19+ most popular & must try food in Cambodia

What should you eat when traveling to Cambodia? Save the Cambodian specialties below to plan your culinary exploration of the “land of pagodas” with the list of 19+ popular food in Cambodia, best food to eat in Cambodia and must try food in Cambodia!

Although not one of the “hot” destinations in Asia, Cambodia has become more and more known to travel enthusiasts who want to explore new lands. Besides famous spiritual and cultural works such as Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Cambodia also “causes nostalgia” with delicious, rich specialties.

If you are preparing for a trip to the small country, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the “super-appealing” Cambodian specialties. Let’s explore with us!

Samlor Korko – Cambodian Curry Fish Soup (#must try food in Cambodia)

Samlor Korko is a traditional dish that has existed for hundreds of years and still holds a special position in the culinary culture of the land of pagodas. Samlor Korko is a rich soup with a myriad of ingredients, including dozens of vegetables.

This dish can be made with many different types of meat, but the most popular are catfish and pork belly. Along with that, to keep the full flavor of Samlor Korko, you cannot ignore two important ingredients: prahok – Cambodian fish sauce and kroeung – a delicious curry powder.

You can enjoy Samlor Korko in many places, but if you want to experience the fullest flavor, come to Malis Restaurant in Phnom Penh.

Nom Banh Chok – Khmer-Style Noodles

Similar to pho noodle soup in Vietnam, Nom Banh Chok is a typical breakfast dish in Cambodia. The image of Khmer women carrying baskets of fresh noodles on their shoulders is a familiar feature in Cambodia.

This dish consists of fresh rice noodles, and a rich green curry broth with fish, lemongrass, galangal, turmeric and garlic. In Siem Reap, Nom Banh Chok is often served with tuk paem – a sweet dipping sauce made from palm sugar and peanuts.

If you are traveling in Siem Reap, you can visit Nam Ben Chok Noodle to enjoy this “national” noodle dish!

Bai Sach Chrouk – Cambodian Grilled Pork Rice

Bai Sach Chrouk, also known as Cambodian grilled pork rice, is a popular and beloved dish in the land of pagodas. You can easily find street vendors selling Bai Sach Chrouk every early morning on the streets of Cambodia.

This dish is made from thinly sliced ​​pork, marinated with palm sugar and fish sauce, then slowly grilled over hot coals. The grilled meat is served with white rice, pickled cucumbers and pickled white radish. Bai Sach Chrouk is often served with a bowl of chicken broth, garnished with green onions and fried onions.

Come to Bai Sach Chrouk on Vimol Thoam Thong Street (246) in Phnom Penh to enjoy a delicious hot grilled meat and rice dish!

Kari Sach Moan – Cambodian Red Curry Chicken

Kari Sach Moan is a dish that is deeply rooted in the culinary culture of the country of pagodas. Cambodian red curry is milder than Thai curry, made from local red chillies, creating a rich dish but still retains an elegant taste.

This dish is made from chicken, white radish, sweet potatoes, fresh coconut milk and kroeung. Kari Sach Moan is often served at weddings, ceremonies and special occasions. You can enjoy this dish with fresh noodles, bread or white rice.

You can go to Khmer Noodles Restaurant on Samdach Phuong Street in Phnom Penh to try this rich curry!

Kha Sach Ko – Cambodian-style Caramelized Beef Stew

The traditional Cambodian dish Kha Sach Ko is one of the specialties that you cannot miss when you have the opportunity to travel to the land of pagodas. The attractive flavor of this dish is created by the delicate combination of palm caramel sauce and the spicy, aromatic flavor of spices such as ginger, garlic, and star anise. The beef is soft, sweet and soaked in spices, served with toasted bread or noodles.

To enjoy this dish, you can visit traditional restaurants and eateries throughout Cambodia. Famous dining places with Kha Sach Ko such as the old town of Siem Reap or the capital Phnom Penh will be ideal places to eat.

Sngor Chruak Sach Trei – Cambodian-style Sour Fish Soup

Sngor soup is a simple but extremely “appetizing” dish, made from fresh ingredients and bearing the typical characteristics of Cambodia. Fish soup is made from fresh fish caught from Tonle Sap Lake – Cambodia’s largest freshwater lake. The fresh fish is cooked in a broth of lemongrass, lime juice and fried garlic. This soup is often served with local herbs such as basil and coriander. You can also add straw mushrooms or shredded green mango depending on your preference.

Come to Labaab Restaurant on Preah Monivong Blvd (93) in Phnom Penh to enjoy Cambodia’s specialty sour fish soup!

Kari Saraman – Cambodian-Style Beef Saraman Curry

Considered one of Cambodia’s most complex dishes, Kari Saraman is a delicious curry that stands out with its subtle combination of spices. This is a dish that is deeply rooted in the culinary culture of the Cham people, a Muslim minority in Cambodia.

This dish is made from beef – a popular ingredient in Cham cuisine, instead of pork – a popular ingredient in Cambodian cuisine. The curry is stewed with whole peanuts and is often served with bread.

One of the famous places to enjoy Saraman curry is Rikitikitavi restaurant on Riverside Road, near the Post Office, Kampot.

Nhoam Krauch Thlong – Cambodian-Style Pomelo Salad

Instead of using vegetables, Cambodians often use sour or unripe fruits to make salads. And Nhoam Krauch Thlong grapefruit salad is an attractive dish, showing the creativity and sophistication in the cuisine of the land of pagodas.

Nhoam Krauch Thlong is made from grapefruit, pork belly, grilled coconut and dried shrimp, garnished with mint and fried onions. The most difficult part of preparing this salad is separating the grapefruit segments, because if you are not careful, the bitter taste of grapefruit will destroy the flavor of the salad. The elaborate preparation creates a refreshing, harmonious dish. When in Siem Reap, visit Madam Moch Khmer Restaurant on Taphul Road, which is famous for this wonderful grapefruit salad.

Kha Trei Svay Kchai – Braised Fish with Cambodian Green Mango

Kha Trei Svay Kchai, also known as braised fish with Cambodian green mango, is a dish that is deeply imbued with the culinary culture of the land of pagodas. This dish uses striped tilapia cut into thick pieces, then braised in a pot with palm sugar, garlic, fish sauce and ground black pepper.

During the cooking process, the chef will add tomato wedges to enhance the flavor of the braised fish. To avoid breaking the fish pieces, the chef will not directly stir the fish but only gently shake the pot from left to right. This delicious and attractive braised fish dish is often garnished with shredded green mango and basil. You can find Kha Trei Svay Kchai at many local restaurants in Cambodia.

Street Food Kangkep Baob – Cambodian-Style Stuffed Frog

Are you a person who is passionate about new things, and wants to discover unique dishes? Then don’t miss Kangkep Baob, stuffed frog in Cambodia!

Kangkep Baob is stuffed with many ingredients: minced pork, roasted peanuts, red chili, frog meat and fresh kroeung made from lemongrass, garlic, galangal, turmeric and lemon peel. Frogs are grilled in bamboo tubes split in half over hot coals, with a spicy taste of spices and a light sweetness of palm sugar, and the frog meat is chewy and sweet like chicken.

This is a very popular street food, so you can find it in most night markets in Cambodia.

Mi Kola – Cambodian Kola Noodles

A dish rich in the cultural flavor of the Kola community – Kola noodles, is a dish you should try when traveling to Cambodia. This dish is made from rice noodles, garnished with dried shrimp, boiled eggs, cucumbers, peanuts and herbs, mixed with a sweet and sour sauce made from lime, garlic, and shallots.

Pork is an optional ingredient but is often added, and the dish is also often served with side dishes of cucumber and pickled green papaya. Mi Kola is a popular dish in Cambodia, you can find it at street food stalls and restaurants across the country.

Chha Trop Dott – Cambodian-Style Stuffed Eggplant

If you are a fan of rustic grilled eggplant, don’t miss the chance to enjoy the Cambodian version of grilled eggplant! This is an extremely simple but very attractive dish. Eggplant is grilled over fire or charcoal, then topped with minced pork stir-fried with garlic and fish sauce. Herbs such as basil, green onions or coriander are sprinkled on top. To make the dish more fragrant and fatty, you can also choose to add eggs!

Although it only has a few ingredients, when prepared well, Chha Trop Dott brings a wonderful flavor. You can find this dish at street food stalls, local restaurants and even make it yourself at home.

Chaa Kdam Meric Kchai: Cambodian-Style Green Pepper Crab

Are you a seafood lover? Then don’t miss the Kampot green pepper crab – a famous specialty of Kep town, Cambodia. This place is famous for its bustling crab market, which specializes in serving crab fried with Kampot green pepper, a world-famous specialty pepper.

The spicy, aromatic flavor of Kampot green pepper can only be found in Cambodia. Fresh crab is processed according to a traditional recipe, combined with Kampot green pepper, bringing a unique, unforgettable flavor. In addition to green pepper crab, you should also try Chaa Kdam Kroeung, crab fried with curry sauce, another interesting variation of Kep cuisine.

To fully enjoy the flavor of Kampot, you can visit Kep Sur Mer restaurant at The Village, Prey Thom Commune, Krong Kaeb.

Samlor Machu Kroeung Sach Ko – Cambodian Beef Sour Soup

If you visit Cambodia on a rainy day, a bowl of hot soup will help you dispel the cold weather. This dish has two versions for you to choose from: traditional soup and soup with added coconut milk – ktis.

The broth is made from prahok (fish paste) and kroeung, a mixture of lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, turmeric and garlic. The traditional version uses curry leaves grilled over hot coals instead of coconut milk.

The ktis version combines coconut milk with ripe tamarind, creating a light sour taste, adding basil or coriander leaves for a delicious flavor. The vegetables served with this soup are usually water spinach or coriander leaves, and sometimes eggplant.

Maam Chao – Cambodian Fish Sauce

Maam Chao, or Cambodian fish sauce, is a dish for those who love the distinctive flavors of traditional cuisine. The dish is made from maam, a type of fermented freshwater fish. The fish is mixed with roasted rice, galangal and sugar, fermented for at least a month.

Compared to prahok, maam has a more refined taste, the saltiness of the fish is balanced by the sweetness of palm sugar. Maam Chao is often used as a dipping sauce, combined with pineapple, boiled pork and crispy raw vegetables. This is one of the suitable gifts for you to buy for your relatives. You can find Maam Chao at markets or specialty stores in Cambodia.

Ang Dtray Meuk – Grilled Squid with Koh Kong Sauce

In addition to crab, Cambodia is also famous for dishes made from squid. Ang Dtray Meuk grilled squid is a typical dish of coastal towns in Cambodia. You can see seafood vendors carrying small charcoal stoves on their shoulders, grilling squid right on the beach.

The squid is marinated with fish sauce, then skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled over hot coals. The dish is served with Koh Kong spicy dipping sauce, made from garlic, fresh chili, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar.

Sitting by the beach enjoying the cool breeze, listening to the sound of the waves and enjoying grilled squid with Koh Kong sauce will be a memorable culinary experience in the land of pagodas!

Nhoam Svay Kchai – Cambodian Green Mango Salad

If you want to explore more about the unique cuisine of Cambodia, enjoy the traditional green mango salad, also known as “Nhoam Svay Kchai”.

Green mango is combined with herbs such as basil, mint, Cambodian mint and sea basil leaves, creating a unique flavor. The salad is often added with smoked fish and dried shrimp, creating a harmony between the sour taste of green mango, the saltiness of smoked fish and the sweetness of palm sugar.

This salad is often served at street food stalls and traditional restaurants throughout Cambodia, offering visitors an interesting and unique culinary experience.

Chaa Angrong Sach Ko – Cambodian-style Stir-fried Beef with Red Ants

It may sound strange, but Chaa Angrong Sach Ko, or stir-fried beef with red ants, is an attractive dish, offering an interesting culinary experience for visitors.

The dish is made from beef, red ants and spices such as ginger, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, and basil. The red ants used in the dish are small, tree-dwelling ants that give it a very distinctive flavor. The beef is thinly sliced, stir-fried with red ants and spices, giving it a delicious, attractive flavor. The dish is often served with white rice.

Num Ansom – Cambodian-style pork rice cake

Are you familiar with Vietnamese pork rice cake? Then try Cambodian pork rice cake Num Ansom to see what makes yours different! pork rice cake Num Ansom is a traditional dish, imbued with the culture of the country of pagodas.

The cake is made from sticky rice, wrapped in banana leaves, and can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients such as bananas, coconut or pork, green beans. Num Ansom is often used during holidays, especially Pchum Ben (the ancestors’ festival), when women spend days making hundreds of cakes to share with family, friends and give to monks at the temple.

You can find Num Ansom at the famous Mealea Restaurant, located at 44, Sothearos Blvd (corner of 240 Chumne).

Trei Boeng Kanh Chhet – Fried Fish in Cambodian Curry Sauce

If you are looking for a truly authentic Cambodian culinary experience, Trei Boeng Kanh Chhet – fried fish in curry sauce is an option not to be missed. This dish often appears in parties, and is impressively presented in a fish-shaped plate.

The whole fish is fried until crispy, then seasoned on a hot pan with coconut curry sauce made from yellow kroeung and chili. Vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage are cooked with curry, creating a harmonious flavor when eaten with rice. To enjoy this dish to the fullest, you should visit famous restaurants in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, where Trei Boeng Kanh Chhet is prepared in the most traditional and sophisticated way.

Cambodia is not only a country of ancient temples, brilliant cultural heritages, but also a culinary paradise, where you can explore impressive rich flavors. Cambodian cuisine is a harmonious combination of traditional flavors and creativity, bringing you delicious dishes.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Phnom Penh you can refer to

• Shared Bus Transfers from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh, Kampot, or Kep by Giant Ibis
• Phnom Penh Airport Transfers (PNH) for Phnom Penh
• Shared Bus Transfers between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville by Giant Ibis
• Private City Transfers between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
• Shared Bus Transfers from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh by Mekong Express Bus Limousine
• Shared Bus Transfer between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh by Giant Ibis
• Private Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers (PNH) for Phnom Penh
• Phnom Penh City Day Tour
• Phnom Penh Half Day City Trip with Shared Van
• Phnom Penh Half Day Cycling Tour
• Hidden Phnom Penh City Tour
• Phnom Penh Heritage Tour
• Phnom Penh Past and Present Half Day Tour
• Phnom Penh Heritage Tour
• Phnom Penh Historical Tour
• Phnom Penh Killing Fields & S21 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Tour
• Classic Phnom Penh Tour

Are you finding more top things to do in Phnom Penh: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Phnom Penh shopping — Top 8 best shops, markets & shopping malls in Phnom Penh you must visit. And Siem Reap travel blog — The fullest Siem Reap travel guide for a budget trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia.