🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Khao Khaep and Khao Khuap are traditional snacks found mainly in Phrae, Nan, and Lap Lae in Uttaradit. They're made from rice-flour batter spread thin, steamed on cloth stretched over a pot, then sun-dried into translucent sheets that keep for weeks. When you're ready to eat, you hold them over gentle charcoal heat until they puff and turn crispy. It sounds simple — and it is — but there's a real craft to it, and it's deeply tied to the way people here have lived for a long time.
Khao Khaep vs Khao Khuap — What's the Difference?
They look similar at first glance and people often mix them up — but once you know the difference, you'll pick the right one every time.
- Khao Khaep — thinner sheets, usually topped with black or white sesame seeds, mildly salty or just naturally rice-flavoured. Grill them and they go light and airy. Great on their own as a snack or crumbled into a bowl of Kanom Jeen Nam Ngiao noodle soup.
- Khao Khuap — thicker and wider sheets, mixed with sugarcane juice or palm sugar so they come out sweet. Often heavier on the sesame too. Grilled Khao Khuap is fragrant and slightly chewy-crisp — a winter-season favourite, best alongside coffee or tea.
- How to grill them — hold the sheet over low charcoal heat and flip it quickly and constantly so it puffs evenly without burning. Some people dampen the sheet slightly first to get a softer start before it crisps up. Don't leave it still — it scorches in seconds.
Buying tip
If you want a plain, savoury snack to eat on its own, go for Khao Khaep with sesame. If you prefer something sweet to have with coffee, pick Khao Khuap with sugarcane. Buy the ungrilled (raw) version for the journey home — it keeps much longer and you can grill it yourself whenever the mood strikes.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Phrae food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Where to Buy Khao Khaep & Khao Khuap in Phrae
You'll find both snacks throughout Phrae — sold either freshly grilled on the spot or packed raw in bags to take home as souvenirs. Here are the spots locals actually go to, ranked by how convenient they are for visitors.
Phrae Morning Market (Kad Chao)
The best starting point. Vendors at this old-town morning market grill Khao Khaep and Khao Khuap fresh right in front of you — try one off the grill, then buy a bag of the raw version to take home. Prices are low and you can pick up breakfast at the same time. Stock is especially good in cool-season months.
Kad Sam Wai
A community market with close to two hundred stalls selling northern Thai home cooking, seasonal produce, and local snacks including Khao Khaep and Khao Khuap. There's a dedicated souvenir section with several vendors to compare. Worth a morning stroll — on Fridays there's a short traditional dance performance too.
Thung Hong Neighbourhood
Famous for Mor Hom indigo-dyed fabric, but souvenir shops around Thung Hong also stock local snacks alongside the textiles — including bagged Khao Khaep and Khao Khuap. Ideal for a one-stop trip where you grab fabric and food before heading out of town.
Tao Luang Souvenir Shop
A well-known Phrae institution famous for its grilled Sai Ua sausage, but the shelves also carry a range of local northern snacks — chilli pastes, Kaep Moo pork crackling, and various rice crackers including Khao Khaep. Good if you want to load up on several different Phrae foods in one stop.
Charoen Mueang Road (Old Town Strip)
The old town's main street mixes heritage shophouses with newer craft cafes. A few spots have started serving Khao Khaep and Khao Khuap alongside coffee, or packaging them nicely as gifts. Good for a wander with photos of the old wooden houses thrown in.
Kodang 9 Souvenir Hub (Kad Mae Tom Area)
A newer souvenir centre that brings several Phrae local-product vendors under one roof — dried snacks, local sweets, and regional specialties from multiple sellers. Handy if you're driving through and want to grab everything in one quick stop.
District Weekly Markets (Talat Nat)
If you head out to surrounding districts like Sung Men, Den Chai, or Rong Kwang, the weekly rotating markets often have home producers selling handmade Khao Khaep and Khao Khuap. More rustic and cheaper than in town, but you'll need to check which market runs on which day before you go.
Online (Shopee / Lazada)
Missed it on the trip? Several Phrae sellers ship raw Khao Khaep and Khao Khuap nationwide — sesame or sugarcane versions available. Look for sellers who specify Phrae origin and have genuine reviews. Order them ungrilled and toast them at home whenever you want a taste of the north.
Honest note
Khao Khaep and Khao Khuap are handmade by individual producers, so quality and sweetness vary from stall to stall. If a vendor offers a sample, take it. Also check the best-before date on raw bags — many are made without preservatives, so keep them somewhere dry and they'll stay good for several weeks.
How to Eat Khao Khaep & Khao Khuap Well
The real magic is in the grilling. Get it right and you'll have a perfectly puffed, fragrant sheet that crumbles beautifully. Here's how people in Phrae actually do it.
- Low charcoal heat — keep the flame gentle and flip the sheet constantly so it puffs evenly all over. Leave it still for even a moment and it burns.
- With Kanom Jeen Nam Ngiao — crispy Khao Khaep broken into a bowl of the northern red curry noodle soup adds crunch. This is the classic northern Thai way to eat it.
- Dipped in chilli paste — use Khao Khaep in place of vegetables or plain crackers alongside Nam Prik Noom (roasted green chilli paste) or Nam Prik Ong (minced pork and tomato paste). It works well.
- Khao Khuap with coffee or tea — the sweet, sesame-fragrant sheet is perfect as an afternoon snack next to a black coffee or hot tea. Simple and satisfying.
Other Local Souvenirs Worth Pairing With
If you're already in Phrae, a bag of rice crackers alone might feel like you're leaving something behind. These other local products are sold in the same markets and shops — easy to grab at the same time.
Mor Hom Indigo Fabric (Thung Hong)
Phrae's signature deep-blue indigo-dyed cloth, available as shirts, scarves, and bags. Best selection at the Thung Hong neighbourhood workshops.
Nam Prik Noom & Nam Prik Ong
Jarred northern Thai chilli pastes — roasted green chilli or minced pork with tomato. Perfect with Khao Khaep or fresh vegetables. Available at every souvenir shop.
Sai Ua & Kaep Moo
Northern herb sausage and pork crackling — essentials of the northern Thai kitchen. Tao Luang shop and the morning market both sell vacuum-packed versions that travel well.
Plan a full food-and-sightseeing day in Phrae — local eats and the old town together
See the Phrae travel guide →