From mouthwatering coconut pancakes to grilled rat.
Luang Prabang is famous for its lush mountains, gilded temples, and orange-robed monks that line the streets at dawn. But more recently, this secluded province in northern Laos has become popular with food pilgrims eager to get an authentic taste of Lao cuisine. Unlike neighboring Thailand and Vietnam, Laos’s gastronomic offerings are little known outside Asia—in fact, many dishes such as laap (or larb) that are often served in Thai restaurants originated in Laos. There’s no better place to get acquainted with this spicy, herb-packed cuisine—a mix of local and French colonial influences—than at one of Luang Prabang’s many food markets. Here, we round up the 14 street foods you can expect to find as you wander the UNESCO-listed paths of the country’s unofficial food capital.