Republished as featured in Agoda Travel Guides
With its distinct notes of spicy, sour and sweet flavors, Laos cuisine rivals some of the most famous dishes known world-wide in Thailand and Vietnam. Foodies will find dishes laden with ginger, lemongrass and chili and served in distinctive ways that are unique to Laos traditions. Some of Laos’ most famous dishes include laap, khao niew and mok pa. Not sure what food to try first during a trip to Laos? Use this Laos food guide to find out what to order in Laos restaurants and where to find the best street food at local markets in Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Vang Vieng.
Discover Laos Traditional Dishes
Characterized by fresh herbs, tangy flavors and a balance of textures, Laos food showcases the country’s agricultural resourcefulness. Traditional dishes often are crafted with freshly picked vegetables, organic meats and friendly smiles. Dining in Laos is meant to be a culinary experience, and it is common to share plates with friends and family members, so do not be afraid to order the laab, jaew bong AND tam mak houng! You will discover quickly that traditional dishes of Laos are always served with a side of love.
- Larb: the national dish of Laos is a tangy and spicy mix of minced meat (usually pork), herbs, lime juice, fish sauce and toasted ground rice. Laap is considered a “salad” and can be eaten on its own or scooped up in crispy cabbage leaves.
- Khao niew (sticky rice): this fun side dish is a staple of Laos cuisine and typically served in small bamboo baskets in restaurants. It is steamed rice that “sticks” together in a tasty and handy clump. On the street, sticky rice is paired with lots of Laos dishes and served in plastic baggies. Sticky rice is eaten by hand. Just tear off a chunk and enjoy!
- Jaew bong: perfect for dipping chicken, sticky rice or veggies, jaew bong is a dipping sauce made from chilies, garlic, shallots and local spices. It can be mild or blow-your-socks-off spicy (depending on the chef).
- Khao piak sen: grab some comfort food in a bowl of khao piak sen, a brothy soup loaded with meats, vegetables and herbs. Ingredients will vary for this dish depending on the cook, but the sweet and savory broth is what makes this dish the bomb.
- Tam mak houng (green papaya salad): you cannot visit Southeast Asia without eating papaya salad. It’s a rule! Laos has some of the tastiest, as this dish blends green papaya strips with tomatoes, chilies, lime, fish sauce and a tiny bit of sugar. You can order it with crab or shrimp, too.
- Kaeng no mai (bamboo soup) : originally concocted for Laos royals, this soup is a glamorous fusion of bamboo shoots, mushrooms, okra (lady fingers), angled gourd, pumpkin, yanang juice and a meat of choice. Occasionally, quail eggs, eggplant and other vegetables are added for variation.
- Mok pa: take a catfish, marinate it in a sassy herb mix, wrap it in banana leaves and steam: this is mok pa, a moist and flavorful fish dish and must-try Laos food.
- Or Lam: this traditional Lao stew is made with vegetables, herbs, meat or fish and flavored with ginger, lemongrass and fermented fish sauce.
- Khao Poon: made with rice vermicelli, vegetables and meat (usually chicken or fish), this noodle delight is bathed in a broth made with herbs, chilies and sometimes coconut milk.
FIND HOTELS NEAR LAOS FOOD GUIDE TOURS
Street Food – the Heart of Lao Cuisine
The Laos street food scene exudes a vibe of its own. Tourists will find a mix of local street food vendors selling soups, snacks and sweets along walking streets, but the best place to sample Laos street food all in one place is at a night market. It is a place where tourists can taste the local cuisine and savor Laos culture. Every tourist city in Laos has a night market, and here are the details for the can’t-miss street food markets in Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Vang Vieng.
- Vientiane Night Market (Chao Anouvong Park): open from 6 to 10 p.m. nightly, this famous night market is set on the banks of the Mekong River. After sampling street food and shopping for souvenirs, handmade goods and electronics, visitors can mosey down the promenade for a walk through Chao Anouvong Park.
- Luang Prabang Night Market: vendors start lining the street in historic center of Luang Prabang at 6 p.m. every day. Visitors have until 10 p.m. to taste delectable street food cooked fresh in front of customers, as well as buy trinkets, souvenir clothing and crafts from locals.
- Vang Vieng Walking Street walk down rows lined with noodle dishes, crispy-fried snacks and local sweet drinks from 5 p.m. to midnight any day of the week. This market in Vang Vieng town center is considered smaller in size but loaded with local food options, along with handmade goods and souvenirs.
Guide to Best Restaurants with Authentic Laos Cuisine
True foodies will want a well-rounded experience while visiting Laos, and this means that along with tasting street food, some fine dining must be had! Vientiane is perhaps best known for its fine dining choices, but Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng have some can’t-miss restaurants as well. These restaurants are known for making authentic Laos cuisine with traditional methods and recipes. Reviewers give them 4 stars and above.
- Tamarind, Luang Prabang (Kingkitsarath Road): overlooking the Mekong River in historic Luang Prabang town center, this restaurant is known for its fish in banana leaf (mok pa) and bamboo shoot soup (kaeng no mai). It is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Tamarind is closed Mondays.
- Le Cafe/Bistro Ban Vat Sene, Luang Prabang (Sakarine Road): a top go-to for vegetarians and vegans, this café and bakery serves authentic Laotian dishes along with to-die-for lemon tarts and hot cappuccinos. The café is open from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is just a short walk from Phousi Hill.
- Kualao Restaurant, Vientiane: serving upscale Laotian cuisine, Kualao Restaurant is most famous for its local laab, sai oua (Laos sausage) and tam mak houng (green papaya salad). Open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. daily, the restaurant is located at 34 Rue Samsenthai, just a short walk from Vientiane Night Market.
- Khop Chai Deu, Vientiane: specializing in Laos, Thai and Western cuisine, this fine dining experience sometimes includes live music and happy hour beers. Foodies will find Khop Chai Deu open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily on Rue Setthathilath, just a 10-minute walk from Vientiane Night Market.
- Le repère du Laos, Vang Vieng: located on North Road near town center, this casual restaurant embraces the French influence that is still moderately present in Laos. It is open from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Le repère du Laos is closed on Mondays.
- Lotus Restaurant, Vang Vieng: a family-owned and operated restaurant nestled between the mountains and the banks of the Nam Song River, this establishment is loved by locals for its fish dishes, as well as cuisine made with local beef and duck. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the restaurant appreciates reservations, especially for large groups.
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Laotian Cooking Classes – Personal Laos Food Guide
Tourists who want to learn the art of cooking in order to enjoy Laos food at home will have no problem finding a culinary course in any city. Cooking classes for travelers are hosted by local chefs and cooks who have perfected the art of blending Laos’ famous flavors into tasty dishes. These culinary workshops are rated as some of the best in Laos.
- Bamboo Tree Restaurant and Cooking School, Luang Prabang: one of the most popular places to eat and learn in Luang Prabang town center, this combination restaurant-cooking school has been teaching tourists how to cook for many years. Guests not only learn how to cook authentic Laos meals, but they have fun learning about Laos culture while doing it!
- Madam Phasouk Vientiane Cooking Class, Vientiane: book an appointment with this seasoned cook who spent 15 years teaching other cooks in the hotel industry. Start with a trip to the market to buy fresh ingredients, and then follow along with Madam Phasouk to make dishes that will impress your guests back home.
- Organic Farm Restaurant & Guesthouse, Vang Vieng: an organic farm and restaurant rolled into one, this family-run establishment is famous for its mulberry juice and goat cheese. Foodies will use fresh vegetables from the on-site garden to create tasty dishes for lunch.
- The Lao Food Foundation: : Can’t get to a class because there are too many attractions to see in Laos? Sign up for a virtual class with the Lao Food Foundation. This online tutorial aims to promote Laos cuisine and culture by offering cooking lessons worldwide. It also has 17K followers on Instagram. How cool (and tasty) is that?
Take a Culinary Adventure with Laos Food Tours
If cooking is not your thing but eating is, then a Laos food tour will hit the spot. Every major tourist city in Laos offers food tours. Some are day-long culinary adventures that pack in top restaurants. Some explore night markets and offer tips on preparation, history and culture. And some last for two whole days! For organized food tours in Vientiane, check out Tuk Tuk Safari and Brothers Tours. In Luang Prabang, Wander Laos is the most popular choice. Tourists can sample a variety of dishes in each tour.
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Morning Markets – Fresh Flavors of Laos
There are two types of open markets in Laos – night markets and morning markets. Morning markets typically showcase fresh foods, like fruits, vegetables and raw meats. Visiting a morning market gives visitors a glimpse of daily life in Laos. Morning markets are filled with restaurant owners buying goods for the day and locals shopping for ingredients for family meals. They also are the best place to eat a hot breakfast, like a steamy bowl of noodle soup or an already sliced bag of fruit.
- Talat Sao Morning Market, Vientiane: this two-story, open-air market in central Vientiane is the cornerstone of the city’s food culture. Visitors can shop for a mix of fresh fruit and produce, along with Laos staples, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Phousi Market, Luang Prabang: the largest market in the old city features indoor and outdoor areas with a variety of fresh foods, handmade goods and clothing. It is open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
- Vang Vieng Morning Market: a covered market about 20 minutes from town center, this fresh market offers produce, meats, clothing and household items every day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Best Lao Modern Fusion Cuisine
Tourists to Vientiane will note the French influence instantly, and that fusion comes across in several Laos dishes. Restaurants in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng have taken advantage of the unique twists on tastes by offering dishes comprised of flavors that highlight the best of both Southeast Asian and European cuisine. Don’t miss dining at these modern fusion restaurants in Laos.
- Kualao Restaurant: 134 Rue Samsenthai, Vientiane
- Doi Ka Noi Restaurant: Sisangvong Road, Vientiane
- Nang Ae Restaurant: Kingkitsalat Road, Luang Prabang
- Restaurant du Crabe d’Or: Riverside Boutique Resort, Ban Viengkeo,Vang Vieng
