What Khao nom is
Steamed rice cakes wrapped in banana leaf, sweet or plain.
Khao nom is listed as a bakery item in the Laos guide, where the index tags it vegetarian. The index uses those labels to make an unfamiliar menu legible. What it cannot tell you is how this particular kitchen seasons, fries or plates the dish, so leave room to ask.
Where to find Khao nom
Khao nom is listed as nationwide rather than tied to one city, so it is a safe thing to look for wherever you land in Laos. Look for a shop with a short list of items and a steady stream of local customers.
The Laos guide also covers 5 dishes and 2 bakery items; open the country page for the full menu and the other places in the index.
What it costs
Khao nom sits in the budget band, which we define as usually under US$8. Across the 7 food entries we track for Laos, 5 are budget, 2 are mid-range and 0 are premium.
| Band | Typical range | Items | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | usually under US$8 | 5 | Tam mak hoong, Sticky rice, Or lam |
| Mid-range | roughly US$8–20 | 2 | Laap, Khao soi |
| Premium | usually US$20 and up | 0 | — |
Within this list, Khao nom is one of 2 bakery item entries and 5 budget items; 3 items share the vegetarian tag.
Dietary notes
- Vegetarian tag: the indexed dish contains no meat or fish, but confirm stock, sauces and cooking fats with the kitchen.
How to order it
- Ask for the price before ordering, especially where the menu lists market price or sells by weight.
Pair it with
These are the Laos items that make most sense alongside Khao nom, either as a second course or as the drink that finishes the meal.
Closest matches on the menu
These Laos items share the most tags with Khao nom, so they are the most useful comparisons for flavour, price and preparation.
Khao nom: common questions
What is Khao nom?
Steamed rice cakes wrapped in banana leaf, sweet or plain. It is listed in the TasteBridge Laos guide as a bakery item.
How much does Khao nom cost in Laos?
Expect the budget band: usually under US$8. Prices move with the city and the venue, so treat this as a planning figure rather than a fixed menu price.
Is Khao nom vegetarian?
Khao nom is tagged vegetarian in our data. That describes the dish, not every kitchen: ask about stock, fish sauce, lard or shared cooking surfaces if you need to be strict.
Where can I try Khao nom?
Our index lists it across Laos, so it is not tied to one address. Ask locally which version is served at breakfast, lunch or late evening, because the same name can cover different presentations.
Indexed as bakery item for Laos. Price bands are planning estimates, not live menu prices. Last reviewed 2026-11-06.