KhaoJee Pa-Tay (banh mee)

This sandwich clearly displays Laos’ own food heritage blending with that of its French colonial past.

These massive baguettes are everywhere in Laos, but there’s probably nowhere better to catch the action than the bus station outside the Khua Din morning market in Vientiane. Arguably the quality isn’t the best, but the sheer volume of bread transaction will make your head spin.

Ingredients being scooped, smeared, chopped, then literally thrown into these sandwiches, its almost a competition to see who can create the fastest masterpiece.

Not at all your simple pate-and-bread to eat with wine

The sandwich maker slices the bread lengthwise and then spreads on a thick layer of pate – rich livery flavor, bit also a sticky surface for all the veggies to grab onto. The pate is a must, without it, it just wouldn’t be right.

Next comes the strips of pork sausage, spears of cucumbers, whole green onions, carrots and pickled turnips, and then usually some pork floss. When your eyes are sufficiently bigger than your stomach, the final touch is complete with a few end-to-end layers of sweet and spicy red sauce.

The sandwich is cut in half, and most people walk away eating the first half while carrying the second half to-go. A full-option baguette will range from 10,000-20,000 Kip depending on your order, and to-go (smaller) ones can be as cheap as 5,000 LAK at the bus stop.

Where to go: In Suvannakhet, one of the best sandwiches on earth (opposite from the golden Phonsavanh Bank, its the tallest building in town, and you should order the full option with steak). Also, Khao Gee Mae Sab Restaurant in Vientiane.

SUBWAY WOULD HAVE NO CHANCE AT THE VIENTIENE BUS DEPOT.