National Classics

• Amok (Amok): Steamed fish in coconut curry served in banana leaves, aromatic yet mild, a signature Cambodian dish, priced around $3–$5.
• Cambodian Red Curry: Coconut curry with beef or chicken, milder than Thai curries, pairs well with rice or baguette.
• Lok Lak: Black pepper beef stir-fry served with rice and a tangy dipping sauce, reflecting French colonial culinary influence.
• Kuy Teav: Phnom Penh-style pork bone noodle soup, served with fried dough sticks and bean sprouts, a national breakfast staple, costing about $1–$2 per bowl.
• Grilled Beef Skewers and Cambodian Sausages: Charcoal-grilled street food, often served with sticky rice, affordable and flavorful.

Snacks and Everyday Eats

• Num Pang: Cambodian-style baguette sandwich filled with meat, pickled vegetables, and spicy sauce, around $1–$2, the most convenient street breakfast option.
• French Drip Coffee: Iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk, a legacy of colonial-era dining, often paired with a baguette.
• Spring Rolls and Green Mango Salad: Refreshing and light, commonly found in markets and popular eateries, ideal for hot weather.
• Fried Insects: Fried spiders, crickets, and grasshoppers are sold in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh streets—adventurous eaters can give them a try.
• Mango Sticky Rice and Coconut Ice Cream: Tropical desserts widely available, affordable, and perfect for cooling down after a meal.

Dining Areas and Tips

• Siem Reap’s Pub Street and the Old Market area have the highest concentration of restaurants, offering Cambodian, Western, and vegetarian options.
• In Phnom Penh, the Mekong Riverfront, Central Market, and Russian Market are hubs for local street food, with lower prices than tourist areas.
• Cambodian meals are typically rice-based, and curries can be requested to be less spicy—many international visitors find the flavours easy to adapt to.
• Restaurant bills are usually priced in USD, but change may be given in riels, which is normal and nothing to worry about.

Drinks and Desserts

• Iced Coffee with Sweetened Condensed Milk: Cambodian coffee is often brewed with a drip filter, served with condensed milk and ice, around $1 per cup from street vendors.
• Sugarcane Juice and Coconut Water: Popular refreshing drinks; fresh sugarcane juice costs about $1, while coconut water is hydrating and cooling.
• Cambodian Desserts: Made with coconut milk, glutinous rice, and tropical fruits, commonly found at market stalls, affordable and tasty.
• Local Beers and Fruit Smoothies: Local beers are inexpensive, and mango or dragon fruit smoothies are favourite drinks among tourists.

Cambodian cuisine bears French influences, with baguettes, coffee, and desserts integrated into daily life. Street stalls often serve noodle soups, baguette sandwiches, and iced coffee—all for under $3 for breakfast. For hygiene concerns, choose busy stalls, avoid raw foods, and steer clear of ice from unknown sources.

Cambodian dishes are based on freshwater fish, coconut milk, lemongrass, and turmeric, with mild and layered spicing. Many dishes pair well with rice or baguette. If local flavours are unfamiliar, tourist areas in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap offer a wide range of Chinese, Western, and Indian restaurants. Dishes can often be customized to be less spicy or served with sauces on the side—just ask, and staff will usually accommodate.