Not so much a restaurant review as per my usual ‘Eats’ but a dish in profile – a delicious Lao snack called khai pene. Ubiquitous on Luang Prabang’s menus, khai pene is basically dried river weed (think the Mekong River’s answer to seaweed), topped with sesame seeds, dried tomato and garlic then fried. It’s light, crispy, savoury and highly moreish, equally tasty eaten alone or with some kind of dipping sauce, like Lao chilli paste. Along with gracing most of the town’s menus, it’s also for sale by the packet at the local food market, so you can spread the khai pene love beyond Luang Prabang’s muddy shores!
Wow that’s different .
I eat the regular sea weed and of course the sushi ones
YUM! Thanks for beautiful photo Liz. Khai pene is my favorite dish when I was in Luang Prabang too. I wish I could have some right now.
Yummy yummy! I loved this, and yes did import it back across the border on occasion. I found something similar here in the freezer section of the Asian market but not the same as fresh by the river. Lovely photo too!
Mmm, that was one of my favorite snacks in Luang Prabang! I’d love to go back– but in the meantime I’m enjoying your posts about the town. -X