5 sweet street snacks
From cute little coconut pancakes to the freshest in tropical fruit…if you’re looking for street food to satisfy your sweet tooth,
you will find it here in Luang Prabang!
1. Roasted bananas
All over the town you’ll find street vendors wearing woolen gloves and turning little bananas on a grill over hot coals. They’ll often be selling roasted root vegetables and cooked eggs at the same stall. Once they’ve been barbequed, the bananas are hard on the outside with a soft, sweet center…definitely worth trying while you’re in Luang Prabang!
1. Roasted bananas
2. Coconut pancakes
Luang Prabang is renowned for Khanom Kok – little coconut pancakes that are grilled in a special iron plate on the side of the road. They are made from coconut cream, rice flour and sugar. You’ll find vendors selling them at the entrance to the night market – dishing them up in beautiful folded banana leaves. You’ll also find them for sale at the Morning Market behind the Tourism Bureau.
2. Coconut pancakes
3. Deep fried goodies
There are several different types of Lao donuts for sale on the streets of Luang Prabang. In the morning local people like to buy deep fried snacks to have with their coffee. They come in x-shapes and as little balls sprinkled with sesame seeds. In the afternoons you’ll find the western style donuts for sale in many parts of town, covered in coloured icing and with various types of filling from custard to faux cream.
3. Deep fried goodies
4. Fresh fruit
You can’t go past the array of succulent and exotic fresh fruit for sale all around town. If you’re looking for a sweet snack that is healthy – why not stop at a fruit stall and buy some supplies? From the deep pink flesh of the dragon fruit – to the sweet-sour taste of green mangoes. Depending on the time of year you can also find pomelos, persimmons, pomegranates, papayas and pineapples. If you prefer your fruit blended, there are plenty of vendors around the night market who offer sweet smoothies for sale.
4. Fresh fruit
5. Steamed sticky rice cakes
You might not know it’s a sweet snack, but if you see trays of little parcels wrapped in banana leaves – be sure to buy a few and have a taste! Locals love to make steamed sticky rice cakes and often take them to the Morning Alms ceremony to offer to monks. Inside the banana leaf you will find a small clump of sticky rice that has been steamed in coconut milk and sweetened with sugar and slices of banana.
