Tam mak houng is Laos's spcay papaya salad. Shredded unripe papaya and shrimp paste are the key ingredients, along with garlic, tomatoes, yardlong bean, chili, palm sugar, lime juice, fish sauce and brined crabs. In Laos locals eat it usually with sticky rice.

Lao's Khao soi is a soup made with wide rice noodles, chopped pork, tomatoes, fermented soy beans, chillies, shallots and garlic, then topped with pork rind, bean sprouts, chopped scallions and cilantro. The dish is served with a special tomatoes based chilli paste.