Ode to KFC - Part II and the better food in Laos

"Joyous" pictures of Lao New Year later. I am pissed cos my car just got a flat tyre. I have to park my wounded car at my friend's place and borrow an ancient (1997) Toyota Tercel which looked like it has been through the mayhem of every Lao New Year AS WELL AS Operation Enduring Freedom since its creation. Does Toyota even make Tercel nowadays? Maybe for demolition derbies.

But since I felt bad at making someone threw away her dinner, I felt compelled to post some nicefood pics up. I crossed the border a couple of days back to get my KFC fix in view that it looked to be a long weekend in Laos.

Ahh, KFC in Tesco Lotus Nongkhai was absolutely deserted last night except for a bespectacled Thai lady reading a magazine while eating fried chicken all by herself. I am strangely turned on by a girl eating fried chicken.

Now behold the two-piece meal I bought. Note the free bottles of ketchup and chili lying on the table. Observe the fork and knife they give. Marvel at the nice large ceramic plates they give - one for you chickens and one for your fries. That's two solid nice ceramic plates. Holy macaroni. Is that good service for S$ 4 or what?

But that is not all. Remember what I said earlier that there is no way anyone could top that kind of service? Last night at KFC Nongkhai, KFC Thai staff just went over and beyond the call of service and duty to customers.

They started carrying tray of food to people's seats!

Let me repeat, they are serving food straight to people! After I paid, this service girl approaches me and asked me to go to my seat and she will carry the food to me! Awesome! And when you walked in, the staff actually bowed and welcomed you. Double Awesome!

I really can't say anything more complimentary and positive about the KFC in Thailand. Quite simply, you felt like you are eating in a five-star restaurant. I mean, I know of expensive restaurants in Singapore where waiters ignore you and wouldn't bother refilling your glass of water. Many times, I felt like throwing my bread roll at them in order to get some attention. In KFC Thailand, they treat you like royalty. Is there any doubt that KFC in Singapore sucks?

Now closer to home. Let me introduce to the whole world the best kept secret in Laos. My favourite restaurant in Laos and possibly on Earth. Remember, you hear it first on madnessreloaded. Introducing Inter-City Stonehouse restaurant. You can find it along the Mekong River. The restaurant is part of the Inter-City guesthouse owned by a Taiwanese businessman which is my friend. The interior is really chic and stylish.


The food is fusion-cuisine style and is cheap and awesome. The drinks and juices are fantastic. For US$2.50, introducing the awesome noodles with spare ribs. The bowl is so big, you can wash clothes in it. It sure beats your overpriced Crystal Jade noodles by a few miles and more. I am having the mango juice by the way. It rocks my world at only US$1.25.

Another thing great on the menu is the rice with porkchop. Sound mundane? Nothing special? Jjust take a look at the size of the ass kicking meal. For US$3.50, you get a healthy dose of local Lao papaya salad, half an egg, minced pork on top of your mould of rice and one GIGANTIC slice of spicy pork chop which should have been called the mother of all pork chops instead.

Perhaps the picture doesn't do the size of my favourite pork chop justice simply because of the size of the plate. A close-up.

And not to mention the awesome spicy chicken curry. This is equal to our Singapore style chicken curry with the meat so soft that it felt off the bone. That's frothy coconut juice by the way which I took half before remembering to take a picture of them all.

Let's take a closer look at the tender chicken drumsticks, shall we?

Sure beats eating fried rats eh?