A cheap and quick way of grabbing a tasty meal, street food is the most popular eating option in Cambodia. No trip to the Kingdom of Wonder is complete without finding a space among the diners on the plastic tables and chairs, often full come breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the potential of food poisoning scares many into avoiding street carts, hedging your bets on the places locals flock to should prevent any dodgy bellies. Here are 10 of the best dishes to try.
A popular breakfast among locals, kuy teav is a noodle soup made from pork or beef bones and rice vermicelli. Fish balls and pork are added, and the dish is topped with bean sprouts, fried shallots and green onions. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, a Phnom Penhtake on the soup sees blood, liver, intestine and tongue added into the mix.
Chive cakes
Fried in shallow pans by mobile street vendors, num kachay are small chive cakes, made with glutinous rice flour and served with a sweet, spicy fish sauce. You’ll find similar versions of this dish in Thailand, but the recipe is believed to have originated in China.
Beef or pork skewers
The smell of this snack tends to attract diners from far and wide, with street vendors grilling the meat on-the-go above hot coals from their portable carts. Usually a common afternoon or evening nibble, sach ko chomkak can be eaten off the skewer, accompanied by pickled papaya salad, or placed into a crunchy baguette.
Fried noodles
Fried noodles can be found in abundance across Cambodia in a baffling series of forms, from short and thick to soft egg or instant. Regardless of the different varieties, mi char is a common snack across the Kingdom; adding pork or beef before stir-frying with greens is a popular option.
If you’re squeamish then steer well clear of balut – although this may be tricky, given its popularity among locals. Balut is the fertilised embryo of a duck and it’s eaten whole, usually from the shell. While not typically appealing to a Western audience, balut is famous for being nutritious and rich in protein.
Grilled frog
Not specifically reserved for the French, frog is a popular street snack in Cambodia, with vendors often seen carrying whole frogs, skewered on sticks and being barbecued. While the majority of these amphibians are small, they are juicy and tender, and often fried in chilli for a fiery kick.
Steamed pork bun
The street carts with steamers that can be seen lining the pavements of Cambodia are carrying steamed pork buns, a common afternoon treat. The hard-boiled bun is stuffed with pork and egg, and is always best eaten hot.
Found sizzling away in pans of oil, chet chien are the Cambodian version of the Scottish deep-fried Mars bar. Ripe bananas are flattened and dipped into a sweet batter with black sesame seeds and then deep-fried.
Pickled fruit
Pickled fruit is served by the bucketload on any street throughout Cambodia. Ranging from papaya and apple to cucumber and guava, the snacks are served in a plastic bag, along with a small side bag of dipping sauce made from salt, sugar, chilli and fish sauce.
Pork and rice
Pork and rice is one of Cambodia’s national dishes, and is eaten by the masses throughout the day and night. Marinated pork slices are served with a generous portion of rice, alongside a wedge of omelette, pickled veggies and a bowl of broth.
A cheap and quick way of grabbing a tasty meal, street food is the most popular eating option in Cambodia. No trip to the Kingdom of Wonder is complete without finding a space among the diners on the plastic tables and chairs, often full come breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the potential of food poisoning scares many into avoiding street carts, hedging your bets on the places locals flock to should prevent any dodgy bellies. Here are 10 of the best dishes to try.
A popular breakfast among locals, kuy teav is a noodle soup made from pork or beef bones and rice vermicelli. Fish balls and pork are added, and the dish is topped with bean sprouts, fried shallots and green onions. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, a Phnom Penhtake on the soup sees blood, liver, intestine and tongue added into the mix.
Chive cakes
Fried in shallow pans by mobile street vendors, num kachay are small chive cakes, made with glutinous rice flour and served with a sweet, spicy fish sauce. You’ll find similar versions of this dish in Thailand, but the recipe is believed to have originated in China.
Beef or pork skewers
The smell of this snack tends to attract diners from far and wide, with street vendors grilling the meat on-the-go above hot coals from their portable carts. Usually a common afternoon or evening nibble, sach ko chomkak can be eaten off the skewer, accompanied by pickled papaya salad, or placed into a crunchy baguette.
Fried noodles
Fried noodles can be found in abundance across Cambodia in a baffling series of forms, from short and thick to soft egg or instant. Regardless of the different varieties, mi char is a common snack across the Kingdom; adding pork or beef before stir-frying with greens is a popular option.
If you’re squeamish then steer well clear of balut – although this may be tricky, given its popularity among locals. Balut is the fertilised embryo of a duck and it’s eaten whole, usually from the shell. While not typically appealing to a Western audience, balut is famous for being nutritious and rich in protein.
Grilled frog
Not specifically reserved for the French, frog is a popular street snack in Cambodia, with vendors often seen carrying whole frogs, skewered on sticks and being barbecued. While the majority of these amphibians are small, they are juicy and tender, and often fried in chilli for a fiery kick.
Steamed pork bun
The street carts with steamers that can be seen lining the pavements of Cambodia are carrying steamed pork buns, a common afternoon treat. The hard-boiled bun is stuffed with pork and egg, and is always best eaten hot.
Found sizzling away in pans of oil, chet chien are the Cambodian version of the Scottish deep-fried Mars bar. Ripe bananas are flattened and dipped into a sweet batter with black sesame seeds and then deep-fried.
Pickled fruit
Pickled fruit is served by the bucketload on any street throughout Cambodia. Ranging from papaya and apple to cucumber and guava, the snacks are served in a plastic bag, along with a small side bag of dipping sauce made from salt, sugar, chilli and fish sauce.
Pork and rice
Pork and rice is one of Cambodia’s national dishes, and is eaten by the masses throughout the day and night. Marinated pork slices are served with a generous portion of rice, alongside a wedge of omelette, pickled veggies and a bowl of broth.
Posted at January 13, 2018 | by
www.treediseascontrol.com
Fish amok
Travelers must try this authentic Khmer street food at least somewhere in Cambodia. The renowned snack is prepared by cooking fish moose with coconut curry in banana leaves. In order to build layers of flavor, a wide selection of spices such as lemongrass, kaffir lime and turmeric root are added. Although fish amok can also be found in neighboring countries, one unique feature of Cambodian fish amok is the use of the local herb slok ngor, which adds a distinct and bitter flavor to the dish.
Drawn by the mouth-watering aromas of this snack, travelers can easily spot portable carts with grilled pork on skewers everywhere in Phnom Penh. Usually there are two kinds of skewers, one served with pickle salad with piles of veggies together with rice, and another loaded with herbs and condiments. The former is a prominent breakfast that gives locals a boost of energy for the day, while the latter is a popular on-the-go snack. Try both for a complete experience of a Cambodian BBQ.
This classic Southeast Asian treat has its roots in Vietnam. However, once lok lak landed in Cambodia, it became overwhelmingly popular. One possible reason is the juicy beef – a favourite local meat – that comes in colossal portions. This stir fried meat is typically topped with a salad of sweet tomato, crispy lettuce, raw cucumber and fresh onion, all served seasoned with lime juice and black pepper. Travellers can opt for the traditional way of eating – wrapped up in a lettuce leaf in the way of classic Cambodian culture.
Known as the most stinky and repulsive street food in Cambodia, Balut refers to the fertilized embryo of a duck. This snack can be found in neighboring Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Vietnam, but the one in Cambodia is kept simple: instead of being covered with a wide selection of herbs and condiments, only a little ganish is served alongside the duck egg. It is an all time favorite of local Cambodians as it is nutritious and rich in protein.
Whenever travellers come across a moving cart with a steamer, it is time for a steamed pork bun! The hard-boiled bun stuffed with eggs and pork encapsulates the traditional taste of Cambodia without adding any twist to the ingredients or unnecessary condiments. Although travellers always compare it with pork buns in China, the plain taste makes it a more easy-going afternoon snack. Don’t forget to remove the paper padding at the bottom before giving it a bite and never leave it go cold!
Cambodia is the land for pickled fruit, where travellers are able to find all kinds of pickled snacks including papaya, jujube, apple, cucumber and guava. Fresh fruit is also available for sale in the stalls. Travellers can always get a small bag of sauce that blends sugar, salt, chillies and other seasoning to dip the fruit in, while the the sweet, sour and subtly spicy flavor makes for fantastic finger food between meals.
Grilled sausage on skewer
Barbecued food is famous all over Southeast Asia and Cambodia is no exception. Grilled sausage on skewer is one of the most recognizable street foods in the country. Most foodies may link sausages to saltiness, but sausages in Phnom Penh are no ordinary meat treat. The sweet and tender taste of the small sausage balls here impresses travellers all over the world, while the salad and baguette on the side makes for a perfect compliment to the fatty taste of the grill.
Grilled frog
The idea of consuming frogs can be a little uneasy for travellers to grasp at first, but everyone will adapt to it after staying in Phnom Penh for a few days! Besides pork, chicken and beef, sometimes visitors can see a whole frog on the skewers of barbecue carts in the capital, which is actually a renowned street food in Cambodia. The taste of frogs is said to be juicy and tender, similar to that of chicken – of course!
Iced coffee with milk
Coffee in Southeast Asia is made unique by its sweetness. Unlike coffee found elsewhere, coffee here is a bit sweet as the beans are slowly roasted after drying in the sun to preserve the sugars and oils. The signature iced coffee with milk in Phnom Penh is prepared by adding condensed milk. Foodies can control the degree of sweetness by stirring the condensed milk at the bottom of the glass.
Chive cake is another renowned Cambodian street food originating from China. Putting aside heavy seasoning and piles of herbs, the main ingredients are simply rice flour with chopped chives. However, instead of being plain and boring, the taste is surprisingly delicious. The pan-fried snack is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside and is usually dipped in sweet and spicy fish sauce to deliver an identifiable Southeast Asian flavor.
Travelers must try this authentic Khmer street food at least somewhere in Cambodia. The renowned snack is prepared by cooking fish moose with coconut curry in banana leaves. In order to build layers of flavor, a wide selection of spices such as lemongrass, kaffir lime and turmeric root are added. Although fish amok can also be found in neighboring countries, one unique feature of Cambodian fish amok is the use of the local herb slok ngor, which adds a distinct and bitter flavor to the dish.
Drawn by the mouth-watering aromas of this snack, travelers can easily spot portable carts with grilled pork on skewers everywhere in Phnom Penh. Usually there are two kinds of skewers, one served with pickle salad with piles of veggies together with rice, and another loaded with herbs and condiments. The former is a prominent breakfast that gives locals a boost of energy for the day, while the latter is a popular on-the-go snack. Try both for a complete experience of a Cambodian BBQ.
This classic Southeast Asian treat has its roots in Vietnam. However, once lok lak landed in Cambodia, it became overwhelmingly popular. One possible reason is the juicy beef – a favourite local meat – that comes in colossal portions. This stir fried meat is typically topped with a salad of sweet tomato, crispy lettuce, raw cucumber and fresh onion, all served seasoned with lime juice and black pepper. Travellers can opt for the traditional way of eating – wrapped up in a lettuce leaf in the way of classic Cambodian culture.
Known as the most stinky and repulsive street food in Cambodia, Balut refers to the fertilized embryo of a duck. This snack can be found in neighboring Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Vietnam, but the one in Cambodia is kept simple: instead of being covered with a wide selection of herbs and condiments, only a little ganish is served alongside the duck egg. It is an all time favorite of local Cambodians as it is nutritious and rich in protein.
Whenever travellers come across a moving cart with a steamer, it is time for a steamed pork bun! The hard-boiled bun stuffed with eggs and pork encapsulates the traditional taste of Cambodia without adding any twist to the ingredients or unnecessary condiments. Although travellers always compare it with pork buns in China, the plain taste makes it a more easy-going afternoon snack. Don’t forget to remove the paper padding at the bottom before giving it a bite and never leave it go cold!
Cambodia is the land for pickled fruit, where travellers are able to find all kinds of pickled snacks including papaya, jujube, apple, cucumber and guava. Fresh fruit is also available for sale in the stalls. Travellers can always get a small bag of sauce that blends sugar, salt, chillies and other seasoning to dip the fruit in, while the the sweet, sour and subtly spicy flavor makes for fantastic finger food between meals.
Grilled sausage on skewer
Barbecued food is famous all over Southeast Asia and Cambodia is no exception. Grilled sausage on skewer is one of the most recognizable street foods in the country. Most foodies may link sausages to saltiness, but sausages in Phnom Penh are no ordinary meat treat. The sweet and tender taste of the small sausage balls here impresses travellers all over the world, while the salad and baguette on the side makes for a perfect compliment to the fatty taste of the grill.
Grilled frog
The idea of consuming frogs can be a little uneasy for travellers to grasp at first, but everyone will adapt to it after staying in Phnom Penh for a few days! Besides pork, chicken and beef, sometimes visitors can see a whole frog on the skewers of barbecue carts in the capital, which is actually a renowned street food in Cambodia. The taste of frogs is said to be juicy and tender, similar to that of chicken – of course!
Iced coffee with milk
Coffee in Southeast Asia is made unique by its sweetness. Unlike coffee found elsewhere, coffee here is a bit sweet as the beans are slowly roasted after drying in the sun to preserve the sugars and oils. The signature iced coffee with milk in Phnom Penh is prepared by adding condensed milk. Foodies can control the degree of sweetness by stirring the condensed milk at the bottom of the glass.
Chive cake is another renowned Cambodian street food originating from China. Putting aside heavy seasoning and piles of herbs, the main ingredients are simply rice flour with chopped chives. However, instead of being plain and boring, the taste is surprisingly delicious. The pan-fried snack is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside and is usually dipped in sweet and spicy fish sauce to deliver an identifiable Southeast Asian flavor.
Posted at January 13, 2018 | by
www.treediseascontrol.com
A bit about street food in Cambodia
Cheap eats are not hard to come by in Cambodia. Every breakfast, lunch and dinner, the pavements become cluttered with portable plastic chairs and tables, as Cambodians gather for the day’s next food fix.
These street food carts and restaurants are the best way to tuck straight into Khmer cuisine, with all the regular snacks and dishes cooked up in front of you, for a fistful of riel. While the price may be appealing and the authenticity tempting, street food comes with its hazards, mostly in the form of dreaded food poisoning.
However, by taking a few cautious steps, such as avoiding ice, heading to stalls that are surrounded by crowds of Cambodians and ensuring your food is piping hot when it’s supposed to be, this can pretty much be avoided.
Here are some of the top places in town to sample street food, and what specialities are the best to try.
Pork and rice
Pork and rice is a popular dish across Cambodia and from about 5.30pm onwards, the corner of Street 19 and Sihanouk Boulevard in Phnom Penh is a hive of activity. The most popular stand is run by a man affectionately known as the Pork and Rice man by the Cambodian capital’s expats. His marinated pork is the dish of the day at this stall, and it attracts people from far and wide to tuck into the speciality dish, which start at $1.
Forget Krispy Kreme, which made its debut in the capital at the end of 2016, because there are stalls dotted across the capital selling donuts that are just as delicious and for a fraction of the price. One of the best is the fried food stand on Street 9. For 25 cents (1,000 riel), you can buy a light and fluffy donut with a delicate dusting of sugar. These are sold throughout the morning, with the stall switching to fried savoury foods in the afternoon.
A few doors down from the donut stand is Psar Kapko Café, which serves up local favourites throughout the day. Expect it to be busy during meal times, as locals gather to grab a cheap eat. A hot tray displaying freshly cooked dishes, such as chicken curry, fish amok and pork and ginger stir-fry, sits to the front of the eatery. A dish will cost you around 4,000 to 5,000 riel ($1 to $1.25). Arrive early, as when the dishes are gone, they’re gone.
There’s certainly no shortage of fried chicken in the capital, with CP Fried Chicken stalls on demand across Phnom Penh. The no-frills chicken sells for 2,500 riel for dark or white meat, and the results are pretty much the same as you’ll find in the oh-so-famous fast food chain that also appears in Phnom Penh.
Various locations
Chicken skewers
For mighty fine and delicious Yakitori spit-roasted chicken skewers, look no further than the stall on Street 123 – although they’re only sold during dinner time. With prices starting at 50 cents (2,000 riel) for a thigh or heart, veggies are also catered for, with mushroom or aubergine and cheese options available. Other meals are available throughout the day, including chicken, rice, salad and chips.
Pho may well be a Vietnamese dish, but Cambodian street food spans the flavours of Southeast Asia. Pho can be spotted by its yellow awning next to a small street cart on Street 360, near Monivong Boulevard; the clutter of tables and fans is a giveaway. Here, they poach tender strips of beef in broth, topping it with homemade chilli and garlic relish, a spicy paste and a squeeze of lime. Dishes start at $1.85.
Another Khmer staple is noodles, and there is an abundance of places to get your fix from. One of the finest is the fried noodle stand on the corner of Street 135 and 450, near Russian Market. Specialising in fried noodles with beef, tofu and veggies, with a fried egg on top (starting at $1), the popular stand ensures queues are kept to a minimum by operating a four-wok system.
Cheap eats are not hard to come by in Cambodia. Every breakfast, lunch and dinner, the pavements become cluttered with portable plastic chairs and tables, as Cambodians gather for the day’s next food fix.
These street food carts and restaurants are the best way to tuck straight into Khmer cuisine, with all the regular snacks and dishes cooked up in front of you, for a fistful of riel. While the price may be appealing and the authenticity tempting, street food comes with its hazards, mostly in the form of dreaded food poisoning.
However, by taking a few cautious steps, such as avoiding ice, heading to stalls that are surrounded by crowds of Cambodians and ensuring your food is piping hot when it’s supposed to be, this can pretty much be avoided.
Here are some of the top places in town to sample street food, and what specialities are the best to try.
Pork and rice
Pork and rice is a popular dish across Cambodia and from about 5.30pm onwards, the corner of Street 19 and Sihanouk Boulevard in Phnom Penh is a hive of activity. The most popular stand is run by a man affectionately known as the Pork and Rice man by the Cambodian capital’s expats. His marinated pork is the dish of the day at this stall, and it attracts people from far and wide to tuck into the speciality dish, which start at $1.
Forget Krispy Kreme, which made its debut in the capital at the end of 2016, because there are stalls dotted across the capital selling donuts that are just as delicious and for a fraction of the price. One of the best is the fried food stand on Street 9. For 25 cents (1,000 riel), you can buy a light and fluffy donut with a delicate dusting of sugar. These are sold throughout the morning, with the stall switching to fried savoury foods in the afternoon.
A few doors down from the donut stand is Psar Kapko Café, which serves up local favourites throughout the day. Expect it to be busy during meal times, as locals gather to grab a cheap eat. A hot tray displaying freshly cooked dishes, such as chicken curry, fish amok and pork and ginger stir-fry, sits to the front of the eatery. A dish will cost you around 4,000 to 5,000 riel ($1 to $1.25). Arrive early, as when the dishes are gone, they’re gone.
There’s certainly no shortage of fried chicken in the capital, with CP Fried Chicken stalls on demand across Phnom Penh. The no-frills chicken sells for 2,500 riel for dark or white meat, and the results are pretty much the same as you’ll find in the oh-so-famous fast food chain that also appears in Phnom Penh.
Various locations
Chicken skewers
For mighty fine and delicious Yakitori spit-roasted chicken skewers, look no further than the stall on Street 123 – although they’re only sold during dinner time. With prices starting at 50 cents (2,000 riel) for a thigh or heart, veggies are also catered for, with mushroom or aubergine and cheese options available. Other meals are available throughout the day, including chicken, rice, salad and chips.
Pho may well be a Vietnamese dish, but Cambodian street food spans the flavours of Southeast Asia. Pho can be spotted by its yellow awning next to a small street cart on Street 360, near Monivong Boulevard; the clutter of tables and fans is a giveaway. Here, they poach tender strips of beef in broth, topping it with homemade chilli and garlic relish, a spicy paste and a squeeze of lime. Dishes start at $1.85.
Another Khmer staple is noodles, and there is an abundance of places to get your fix from. One of the finest is the fried noodle stand on the corner of Street 135 and 450, near Russian Market. Specialising in fried noodles with beef, tofu and veggies, with a fried egg on top (starting at $1), the popular stand ensures queues are kept to a minimum by operating a four-wok system.
Cambodian street food is not as famous as its counterpart Thailand. The cuisine, in general, is overshadowed by its popular neighbors Thailand and Vietnam. However, once you go deep into Cambodian cuisine, you will discover unique and amazing flavors.
Cambodian street food offers unique and surprising delicacies that are foreign to the eyes and stomachs of most visitors. It is not for the squeamish travelers.
That said, Cambodian street food from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will offer you an amazing experience, a real culinary adventure. As you dive deeper into the street food culture, you will find rare treats and wonderful delicacies.
Take a pick at our top 10 list of Cambodian street food and get ready for some surprising finds!
1- Lort Cha – Cambodian Short Stir-Fried Egg Noodles
Lort cha is one of the most popular Cambodian street food. It is a stir-fried dish consisting of Lort which are short fat rice noodles, with bean sprouts, Chinese broccoli, and chives. It is typically cooked with beef and topped with a fried egg.
The dish is served with a thick red sauce which is sweet and spicy. And if you want more spice, you can add red chilies to your meal.
Simple and delicious Lort cha meal
Where to Have It
You can find Lort cha vendors on the streets or at the markets in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Lort cha is typically prepared on food cart with a large stir-fried pan.
We had this dish several times in Cambodia and enjoyed it best at the local markets. It is easy to spot the vendor as you see them cooking in real-time. Look for vendors where locals are eating or stopping by for takeaway. This is a sign of good and safe food!
It is a very tasty dish, with a nice amount of vegetables and a great mix of protein. A definitely must try in Cambodia!
Lort Cha street vendor at Kandal Market in Phnom Pehn
2- Num Pang: Typical Cambodian Sandwich
You will quickly recognize this familiar Vietnamese ingredient in Cambodia: the baguette. Brought by the French during the Indochina colonization period, Cambodia calls it Num pang.
This sandwich is typically served with meaty ingredients such as pate, ham or pork served with cucumber, carrots, chives and onions.
Num Pang, typical Cambodian Sandwich
Where to Have It
You will find Num pang street vendors with their carts outside of markets or near office buildings. The are easily identifiable with the baguettes exposed on the carts.
If you want to try a modern twist on this classic sandwich, Nompang, a newly opened chain in Phnom Penh offers an interesting variety of the sandwiches. We recommend the Classic which consists of red pork and ham. Made with quality ingredients, it is excellent and quite filling!
They have several locations in Phnom Penh. The one we went to is listed below.
Address: No.17, St 310, Phnom Penh
Hours: Everyday from 7 am to 8 pm
Prices: $1.95 per sandwich.
The interior of Nom Pang sandwich shop in Phnom Penh
Siem Reap
In Siem Reap, we recommend the local market called Pho Langka Market. You will find one dedicated vendor of the Khmer sandwiches. We had the classic pâté sandwich, which we immediately enjoyed. Tasty with a slightly sweet and sour hint of flavors.
Look for the cart that says Khmer Sandwiches No MSG. (see photo below)
Address: Along Siem Reap River in the north part of town.
Hours: Mid-day lunch time
Prices: 3,000 Riel per sandwich (approx $0.75 USD)
Num Pang, street vendor in Siem Reap
3- Cambodian Bamboo Sticky Rice
Bamboo sticky rice, known as Kralan in Khmer, is a type of sticky rice roasted in bamboo sticks.
It is made of sticky rice mixed with black beans grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is packed into a bamboo stick and slowly roasted over a charcoal fire until cooked.
Cambodian Bamboo Sticky Rice with black beans
We first discovered bamboo sticky rice in Thailand and really enjoyed it. In Cambodia, we learned that the rice used in bamboo sticky rice is a special kind of fragrant rice coming from terraced rice fields of Battambang, Kratie Provinces.
The taste is sweet and slightly salty with hints of smokey flavors. Quite delicious and a filling snack anytime of the day.
Bamboo Sticky Rice vendor
Where to Have It
The city of Battambang in the Northwest region of the country is popular for bamboo sticky rice. It is Cambodia’s second largest city and a leading rice producing province in the country. While we didn’t get personally visit the city, the sticky rice from here comes highly recommended as the area is referred to as ‘sticky rice villages’ by locals.
In Siem Reap, around the Angkor Wat World Heritage Site, you will find ladies on bicycles selling bamboo sticky rice. Feel free to approach any one of them and enjoy the sweet roasted dessert. The sticky rice is sold in three sizes, small, medium and large and the costs range from 2000 Riel to 4000 Riel (approx $0.49 USD to $0.98 USD).
Bamboo sticky rice vendor in Siem Reap
4- Snails: Surprising Cambodian Street Food
One of the very first things we noticed when we arrived in Phnom Penh were street vendors with long flat carts on wheels. Their carts are strategically placed under the hot burning sun loaded with freshwater snails. The snails have been seasoned and cooked previously before being dried under the sun.
Try a can of fresh water snails from street side vendor
The snails are spiced either with red chili sauce or with garlic and salt. Sold by the bucket or the cup, it makes for an interesting treat to snack on!
To eat safely this street food you want to make sure the snail are thoroughly cooked. Try a sample and decide if you ready to indulge for more!
Where to Have It
You will see plenty of carts loaded up with snails on the streets of Phnom Penh. This delicacy appeared to be much more popular in Phnom Penh than in Siem Reap.Prices are typically about 2,000 Riel (approx $0.49 USD) per cup of snails.
Another way to eat snails is to have it as Amok Chouk. It is a Amok prepared with snails and made with the traditional curry. We didn’t try Amok Chouk, however if find a good restaurant that serves it please let us know in the comments below!
5- Chive Cakes: Delicious Chinese Influenced Snacks
One sight you will see often on the streets of Cambodia are mobile street vendors selling small chive cakes. These chive cakes are fried in shallow pans, and made with glutinous rice flour and served with a sweet spicy fish sauce.
Chives cakes at local market in Siem Reap
Chive cakes, also known as Num Kachay, are a popular Cambodian street food originating from China. While the ingredients are simple, the taste is surprisingly delicious.They are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. When dipped into the sweet spicy fish sauce, the flavors blend together perfectly in the mouth. This was one of our favorite Cambodian street food.
Close up of chive cakes with sweet, spicy fish sauce
Where to Have It
You will find mobile street vendors with Chives pretty much everywhere. Look for the vendors at busy street corners in the afternoons. You may also find Chive cakes cooking at the local markets.
They are sold hot, which reduces the risk of getting sick. And you can buy them by the piece, at about 500 Riel (approx $0.12 USD) per Chive Cake.
6- Deep Fried Bread and Shrimp Cakes – Popular Cambodian Appetizer
At the local markets in Siem Reap, we were struck by the abundance of fried bread and shrimp cakes. You see vendors at various stalls bending over the hot flames to produce golden, crispy French bread topped with delicious fried shrimp.
Fried bread and shrimp cake at Central Market in Phnom Penh
After being tempted by one particular vendor’s freshly cooked batch, we gave in and bought some to eat for lunch. While we typically do not enjoy fried foods, we surprisingly delighted.
The cakes are delicious. And with the bread soaking in the fat, you are left with the taste of perfectly spiced shrimp. After that first tasty experience, we happily bought the shrimp cakes several times again.
Where to Have It
Look for the friendly ladies with large deep fryers at the outdoor food stalls at the Pho Langka Market in Siem Reap. Get a freshly cooked batch and expect to pay between 500 Riel (aprox $0.12 USD) and 1000 Riel (aprox $0.25 USD) per cake.
Fried shrimp cake at the Pho Langka Market in Siem Reap
7- Grilled Worms and Crickets
Worms and crickets are probably two of the most popular bugs you will find in Cambodia, in addition to red ants tree. Yes, you will also find edible spiders and scorpions though we found these multi-legged arachnids to be more popular amongst tourist than with locals.
And to be honest, worms and crickets are far more enticing, in our opinion, to taste than spiders and scorpions.
Worms and crickets at Boeung Keng Kang Market in Phnom Penh
We found the worms to be soft with a slightly crunchy skin and a nice nutty flavor. While the crickets were definitely more crunchy and meatier. Either way, they are a great source of protein and unique and tasty!
Where to Have It
You will find street vendors selling all different types of insects at the markets. They are typically grilled and sold in large baskets that might contain different types of bugs. Sold by the can or cup, plan to spend about 4,000 Riel (approx $0.98 USD) per can.
If eating bugs at the market doesn’t tempt you, you will find restaurants that sell them on their menu. You can find them at Romdeng in Phnom Penh as a snack platter or at Bugs Cafe in Siem Reap. Though obviously, it is not street food anymore.
Street food BBQ is quite common and popular. At dusk, vendors pop up around markets and on busy streets, grilling various dishes for dinner time.
Typical grilling atmosphere on the streets of Cambodia
For seafood BBQ, go for the grilled squid. Served with chili sauce, they are as delightful as they are impressive in size!
Grilling up delicious giant squids
Where to Have It
Walk around any of the local markets past 6:00 pm or after the markets close. You will see many street food carts selling all sorts of BBQ meat and seafood including squids. During the day, your best bet for grilled squid is in the markets.
9- Sweet Pork Sausages – Popular Cambodian Street Food
Pork is quite popular in making sweet Khmer sausages known as kwah ko (ត្វារគោ). On street carts around local markets, you will find vendors with different kinds of pork sausages hanging off their carts.
Pieces of sweet sausages served with cucumber
The sausages are sold either as skewers or as small sausage balls. After seeing how popular the sausages were with locals, we bought one sausage to try. The red color and the taste surprised us. The sausages are very sweet and quite fatty. We learned that the sausages are made with palm sugar and composed of half pork and half fat.
We weren’t fan of the sweet taste of these sausages, however, locals seemed to enjoy them with a cold glass of beer.
Where to Have It
Look for the market vendors at the local markets. Expect to pay about 500 Riel (approx $0.12 USD) per sausage.
Tempting sweet pork sausages at Psar Chas, the Old Market in Siem Reap
10 – Iced Coffee – A Popular Cambodian Street Food
Small coffee carts are a common sight in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The carts are typically sidecars on motorbikes or are pulled by motorcycles or converted tuk-tuks.
Iced coffee, or Gah-fay dteuk-gork in Khmer – is a sweet and refreshing popular drink with locals.
Getting coffee to go in the afternoon in Phnom Penh
It is Cambodia’s drip coffee served with condensed milk. Sweet and strong, the coffee can be served black with ice, or with condensed milk for an even sweeter taste. Rosemary, the coffee drinker preferred it with condensed milk. The rapidly melting ice dilutes the strength of the coffee and the sugar making it much more tolerable.
Where to Have It
During the peak morning hours and after school/work in the afternoons, the coffee carts are visible everywhere. Choose from any street cart and try Cambodian Iced Coffee. This experience will set you back between 2500 – 3000 Riel ($0.62 to $0.74 USD).
Mobile coffee vendor
In Summary
Cambodian street food is quite diverse and is a gives you a unique perspective into the country’s food culture and delicacies.
We found the street food in Cambodia to be much more unusual as compared to the other Southeast Asian countries we had visited (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines) at that point.
With Lort Cha, grilled squid and Num Pang you will find familiar tastes that will delight you. While worms, freshwater snails and bamboo sticky ricewill be a way to test your adventurous palate.
With Cambodian street food, you are in for a special treat!
Have you ever had Cambodian Street food? Which dish would you be tempted to try?
Cambodian street food is not as famous as its counterpart Thailand. The cuisine, in general, is overshadowed by its popular neighbors Thailand and Vietnam. However, once you go deep into Cambodian cuisine, you will discover unique and amazing flavors.
Cambodian street food offers unique and surprising delicacies that are foreign to the eyes and stomachs of most visitors. It is not for the squeamish travelers.
That said, Cambodian street food from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will offer you an amazing experience, a real culinary adventure. As you dive deeper into the street food culture, you will find rare treats and wonderful delicacies.
Take a pick at our top 10 list of Cambodian street food and get ready for some surprising finds!
1- Lort Cha – Cambodian Short Stir-Fried Egg Noodles
Lort cha is one of the most popular Cambodian street food. It is a stir-fried dish consisting of Lort which are short fat rice noodles, with bean sprouts, Chinese broccoli, and chives. It is typically cooked with beef and topped with a fried egg.
The dish is served with a thick red sauce which is sweet and spicy. And if you want more spice, you can add red chilies to your meal.
Simple and delicious Lort cha meal
Where to Have It
You can find Lort cha vendors on the streets or at the markets in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Lort cha is typically prepared on food cart with a large stir-fried pan.
We had this dish several times in Cambodia and enjoyed it best at the local markets. It is easy to spot the vendor as you see them cooking in real-time. Look for vendors where locals are eating or stopping by for takeaway. This is a sign of good and safe food!
It is a very tasty dish, with a nice amount of vegetables and a great mix of protein. A definitely must try in Cambodia!
Lort Cha street vendor at Kandal Market in Phnom Pehn
2- Num Pang: Typical Cambodian Sandwich
You will quickly recognize this familiar Vietnamese ingredient in Cambodia: the baguette. Brought by the French during the Indochina colonization period, Cambodia calls it Num pang.
This sandwich is typically served with meaty ingredients such as pate, ham or pork served with cucumber, carrots, chives and onions.
Num Pang, typical Cambodian Sandwich
Where to Have It
You will find Num pang street vendors with their carts outside of markets or near office buildings. The are easily identifiable with the baguettes exposed on the carts.
If you want to try a modern twist on this classic sandwich, Nompang, a newly opened chain in Phnom Penh offers an interesting variety of the sandwiches. We recommend the Classic which consists of red pork and ham. Made with quality ingredients, it is excellent and quite filling!
They have several locations in Phnom Penh. The one we went to is listed below.
Address: No.17, St 310, Phnom Penh
Hours: Everyday from 7 am to 8 pm
Prices: $1.95 per sandwich.
The interior of Nom Pang sandwich shop in Phnom Penh
Siem Reap
In Siem Reap, we recommend the local market called Pho Langka Market. You will find one dedicated vendor of the Khmer sandwiches. We had the classic pâté sandwich, which we immediately enjoyed. Tasty with a slightly sweet and sour hint of flavors.
Look for the cart that says Khmer Sandwiches No MSG. (see photo below)
Address: Along Siem Reap River in the north part of town.
Hours: Mid-day lunch time
Prices: 3,000 Riel per sandwich (approx $0.75 USD)
Num Pang, street vendor in Siem Reap
3- Cambodian Bamboo Sticky Rice
Bamboo sticky rice, known as Kralan in Khmer, is a type of sticky rice roasted in bamboo sticks.
It is made of sticky rice mixed with black beans grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is packed into a bamboo stick and slowly roasted over a charcoal fire until cooked.
Cambodian Bamboo Sticky Rice with black beans
We first discovered bamboo sticky rice in Thailand and really enjoyed it. In Cambodia, we learned that the rice used in bamboo sticky rice is a special kind of fragrant rice coming from terraced rice fields of Battambang, Kratie Provinces.
The taste is sweet and slightly salty with hints of smokey flavors. Quite delicious and a filling snack anytime of the day.
Bamboo Sticky Rice vendor
Where to Have It
The city of Battambang in the Northwest region of the country is popular for bamboo sticky rice. It is Cambodia’s second largest city and a leading rice producing province in the country. While we didn’t get personally visit the city, the sticky rice from here comes highly recommended as the area is referred to as ‘sticky rice villages’ by locals.
In Siem Reap, around the Angkor Wat World Heritage Site, you will find ladies on bicycles selling bamboo sticky rice. Feel free to approach any one of them and enjoy the sweet roasted dessert. The sticky rice is sold in three sizes, small, medium and large and the costs range from 2000 Riel to 4000 Riel (approx $0.49 USD to $0.98 USD).
Bamboo sticky rice vendor in Siem Reap
4- Snails: Surprising Cambodian Street Food
One of the very first things we noticed when we arrived in Phnom Penh were street vendors with long flat carts on wheels. Their carts are strategically placed under the hot burning sun loaded with freshwater snails. The snails have been seasoned and cooked previously before being dried under the sun.
Try a can of fresh water snails from street side vendor
The snails are spiced either with red chili sauce or with garlic and salt. Sold by the bucket or the cup, it makes for an interesting treat to snack on!
To eat safely this street food you want to make sure the snail are thoroughly cooked. Try a sample and decide if you ready to indulge for more!
Where to Have It
You will see plenty of carts loaded up with snails on the streets of Phnom Penh. This delicacy appeared to be much more popular in Phnom Penh than in Siem Reap.Prices are typically about 2,000 Riel (approx $0.49 USD) per cup of snails.
Another way to eat snails is to have it as Amok Chouk. It is a Amok prepared with snails and made with the traditional curry. We didn’t try Amok Chouk, however if find a good restaurant that serves it please let us know in the comments below!
5- Chive Cakes: Delicious Chinese Influenced Snacks
One sight you will see often on the streets of Cambodia are mobile street vendors selling small chive cakes. These chive cakes are fried in shallow pans, and made with glutinous rice flour and served with a sweet spicy fish sauce.
Chives cakes at local market in Siem Reap
Chive cakes, also known as Num Kachay, are a popular Cambodian street food originating from China. While the ingredients are simple, the taste is surprisingly delicious.They are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. When dipped into the sweet spicy fish sauce, the flavors blend together perfectly in the mouth. This was one of our favorite Cambodian street food.
Close up of chive cakes with sweet, spicy fish sauce
Where to Have It
You will find mobile street vendors with Chives pretty much everywhere. Look for the vendors at busy street corners in the afternoons. You may also find Chive cakes cooking at the local markets.
They are sold hot, which reduces the risk of getting sick. And you can buy them by the piece, at about 500 Riel (approx $0.12 USD) per Chive Cake.
6- Deep Fried Bread and Shrimp Cakes – Popular Cambodian Appetizer
At the local markets in Siem Reap, we were struck by the abundance of fried bread and shrimp cakes. You see vendors at various stalls bending over the hot flames to produce golden, crispy French bread topped with delicious fried shrimp.
Fried bread and shrimp cake at Central Market in Phnom Penh
After being tempted by one particular vendor’s freshly cooked batch, we gave in and bought some to eat for lunch. While we typically do not enjoy fried foods, we surprisingly delighted.
The cakes are delicious. And with the bread soaking in the fat, you are left with the taste of perfectly spiced shrimp. After that first tasty experience, we happily bought the shrimp cakes several times again.
Where to Have It
Look for the friendly ladies with large deep fryers at the outdoor food stalls at the Pho Langka Market in Siem Reap. Get a freshly cooked batch and expect to pay between 500 Riel (aprox $0.12 USD) and 1000 Riel (aprox $0.25 USD) per cake.
Fried shrimp cake at the Pho Langka Market in Siem Reap
7- Grilled Worms and Crickets
Worms and crickets are probably two of the most popular bugs you will find in Cambodia, in addition to red ants tree. Yes, you will also find edible spiders and scorpions though we found these multi-legged arachnids to be more popular amongst tourist than with locals.
And to be honest, worms and crickets are far more enticing, in our opinion, to taste than spiders and scorpions.
Worms and crickets at Boeung Keng Kang Market in Phnom Penh
We found the worms to be soft with a slightly crunchy skin and a nice nutty flavor. While the crickets were definitely more crunchy and meatier. Either way, they are a great source of protein and unique and tasty!
Where to Have It
You will find street vendors selling all different types of insects at the markets. They are typically grilled and sold in large baskets that might contain different types of bugs. Sold by the can or cup, plan to spend about 4,000 Riel (approx $0.98 USD) per can.
If eating bugs at the market doesn’t tempt you, you will find restaurants that sell them on their menu. You can find them at Romdeng in Phnom Penh as a snack platter or at Bugs Cafe in Siem Reap. Though obviously, it is not street food anymore.
Street food BBQ is quite common and popular. At dusk, vendors pop up around markets and on busy streets, grilling various dishes for dinner time.
Typical grilling atmosphere on the streets of Cambodia
For seafood BBQ, go for the grilled squid. Served with chili sauce, they are as delightful as they are impressive in size!
Grilling up delicious giant squids
Where to Have It
Walk around any of the local markets past 6:00 pm or after the markets close. You will see many street food carts selling all sorts of BBQ meat and seafood including squids. During the day, your best bet for grilled squid is in the markets.
9- Sweet Pork Sausages – Popular Cambodian Street Food
Pork is quite popular in making sweet Khmer sausages known as kwah ko (ត្វារគោ). On street carts around local markets, you will find vendors with different kinds of pork sausages hanging off their carts.
Pieces of sweet sausages served with cucumber
The sausages are sold either as skewers or as small sausage balls. After seeing how popular the sausages were with locals, we bought one sausage to try. The red color and the taste surprised us. The sausages are very sweet and quite fatty. We learned that the sausages are made with palm sugar and composed of half pork and half fat.
We weren’t fan of the sweet taste of these sausages, however, locals seemed to enjoy them with a cold glass of beer.
Where to Have It
Look for the market vendors at the local markets. Expect to pay about 500 Riel (approx $0.12 USD) per sausage.
Tempting sweet pork sausages at Psar Chas, the Old Market in Siem Reap
10 – Iced Coffee – A Popular Cambodian Street Food
Small coffee carts are a common sight in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The carts are typically sidecars on motorbikes or are pulled by motorcycles or converted tuk-tuks.
Iced coffee, or Gah-fay dteuk-gork in Khmer – is a sweet and refreshing popular drink with locals.
Getting coffee to go in the afternoon in Phnom Penh
It is Cambodia’s drip coffee served with condensed milk. Sweet and strong, the coffee can be served black with ice, or with condensed milk for an even sweeter taste. Rosemary, the coffee drinker preferred it with condensed milk. The rapidly melting ice dilutes the strength of the coffee and the sugar making it much more tolerable.
Where to Have It
During the peak morning hours and after school/work in the afternoons, the coffee carts are visible everywhere. Choose from any street cart and try Cambodian Iced Coffee. This experience will set you back between 2500 – 3000 Riel ($0.62 to $0.74 USD).
Mobile coffee vendor
In Summary
Cambodian street food is quite diverse and is a gives you a unique perspective into the country’s food culture and delicacies.
We found the street food in Cambodia to be much more unusual as compared to the other Southeast Asian countries we had visited (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines) at that point.
With Lort Cha, grilled squid and Num Pang you will find familiar tastes that will delight you. While worms, freshwater snails and bamboo sticky ricewill be a way to test your adventurous palate.
With Cambodian street food, you are in for a special treat!
Have you ever had Cambodian Street food? Which dish would you be tempted to try?
