Let's first address the elephant in the room here. Laap is a dish that originated in Laos and is now a firm favourite in Thailand too. It varies in components and presentation, but most importantly in name. Is it Laap, Larb, Lap, Laab... or something else entirely? These are all different pronunciations of the same dish, with some differences in preparation and components a result of the way that recipes alter over time and in different hands due to personal preferences, availability of ingredients, and price. So if you're looking to find a vegan laap, larb, lap, laab, lahp, lahb (etc) in Luang Prabang, you've come to the right place!
Okay, we get it, it has a lot of names. But what exactly is Laap?
So we've already agreed that Laap originated in Laos but has gone through lots of transformations over time, as it spread through Southeast Asia, and people added their own touches and available ingredients. Laap remains popular throughout Laos, among all different sectors of society; it is definitely considered one of Laos' national dishes. If you've read our vegan Or Lam in Luang Prabang blog you'll know that the cuisine here is meaty at heart, so won't be surprised to find out that the traditional Laap recipes include all kinds of different meat products. From chicken and fish to buffalo and in some cases even blood, vegetarians and vegans will definitely want to steer clear of traditional Laap.
And why is there so much meat in the traditional recipe? Well Laap is a salad dish with a meat base. This means that unlike most salads I have eaten before, where the protein is a kind of topping, or a small portion of the dish, in this case the meat (or vegan substitute) is a majority component of your meal. Expect your protein served with fresh, seasonal salad vegetables with a lime, mint, garlic, and spring onion marinade; many recipes also include fish sauce, so regardless of where you try your own vegan laap, make sure you ask for no fish sauce! (I always carry Google Translate and the V-Cards app to help with translation if I haven't grasped the local language yet!)
Where did we try vegan Laap in Luang Prabang?
While it was easier to find a vegan Laap than it was to find a plant-based Or Lam, the veggie-vegan versions are definitely the minority here. We've heard that throughout Laos it is possible to find plenty of places offering mushroom or tofu Laap, but we were travelling soon after Laos re-opened post-Covid and this had definitely had an effect on the availability of vegan food.
We were pleased to come across Tamarind, a restaurant and cooking school near the Nam Khan River, who offer plant-based dishes on their menu. This included a vegetarian tofu Laap! Hooray! As might be expected with Laap, the default version did contain fish sauce. So it's really important if you want to avoid fish sauce in your meal that you state this to the waiting staff: don't assume that just because this is a vegetarian dish that the fish sauce will be automatically omitted (it won't). The staff were really friendly and helpful though, making this alteration was no problem at all.
We'd actually really recommend Tamarind for tourists visiting Luang Prabang. When we visited it was a really hot and humid day: we sat under the fans in the shade and felt really relaxed and comfortable. Tamarind's seating area is a really open and airy space where you can sit and watch locals and tourists pass by. The menus are very informative, with lots of information about Laos cuisine, the dishes themselves, as well as local customs (you should eat with a spoon here! Forks should be used to push food onto your spoon - I am a big fan of a spoon so was very happy to find out about this!) They also have a cooking school, if you want to learn to cook some traditional Laotian dishes, which caters to all dietary requirements.
Tell us about the Laap! How did it taste?
So we told you it was a really hot and humid day when we tried Laap (this is very evident if you watch our Laap video, below, where we both look absolutely disgusting!) Well this was the absolute PERFECT lunch dish for a sweaty day in Laos. It was light, refreshing, and mostly served cold, with just the tofu providing a little warmth to the meal.
Served with lettuce and cucumber on the side, the Laap consisted of marinated chunks of tofu, along with beansprouts, tomatoes, spring onions, and lots of herbs. It was crunchy, with a very citrusy flavour (think lime-lemongrass in terms of sweetness and flavour) with the occasional hints of fresh onion and beansprouts.
How much did this Laap cost - and was it worth it?
As has been the case with many of the dishes we've reviewed so far, this one comes with the warning that because this dish isn't traditionally vegan, finding one that has been made plant-based adds a little extra to the price tag. However we actually thought that the price we paid at Tamarind was really reasonable. They even threw in some bamboo chips as we waited - I was quite apprehensive to try these, but they were surprisingly delicious!
We paid â‚32,000 per portion of tofu Laap. This is approximately £1.53, €1.74 or $1.90. The ingredients were so fresh and tasty, and even though I had to ask to omit the fish sauce, it was really great to find a vegan version of this national dish that we could enjoy beside the Nam Khan. If you want a light and healthy salad dish in Laos, we'd really recommend trying Tamarind's Laap (if you want a more substantial meal, it can traditionally be served with a side of sticky rice).
We also tried a couple of drinks here that I'd like to mention. I sampled iced Laos coffee, made with soy milk: it seemed like the perfect time to try this traditional local drink. It was chilled and refreshing with a light, milky sweetness that contrasted with the intense coffee flavours. Mike sampled Tamarind's papaya, lime and soy milk iced smoothie, since it said it was good for the stomach, and his was a little upset at the time. We're not sure if it was the power of the smoothie, but his stomach was fine afterwards, so we really recommend this tasty and refreshing smoothie! The drinks were cheap too, coming in at less than one pound/euro/dollar each - so affordable and tasty, so we'd say its well worth giving them a try!
Tamarind Restaurant and Cooking School is located at V4VR+VMF, Kingkitsarath Rd, Luang Prabang, Laos. The restaurant is open from 11am to 4:15pm, then from 5:30pm to 9:30pm Tuesday to Saturday. It is open from 5:30pm to 9:30pm on Sundays, and is closed on Mondays.
Have you tried vegan Laap in Laos? Or elsewhere in the world! Where did you go and what did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below.
Recommendations
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Where should I stay?
For a social vibe, rooftop infinity pool, parties and the camaraderie of dorm rooms, check out Mad Monkey Hostel Luang Prabang, which receives consistently high reviews from its guests.
For more of a serene vibe, Soutikone Place House 2 is family run and traditionally decorated, with private bathrooms and free toiletries.
Tours & Experiences
We really recommend a trip to Kuang Si Falls while you're in Luang Prabang. These waterfalls are absolutely stunning all year round, but especially in the dry season when they're turquoise blue. You can hike around the falls, capture some amazing photos - and some pools you can even swim in (but be sure to only swim in the ones clearly marked for swimming, as some of the pools are considered holy here. This day trip includes a trip to Kuang Si, as well as a Mekong slowboat cruise, and a chance to see the famous Pak Ou Caves.
If that's not quite for you, or if you want to explore Laos a bit more widely, why not try one of the top-rated Viator tours below?
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