It's possible to visit Luang Prabang and be tricked into thinking you're eating Lao food. Most of the restaurants pimp Thai curries as Lao food. Although most don't do it to be deceptive, it's a disservice to real Lao cuisine. We searched around for traditional Laotian dishes and found some at a simple restaurant named, of all things, the Fruit Shake Restaurant. Yes, we know, with a name like that, how authentic could it be. Plenty, it seems.
The stew in the foreground is Or Lam - a spicy stew with mushrooms, eggplant, meat, lemongrass and chillies. This particular Or Lam did not have the wood bits that give off a spicy numbing feeling when you chew on it. We tried the wood later on in Nong Khiaw - a truly bizarre taste sensation.
Let's help each othre post photos of Lao food here
Laab is a type of Laomeatsalad. It is most often made with chicken, beef, duck or pork, flavored with fish sauce and lime. Larb made with duck, turkey or fish is also popular. The meat can be either raw or cooked; it is minced and mixed with chilli, mint and, optionally, assorted vegetables. Roughly ground toasted rice (kao kua) is also a very important component of the dish. The dish is served at room temperature and usually with a serving of sticky rice. A common variation is neu-ah nam tok ("waterfall beef"), in which beef is cut into thin strips instead of using ground beef.
i like papaya salad that is my favorite dish, eat with sticky rice and fry chicken wings or barbecue go with it. the best part of papaya salad don't forget to put pa deak. remember lao pa deak and lao kao noiew, no matter where lao people live we still eat kao noiew.
wow..... i want to eat lao food too much,,,, i miss laos...... love lao food alot..... waiting for me i will go back and eat u there!!!! kid hod ban day....