Home › Food tours › Luang Prabang
Food tours in Luang Prabang: what to eat and which tour to book
Luang Prabang's cooking comes from the old royal capital and the rivers around it: or lam (a peppery stew of vegetables, meat and chilli wood), Luang Prabang sausage, kaipen (sheets of Mekong river weed fried crisp with sesame), jeow bong chilli paste, and sticky rice eaten with the hands at every meal. The town is small, so most eating happens in a few places: the morning fresh market, the night market's food alley, noodle shops for breakfast khao soi, and riverside restaurants on the Mekong and Nam Khan. French bread and coffee survive from the colonial era.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in Lao kip (very roughly 25,000 kip to the euro); prices move with inflation, so treat them as a guide. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and inclusions on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Luang Prabang
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Or lam ເອາະຫຼາມ (or lam) | Luang Prabang's signature stew of vegetables, eggplant, herbs and often buffalo or chicken, thickened with sticky rice and flavoured with sakhan, a peppery chilli wood that numbs the mouth slightly. | Lao restaurants in the old town and along the rivers; look for it on menus labelled 'Luang Prabang specialities'. | roughly 40,000–90,000 LAK |
| Luang Prabang khao soi ເຂົ້າຊອຍ (khao soi) | Not the Thai curry noodle: here it is wide rice noodles in clear broth topped with a minced pork, tomato and chilli sauce, served with herbs and greens. A breakfast dish. | Noodle shops in the old town and around the markets, mostly in the morning; many sell out by midday. | roughly 30,000–50,000 LAK a bowl |
| Luang Prabang sausage ໄສ້ອົ່ວ (sai oua) | Grilled pork sausage with lemongrass, galangal, garlic and chilli, eaten with sticky rice and jeow. | Grill stalls at the morning market and night market, and Lao restaurants. | roughly 20,000–50,000 LAK |
| Fried river weed ໄຄແຜ່ນ (kaipen) | Dried sheets of Mekong river algae pressed with garlic, tomato and sesame, fried until crisp and eaten as a snack with jeow bong. | Restaurants and as packets at the morning market to take home. | roughly 25,000–50,000 LAK a plate |
| Jeow bong ແຈ່ວບອງ (jeow bong) | Sweet, smoky chilli paste with dried chilli, garlic, galangal and strips of buffalo skin, a Luang Prabang speciality eaten with sticky rice or kaipen. | Restaurants and jars sold at the morning market. | roughly 20,000–40,000 LAK a jar |
| Sticky rice and laap ເຂົ້າໜຽວ / ລາບ (khao niao / laap) | Steamed glutinous rice served in a basket and rolled into balls by hand, with laap, a salad of minced meat or fish with lime, herbs and toasted rice powder. | Any Lao restaurant; laap is often made with fish from the Mekong. | roughly 40,000–80,000 LAK for laap; rice about 5,000–10,000 LAK |
| Baguette sandwich ເຂົ້າຈີ່ (khao jee) | French-style baguette filled with pâté, pork, vegetables and chilli sauce, a legacy of the French colonial period. | Sandwich stalls near the night market and around the old town. | roughly 25,000–45,000 LAK |
| Lao coffee and Beerlao ກາເຟລາວ / ເບຍລາວ | Strong coffee from the Bolaven Plateau, often with condensed milk; and Beerlao, the national lager. | Cafés and restaurants everywhere; Beerlao at riverside restaurants at sunset. | roughly 15,000–35,000 LAK a coffee; 20,000–35,000 LAK a large Beerlao |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Morning market (old town)
Street market in the lanes near the Royal Palace and towards the Mekong, where locals buy river fish, herbs, vegetables, jungle produce, kaipen and jeow. Short and early; it overlaps with the end of the alms-giving procession.
Night market food alley
Off Sisavangvong Road, the night market is mostly textiles and souvenirs, but a narrow side lane is lined with food stalls: grilled fish and sausage, noodles and a well-known 'fill your plate' vegetarian buffet.
Phosy Market
The town's main day market a short ride from the old town, used by locals for fresh food, dried goods and household items, with simple noodle stalls.
Mekong riverside
Restaurants and terraces along the river road with sunset views, serving Lao and Western food and Beerlao.
Nam Khan riverside
Quieter side of the peninsula along the Nam Khan river, with garden restaurants, cafés and several restaurants specialising in Luang Prabang cooking.
Food tours in Luang Prabang compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luang Prabang: Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony | 4 hours | from €45 per person | max 6 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Luang Prabang: Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings | 4 hours | from €40 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Luang Prabang: Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class | 4 - 5 hours | from €39 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Luang Prabang: Foodie Walking Tour & Monk Blessing | 3.5 hours | from €44 per person | max 6 | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Luang Prabang: Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace | 4 hours | from €49 per person | max 10 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Luang Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings | 4 hours | from €40 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Luang Prabang: Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony
On GetYourGuide · run by Wander Laos Tour Co.,Ltd
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €45 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 175 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 6
- Included
- from Luang Prabang English-speaking host Baci ceremony Cooking class Home-cooked dinner Musical instrument performance Alcoholic drinks Tips
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Luang Prabang: Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by A Chef's Tour
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €40 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 112 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Khaiphaen
Luang Prabang: Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class
On GetYourGuide · run by Wander Laos Tour Co.,Ltd
- Length
- 4 - 5 hours
- Price
- from €39 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 110 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Bamboo weaving activity Traditional cooking class from Luang Prabang English-speaking instructor Lunch or dinner in a traditional bamboo tray (depending on the session booked) Alcoholic drinks Tips
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Luang Prabang: Foodie Walking Tour & Monk Blessing
On GetYourGuide · run by Wander Laos Tour Co.,Ltd
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €44 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 66 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 6
- Included
- Snack sampling Juice and/or Lao coffee English-speaking guide Breakfast or dinner Monk blessing ceremony Other drinks Tips (at your discretion)
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Luang Prabang: Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace
On GetYourGuide · run by Victoria Xiengthong Palace Hotel
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €49 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 63 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Victoria Xiengthong Palace Sightseeing (1 hour)
Luang Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by A Chef's Tour
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €40 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 39 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- 15+ food tastings included, more than any other Luang Prabang food tour Moveable feast with 9-10 stops around the old city Max 8 exclusive guests, smallest group size in Laos (private tour or 9+ guests - contact us) L…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- The tour starts opposite the Pasaniyom Traditional Café, alongside the Mekong river. It's centrally located in Luang Prabang and easy-to-reach from most hotels. 'A Chef's Tour' host will meet you opposite the cafe, on the sidewalk at the riverside. They are usually wearing a black polo shirt.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food is concentrated in two windows: the morning market and noodle shops at breakfast, and the night market food alley in the evening. Grilled meats, sausages and noodle soup are safest as they are cooked hot in front of you.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down restaurants in the old town range from simple Lao family places to restaurants serving set menus of Luang Prabang dishes. The town is quiet early: many kitchens close around 21:30–22:00 and there is an official late-night curfew for bars, so eat dinner early.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are popular and usually start with a guided walk through a market to buy ingredients, then a half-day class making laap, or lam, jeow and sticky rice, sometimes at a garden or farm outside town. Check whether transport and the market visit are included.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | 250,000–400,000 LAK, roughly €10–16 (noodle-soup breakfast, night-market stalls and buffet) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | 500,000–900,000 LAK, roughly €20–36 (two sit-down meals in Lao restaurants with a Beerlao) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | 1,500,000 LAK+, roughly €60+ (set dinner at a top old-town restaurant with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Possible, especially in visitor-oriented restaurants and at the night-market vegetarian buffet, but traditional Lao food uses fish sauce and padaek (fermented fish paste) almost everywhere, and or lam often contains meat. Say 'baw sai padaek, baw sai nam pa' (no fermented fish, no fish sauce).
Halal: Very limited. There are few, if any, halal-certified restaurants; pork is the main meat. Indian restaurants in town sometimes offer halal meat, and fish and vegetable dishes are the safest choice; ask directly.
Gluten-free: Fairly easy, since sticky rice and rice noodles are the staples. Soy sauce, oyster sauce and seasoning cubes can contain wheat, and baguettes obviously do. Simple grilled fish, laap and sticky rice are usually the safest choices.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Vendors at the morning alms giving (tak bat) selling tourists poor-quality sticky rice and offerings at high prices, and then pushing people into the procession. Only take part if it means something to you; if you do, buy rice from the market or ask your guesthouse to prepare it, dress modestly, stay quiet and keep a respectful distance. Watching from across the street is fine.
- Prices quoted in US dollars or Thai baht at a poor exchange rate. Ask for the price in kip and pay in kip, which is the local currency; carry small notes, as many stalls can't change large ones.
- Night-market food stalls without prices that charge visitors more. Choose stalls that show prices, and agree on the price of grilled fish (often priced per fish) before it is cooked.
Top tours & activities in Luang Prabang
Rent a car in Luang Prabang
Compare rental cars from local and international companies, with free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare car rentals in Luang PrabangPlan the rest of your Luang Prabang trip
Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Luang Prabang?
Tipping is not traditional in Laos, but it is increasingly common in visitor-oriented restaurants. Leaving small change or rounding up is appreciated; about 5–10% is generous. Some restaurants add a service charge, so check the bill. A tip for a good guide or cooking-class teacher is welcome, particularly in kip.
Is the street food safe?
Generally yes if you choose busy stalls with hot, freshly cooked food: grilled sausages and fish, noodle soup and fried snacks. Be more careful with raw salads and herbs, and with laap made from raw meat or fish. Don't drink tap water; bottled or filtered water is easy to find, and many places refill bottles.
When are the morning market and night market open?
The morning market starts around dawn and is mostly finished by about 9:00, so go early, after the alms-giving procession. The night market on Sisavangvong Road sets up in the late afternoon and runs until late evening, with the food alley busiest around 18:00–20:00. Check current hours, as they can change.
What should I know about the alms giving (tak bat)?
Monks walk through the old town at dawn collecting sticky rice from local people. It is a religious ritual, not a show. Watch quietly from a distance, don't use flash or stand in the monks' path, and dress modestly. Only take part if you wish to do it respectfully, and avoid the overpriced rice sold to visitors on the street.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a tight budget, roughly 250,000–400,000 kip a day covers noodle-soup breakfasts and night-market dinners. A comfortable day in Lao restaurants with a beer is about 500,000–900,000 kip. A top set dinner with wine starts around 1,500,000 kip per person. Kip prices change with inflation, so expect some variation.
Why does everything close so early?
Luang Prabang is a small town with a large monastic community, and local rules limit late-night bar opening, so the town goes quiet from about 22:00 to 23:00. Many restaurants stop serving by 21:30. Plan dinner for 18:00–20:00, especially if you want a riverside table at sunset.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.