I visited Luang Prabang, a Lao-Thai cart on Library Mall, a few times earlier this year. They had a regular menu that included curries, noodles, and salads, but also a rotating daily menu, all at very affordable prices. The people working at the cart were really nice and accommodating, and were happy to modify any dish they could for ingredients that you can't or don't eat. The first thing I tried was the squash curry, which was a really generous portion size for $7, consisting of rice topped with a rich coconut milk-based curry filled with chicken, kabocha, and zucchini. It was really filling and tasty. But the real winner from the cart after a few visits was the avocado spring roll, which was $3.50 and the size of a burrito. It was basically a giant fresh roll filled with avocado, lettuce, cabbage, mint, rice noodles, cucumber, carrot, and peanut sauce. We got the medium spicy sauce, and it had a fantastic kick to it. Still can't believe something so large was only a few dollars, as it was such a great deal. Definitely worth trying this cart if you're looking for something to eat on campus. read more

See all

Spring rolls the size of a full grown guinea pig! Ask for it spicy. If that not enough, you can choose from their all encompassing menu of curry, papaya salad, or pad Thai! I love seeing the sweet owner every time I visit. read more

Very authentic Laotian & North eastern Thai food. The only thing is that the service is fairly slow in the afternoon. Took a while to get our food. read more

Coming from a Lao family, this is where I go to get my fix when I'm feeling homesick or craving Lao food; I've been coming to this food cart for over four years now. The owner is extremely kind and will always greet you with a smile. There are daily specials in addition to the menu items that are available everyday. My personal favorite dish is the mok pa, a daily specials item, which is a steamed catfish dish wrapped in banana leaves and lots of different fragrant herbs served over rice. Today, I had the avocado spring roll, which for $3, is the cheapest, most nutritious, and filling meal you can get in downtown Madison. The vegetables always taste fresh and the peanut sauce complements the spring roll perfectly. It's like having a burrito from Chipotle or Qdoba, but without the self-loathing afterwards. It never disappoints, and it's a great first dish to try if you've never had Lao food! read more

Luang Prabang - Mmm avocado spring roll always hits the spot - Thai Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

You won't EVER be disappointed with this food. PERIOD. As a college student, I would consistently switch between their spicy tofu squash curry and their spring rolls as timeless classics. Among their other items, their mango sticky rice is AMAZING. Having origins from Southeast Asia as well, this food cart has done me a great service of bringing me closer to home especially on the toughest days. In addition to that, the woman who works tirelessly in the cart has recognized me and we've had many familiar conversations. I'm amazed that she can continue to shine as radiantly as she does despite always working so hard! People might complain about the wait, which I understand, but why don't you try rolling a fat spring roll seamlessly without tearing the delicate rice paper and see how long that would take you? I have mad respect for the incredible woman who is in their cart throughout the week, creating tasty and authentic lunch and in a quick and efficient manner as it can for a fresh spring roll. If you're trying to get food from the food carts on the State Street Mall, you won't regret this one, even if you have to wait a little bit. Luang Prabang, you have never failed me! read more

Outstanding spring rolls and easily the best bargain lunch among the campus food carts

How can you not like this food cart? The cook here is the friendliest among all the food carts at Library Mall, and every single person I watched ordering here know Kai by name and obviously, she knew them by name too. Food - cheap and large portions. Haven't found anything I do not like here, but I usually order the same few favorites. (Monday special) Laotian sausage. The sausage and the sticky rice is the perfect combination, you just keep going back. Khao Moo Deng - pork with fried sticky rice and super tasty avocado salad. Really good. The pork is like chinese BBQ pork (Char siew), and tender and great flavor. I'm not sure what they put in the sticky rice, but its brown instead of white and so much tastier! Mango sticky rice - mangos are always sweet. Rice, the last time I had it, was more like a pudding, but still tasty sweet and sticky like you would want it. Avocado spring roll - favorite among most people I watched ordering, and you can request for not ordering certain things in there. Pad Thai - very very very tasty. the best you can get in Madison. I love the food cart so much, I will brave the Bascom Hill back and forth just so I can get some tasty Thai food. Good service, good food, cheap and large portions - what more can you ask for? read more

This is my Favorite food cart in library mall!!! And this is a lot since library mall is filled with amazing food carts. I however love all of the food this cart offers. Their curries are to die for, and wow their spring rolls are cheap and fresh and amazing. You can customize how spicy you want the spring rolls which I love, and I've met people with peanut allergies and they accommodate to put differs sauces. The people working in the cart are always so friendly, even when the lines are insane, and they are usually one of the last carts to leave which is great for us people who might not have time to go during lunch. Anyways, I just love this cart, the food, and the service! read more

Luang Prabang - a food truck with a dragon painted on the side - Thai Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I literally come from Milwaukee to eat here. It's the best pad Thai I've ever had. I recommend medium spicy. Both the chicken and tofu are great. Also, you can get GIGANTIC avocado spring rolls. The pad Thai is FIVE DOLLARS and the spring rolls are only $3. I ate here constantly when I went to school in Madison and I hope it never closes because I'm gonna be going there as long as I possibly can lol. read more

My favorite food cart on Library Mall. The spring rolls are massive, fresh, and cheap. I have mostly only gotten the spring rolls but after seeing my co-worker repeatedly get the catfish every Tuesday, I decided to order that one Tuesday. I was not disappointed! For $7, you get a heaping portion of steamed catfish, along with a generous scoop of either white or sticky rice, and steamed veggies. It's topped with a delicious green chile sauce that really just ties everything together. For the price, it's a real steal because I could definitely see this dish costing $10-13 in a restaurant. She only has this special on Tuesday though. The lady who runs the cart is also very friendly and always greets me with a smile. I am so glad this cart exists and I am eager to branch out of my spring roll ways (though they're so good, I can never resist not getting them!) and try the pad thai and other offerings in the future. read more

The pad thai is usually my go-to dish when benchmarking a Thai restaurant (or in this case, food cart), and I am sad to say that the Luang Prabang pad thai is extremely underwhelming. Although the flavor was okay, the noodles were overcooked, resulting in sad, limp clumps at the bottom of my take-out box. The chicken was also way too dry. The only real thing that Lunag Prabang has going for it is their prices, which undercuts their competitors by $2-3 per entree. I may be back on a whim to try out the avocado spring roll, but that remains to be seen. read more

Easily one of the best food carts to be found in Library mall. The Pad Thai is just as spicy as you want it to be, the meals are always quick and affordable, and Thuy and Gui both are a joy to be around. Cant say enough good things about the service and food here. read more

Luang Prabang - Cover of Madison Magazine in August of 2014 - Thai Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I still dream about the spring rolls from this food truck. The prices are unbelievable and the flavor is even better. I have tried to recreate this time and time again but I will never beat their recipe. Such a sweet owner as well!! You must stop by this truck if you are in Madison. I love you Luang Prabang! read more

I chose Luang Prabang out of the 20 or so food carts near the U of W mostly due to Yelp reviews (but partially because Laotian food sounded good). However, I had a fairly lackluster experience. They were out of most of their dishes already by 2:00, so I had a fairly limited selection (no spicy sausage, sadly). I chose the yellow curry, and it was just ok. The rice tasted and felt like it had been sitting a long time (very mushy), and the curry lacked pretty much any sort of vegetables despite the people there telling me there would be veggies in it - it was about 90% potatoes (I know, in the midwest they consider potatoes to be a vegetable, but they really aren't). I'll definitely come back to try out the spicy sausage, as it gets rave reviews here, but if they are out of it (and they told me they usually sell out by noon or 1pm), you should skip this place and pick another cart. read more

This is a really amazing foodcart on State Street. I've had two dishes here and they were delicious. The papaya salad with chicken and sticky rice was tangy and refreshing. I had mine with BBQ pork because they had not enough chicken remaining, and actually prefer it that way. They also have these giant avocado spring rolls (see photo for scale!) for only $3.00!! Perfect, healthy, cheap lunch on a summer's day. You can also add meat to the spring rolls for the same price! A tip though- their food can be really spicy. I am quite tolerant of spicy (hot) food, but even their mild was too hot for me in the papaya salad. Their customer service is excellent. The guy and lady are so cheerful and friendly, it is like they really enjoy what they do and their customers. Once when they ran out of a dish I wanted, they gave suggestions, and even samples to help me choose another dish. read more

See all

AVOCADO SPRING ROLL. For $2.50 it's a steal that you get essentially a large burrito of avocado-y, cabbage-y, spicy, peanut saucy goodness with mint and noodles bundled in a rice wrapper. This is my go-to grab on Library Mall for something veggie-filled and cheap on the go. Sometimes I go over there just for the spring roll actually. read more

Luang Prabang - Avocado springroll - Thai Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Ka's review was an inspirational delight to try an avocado spring roll, though ill disagree and say the lady who runs slide is the nicest food cart operator :) A lady in front of me ordered a spring roll when I pranced up to the window and the woman inside inquired if I wanted one also, yes please, I would like two. Two rolls are placed in front of the girl and I and off she goes with one of them. The woman asks the girl behind me if she would like a spring roll, spicy or regular? Woah spicy is an option. Rad. I ask her if I may have another roll and could it be spicy please. She placed the rolls in bags and with some sauce to put with the non spicy one. Oooooh the peanut and hot sauce tantalize the crunchy goodness within. 2 goals for the school year: do all of the readings before class and TRY not to buy one of these delicious harmonious delights every day. read more

I'm really surprised I haven't written a review here yet, because I love coming to this cart. They have really good curries and all are blasting with flavor, and at reasonable prices. And they give you enough curry for the rice (so I've never felt like I haven't had enough curry to finish off the rice). They also sell those giant burrito-sized spring rolls, which is great. That (the spring roll) and the pad thai are great deals. They give you a large take-away box of pad thai that definitely could last me two or three meals. However, the noodles sometimes clump up together. But the flavor is definitely there as well. This cart is definitely my favorite Thai food cart on Library Mall. read more

I LOVE THIS FOOD CART. Since moving to Madison, I have made it a priority to stop at this little truck once every two weeks. My favorite order (and also a local favorite) is their spring rolls. The spring rolls can be ordered with pork or chicken. They also will ask you if you want mild, medium, or hot. I always choose mild and it's still too spicy for me. Their spring rolls are HUUUUGE and only $3.50. A perfect quick lunch and always filling. They do have other options but the spring rolls blew me away so much that I haven't tried anything else read more

This is hands down my favorite food cart! Their avocado spring rolls are delicious - I always go for medium spice because it's pretty spicy! There is usually a rotating menu but many staples that are always available. Their curries are delicious and everything is reasonably priced. The service is great and everyone is so friendly. The long lines are worth the wait!! read more

Izzy D pretty much has it covered, but I'll reiterate anyway. This little food cart has the most amazing burrito-sized avocado spring roll! For $2.50!!! When is the last time you ate lunch out for $2.50?!?! Yes, it has no meat in it, but I have taken many a carnivore to get a spring roll here and every one of them has loved it. Next time you're at Library Mall and don't feel like waiting in the endless line for Banzo, go get yourself a spring roll at Luang Prabang. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. The only reason this isn't a 5-star review is that I've never tried anything else at this cart, so I have no idea how anything else is. I've been here a bazillion times and can't get myself to try something other than the awesome avocado spring roll. read more

No use repeating what's already been said, yet I'll do it anyway! Avocado Spring Roll. Get it. Only $2.50? Get 2? OK! Huge. Delicious. Avocado-y. Avocado makes everything better. read more

I love this Aunty. I would go to her food cart every thursdays after classes. She always greeted me with a smile and it was a very refreshing sight after a horrible day. Anyways, the value for the food you get is phenomenal, honestly sometimes I feel like I'm stealing because the value is that great. Anyways for those who do not know what to get. Get Kha Moo Deng, you can thank me later. (Side note get mild or no spice, Thai people chili is lethal) read more

You can not beat the price and the staff are beyond wonderful. I get so excited for warm weather so I can walk from my office to get a chicken avocado spring roll. read more

I tried the avocado spring roll and I'm sure they make good food, but I don't appear to be a fan of spring rolls in the end. My friends also had a spring roll and they really enjoyed it though, so don't let my taste change your mind on this place. It's worth a try. read more

Great food cart for a cheap and delicious lunch! The same spring rolls from fresh fruit juice are here. We love the Pad Thai. It packs quite a kick. So does the beef larb. The beef massman curry is my favorite! Peanuty and meaty! read more

They're fast, cheaper than other comparable food carts, and the portions are big. I've only ordered the chicken pad thai, so I can only speak to that dish. If you're looking for super moist, fresh chicken, this probably isn't the place for you. But, if you're in the mood for a large portion of flavorful (although a little bit overcooked) noodles, then check this place out! The employees have been nothing but friendly every time I've been, and I really appreciate their efficiency as I melt away in the muggy Madison heat. Like many Thai restaurants, you're also able to customize the level of spicy-ness (mild, medium, hot). I'm conditioned to like really spicy foods, and I think that the medium is actually a little weak. These noodles are a good introduction to pad thai for those that aren't thai food snobs, but it's by no means the best Madison has to offer. read more

Get the avocado spring roll. That's all I have to say. You won't find anything like it in town. Great food truck!

Best food cart in town. I used to go all the time as an undergrad. Still dream about! Best freakin papaya salad ever! Perfectly spicy! And the service is phenomenal ! The lady still remembers me every time I come back!!! read more

the avocado spring roll is the most delicious i've ever tasted! it cost $4, thats 50 cents more than the cart next door, but worth it! yay for healthy delicious food! read more

Best Food truck in Madison. The squash curry is an absolute favorite - though chili sauce once made me give up on 5/6 eaten spring roll. Whenever I walk by the food trucks during lunch time, I have my eyes set on Thai food and nothing else tempts me: not the line of healthy people dressed in running gear waiting to get a smoothie and a spring roll, not the adorable fluffs of pink smoke around the buns, not the fiery decoration around bulgoggi burritos. Nothing. Squash curry has your vote and you know it. read more

This little food stand dishes out some of the best food you can get. Everything I have ordered has been great. If you are lucky enough, try the boneless (she actually de-bones a chicken wing) stuffed chicken wing special when available. Larp Beef is amazing. The spring rolls are a great on the go lunch. I cannot say enough about this stand, fast, friendly, delicious. read more

I had the good fortune of walking by this cart after visiting the Chazen. The Spring roll was delicious!!! Highly recommended!

I hate to open up a business listing with a mediocre review, but so it goes. Luang Prabang dishes up inexpensive Thai food in large portions, and that ultimately means shortcuts. Consistent with that expectation, my dish was pretty forgettable. Friendly service, low prices, and a smile could not make up for chopped rice noodles in red curry paste dressed up to look like Pad Thai. read more

The $3 avocado spring roll is a lunch and a half (they did raise the price fifty cents from the former $2.50)! It's the size of a Chipotle burrito and packed full of fresh veggies. I always order medium spice and find that it tends to vary a fair amount. But aside from that, it's the best Library Mall Food Cart deal you can find. The staff are speedy and super friendly too! read more

Best pad thai in Madison and the owner is super friendly. She remembers what I like and we always have a have a nice little chat.

Super nice! I go downtown just to eat here. The pad thai is awesome, u can get it super spicy. Spring rolls are great and inexpensive.

One of the best food carts in Madison, and much cheaper than some. The avocado spring rolls are great. If you order a dish spicy, it will be very spicy-- be prepared. read more

I was tired of eating sandwiches for lunch and I decided to look around for something new. Found this little gem sitting right on library mall. Tbh, I have only tried the avocado spring roll. It's healthy, huge, cheap and best of it all, it tastes amazing. They add nuts, so inform them beforehand if you have an allergy. I'm surprised I've spent two years in Madison without having found them. I'm not going to add a picture to this post as I already have run through the roll, but you get the picture. read more

Best place to grab laotion/thai food if your on library mall. Food is worth the price and you'll leave satisfied! The owner is super nice as well and will always remember her returning customers. read more