Cambodia Food and Drinks

“A typical Cambodian meal would normally consist of a soup, a salad, a main fish dish, vegetables and rice. A Cambodian dessert, normally based on fresh fruits and sticky rice, complement the meal.”
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk

The beauty of Cambodia goes far beyond the famous Angkor Wat ruins or the charm of the Khmer people’s simple life style. The country’s food culture is also not to be missed. In the Khmer diet, rice and freshwater fish play big roles because of the abundance of both. Cambodia has two main sources of natural fresh water, the Mekong river and the Tonle Sap, a huge lake connected to the Mekong. In the monsoon season, The Tonle Sap floods some 16,000 square kilometres of the country, irrigating rice fields and providing breeding grounds for fish.

What is Khmer food?

Khmer food takes influences from a variety of countries. Cambodia was a French colony for many years and also has many Chinese immigrants, so both French and Chinese foods are widely found. In the west of the country, the cuisine is, naturally, influenced by the food of neighbouring Thailand while in the east the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine are more evident.

Coastal towns such as Sihanoukville in the southwest are famous for their seafood, cooked in many styles, including Japanese and European. Common ingredients in Khmer cuisine are similar to those found in other Southeast Asian culinary traditions – rice and sticky rice, fish sauce, palm sugar, lime, garlic, chilies, coconut milk, lemon grass, galangal, kaffir lime and shallots.

Typical Khmer dishes

Amok

Catfish with curry, steamed in banana leaf cups. Another common form is amok chouk – snails with curry steamed in their shells.

Sngao Chruok Moan

Sour chicken soup with herbs.

Sieng Khtih

Fermented soy bean dip, served with fresh vegetables.

Samla Mchou Kroeung Sach Ko

Spiced beef in sour soup.

Sngao Mreah

Soup with bitter gourd stuffed with minced pork.

Num Sang Khya Lpeou

Pumpkin custard made with egg yolks, palm sugar and coconut milk.

Num Chak

Sticky rice and coconut grilled in Chak leaf

Exotic Fruits

Anyone who visits a market in Cambodia will sees great piles of local fruits. Cambodia’s climate, especially around mid-year, ensures that plenty of colorful, tasty fruits flow into the market.

Many visitors are fascinated to see how many different types of banana there are – and how good they all taste. Other fruits to try in Cambodia are coconut, rambutan, mango, pineapple, mangosteen and durian – though the last item may not be for everyone; it has an unusual smell and taste.

Drinks

In the major cities, it is easy to get a hold of foreign beers such as Carlsberg, Heineken, Tiger, Guinness and Singha. Local brands such as Angkor, Angkor Stout and Bayon are also available everywhere.

Coffee and tea are usually available anywhere in the country. Imported wine is found only in the main tourist areas.

Do you know?

Many restaurants in Cambodia provide rice free. Almost all guesthouses in Cambodia also do meals. For smokers: Popular local brands of cigarette are Ara and Golden Goat. No reflection, one hopes, on the way they taste.