A Food Lover’s Guide for Your Lao Tours: Top Dishes by Region

Essence of Laotian dishes: From Rice Fields to Riverbanks

At the heart of Laotian cuisine is Khao Niew – sticky rice. More than just food, it’s a cultural anchor, eaten by hand and shared in every meal, from family gatherings to sacred festivals. Lao people call themselves the “children of sticky rice,” and it’s easy to see why. Surrounding this staple is a cuisine built on fresh local ingredients: river fish from the Mekong, foraged herbs, and vibrant market produce. With dishes like Khao Piak Sen and Mok Pa, every bite reflects nature’s rhythm and a tradition of sharing that defines the Lao way of life.

Northern Laos Delicacies: Luang Prabang & Upland Tribes

This region is the beating heart of traditional Laotian food, where dishes are crafted from jungle herbs, river fish, and memories passed through generations. Curious about what to eat in Luang Prabang? Here are the must-try dishes – and exactly where to taste them.

Or Lam – The Forest in a Bowl

A signature stew from Luang Prabang, Or Lam blends buffalo or chicken with wild mushrooms, eggplants, and a chorus of herbs – including sakhaan, the fabled Lao pepperwood that leaves a mild tingling on your tongue. It’s spicy, earthy, and as forest-flavored as a dish can be.

Where to try:

• Bouang Asian Eatery, 103 Sisavangvong Road – 32,000–40,000 Kip (~$1.50)
• Lost in Baan, House 10, Ban Xieng Mouane – reasonably priced modern twist

Or Lam (Source: saengskitchen)

Mok Pa – Fish Wrapped in Green Gold

River fish, marinated in lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and dill, then carefully steamed in banana leaves. This dish tastes like a hike along the Mekong – fresh, vibrant, and soulful. Mok Pa is a treasured family recipe, rarely found in international restaurants.

Where to try:

• Tamarind Restaurant, Kingkitsarath Road – 35,000 Kip ($1.70)
• Manda de Laos, Ban That Luang – Set menu ~ $36/person, perfect for fine dining explorers

Mok Pa (Source: tasteatlas)

Kaipen – River Weed Turned Delicacy

From the fast-flowing Nam Khan River, locals harvest kai – freshwater algae – then dry, season, and fry into delicious green crisps with sesame and garlic. It’s Laos’s version of seaweed chips, and highly addictive.

Where to try:

• Luang Prabang Night Market, Chaofa Ngum Road – 7,000–8,000 Kip per pack
• Dyen Sabai, across the bamboo bridge – riverside setting, snacks & dips menu

Kaipen (Source: tasteatlas)

Khao Piak Sen – Comfort in a Bowl

This chewy, handmade rice noodle soup is the Laotian cousin of pho – thicker noodles, richer broth, and infused with lemongrass, galangal, and homey love. Often eaten for breakfast, it’s a beloved local comfort food.

Where to try:

• Lao Coffee Shop, Morning Market (Chợ Sáng) or Khem Khong Street – 15,000–20,000 Kip
• Ock Pop Tok Silk Road Café, Ban Saylom – Great local flavors with craft views

Khao Piak Sen (Source: seriouseats)

Central Laotian Dishes: Vientiane & the Mekong Lowlands

If Northern Laos whispers through mountain herbs, Central Laos sings with balance and heritage—especially in the capital, Vientiane, where communal eating and traditional techniques thrive without compromise.

So, what to eat in Vientiane? Let’s dive into four must-try dishes that highlight the region’s vibrant culinary spirit.

Laap (Laab) – A Dish of Luck, Ritual, and Togetherness

This spicy minced meat salad is at the heart of Lao celebrations. Made with lime, mint, chili, fish sauce, and ground toasted rice, it’s eaten with sticky rice—by hand—and shared on woven mats.
Where to try:

• Pa Kham Than Restaurant – Rue Samsenthai, near Patuxay Monument (~20,000–30,000 LAK)
• Le Padaek – 55 Rue Hengbounnoy, Ban Haisok (Premium laap with wild herbs)
  

Laap (Source: seonkyounglongest)

Tam Mak Houng – Papaya Salad, Lao-Style

A staple of Lao street food, this funky, fiery dish combines shredded green papaya, chili, lime, garlic, and the unmistakable fermented fish sauce pa-dek.

Where to try:

• Tam Zap – Lane Xang Avenue (15,000–25,000 LAK)
• Ban Anou Night Market – handmade to order

Tam Mak Houng (Source: wikipedia)

Ping Gai – Charcoal-Grilled Chicken with Lao Soul

Marinated in lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, and pepper, this classic is slow-grilled over hot coals for a smoky, juicy finish. It’s best eaten whole—pulled apart with your fingers.

Where to try:

• Ping Kai Sihom Nang Vone – Chanthaboury District (25,000–40,000 LAK)
• Tyson Kitchen – 134 Rue Samsenthai (~40,000 LAK)
• Ban Anou Night Market – affordable street-style options

Ping Gai (Source: allrecipes)

Nam Khao – The Crunchy, Tangy Surprise

Crispy rice mixed with Laotian dishes, herbs, coconut, and peanuts—rolled by hand in cabbage leaves. A true taste explosion.

Where to try:

• Kualao Restaurant – 134 Rue Samsenthai (25,000–35,000 LAK)
• KA-TIB-KHAO – Setthathilath Road, Haysoke Village

Nam Khao (Source: sakos)

Southern Laos Flavors: Champasak, Savannakhet & Wetland Specials

Further south, the Mekong widens, and the cuisine grows deeper, bolder, and even more rooted in tradition. In provinces like Champasak and Savannakhet, food isn’t just sustenance—it’s memory, ritual, and nature, all rolled into one.

Fawm Kauv – Hmong-Style Steamed Rolls

Delicate rice crepes filled with minced pork, wood-ear mushrooms, and spring onions, then steamed in banana leaves and served with savory fish sauce. A comforting breakfast dish in Hmong communities.

Where to find it:

• Hmong Morning Market, Ban Phanom, Luang Prabang – ~10,000–15,000 LAK per portion

• Night Market, Phousi Road, ask for “Hmong steamed rolls” at ethnic stalls (weekends only) – Best visited early morning (6–9am)

Fawm Kauv (Source: flickr)

Khao Tom – Sticky Rice Banana Parcels

Glutinous rice filled with mung beans or banana, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed slowly. Traditionally made during Boun Pi Mai (Lao New Year) and temple offerings, this humble sweet has deep spiritual roots.

Where to find it:

• Talat Sao Morning Market, Vientiane – banana leaf stalls – ~5,000–8,000 LAK each

• Pakse Riverside Night Market, Champasak – ~10,000 LAK/portion (festival bundles wrapped in bamboo strings)

Khao Tom (Source: messyvegancook)

Hmong Sesame Balls – Deep-Fried Festive Delights

Golden and crunchy on the outside, chewy and sweet inside, these sesame balls are made with sticky rice flour and filled with mung bean paste. Traditionally cooked in large batches during Hmong New Year and market days.

Where to try it:

• Luang Prabang’s Wat That Village Market – Hmong food stalls (Saturdays only) – ~3,000–5,000 LAK per ball

• Muang Ngoi Ethnic Market, near Nam Ou River trekking villages – Often available as breakfast snack during winter trekking season

Hmong Sesame Balls (Source: chawjcreations)

Impress Travel’s Signature Culinary Tours in Laos

Want to do more than just eat? Come taste Laos authentically through one of Impress Travel’s signature Laos culinary tours, where food isn’t just included—it’s the entire reason for the journey. We’ve spent over 15 years designing Vietnam Cambodia Laos package tours, but our heart beats strongest in the kitchens, markets, and rice fields of Laos.

What Makes Our Culinary Tours Unique?

• Dine with Local Families: Whether it’s grilling Ping Gai with a Savannakhet grandmother or making Laap in a Luang Prabang backyard, you’ll taste home-cooked food that doesn’t exist on menus.
• Explore Rural Markets: From sunrise papaya stalls in Vientiane to fermented delicacies in Pakse, we guide you through local market food in Laos with expert interpretation.
• Seasonal & Festival Cuisine: Travel during Pi Mai (Lao New Year) or harvest festivals, and you’ll witness traditional dishes being prepared the way they’ve been for centuries—often only on those days.
  

Conclusion: Discover Laos Through Its Laotian dishes

Laotian dishes is more than nourishment—it’s a language of memory, spirituality, and identity. From the smoky streets of Vientiane to the lush jungles of Luang Prabang, every dish tells a story: of land, of people, of history still alive in the pot.

So if you’re wondering what to eat in Laos, don’t stop at noodle soups and sticky rice. Dig deeper. Taste more boldly. Ask questions. And let food lead you into corners of Lao life you’d never find on your own.

Ready to begin your edible adventure? Book your Laos tour package with Impress Travel – Taste Laos authentically, deeply, and deliciously.