Cambodian cuisine

Cambodian cuisine is the primary cuisine of Cambodia. While much of it is based off Khmer cuisine (the term used to describe what the ethnic Khmers have had), it is heavily influenced by neighbouring Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese cuisine.

Spices

• Prahok - Popular in Cambodia as a side dish and condiment. However, prahok is unlikely to end up on the table of Western visitors thanks to its intense aged fish smell, which is ultimately what it's made of.
• Kampot Pepper - This special pepper grows in the region around Kampot and Kep and offers a particularly aromatic taste experience. Fish and seafood really flourish with it. With these dishes available on every corner in Kampot and Kep, it takes quite a bit of searching in Phnom Penh to find a restaurant that has it on the menu.

Dining Out

Food Stalls

Almost everywhere in the towns there are small local or mobile stands that offer food. The choice is diverse. From fruit to baguettes to fried noodles or baked or fried delicacies. For a few riel you can get something to satisfy your hunger on every corner.

Street Restaurant

In many places you will find simple restaurants typical of the country. What they have in common is a mostly sterile, tiled ambience and a permanently running television. During peak times in the morning and midday, they are usually well frequented by the locals. Cutlery and standard condiments such as garlic and chilli are on the table. A pot of simple tea is usually included free of charge. Some even have a simple English menu with a few signature dishes. The Cambodian custom of throwing all rubbish on the floor is rather unfamiliar to Europeans. After mealtimes, such a restaurant is littered with used paper napkins. As a result, the rather sober tile ambience pays off. In a minute you are ready for the next guests.

Large Restaurants

Cambodians don't attach much importance to a stylish ambience. The large restaurants are more like a train station concourse. An important part of such a restaurant is the stage for live music and karaoke. Dinner is not complete without entertainment. The rather large number of employees is striking. In this way, you are generally looked after throughout your visit. After just a few sips, the glasses are refilled with beer and ice. The range of dishes is quite large. Fish, pork, beef, chicken or frog. It's usually all on sale. Also the Cambodian barbecue.

Western Restaurants

In the well-known cities, there is also a wide range of restaurants offering Western cuisine. Many of these restaurants have a standard selection of dishes. You will always find a few typical Khmer dishes, sandwiches, pizza, pasta and a few meat dishes on the menu. If you are looking for something outside of this standard offer, you will not find it so quickly. There are a number of good specialty restaurants in Phnom Penh. For example, you can eat very good Nepalese food there. However, these restaurants are not always located at the tourist hot spots. In Siem Reap you can find a few on Pub Street and Walking Alley.

See also

• Thai cuisine
• Cuisine of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
• Vietnamese cuisine
• Australian cuisine
• Indonesian cuisine
• South Asian cuisine
• Chinese cuisine