Gastronomy in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao cuisine is different from other Southeast Asian food. Sticky rice is the main food of the Lao. Vietnamese and French foods are also popular in the country.

The usual soups that are served in Laos are tom ka phiek (light mind soup), tom gay (chicken soup), tom sour gay (sour chicken soup), tom pa (fish soup), tom pat (tom duck soup), tom som koong (hot prawn soup), gang no mind (bamboo shoot soup), gang pa (hot fish soup), gang y (cane soup) and soup of mykati. The national dish in the country is laap, a spicy blend of marinated fish or meat with a mixture of herbs, greens and spices. Other popular dishes include tam mak houng (spicy green papaya salad), mok pa (steamed fish), mok kai (steamed chicken), tom padek (fish cook in padek), pon (peppery puree of cooked fish), or (green vegetable stew), som khai pa (marinated fish roe), som moo (pickled pork), som phak kad (pickled greens), som pa (marinated fish), sin savan (sweet crisp fried beef), sai oua (sausage), nem (fried rice), ping kai (grilled chicken) and ping sin (dry grilled beef).

Lao desserts that are commonly serve include banana sweet, banana & taro chips, banana syrup, cassava sweet, custard pumpkin, pumpkin sweet, red bean sweet, khao tom (sweet sticky rice), kao meow (coconut with green rice), sweet banana chips, sweet rice with mango and fruit shake. Common beverages in the country are beer, coffee, iced “Dog” tea, Lao piranha, Lao tropical, red wine, tamnak Lao special, lao hai and lao lao (traditional alcoholic drinks).