Lao Cuisine & Food Culture
Discover the bold flavors, fresh herbs, and sticky rice traditions of Laotian cuisine - a hidden gem of Southeast Asian food
Fresh & Herbal
Lao food emphasizes fresh herbs, vegetables, and aromatic spices like lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime.
Bold & Spicy
Expect vibrant flavors - sour lime, fermented fish sauce, fiery chilies, and the balance of sweet and savory.
Sticky Rice Culture
Sticky rice (khao niao) is central to Lao identity. It's eaten with your hands and accompanies every meal.
8 Must-Try Lao Dishes
From street food to traditional feasts, these dishes define Lao cuisine
Laap (ລາບ)
Minced meat salad with lime, fish sauce, roasted rice powder, fresh herbs, and chilies. The quintessential Lao dish, often served with sticky rice.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Tam Mak Hoong (ตำหมากหุ่ง)
Spicy green papaya salad pounded with mortar and pestle. Made with lime, chilies, tomatoes, fermented fish sauce, and peanuts.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Khao Niao (ເຂົ້າໜຽວ)
Sticky rice - the staple of Lao cuisine. Steamed in bamboo baskets and eaten with your hands, used to scoop up other dishes.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Mok Pa (ໝົກປາ)
Fish steamed in banana leaves with herbs, lemongrass, galangal, and coconut. The banana leaves impart a subtle smoky flavor.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Khao Poon (ເຂົ້າປຸ້ນ)
Spicy rice noodle soup with coconut milk, fermented fish paste, vegetables, and herbs. A comfort food favorite.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Sai Oua (ໄສ້ອົ່ວ)
Grilled Lao sausage flavored with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, and chilies. Smoky and aromatic.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Khao Jee (ເຂົ້າຈີ່)
Grilled baguette sandwich - a French colonial legacy stuffed with pâté, vegetables, herbs, and your choice of meat or eggs.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Or Lam (ອໍ່ລາມ)
Hearty stew from Luang Prabang made with dried buffalo meat, eggplant, wood ear mushrooms, and bitter greens. Rich and flavorful.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Traditional Drinks
Refresh yourself with these local beverages
Lao Coffee
Strong, dark coffee from the Bolaven Plateau, often served with condensed milk over ice.
Beer Lao
Laos' national beer - a crisp lager perfect for hot days. The most popular beer in the country.
Lao Lao
Traditional rice whiskey - potent and smooth. Often infused with herbs or scorpions.
Fresh Fruit Shakes
Mango, pineapple, dragon fruit, and more blended with ice - refreshing and everywhere.
🍜 Join a Lao Food Tour
Taste your way through markets, street stalls, and family kitchens with local guides