FOOD AND DRINK

FOODS

1. Khao Niwa (Sticky Rice)

Sticky rice is considered as Laos’ traditional food. It is traditional steamed in a cone-shaped bamboo basket and served in small woven basket, you can enjoy it with other food and sauces.

2. Larb (Minced Meat Salad)

Larb is an essential dish to pair with sticky rice. You can find Larb made with chicken, beef, duck, fish or pork and then stir-fried with shallots, chili pepper, fish sauce, fermented fish juice, ground rice and fres herbs.

3. Tam Mak Hoong (Green Papaya Salad)

This kind of salad is typically made with shreds of unripe papaya. It is similar to Thailand’s Som Tam dish, but with fermented fish sauce instead. Other ingredients include palm sugar, lime, garlic, tomatoes, dried shrimps, chilies and raw eggplant. All of these ingredients are pounded together in a traditional mortar and pestle.

4. Mok Pa (Steamed Fish)

Similar to Cambodian Fish Amok, this delicious fish dish is cooked with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, green onions, fish sauce, shrimp paste and lots of chilies.

5. Khao Jii Paté (Baguette Paté)

Due to its French influence, you can easily find this dish on many streets in Laos. This baguette sandwich is similar to Vietnamese Banh mi, but Lao version contains watercress, grated carrots and chile-garlic sauce instead of cilantro and pickels in Vietnam.

6. Khao Piak Sen (Wet Noodles)

Similar to Vietnamese Pho, Khao Piak Sen is a tasty bowl of flat rice noodles served with pork or chicken and a handful of herbs including lemongrass

7. Naem Khao Tod (Crispy Rice Salad)

This fresh salad is made up of deep fried rice balls, peanuts, freshly grated coconut, dried chili and large chunks of pork sausage. It is traditionally eaten as a warp by filling the individual lettuce leaves with the Nam Khao mixture, topped with fresh herbs and dried chilis.

8. Sai Uah, Sai Gok (Lao Sausages)

Unlike any other sausage, Lao-style sausage is an herb-infused meat. These pork sausages are mixed with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir leaves, shallots, cilantro, chilies and fish sauce. Then they are strung up, dried and sold in the markets. This is definitely very local and is worth trying as a quick snack.

DRINKS

1. Beer Lao

It is the most famous brand of beer in Laos, and widely considered to be the best tasting beer in the region. Lao beer is traditionally served with ice in small glasses, where it is enjoyed amongst friends and families.