A TREE Alliance training restaurant for marginalized youths, Khaiphaen's menu might include anything from tofu with Khaiphaen crispy river weed and green mango dip to fusion Lao staples such as grilled buffalo steak with pickled daikon. The food is great and you'll also be helping young Lao people build their hospitality skills.

Lunch at Khaiphaen restaurant, supported by Friends International which trains young people for employment, for a good chicken laap (minced chicken with diced veg and mint) and pandan panna cotta.

Khaiphaen is a popular training restaurant run by NGO Friends International that operates a network of inspired venues across the region.

Tucked up a side street off the Mekong road in Ban Wat Nong sits the newest branch of the Tree Alliance, a Friends International-sponsored operation that trains underprivileged youths to become employable in the hospitality industry. Named for Laos’ famed crispy river weed snack, Khaiphaen’s menu has an accessible East-meets-West vibe (think: buffalo steak sandwiches), so you’re bound to find something you like. Prices are mid-range, and the quality is generally quite good.

Sister restaurant to one of our Cambodian favs Friends Restaurant, Khaiphaen is a social enterprise that trains up at-risk youth to work in hospitality. The restaurant is named after a popular Laotian snack, dried Mekong river weed, which we ordered and were super surprised that Miss took a liking to. We ordered a jungle curry for ourselves and a Laotian take on fish and chips for Miss, which actually ended up being fantastic!

Khaiphaen, a restaurant named after the famous river weed, serves as a vocational training restaurant for marginalized youth. The wait staff, young men and women from various parts of Laos, learn real-life vocational skills through their work in the restaurant, and 100% of the profits are reinvested into their education and social programming. It was a great experience having a meal here, and the food was delicious too.

Khaiphaen is a training restaurant, meaning the students serving you are studying hospitality in the hopes of working in the industry upon completion of their training and certification programs. The profits of every meal enjoyed at Khaiphaen are reinvested into student training programs and partnering NGOs. Named after a favorite Luang Prabang snack: river weed dried in the sun and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

It’s not often that great food comes with a fantastic cause, but here we are. Khaiphaen changes lives by offering local marginalized youth valuable training in the hospitality industry. 100% of profits are reinvested into the education and training of these students, providing them with social programs and skills that transform their entire futures.

This restaurant with a social conscience serves delectable Laotian and Asian flavours at reasonable prices. Khaiphaen helps children off the streets and gives them opportunities to learn the restaurant trade, creating an extra special reason to visit this restaurant. But the food is phenomenal too.

Khaiphaen offers creative Lao cuisine, great shakes, and cocktails in beautiful surroundings. It is a non-profit organization that trains marginalized youth in cooking and serving skills. They are known for their serious Lao food, an attractive atmosphere in the old town, and great service.

Second, it’s a vocational training school as well as a restaurant. I’ve been to a few of these places throughout South East Asia, and I think they are all doing great work. These restaurants provide training for young, local people who want to learn about the hospitality industry.

Khaiphaen is my favorite restaurant in Luang Prabang, which is a high honor because all the food is so freaking delicious!. This is a special Laotian restaurant, as they have a training program for young people and their mission is really inspiring. Also, the food is outstanding.

Khaiphaen is essentially a restaurant with a culinary program, training students from villages around Luang Prabang. Khaiphaen serves very tasty and reasonably priced traditional Lao dishes. Profits from each meal at Khaiphaen are reinvested in student training programs.

The people in Laos are poor and there are some amazing initiatives in Luang Prabang that support the locals, like one of my favorite restaurants: Khaiphaen. This was the best dinner I had in this town. Young students work in the restaurant, to learn English.

It is also a vocational training school where young people have a chance to learn about the hospitality industry. It’s a great way for local people to learn valuable skills and find work. It is worth to support a place like this.

Have you ever wondered what locals in Luang Prabang have for breakfast?. The answer is – noodle soup!. They also enjoy this meal for lunch and dinner.