Here are the Top 10 Traditional Foods to Try in Cambodia, each offering a delicious taste of Khmer culture, local ingredients, and time-honored cooking methods. Whether you're dining in a market, street stall, or restaurant, these dishes are essential for any food lover visiting Cambodia:
1. Fish Amok
- Cambodia’s most iconic dish. A fragrant fish curry steamed in banana leaves with coconut milk, kroeung (a Khmer spice paste), and kaffir lime. Creamy, flavorful, and typically served with rice.
2. Samlor Korkor (Khmer Vegetable Soup)
- A traditional soup made with a mix of local vegetables, green papaya, and often catfish or pork, flavored with fermented fish paste (prahok). It’s one of Cambodia’s oldest known dishes.
3. Nom Banh Chok (Khmer Noodles)
- A beloved breakfast dish consisting of rice noodles topped with a green fish curry gravy and fresh herbs like banana flower, cucumbers, and bean sprouts. Found at markets and street stalls.
4. Lok Lak (Stir-Fried Beef)
- Tender beef cubes stir-fried in a peppery sauce, usually served with rice, lettuce, tomatoes, and a zesty lime-pepper dip. A French-influenced favorite.
5. Bai Sach Chrouk (Pork and Rice)
- A popular Cambodian breakfast dish of thinly sliced grilled pork marinated in coconut milk or garlic, served over rice with pickled vegetables and sometimes a fried egg.
6. Kuy Teav (Cambodian Noodle Soup)
- A flavorsome soup made with rice noodles, clear pork or beef broth, and garnished with bean sprouts, green onions, and lime. Often enjoyed as a hearty breakfast.
7. Prahok Ktiss (Pork and Prahok Dip)
- A rich, creamy dip made from ground pork, coconut milk, and fermented fish paste, served with raw vegetables for dipping. Bold in flavor and deeply traditional.
8. Cha Houy Teuk (Cambodian Jelly Dessert)
- A colorful and refreshing dessert made from agar jelly, mung beans, coconut milk, and sometimes sweet corn or fruits. Perfect to cool off in Cambodia’s heat.
9. Grilled Frog or Snake on a Stick (Street Food)
- Common in rural and city markets. Seasoned and grilled over open coals, these exotic snacks are crunchy, savory, and uniquely Cambodian.
10. Num Pang (Khmer Sandwich)
- Cambodia’s answer to the banh mi. A French baguette filled with meats, pickled vegetables, pâté, chili sauce, and herbs. Quick, affordable, and tasty.