🍽️ A Journey Through a Cuisine as Underrated as It Is Exquisite

When we talk about Southeast Asian gastronomy, Thai, Vietnamese, and Laotian cuisines often come to mind first. Yet, Cambodian cuisine — also known as Khmer cuisine — is a true hidden gem, rich in flavors, textures, and history.

From the mountainous landscapes of Preah Vihear province in the north to the southern beaches of Kampot, Cambodia offers a surprisingly diverse culinary palette, rooted in ancient traditions and subtly influenced by its neighbors. Let’s travel from north to south to discover this underrated culinary treasure.

📍 The North: Rustic and Forest-Driven Flavors

Northern Cambodia’s Cuisine: Nature and Tradition

In Cambodia’s northern regions, cooking is deeply connected to the surrounding environment. Indigenous groups such as the Jarai, Kachok, Tampuan, and Kui communities build their meals from what the forest, rivers, and clearings provide. This cuisine is defined by its simplicity, direct relationship with the land, and the freshness of its ingredients.

Signature Ingredients

• Wild mushrooms, especially during the rainy season

• Local roots and tubers (wild potatoes, taro, yam)

• Small freshwater fish, often grilled or cooked with herbs

• Grilled insects (red ants, crickets, grasshoppers, tree worms), sometimes served with sticky rice

• Leaves and wild shoots (lemongrass, young sweet potato leaves)

Must-Try Dishes

• Samlor korko: a thick vegetable soup with river fish, forest leaves and herbs, sometimes enriched with crab or freshwater shrimp

• Aing pring kem: skewers of grilled meat or fish with just salt and herbs

• Nhoam bongkuon: a salad of chopped wild flowers or leaves, small crustaceans, lime, and chili

• Insect dishes: grilled red ants with sticky rice, smoked tree worms, or crispy grasshoppers

Where to Try These Dishes?

In these remote provinces, you won’t find many tourist restaurants, but rather:

• Local markets (like Banlung Central Market in Ratanakiri or Preah Vihear town market), where you can sample grilled skewers, daily soups, sautéed roots, or fried insects

• Family-run eateries along the roadside or in homestays, where dishes are often prepared fresh based on what’s available that day

• Ecolodges, such as Terres Rouges Lodge in Banlung or Bamboo Guesthouse in Preah Vihear, which offer cuisine inspired by traditional recipes and sometimes cooking workshops

🌿 Recommended Spots in the North

• Terres Rouges Lodge – Banlung: a beautiful ecolodge by Boeung Kansaign Lake offering authentic Khmer dishes prepared with daily fresh ingredients

• Lemy’s Restaurant – Sra’aem (near Preah Vihear temple): a popular family-run spot with Khmer specialties, seafood, soups, and noodle dishes, usually priced between $1.50 and $4

• Other mentions: Oeng Kong Huy (for a slightly higher-end experience), and many local roadside restaurants where food is made to order

For more, check:

• Petit Futé Cambodia (Northeast edition): lists local markets, recipes, and hidden eateries

• The blog “Un Grand Voyage au Cambodge”: great articles on rural food culture, addresses, and photos

• Taste of Angkor – Official Cambodian Tourism Site: with regional recipe videos and culinary highlights from northern provinces

✅ Practical Tips

• Be curious at the markets — many vendors offer samples

• Try the daily special — it changes with what’s been caught or foraged

• For an immersive experience, choose a homestay or ask if you can join the cooking process

• Hiring a local guide can lead you to incredible off-the-map food stops

📍 The Center: Phnom Penh – Between Tradition and Modernity

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, is a vibrant crossroads of tradition and modernity when it comes to food. It offers everything from bustling local markets to trendy restaurants and gourmet street food.

Traditional Khmer Cuisine in the Heart of the Capital

Explore food markets like the Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Poung) or the Central Market (Psar Thmey), where fresh regional products abound — herbs, freshwater fish, and classic Khmer spices.

Some iconic dishes to try include:

• Amok trey: steamed fish in banana leaf with coconut milk and spices

• Lok lak: stir-fried marinated beef served with rice and pepper-lime sauce

• Samlor korko: Khmer vegetable soup

• Num banh chok: rice noodle dish with green curry sauce and fresh vegetables

Street food is also widespread, offering grilled skewers, lok lak-style crepes, fresh fruits, and traditional desserts like num ansom (sticky rice cakes).

Modernity and Global Influence

Phnom Penh has embraced modern dining as well, with fusion restaurants where Khmer chefs reinterpret traditional dishes using innovative techniques and international ingredients.

You’ll also find a strong presence of foreign cuisines — Vietnamese, Chinese, French, Western — reflecting the multicultural character of the capital.

The café and gastropub scene is growing too, with specialty coffees, creative cocktails, and chef-designed menus gaining popularity.

Where to Eat in Phnom Penh?

• Psar Thmey (Central Market): perfect for sampling authentic street food and discovering local staples

• Historic Khmer restaurants, like Romdeng (which supports social causes), Malis, or Amok Gallery, which highlight Khmer cuisine in refined settings

• Trendy neighborhoods like BKK1, filled with modern fusion restaurants and traditional eateries side by side

• Food courts and night markets, increasingly popular for tasting a wide variety of dishes at affordable prices in a lively atmosphere

🍜 Khmer Street Food in Phnom Penh: Top Local Spots to Try

Whether you're a food adventurer or just curious, the capital is packed with incredible flavors waiting to be explored — often at a street corner, grill stall, or family-owned cart. Dive into the authentic taste of Cambodia, one bite at a time.

🍜 1. Num Banh Chok – Street 264

A small family-run stall known for its num banh chok, Cambodia’s national dish made from fermented rice noodles served in a light fish and lemongrass broth, topped with fresh vegetables and herbs.

Address: Street 264, Phnom Penh

Why go: This spot is often recommended as one of the best places in the city to try this beloved breakfast dish.

🔗 [See Street 264 recommendations on InsideAsiaTours]

🥖 2. Num Pang Hero – Cambodian Sandwich

A num pang is Cambodia’s answer to the banh mi: a crispy baguette filled with marinated grilled pork, pickled vegetables, herbs, and chili.

Address: Num Pang Hero (delivery/snack stand)

Why go: Excellent value for money (around $3). This is a must-try street food item and a tasty quick bite in Phnom Penh’s busy streets.

🔗 [Discover Num Pang Hero on The World of Street Food]

🍜 3. Lort Cha – Sok Lang Lort Cha (Near the Royal Palace)

A famous street cart serving lort cha, stir-fried thick rice noodles with crunchy vegetables, sweet and salty sauce, topped with a fried egg and sometimes a slice of fried pate.

Address: 18 Preah Ang Makhak Vann Street (178), Phnom Penh, just next to the National Museum and Royal Palace

Why go: This place is popular among locals and tourists alike for some of the best lort cha near Phnom Penh’s cultural hotspots.

🔗 [Photos and info on Sok Lang Lort Cha]

🍽️ Gastronomic Culture

Phnom Penh also offers cooking classes, where visitors can learn to prepare authentic Khmer dishes using fresh, local ingredients. Traditional markets are ideal for discovering rare herbs, spices, and seasonal produce unique to central Cambodia. Chatting with vendors is part of the experience — many are passionate about their craft and eager to share recipes or preparation tips.

✅ In Summary

Phnom Penh is the beating heart of modern Cambodia — a city where culinary tradition meets international flair. Whether you’re sipping sugarcane juice at a market, tasting a family recipe for amok, or enjoying a fusion take on lok lak, every meal tells a story of history, culture, and evolution. The capital is a vibrant space where the old and new blend beautifully, offering a rich, flavorful journey through Khmer identity.

📍 The South: Seafood Cuisine and Kampot Pepper

Heading South: Where the Sea Becomes the Soul of the Plate

In southern Cambodia, especially around Kampot and Kep, the ocean shapes both landscape and cuisine. Local food reflects daily catches, coastal life, and a deep connection to the powerful, fragrant spice that grows just inland: Kampot pepper.

🦀 Kampot Pepper Crab: Coastal Cambodia’s Signature Dish

You can’t talk about Kampot or Kep cuisine without mentioning the iconic crab with Kampot pepper — known locally as kdam chaa mrech. This dish features fresh crab (usually blue crab or mangrove crab), stir-fried in a fragrant sauce made with green Kampot pepper.

Main ingredients:

• Fresh blue or mangrove crab (4 to 6, depending on size)

• 100g fresh green Kampot pepper clusters

• Garlic, fish sauce, oyster sauce, tamarind juice, palm sugar, spring onions

Preparation:
The cleaned crab is quickly stir-fried in oil with whole clusters of green pepper. Then, a sauce made from crushed pepper, garlic, fish and oyster sauces, tamarind juice, and sugar is added to coat every piece. After a few minutes of intense sizzling, it’s finished with fresh spring onions and served hot — often with steamed white rice.

The result is unforgettable: the crab’s sweet meat enhanced by the floral, spicy punch of green Kampot pepper.

Best enjoyed seaside, at sunset, with sea breeze and sticky rice.

🦀 So Kheang Restaurant – Kep

Specialty: Kampot pepper crab with green and black pepper sauces. Full pepper flavor, generous portions.

Why go: Often listed as serving some of Kep’s best crab. Authentic, fresh, and reasonably priced.

Tripadvisor rating: 4.3/5 and ranked around 11th out of 51 restaurants in Kep.

➡️ Click here: So Kheang Restaurant on Tripadvisor

🌶️ Alternative: Kep Crab Market

If you prefer a more immersive and budget-friendly experience, the Kep Crab Market is a local institution. You can buy live crab right off the boats, then have it cooked for you on the spot — usually with Kampot green pepper.

Locals say: "Just go into the crab market, buy your crabs and have them cooked right there — it’s always delicious."

Fresh, fiery, and unforgettable.

🥭 Green Mango Seafood Salad: Crunchy, Zesty, Fresh

Another must-try coastal dish is the green mango salad, a refreshing starter or side with:

• Shredded green mango

• Shrimp (fresh or dried), smoked fish, or shredded pork

• Carrot, green bell pepper, herbs (basil, coriander)

• Fish sauce, palm sugar, garlic, shallots, lime juice, and chili

• Roasted peanuts for crunch

It’s light, tangy, and incredibly satisfying — especially in the southern heat.

🍛 Sweet-Sour Soups and Coconut Curries: A Burst of Flavors

Local cuisine also includes sour-sweet soups, often made with seafood or fish, pineapple, lemongrass, tamarind, tomatoes, and herbs. These soups are vibrant, refreshing, and ideal companions to rich seafood dishes.

Cambodian coconut curries are gentler than Thai versions, often blending fish, shrimp, or vegetables with homemade kreung paste, galangal, lemongrass, turmeric, and eggplant — all mellowed by creamy coconut milk. Kampot pepper or lemongrass often adds a final aromatic lift.

🌊 Land of Sea and Spice

Whether you’re eating crab on Kep beach, wandering through the crab market, or dining in a cozy Kampot café, the sea defines the menu. Grilled crab, stir-fried prawns, stuffed squid, and whole steamed or fried fish are seasoned with Kampot pepper, lemongrass, coconut, or green mango.

This region is a culinary haven for seafood lovers and spice seekers alike — a place where the sweetness of crab, the crunch of mango, and the intensity of pepper come together to deliver one of Southeast Asia’s most unforgettable food experiences.

🧂 Kampot Pepper: A Cambodian Treasure of Terroir, Unique Flavor, and Growing Value

Grown in the southern provinces of Kampot and Kep, Kampot pepper — protected by a Geographical Indication (GI) since 2010 in Cambodia and 2016 in the EU — is much more than a spice. It represents the culinary and cultural identity of an entire region, gradually reborn after decades of neglect.

Pepper has been cultivated in this region for centuries, but its reputation truly flourished during the French colonial period. By the early 20th century, Kampot pepper was already being exported to Europe and prized for its superior quality.

Under the Khmer Rouge regime, nearly all plantations were destroyed. It wasn’t until the 1990s that local families began reviving the tradition, supported by NGOs and fair-trade initiatives. Today, Kampot pepper is internationally recognized, with production overseen by strict quality standards and cooperative farming models.

💰 Price in USD per Kilogram

Prices vary depending on the type and quality:

• Black pepper: between $5 and $8 USD/kg on average

• Red and white pepper: typically $20 to $30 USD/kg, sometimes more for organic or hand-sorted varieties

• Premium red pepper: can reach $50 to $60 USD/kg on specialized markets

Prices also fluctuate based on the season, packaging (whole, ground, or infused), and point of sale (local vs. export).

In Europe, and particularly in France, prices are significantly higher. For high-quality, hand-sorted, GI-certified Kampot pepper, expect to pay between 12 and 25 euros per 100 grams, which equals roughly 120 to 250 euros per kilogram, depending on variety and origin.

🧂 Types of Kampot Pepper Sold in France

In France, black Kampot pepper, the most common variety, sells for 12 to 18 euros per 100 grams, typically packaged in glass jars or resealable pouches.

Red pepper, rarer and more sought after, is sold for 16 to 25 euros per 100 grams. Its rich, fruity aroma makes it a favorite among chefs.

White pepper is milder yet complex, priced between 14 and 20 euros per 100 grams. Slightly more expensive than black pepper, it undergoes a longer processing phase.

Green pepper, either fresh, lyophilized, or preserved in brine, is harder to find outside Cambodia. Prices range from 10 to 18 euros per 100 grams, depending on the preservation method.

👅 Taste and Varieties

Kampot pepper stands out for its bold, balanced, and refined flavor. Though all varieties come from the same fruit (Piper nigrum), the differences lie in the harvest time and processing:

• Black pepper is intense, with woody, fruity, and slightly minty notes — perfect for grilled meats, sauces, or roasted vegetables

• Red pepper is harvested fully ripe and has sweet, almost candied aromas, with hints of red fruits and citrus. Ideal for game, cheese, or even desserts

• White pepper is more delicate, zesty, and subtle — excellent for seafood, poultry, or refined dishes

• Green pepper, picked young, offers a vegetal freshness. It’s mostly used in local Cambodian cooking, especially in the famous crab with green Kampot pepper

Kampot pepper is not just a spice — it’s a symbol of Cambodia’s agricultural revival. From small farms to Michelin-starred kitchens, it builds a bridge between tradition and innovation. Whether black, red, or white, it’s a must-try for anyone who appreciates depth, elegance, and character in their food.

✅ Conclusion

Long overshadowed by its regional neighbors, Cambodian cuisine deserves to be known and celebrated. Its freshness, subtlety, and use of local, seasonal ingredients make it truly special. From the wild northern provinces to the coastal flavors of the south, each region offers a unique culinary experience. For travelers eager to explore a lesser-known side of Southeast Asia, Cambodia is as much to savor as it is to visit.

📲 Insider Tip Before You Go: Find Cambodians Who Cook Just for You — Through Social Media!

If you're eager to taste real Khmer food — the kind served in homes, markets, and hidden street stalls — you don’t need to wait until you land in Cambodia. You can connect with Cambodian home cooks and food lovers online who are happy to prepare dishes on request.

🌐 Where to Look?

Facebook: Join local groups like Expat Phnom Penh, Kampot Noticeboard, Expats & Locals Cambodia Food, or Cambodian Home Cooking.
→ Post something simple like: “I’m coming to Cambodia in two weeks and would love to try a homemade amok or grilled street food — anyone cooking?”

Instagram: Search hashtags like #khmercooking, #cambodianfood, or #homecookingcambodia. Many small local chefs or foodies will respond to direct messages.

WhatsApp or Telegram: After joining a Facebook group, you’ll often be invited into smaller messaging groups where informal vendors offer food for pickup or delivery.

TikTok: A goldmine for discovering Khmer families sharing their daily meals. Many of them are happy to cook on request if you reach out respectfully.

🍛 What Can You Order?

Cambodians are generous and flexible — you can usually request:

• Traditional dishes like amok trey, lok lak, or nom banh chok

• Rare specialties like nhoam bongkuon (flower salads), insect-based dishes, or rural soups

• Homemade desserts such as num ansom, nom krok, or bananas in coconut milk

Prices are typically lower than in restaurants — and the food is often more authentic.

💡 Pro Tip

When you message someone, offer a small tip or bonus for their time. You could even bring a small gift from home (like chocolate or tea) or leave them a kind review to help spread the word.

✅ In Summary

Even before your plane lands, you can already start connecting with Cambodian cooks, building relationships, and planning a flavorful experience that goes beyond restaurants and guidebooks. It’s a warm, direct, affordable, and truly local way to discover Khmer cuisine — cooked from the heart.

❓ Cambodian Cuisine: Your Questions Answered

🍛 How is Cambodian food different from Thai or Vietnamese food?
It’s less spicy than Thai, less sweet than Vietnamese. Khmer food is all about balance and lightness, with generous use of lemongrass, galangal, prahok (fermented fish paste), and fresh herbs.

🥥 What dishes should I absolutely try in Cambodia?

• Amok (steamed fish curry with coconut)

• Lok lak (stir-fried beef with pepper sauce)

• Nom banh chok (rice noodles with green curry)

• Kampot pepper crab

🧂 Is Cambodian food vegetarian-friendly?
Yes — although you may need to request modifications. Vegetable stir-fries, tofu-based dishes, and light soups are widely available, especially in tourist areas and Buddhist communities.

🍴 Can I find Cambodian food easily outside Cambodia?
Unfortunately, it’s still underrepresented globally — which makes tasting it in Cambodia itself a rare and rewarding culinary adventure.