Food · Luang Prabang · Laos
What to eat in Luang Prabang
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Luang Prabang, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 松岡明芳, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Luang Prabang khao soi, Or lam and Fried river weed. Several restaurants run classes that begin with a market tour and teach laap, mok pa and jeow, often in garden kitchens outside the town. Eat sticky rice with your right hand, rolling a small ball to scoop up dips.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Luang Prabang khao soi
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 3
- Tipping
- Tipping is not traditional in Laos, but rounding up the bill or leaving a little extra…
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Breakfast
1.Luang Prabang khao soi (Khao soi)
Wide, flat rice noodles in a clear broth topped with a rich tomato, pork and fermented bean sauce, served with herbs and lime. It is quite different from the curry-based khao soi of northern Thailand.
Where: Noodle shops on the side streets off Sisavangvong Road, mostly in the morning.
Dish
2.Or lam
A thick, herbal Luang Prabang stew of meat or buffalo with aubergine, beans, lemongrass and pieces of sakhan, a peppery wood that numbs the tongue slightly.
Where: Lao restaurants in the old town that specialise in local cuisine.
Snack · Vegetarian
3.Fried river weed (Kaipen)
Thin sheets of Mekong river weed pressed with sesame, garlic and tomato, dried in the sun and fried until crisp. It is eaten as a snack with beer and jeow bong chilli paste.
Where: The morning market sells it dried; restaurants in the old town serve it fried.
Snack
4.Jeow bong
A sweet, smoky and spicy chilli paste from Luang Prabang made with roasted chillies, garlic, galangal and slivers of buffalo skin, eaten with sticky rice or kaipen.
Where: Restaurants serve it as a dip; jars are sold at the morning market and souvenir shops.
Street food
5.Lao sausage (Sai oua)
Coarse pork sausage seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chilli, grilled over charcoal.
Where: Grills near the night market and at the morning market.
Dish
6.Laap
The national dish: minced meat or fish tossed with lime, fish sauce, toasted ground rice, chilli and mint, eaten with sticky rice and raw vegetables.
Where: Every Lao restaurant; vegetarian versions with mushrooms or tofu are common in tourist areas.
Dish · Vegetarian
7.Sticky rice (Khao niao)
Glutinous rice steamed in a woven basket and eaten with the hands, rolled into small balls to scoop up dips and stews; it is the staple at almost every Lao meal.
Where: Served with almost every Lao meal in a small bamboo basket.
Dish
8.Fish steamed in banana leaf (Mok pa)
River fish mixed with herbs, lemongrass, dill and chilli, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed or grilled.
Where: Lao restaurants and the night-market food lane.
Breakfast
9.Rice noodle soup (Khao piak sen)
Thick, chewy hand-cut rice noodles in a slightly viscous chicken or pork broth, topped with fried garlic and herbs; a comforting breakfast in the cool season.
Where: Morning noodle shops around the old town and Dara Market.
Snack
10.Lao baguette (Khao jee pâté)
A French-style baguette filled with pâté, cold cuts, pickled vegetables and chilli sauce, or with fruit and cheese for visitors.
Where: Sandwich stalls near the night market and along the main street.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Beerlao
The national beer, a light lager usually served in large bottles over ice; dark and other variants are also brewed.
Where: Everywhere, from riverside terraces to street stalls.
Food experiences
Lao cooking class
Several restaurants run classes that begin with a market tour and teach laap, mok pa and jeow, often in garden kitchens outside the town.
Night-market buffet lane
Off the night market, a narrow lane of stalls sells one-plate vegetarian buffets, grilled fish and sausages at low prices; seating is at long shared tables.
Morning market breakfast
After watching the alms giving, eat khao soi or khao piak sen at a noodle stall and browse the market's jungle produce.
Riverside dinner
Restaurants on terraces above the Mekong and Nam Khan serve Lao set menus as the sun sets.
Quick bites and street food
- Luang Prabang khao soi — Noodle shops on the side streets off Sisavangvong Road, mostly in the morning.
- Fried river weed — The morning market sells it dried; restaurants in the old town serve it fried.
- Jeow bong — Restaurants serve it as a dip; jars are sold at the morning market and souvenir shops.
- Lao sausage — Grills near the night market and at the morning market.
- Rice noodle soup — Morning noodle shops around the old town and Dara Market.
- Lao baguette — Sandwich stalls near the night market and along the main street.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 3 are usually vegetarian: Fried river weed, Sticky rice and Beerlao. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Eat sticky rice with your right hand, rolling a small ball to scoop up dips.
- Lao dishes are shared; order several plates for the table along with sticky rice.
- Restaurants close early; most kitchens stop taking orders by about 9:30–10pm.
- Ask for 'bo phet' if you want food without chilli.
- Prices are often written in kip but some places also quote dollars or Thai baht; check before ordering.
Tipping
Tipping is not traditional in Laos, but rounding up the bill or leaving a little extra in restaurants is appreciated. Guides and drivers on day trips are usually tipped modestly.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sabaidee | Hello |
| Khop jai | Thank you |
| Khop jai lai lai | Thank you very much |
| Bo pen nyang | No problem / you're welcome |
| Tao dai? | How much? |
| Saep lai | Very delicious |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Luang Prabang famous for?
Luang Prabang khao soi, Or lam, Fried river weed and Jeow bong. Wide, flat rice noodles in a clear broth topped with a rich tomato, pork and fermented bean sauce, served with herbs and lime.
+Is Luang Prabang good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Fried river weed, Sticky rice and Beerlao.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Luang Prabang?
Tipping is not traditional in Laos, but rounding up the bill or leaving a little extra in restaurants is appreciated. Guides and drivers on day trips are usually tipped modestly.