Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia, is a food lover’s paradise. The city offers a diverse and delicious range of local cuisine, influenced by the rich history and culture of the country. Whether you are looking for a hearty meal, a light snack, or a sweet treat, you will find something to satisfy your appetite in Phnom Penh. Here are some tips on how to experience the local cuisine in Phnom Penh.
1. Try the street food. One of the best ways to experience the local cuisine in Phnom Penh is to try the street food. You can find street food stalls and carts everywhere in the city, especially near markets, temples, and busy intersections. Street food is cheap, fresh, and flavorful, and you can sample a variety of dishes from different regions and ethnic groups. Some of the must-try street food dishes in Phnom Penh are:
- Lok lak: A stir-fried beef dish served with salad, rice, and a tangy lime and pepper sauce.
- Fresh oysters: Oysters served on ice with lime juice, chili sauce, and fried shallots.
- Street BBQ: Grilled meat, seafood, and vegetables on skewers, seasoned with salt, pepper, and herbs.
- Cambodian sour soup: A sour and spicy soup with fish, chicken, or pork, and various vegetables and herbs.
- Fried noodles: Noodles stir-fried with meat, eggs, bean sprouts, and soy sauce.
- Tarantula: Deep-fried spiders that are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
- Num pang: A Cambodian version of banh mi, a baguette sandwich filled with meat, pate, pickles, cucumber, and chili sauce.
- Pong tia koon: A fertilized duck egg that is boiled and eaten with salt, pepper, and lime juice.
2. Visit the markets. Another way to experience the local cuisine in Phnom Penh is to visit the markets. The markets are not only places to buy fresh produce, meat, seafood, and spices, but also places to enjoy cooked food from various vendors. You can find many traditional dishes that are not easily available elsewhere, as well as snacks and desserts that are unique to Cambodia. Some of the markets that you should visit in Phnom Penh are:
- Central Market: A large art deco building that houses a variety of stalls selling clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, and food. You can find dishes such as fish amok (fish curry steamed in banana leaves), nom banh chok (rice noodles with fish gravy and fresh herbs), and bai sach chrouk (grilled pork with rice).
- Russian Market: A popular market that sells everything from antiques to electronics to food. You can find dishes such as kuy teav (noodle soup with pork or beef), bobor (rice porridge with meat or seafood), and chek ktis (coconut milk pudding with jackfruit).
- Orussey Market: A busy market that caters mainly to locals. You can find dishes such as samlor korko (a thick vegetable soup with fish paste), prahok ktis (a dip made from fermented fish paste, coconut milk, and pork), and num ansom chek (sticky rice cake with banana filling).
3. Dine at the restaurants. If you prefer a more comfortable and refined setting to experience the local cuisine in Phnom Penh, you can dine at the restaurants. There are many restaurants that serve authentic Khmer cuisine, as well as regional and international cuisine. You can find restaurants that cater to different budgets, tastes, and occasions. Some of the restaurants that you should try in Phnom Penh are:
- L’Orchidee Restaurant: A cozy restaurant that serves authentic Khmer and regional cuisine with some selections of European dishes. You can try dishes such as amok trey (fish amok wrapped in lotus leaves), samlor machu kreung (sour soup with lemongrass paste), and lok lak khmer (beef lok lak with fried egg).
- Lmut Tum Restaurant: A modern restaurant that serves Nepalese and Indian cuisine. You can try dishes such as momo (steamed dumplings with meat or vegetable filling), dal bhat (rice with lentil soup), and chicken tikka masala (chicken cooked in a creamy tomato sauce).
- Elia Greek Kitchen: A charming restaurant that serves Mediterranean and Greek cuisine. You can try dishes such as tzatziki (yogurt dip with cucumber and garlic), souvlaki (grilled meat on skewers), and baklava (filo pastry with nuts and honey).
