National cuisine of Laos

The traditional cuisine of Laos is very diverse. Many dishes are, of course, based on rice. People here also love a variety of noodles, adding them to soups and eating them as a side dish.

In addition, numerous types of fish, meat, poultry, herbs, fruits and vegetables are consumed here. In general, the variety of oriental cuisine is obvious. Among the dishes of Laos, oddly enough, French pastries are famous; you can find them in many restaurants.

Tourists often snack on a sandwich, which is made from a loaf literally filled with meat, fish, cheese, and vegetables in one mixture or another. It costs mere pennies, but it’s not considered a delicacy either; it’s such a popular snack. Here are a few national dishes of Laos that are worth paying attention to:

• Fish sauce is such a popular element of many dishes that it can be considered a separate national dish. Together with pure rice, it creates one of the country's staple dishes.
• Laap (or simply paw) are pieces of meat or fish, raw or marinated, seasoned with spices and herbs. Quite a risky dish, given the epidemiological risk of gastrointestinal diseases in the country. So, if you don’t want an unappetizing continuation of the banquet, buy this dish in trusted restaurants.
• Tam mak salad is a spicy salad served with plain rice as the main dish of the region. The salad is based on papaya, some other vegetables and fruits, spices, and herbs.

• Rice balls are a specific local snack that is neither considered a delicacy nor a “restaurant format”, but can be found everywhere. These are fried rice balls served with lettuce.
• Nae-nuang - thin pancakes folded with minced meat or pieces of meat and herbs, a delicious snack that is quite popular throughout the country.
• Bananas in coconut milk - the name speaks for itself, the fruits are soaked for some time, becoming softer and more aromatic. This is a popular dessert.
• Sweet rice with mango pulp - this dessert can be found in many restaurants; both residents of Laos and guests of the country love it. In general, various fruit mixtures and salads in addition to rice are popular here.

Lao Lao is popular among alcoholic drinks in Laos. This is a strong rice moonshine. It is often infused with exotic tinctures with all sorts of creeping reptiles such as centipedes and snakes, but this, as you know, is not for everyone. Among less strong drinks, BeerLao beer is known.

Lao Hai rice wine is no less famous. In addition, Laotians and visitors to the eastern country drink citrus juices and other fruits, such as green coke juice. Sweet sugarcane juice, fresh or slightly fermented, is popular here. Strong coffee with condensed milk and sugar is a favorite in Laos; go to any coffee shop. When it comes to tea, they prefer green tea.