Noodle Soup in Laos

Noodle Soup in Laos Luang Prabang, Laos

#1 Aaron T

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Posted 20 June 2005 - 07:54 AM

Two of my favorite lunches on my recent trip to Laos were hot noodle soups. It is so good as it is made to order right in front of you, all for about $0.60. I get mine without meat but meat can be included. The woman chef (it was a woman in both cases) dices up some green onions and boils the broth. Then she adds the noodles and the diced green onions and some long leafy veggie that could be basil but not sure to the mix. In once place they have these rice crackers that look like the rice crispy treats that you add to the soup and they get soggy and good. Delicious. The 2nd place I tried this dish I added in a little of the hot chil sauce and boy was it hot - a little goes a long way. Makes the spicy sauces in the states seem like childs play.

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#2 Aaron T

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Posted 20 June 2005 - 07:59 AM

This is a photo of the 2nd place I had the noodle soup - a street stall with a bench to sit on built in.

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#3 Aaron T

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Posted 20 June 2005 - 08:02 AM

Another good eating experience in Luang Prabang was dinner with some fellow travellers I had met on an excursion to a local waterfall. We ate alongside the Mekong river at a Lao restaurant. We all drank Beerlao, the local brew, which is very good (rumored to be the best in SE Asia and I believe it). Beerlao is served in large bottles meant for 2, or 1 very thirsty person. I ordered duck laap with sticky rice. Ths is a very traditional lao dish. You are served a basket with sticky rice and a plate with diced/ground meat with sauce ad spices. It is meant to be eaten with your hand. You roll some rice into a ball (using only 1 hand) and then use it as the vehicle to scoop some of the duck onto the rice. This was very spicy. I could not finish it as the spice level was so high. Definitely spicier than thai food. It was delicious and we went through 4 beerlao between the 4 of us. There must have been chilis and I am not sure what else in the dish. Also on the plate were some steamed green beans to be used as a palate cleanser i think. Unfortunately no photos of this dish.