Lao food doesn’t get the international spotlight that Thai or Vietnamese food does, but it’s one of the most underrated food scenes in the region.
Sticky rice (khao niew) is the backbone of almost every meal, served in a small woven basket and eaten by hand, it’s less a side dish here and more the main event.
Laap is Laos’s most famous dish, a minced meat salad with herbs, lime and chili, often considered the national dish and worth trying at least once in its traditional, very spicy form.
Tam mak hoong, the Lao version of papaya salad, is spicier and funkier than its Thai cousin thanks to fermented fish sauce, not for everyone, but a genuine local staple.
Beerlao is everywhere, cheap, cold, and something of a national institution, most backpackers end up drinking a lot of it without really planning to.
Lao coffee, grown on the Bolaven Plateau, is some of the best in Southeast Asia and worth seeking out at a proper café rather than a hostel instant packet.
Street food tip: night markets in Luang Prabang and Vientiane are the easiest, cheapest way to try a wide range of dishes in one sitting, point at whatever looks good, it’s rarely a bad decision.
We share our full food guide, including what to order and what to be cautious with, in the complete Laos backpacking book