Cambodia Street Food: What to Eat and Where to Find It

There’s a lot more to taste Cambodian food than what hotel restaurants serve. Walk through a local market in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, and you’ll find stalls selling bowls of noodle soup, grilled meat, fresh fruit and traditional Cambodian sweets. Khmer cooking usually uses fresh herbs, garlic and fish sauce, and it balances savoury, sour and sweet flavours.

Before you travel, check the entry information through Cambodia eVisa. Then save space in your food plans for local markets, roadside stalls and small restaurants that serve Cambodian favourites.

Fish Amok: A Classic Cambodian Dish

Fish amok is one of Cambodia’s best-known dishes. It’s a fish dish cooked in creamy coconut milk with herbs and spices that give it a rich aroma and flavour. It tastes creamy and aromatic, and it isn’t always very hot.

• How it's served: Some restaurants serve it in a banana leaf cup.
• The side: Rice comes with it and balances the rich sauce.
• Tip: If you like fish curries, try this one early in your trip.

Nom Banh Chok: Khmer Noodles for Breakfast

Nom banh chok is a popular Cambodian noodle dish that people usually eat in the morning. It's thin rice noodles topped with a green fish-based curry sauce, fresh vegetables and herbs.

The vegetables add freshness and crunch, and the sauce tastes earthy and savoury. Local markets and small food stalls are good places to find a freshly made bowl.

Grilled Skewers and Market Snacks

Food stalls often sell skewers of grilled meat, sausages and other quick bites. The smell of food cooking over charcoal makes these stalls easy to spot. The seasoning depends on the vendor, and it might be garlic, pepper, herbs or a sweet glaze.

• Fresh Fruit: Mango, pineapple and dragon fruit are common in Cambodian markets, sold whole or cut into pieces.
• Where to buy: Pick stalls that handle food cleanly and keep cut fruit covered from insects and dust.

Where to Look for Local Food

• Phnom Penh: This city has markets and street stalls where you can try Cambodian dishes during daily shopping.
• Siem Reap: Markets and restaurants in the central areas are good for Khmer food between sightseeing stops.
• When to go: Go early for breakfast dishes and market produce. In the evening, look for stalls making grilled food and noodle dishes.
• Prices: Prices and menus change from vendor to vendor, so ask the price before you order if it isn’t displayed.

Simple Tips for Eating Street Food

• Pick the right stall: Choose stalls with a steady stream of customers and food cooked fresh in front of you.
• Water & Ice: Drink sealed bottled water or water you know is safe, and be careful with ice if you don’t know where it came from.
• Money: Carry small notes, because some vendors don’t take cards.
• Allergies: If you have food allergies, ask about ingredients before you order. Some sauces and curry pastes contain fish, shellfish or other ingredients you can’t see in the dish.

Get to Know Cambodia Through Its Food

Street food gives you a real feel for how people cook and what they cook with. Start with fish amok or nom banh chok, taste fresh fruit at a market, and say yes when you spot a dish you’ve never seen. A few meals outside hotel restaurants will make your Cambodia trip better.