You know, I have never eaten Cambodian food before I visited Cambodia and I realized this when I was in Cambodia. This might seem normal for some people, but living in Singapore and surrounded by its potluck culture, it was a surprise for me. Apparently, I wasn’t alone. Cambodian food is one of the most underrated cuisines in South East Asia. But having eaten plenty of it last week, I say Cambodian food deserves to take part in our palate and on our plate.
Most Popular Cambodia Food You Must Eat In Siem Reap
Aromatic Kreong Mekong Catfish (Grilled Fish Covered with Herbs Paste)
Khmer Kitchen // Corner of Street 11 & Alley West, Siem Reap
Our first meal in Cambodia was Mekong catfish. It’s a daily staple of Cambodian food culture, with so many ways of cooking it. We had the Catfish grilled, slathered with Kreong (herb pastes that make up the base flavours of many Khmer dishes), with mango salad on the side. A perfectly delicious combination. This meal got me immediately hooked on Cambodian food.
Khmer Prahok Ktiss (Spicy Pork Dip)
Chanrey Tree // Pokambor Ave, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Prahok Ktiss is a Cambodian food delicacy of fermented fish, pork, thinly sliced river fish braised with coconut cream, baby eggplant, and blanched vegetable crudités. Thicker than stew, the way to eat it is to mix it with the vegetables served on the side and rice. It’s rich in flavour yet refreshing.
A shout out to Chanrey Tree for giving the best first-class customer service. I highly recommend this restaurant. Especially for its service. The waiters were so attentive. It made the whole experience so much better.
Fish Amok (Traditional Cambodian Fish Curry)
Almost any Cambodian food in Siem Reap serves Fish Amok. A friend told me to try the amok at Siem Reap and I am glad she did, otherwise I would have missed such a unique dish.
I have had a good share of food around the globe and I try to make the connection between food from different cultures. Chinese food, especially the Sichuan dishes with Indian food; or a Middle Eastern food with Balinese yellow rice, but nothing I have eaten can come close to Khmer Fish Amok.
It is a steamed curried fish, another traditional dish of Cambodian food. Coated in thick coconut milk and spices, the fish is either steamed or baked in a cup made from banana leaves. It’s coconut-ey delicious.
Happy Pizza
Happy Special's Happy Pizza // 79 Mondul 1 Khum Svay, Krong Siem Reap
It’s a very normal looking restaurant with a simple seating arrangement and a few customers. A grumpy man came to hand out the menu. I looked through it, trying to find the Happy marks, but nothing. Just normal pizzas with so many choices that come in three sizes, sold at normal prices.
Fafa placed the order with the grumpy man and whispered the word “herb” ever so softly.
The happy pizza came and I took a bite. It was bitter, but I polished off three-quarters of it before letting the tuk-tuk guy be the designated driver for the night.
I was ready to be taken down and get high with happiness. I was so ready, but nothing. The next day I woke up the next day feeling extra sleepy, extra lazy and extra slow, and with a headache thanks to the Happy Pizza.
Khmer BorBor (Rice Porridge)
Madam Moch Khmer Restaurant // 021 Taphul Road, Siem Reap 17259
A favourite in the street food scenes in Cambodia, admittedly, Khmer porridge didn’t look appealing.
I even raised my eyebrow when I saw the mix of it. It had salted fish and dried prawns, but I swear it’s freaking delicious. The local breakfast choice is the way to start your temple-exploring day. Or, in my case, a great way to snap out of feeling high from eating happy pizza twelve hours before.
After the Cambodian food-induced travel I have concluded that any place we go, there will always be delicious local food. We just have to keep our minds open. It might even be weird in the beginning, but the weird food is usually the best one. This trip has also inspired me to take a cooking class whenever I try a new place. I think it would be a great taste of the cultural experience.
Briphok ahar sabbay, you guys!
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