Laos
Bamboo Shoot Stew
ແກງໜໍ່ໄມ້
Fresh bamboo shoots stewed with yanang leaf juice, mushroom, gourd and padaek into a thick green soup.
south-eastern-asia
Laos
Explore 52 foods connected to Laos, from everyday staples to rare local specialties.
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Laos Essentials
11 editor-selected foods for understanding the place through what people eat.
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Traditional foods from Laos.
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Laos
Banana Leaf Sticky Rice
ເຂົ້າຕົ້ມ
Sticky rice with coconut milk and a piece of banana or mung bean wrapped in banana leaf and steamed into a firm log.
Laos
Beerlao
ເບຍລາວ
Pale lager brewed in Vientiane with local jasmine rice alongside malted barley, sold in returnable brown bottles everywhere in the country.
Laos
Crispy Rice Salad
ໜຳເຂົ້າ
Rice balls fried until crisp, then broken up and tossed with sour fermented pork, peanut, coriander, lime and chilli, wrapped in lettuce to eat.
Laos
Glass Noodle Salad
ຍໍາເສັ້ນລ້ອນ
Glass noodles tossed with minced pork, prawn, tomato, celery and a lime and fish sauce dressing.
Laos
Grilled Fish
ປີ້ງປາ
Whole river fish stuffed with lemongrass and herbs, coated in salt and grilled upright over charcoal until the skin blackens.
Laos
Grilled Pork Skewers
ປີ້ງໝູ
Pork marinated in fish sauce, garlic and sugar, threaded onto bamboo and grilled at roadside stands from the late afternoon.
Laos
Grilled Sticky Rice
ເຂົ້າຈີ່
Sticky rice pressed onto a stick, brushed with beaten egg and grilled over coals until the outside is crusted and golden.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Jaew Bong
ແຈ່ວບອງ
Sweet-hot Luang Prabang paste of roasted chilli, garlic, galangal and shredded dried buffalo skin, cooked down in oil.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Kaipen
ໄກ່ແພ
Mekong river algae harvested, washed, pressed into thin sheets with sesame, garlic and tomato, dried in the sun and fried to order.
Laos
Khanom Krok
ขนมครก
Small coconut cream pancakes with a crisp edge and soft, custardy center, cooked in a cast-iron pan.
Xieng Khouang, Laos
Khao Kai Noi Rice
ເຂົ້າໄກ່ນ້ອຍ
Small-grained upland glutinous rice grown in Xieng Khouang, prized for staying soft for hours after steaming.
Laos
Khao Lam
ข้าวหลาม
Sticky rice with coconut milk and sugar steamed inside a bamboo tube until caramelized.
Isan (Northeastern Thailand), Thailand
Khao Niao
ข้าวเหนียว
Steamed glutinous rice, the staple of northern and northeastern Thailand, eaten by hand.
Laos
Khao Piak Sen
ເຂົ້າປຽກເສັ້ນ
A Lao chicken noodle soup with hand-cut rice noodles, ginger and fried garlic.
Laos
Khao Poon
ເຂົ້າປຸ້ນ
Round rice vermicelli in a coconut and fish or chicken broth thickened with pounded meat, served with a plate of raw herbs and banana flower.
Northern Laos, Laos
Khao Soi Lao
ເຂົ້າຊອຍ
Lao khao soi is a clear, savoury noodle soup with tomato, minced pork, herbs, and hand-cut noodles; it is distinct from Northern Thai coconut-curry khao soi.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Khua Mee
ຂົ້ວໝີ່
Rice noodles pan-fried in a sweet dark soy and tamarind sauce with egg, then topped with shredded omelette and coriander.
Vientiane, Laos
Lao Baguette Sandwich
ເຂົ້າຈີ່ປາເຕ້
Crisp rice-flour baguette split and filled with pâté, Lao sausage, pickled carrot and daikon, coriander, chilli and a sweet-savoury sauce.
Laos
Lao Beef Jerky
ຊີ້ນແຫ້ງ
Strips of beef or buffalo marinated in fish sauce, sugar and chilli, sun-dried and then flash-fried before serving.
Laos
Lao Coffee
ກາເຟລາວ
Bolaven Plateau coffee brewed strong through a cloth filter and poured over sweetened condensed milk, served hot or over ice.
Laos
Lao Curry
ແກງກະລີ
Mild yellow curry of chicken or beef with potato and coconut milk, seasoned with turmeric and dried spice rather than fresh chilli paste.
Laos
Lao Fresh Spring Rolls
ຢໍດິບ
Rice paper rolled around vermicelli, prawn, lettuce and herbs, served with a peanut or sweet-sour dipping sauce.
Laos
Lao Fried Spring Rolls
ຢໍຈືນ
Pork and glass noodle filling rolled in rice paper and deep-fried, wrapped in lettuce with herbs before dipping.
Laos
Lao Green Papaya Salad
ຕໍາໝາກຫຸ່ງ
Shredded green papaya pounded in a clay mortar with padaek, lime, garlic, chilli, tomato and long bean, less sweet and far more pungent than its Thai cousin.
Laos
Lao Grilled Chicken
ປີ້ງໄກ່
Butterflied chicken marinated in garlic, coriander root, black pepper and fish sauce, pressed in a split bamboo clamp and grilled slowly over coals.
Laos
Lao Meatballs
ລູກຊີ້ນ
Bouncy beef or pork balls threaded on skewers, grilled or boiled and served with a sweet chilli dip.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Lao Watercress
ຜັກນໍ້າ
River watercress grown in cold spring water in the north, eaten raw in salads or blanched alongside dips.
Isan (Northeastern Thailand), Thailand
Larb
ลาบ
Larb is a minced-meat salad with toasted rice powder, herbs, lime, and chilli, with Lao and Isan Thai styles.
Laos
Layered Rice Jelly
ເຂົ້າປາດ
Rice-flour and coconut milk steamed in thin alternating layers, usually green from pandan, and cut into diamonds.
Laos
Lod Xong
ລອດຊ່ອງ
Short green pandan-rice jelly worms pressed through a sieve into iced coconut milk and palm sugar syrup.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang Salad
ສະຫລັດຫລວງພະບາງ
Watercress and lettuce tossed with tomato, hard-boiled egg, peanuts and a creamy garlic-egg dressing — a colonial-era invention that stayed.
Laos
Mee Nam
ໝີ່ນໍ້າ
Wheat noodles in a clear pork or chicken broth with greens, minced pork and crisp fried garlic.
Laos
Mok Kai
ໝົກໄກ່
Chicken with herbs, chilli and rice powder wrapped in banana leaf and steamed into a soft parcel.
Laos
Mok Pa
ໝົກປາ
Fish mixed with dill, lemongrass, shallot, chilli and padaek, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed until it sets like a savoury custard.
Laos
Nam Van
ນໍ້າຫວານ
Coconut milk with tapioca pearls, jackfruit, palm seed, water chestnut and jellies, served warm or over ice.