Published 24th March 2020
Luang Prabang is the perfect escape from your metropolitan woes with its natural and cultural allure. But beyond the quintessential waterfall visits and heritage immersion lies one of the city’s best charms: its food.
Though Lao cuisine may appear humble and unsuspecting, every dish packs a punch. Here’s a list of the most drool-worthy dishes to try in Luang Prabang. Thank us later!
Most Homely: Ban Cuan
This Lao-style chee cheong fun from Lao Coffee Shop is a no-brainer for the top of our list. Made fresh to order, this is a silken rice noodle roll with either egg or pork – or both if you wish – folded inside. A single bite of this delicacy and its guaranteed to make you feel right at home.
Pro tip: Arrive earlier in the morning to avoid disappointment, as this rarity is only available during breakfast and sells out quickly! It took our team four painstaking days of waking up before the sun did before we could finally get our hands on them.
Lao Coffee Shop
Address: Chao Fa Ngum Road Luang Prabang 0600 Laos
Tel: +856 71 212 242
Most Value-for-Money: Pho
This soothing bowl of pho at Lao Coffee Shop is sure to satisfy both your stomach and your budget. This broth is so flavoursome, you won't believe it only comes at 15,000 kip a bowl!
Springy rice noodles sit in a clear broth, together with tender strips of your choice of either beef or pork, topped with a spoonful of thinly sliced spring onions that add another dimension of freshness and flavour. Served alongside this comforting dish is a plate of assorted local vegetables, including bean sprouts and mint, for you to season your noodles just the way you like it.
Lao Coffee Shop
Address: Chao Fa Ngum Road Luang Prabang 0600 Laos
Tel: +856 71 212 242
Most Unexpected: Luang Prabang Salad
Whether or not you’re health-conscious, we can guarantee you’ll be a fan of the Luang Prabang salad. This light dish makes use of everyday greens like cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce, topped with generous slices of boiled egg whites.
While this may sound like any other salad, the secret here lies in the sauce: the use of egg yolks in the salad’s dressing, which started out as a substitute for mayonnaise, adds a savoury element to the dish that would convert any salad hater into a firm believer.
Bamboo Restaurant
Address: 02 Chaosompu Rd, Visone Village, opposite Wat Visoun, Luang Prabang 0600 Laos
Tel: +856 30 94 94 99
Most Hearty: Orlam
Orlam is yet another classic Laotian favourite, a wholesome peppery stew brewed with a mix of herbs, wood-ear mushrooms, buffalo meat, and other fresh local produce. This is the kind of stew that promises a clean bowl by the end of the meal. This stew can do no wrong in our eyes.
Sivixay Mekong Restaurant
Address: Khem Khong, Luang Prabang 0600 Laos, 4 min walk from Royal Palace
Most Refreshing: Mixed Fruit Shake
Hold on, hold on, put down your pitchforks -- we know this doesn’t really count as a dish. But this drink is that good. An unexpected favourite of ours, Bamboo’s mixed fresh fruit shake alone is enough to fill the void deep within. The fruits blended in remain a secret, but feel free to make a guess as to what fruits were used in creating this heavenly beverage. So far, we’re pretty sure that honeydew and apples are in the mix, but the rest remain a mystery. Try one for yourself and let us know what you think!
Bamboo Restaurant
Address: 02 Chaosompu Rd, Visone Village, opposite Wat Visoun, Luang Prabang 0600 Laos
Tel: +856 30 94 94 99
Now you know where to begin food hunting in Luang Prabang! These are just some of our personal favourites and definitely not exhaustive of the delicious Laotian food Luang Prabang boasts.
So when you’re in town, definitely try everything since you can’t find these dishes in Singapore. Tell us which dish is your favourite! ∎
Wee Kim Wee School