the meal. First course was a very refreshing and tasty larb made with chopped veggies and herbs. Then came the main - zucchini noodles in coconut milk broth. It was bursting with flavors, a truly delicious dish. Dessert was a fruit compote in a thick vanilla-y sauce, which rounded off the evening nicely.
Setting was beautiful as well. It was located in the corner of a French-style colonial building. Decor was lovely and made for a romantic, intimate ambiance. Service was attentive, staff looked professional and spiffy. Undoubtedly this was our most expensive meal in Laos, but it was well worth every cent.
Pros: excellent food, setting
Guest
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