Some famous dishes from the Isan region of North East Thailand originated in Laos. The staple dishes of larb, grilled chicken, papaya salad and sticky rice are found all over the country. Luang Prabang is a fantastic place to experience Laos cuisine.
A massive variety of larb (spicy, minced meat salad) can be found all over town. The most common meats include pork, duck and chicken, and their respective livers are also generally included. There is a constant aroma of barbequed meats in every street. The highlights are the half butterflied chickens, any part of the buffalo, and a dazzling array of semi dried sausages, which can be seen drying in the street over the footpaths.
An original Luang Prabang dish is Aw Lam. It is best described as a hearty broth, full of meat, a variety of mushrooms, eggplant and a large amount of herbs. Everything is eaten with sticky rice, rolling little balls in the palm of your hand and then dipping into your meal.
Some great beer snacks include dried and fried buffalo, some quite sticky sweet and others like jerky, and dried river weed that is fried with sesame seeds and served with a great chilli nam prik.
