Where to Eat Khao Phan Phak & Mee Phan in Laplae
Laplae's signature dishes · What they are and where to find them
A trip to Laplae isn't complete without the signature dishes you'll struggle to find anywhere else — steaming khao phan phak, sauce-topped mee phan and thin, crisp khao kaep. This article explains what each dish is, which areas and markets to find it in, and how to track down a shop, so you can taste your way through without guessing.
What Are Khao Phan Phak, Mee Phan and Khao Kaep?
The hallmark of Laplae cooking is rice flour made into thin sheets and turned into a range of dishes. "Khao phan phak" is a steamed rice-flour sheet wrapped around an assortment of blanched vegetables, topped with hot broth and a scatter of fried garlic — gentle and mellow. It's the signature dish to try first when you arrive in Laplae.
"Mee phan" is seasoned blanched rice noodles rolled in a thin rice-flour sheet and topped with a well-balanced peanut sauce or dipping sauce — easy to eat and just filling enough, perfect for breakfast or a snack. "Khao kaep" is a thin, translucent rice-flour cracker with black sesame, eaten crisp on its own or used in other dishes — a local specialty you can also buy as a souvenir. These three dishes are at the heart of Laplae's food culture.
These foods are best found at the Laplae morning market and at long-established shops in the town centre, usually sold from morning into late morning. Because many of these local spots are small and keep irregular, changeable hours, this article focuses on "the dishes and the areas you can find them" plus how to look, rather than listing shop names we can't verify. Read a fuller overview in our "Laplae Local Food" article.
Must-try dishes
Khao phan phak · mee phan · khao kaep
Where to find them
Laplae morning market · town-centre shops
Best time
Morning–late morning (market opens early)
From the resort
Laplae town ~5 km
Laplae's Signature Dishes: Where and How to Find Them
Khao phan phak
A steamed rice-flour sheet wrapped around blanched vegetables, topped with hot broth and fried garlic — gentle and mellow, the signature dish to try first. Found at the morning market and town-centre shops in Laplae from morning into late morning.
Laplae mee phan
Blanched rice noodles rolled in a thin rice-flour sheet, topped with a well-balanced peanut sauce or dipping sauce — easy to eat and just filling enough, good for breakfast or a snack. Look for it at morning-market stalls and long-established noodle shops in town.
Khao kaep
A thin, translucent rice-flour cracker with black sesame, eaten crisp on its own or used in cooking — a Laplae specialty you can also buy as a souvenir. Found both at the market and at community souvenir shops.
Areas and markets to find them
The Laplae morning market and long-established shops in the town centre (about 5 km from the resort) are the main areas to taste these dishes, freshest in the morning. Hua Dong fruit market also has bites worth stopping for — read on in our "Hua Dong Market" article.
How to find a shop reliably
Go in the morning when the market is open for the most choice. Try searching "khao phan phak Laplae" or "mee phan Laplae" on maps/social and filter by recent reviews, and check opening days and times before you go, as many small shops keep their own hours.
Taste Laplae's Local Food, Then Stay at Hua Dum Resort
Hua Dum Resort is in Laplae, close to the morning market and local food shops — rise early to enjoy khao phan phak and mee phan with ease. Rooms from ฿450–600. Book ahead via LINE or call 099-5029339.