Content []

Discover Phnom Penh Food Tour: Top 07 Best Street Foods In Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Friday, January 19, 2024 Food & drink Tina

Many travelers have always been drawn to the charm of street food. Not only delicious and affordable, but it also reflects the soul and uniqueness of the local culture. Phnom Penh is not just the busiest city in Cambodia, but it's also full of interesting things to see. One of the best parts is trying the delicious street food for a unique culinary experience. Embark on a Phnom Penh food tour to explore the diverse and mouthwatering delights of the city's top 07 best street foods.

1. Nom Banh Chok
2. Num Pang
3. Fish Amok
4. Num Plae Ai
5. Bai sach chrouk
6. Lort Cha
7. Ngeav chamhoy

1. Nom Banh Chok

Nom Banh Chok

This is a popular street food, often sold by women carrying it on their shoulders and walking along the streets. The dish is considered the "signature dish" of Cambodia. Nom Banh Chok, recognized as the best street food in Phnom Penh, is made simply from ingredients such as rice noodles, lemongrass, bean sprouts, banana flowers, and cucumber.

Nom Bang Chok - best street food in Phnom Penh

Nom Banh Chok is a familiar dish found on every street in Cambodia with street vendors carrying it on their mobile stalls. Since ancient times, the Khmer people knew how to skillfully prepare delicious rice noodles from rice and were the first to create this dish. Nowadays, all related dishes, including Cambodian pho and noodles, trace their origins back to Nom Banh Chok. Embarking on a Phnom Penh food tour, you can explore the delightful flavors of this iconic dish, prepared with rice noodles, accompanied by a broth, banana flowers, lemongrass, bean sprouts, cucumber, and more.

Recommended palces to eat:

Khmer Noodles Restaurant - https://maps.app.goo.gl/PU2oHB4Mi6xEr7kf8
David's Restaurant Homemade Noodles - https://maps.app.goo.gl/FAmQujLTVrApUGWd6

2. Num Pang

Num Pang

Cambodia used to be a French colony, so its cuisine is also influenced by French culinary traditions. Num Pang sandwich is evidence of this. It may look similar to Vietnamese banh mi, but the taste is entirely different. When you embark on a Phnom Penh food tour, you'll have the opportunity to savor the unique flavors of Num Pang.

Phnom Penh best street food - Num Pang

This street food in Phnom Penh is prepared with a variety of ingredients such as butter, pate, mayonnaise sauce, spicy chili, papaya salad, pork, accompanied by fish sauce and soy sauce. Everything is carefully and meticulously prepared, with each ingredient treated separately. All will be kept separately in the tray alongside the hot and crispy bread. When a customer orders, the chef will start preparing to ensure the most delicious flavor.

Recommended place to eat:

Central Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/rr7w5ZRFdUPK1aMY6
Rusisan Market, 440 Street, Phnom Penh - https://maps.app.goo.gl/snGuucwSjNiF42Rh7

3. Fish Amok

Fish Amok - street food in Phnom Penh

Amok is a dish with a quite distinctive flavor, unmistakable from any other. This best street food Phnom Penh is prepared with unique ingredients found only in Cambodia. Palm sugar, coconut milk, fermented fish paste, and often wrapped in banana leaves are key components. Amok is also prepared in various forms, such as chicken amok, fish amok, etc. For the fish amok, it is usually made with snakehead fish or catfish.

Fish Amok - Phnom Penh best street food

First, the fermented fish paste, sugar, and eggs are mixed into a smooth paste, which is then cooked until thickened. Next, the mixture is wrapped around filleted fish pieces. Some local herbs are added on top for the next step. The final step involves wrapping the mixture in banana leaves and steaming, resulting in a delicious dish typical of Phnom Penh.

Recommended place to eat:

Central Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/rr7w5ZRFdUPK1aMY6
Rusisan Market, 440 Street, Phnom Penh - https://maps.app.goo.gl/snGuucwSjNiF42Rh7

4. Num Plae Ai

Num Plae Ai

When it comes to delicious street food in Cambodia, Num Plae Ai is a must-mention, a highly popular dessert with an irresistibly fragrant flavor. Embark on a Phnom Penh food tour to discover this best street food in Phnom Penh. Num Plae Ai is coated with a layer of coconut, and the soft and smooth outer layer of the cake is made from glutinous rice flour. Beneath the outer layer, there is a sweet and caramelized taste along with palm sugar. When savoring the first bite, one can feel the smooth texture and the soft, chewy filling of the cake, becoming more and more tempting. Num Plae Ai is also associated with a story - the "husband-killing cake," telling the tale of a wife making this cake to kill her unfaithful husband due to the immense pain caused by his infidelity.

Recommended places to eat:

Preah Sisowath Quay - https://maps.app.goo.gl/QNcPfbtvVbYDmHhc9
Rusisan Market, 440 Street, Phnom Penh - https://maps.app.goo.gl/snGuucwSjNiF42Rh7

This may arouse your curiosity:

>> Cambodia best time to visit
>> Where to stay in Phnom Penh?
>> Where to eat in Phnom Penh?
>> Phnom Penh travel guide

5. Bai sach chrouk

Bai sach chrouk

This dish of grilled pork with rice encapsulates the authentic spirit of street cuisine, adorned with a hint of simplicity. Discover the culinary magic on a Phnom Penh food tour, and don't be too quick to judge its humble appearance – the enchanting allure reveals itself only when you take that first delightful bite.

The exceptional taste of this street food in Phnom Penh is attributed to the grilled pork, elevating its flavor profile. The marinating process and the secret seasoning blend employed by the Cambodian chefs truly contribute to the exquisite taste of the meat. You'll sense the sweetness from the coconut milk used in the marinade, imparting a fragrant aroma when grilled over charcoal. Additionally, the meat itself is tender and thoroughly infused with spices.

Recommended palces to eat:

Rusisan Market, 440 Street, Phnom Penh - https://maps.app.goo.gl/snGuucwSjNiF42Rh7
Orussey Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/wLQxqXXuSXKF2xYb6

6. Lort Cha

Lort Cha - Phnom Penh food tour

Lort Cha is one of the famous and popular street foods in Phnom Penh, and exploring it on a Phnom Penh street food tour is a must. This stir-fried noodle dish comes in various versions, such as egg noodles, rice noodles, or instant noodles. The preparation of this dish is quite simple – first, stir-fry the noodles with spices, then add vegetables, eggs, and meat, stir-frying evenly for a few minutes before enjoying. If you have the opportunity to travel to Cambodia, you will come across this dish widely available in street stalls or traditional market areas.

Recommended places to eat:

David's Restaurant Homemade Noodles - https://maps.app.goo.gl/FAmQujLTVrApUGWd6
Central Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/rr7w5ZRFdUPK1aMY6
Rusisan Market, 440 Street, Phnom Penh - https://maps.app.goo.gl/snGuucwSjNiF42Rh7

7. Ngeav chamhoy

Ngeav chamhoy

At the mobile stalls of street vendors throughout the streets of Phnom Penh, pots of steamed clams infused with chili, lemongrass, and lime leaves exude an alluring fragrance, easily captivating night-loving pedestrians. Steamed clams with chili, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal are among the favorite street foods of the people in Phnom Penh. 'Ngeav' is derived from the Khmer language and is the name of a type of blood clam, known for its red-colored flesh resembling human blood. Stop and embark on a Phnom Penh food tour to discover the diverse flavors of street cuisine.

Recommended places to eat:

Rusisan Market, 440 Street, Phnom Penh - https://maps.app.goo.gl/snGuucwSjNiF42Rh7
Orussey Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/wLQxqXXuSXKF2xYb6
Central Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/rr7w5ZRFdUPK1aMY6

We suggest you refer to the following circuits:

>> Travel from Ho Chi Minh city to Phnom Penh
>> Vietnam Cambodia itinerary 7 days
>> Vietnam and Cambodia 10-day itinerary
>> Vietnam and Cambodia Tours

Exploring the best street food in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is truly a culturally rich journey. Embark on a Phnom Penh food tour with Autour Asia, Vietnam travel agency, and let the list of the top 07 best street foods guide you through an immersive experience. We hope it assists you in connecting with the culture and people of this city, making your culinary adventure not only delicious but also a memorable cultural experience.