Restaurant Review | Cambodia
I love top ten lists! My first? The best restaurants in Cambodia, strictly according to the "tasty" factor.
10. Burgers without Borders (high end Packer). If you must have an American moment, do it here. Yes, the raspberry mayonnaise condiment seems a bit odd. It doesn't matter. Get it.
Where to find it? The Passage in the Old Market. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
A/C? Nope.
9. Khmer Kitchen (middle of the road Packer). Khmer home cookin'. Both the offerings and prices are modest and pleasant.
Where to find it? The Passage in the Old Market. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
A/C? Nope.
8. Sugar Palm (almost Luxe). Admired for their Amok (traditional Cambodian dish), but any of the Palm's fish offerings will do you right.
Where to find it? Taphul Road. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
A/C? Nope.
7. Aha (chic Luxe). Khmer tapas. Tasty morsels. The menu is constantly changing, but the honey comb ice cream seems to be a staple. Save room.
Where to find it? The Passage in the Old Market. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
A/C? Yes.
6. Anything in the FCC family (varies, from well-travelled Packer all the way to contemporary Luxe). Some of my favorites include Cafe Fresco (love the roasted pumpkin sandwich) and Chow (successfully modernized Khmer cuisine).
Where to find it? Cafe Fresco Riverside are Chow are found on Sisowath Quay. Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A/C? Some do, some don't.
5. Kamasutra (Casual Luxe). This Indian cuisine will get you into the mood. If you pass on the pakora, you'll regret it for the rest of your life.
Where to find it? The Passage in the Old Market. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
A/C? Nope.
4. Restaurant Le Royal (deLuxe). Best Amok on the planet. If it's on the menu, don't pass it up. Special note. The service is extraordinary. Truly.
Where to find it? Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh. 92 Rukhak Vithei Daun Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A/C? Yes.
3. Sticky rice surrounding black beans all of which is encapsulated in sugar cane (Straight ahead Packer). Almost better than my Mama's baked beans. It's a very, very close call.
Where to find it? Fishing villages and country roadsides.
A/C? Nope.
2. Bua Thai (Not quite Packer, but certainly not Luxe). Thai comfort food. It doesn't get any more nurturing than this. And when they say pineapple rice, they mean pineapple rice.
Where to find it? Phnom Penh Hotel. #53, Monivong. Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A/C? Yes.
1. Meric (All the way Luxe). You can't go wrong. Honestly, you can't go wrong. Throw a dart at the menu with a blindfold on and you'll taste the definition of satiation.
Where to find it? Hotel de la Paix. Sivutha Boulevard. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
A/C? Yes.
Any additions? Disagreements? Send 'em my way.
Restaurant Review | Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Part of the qualification of being a true LuxePacker (according to me) is to bypass the safe choices for local delicacies. Ron Gluckman challenged me against my own measure and put my courage to the test.
As you can see above, I passed. But my stomach didn’t settle for days. It wasn’t the taste (which while not exactly appealing, was certainly not offensive), but the visual.
Ron took me to Romdeng, a restaurant run by former Cambodian street youths who’ve been trained to satisfy appetites craving authentic Cambodian dishes. And they’ve been trained well. If you must try a tarantula, I’d do it here, as a gracious amount of Cambodia’s traditional (and downright tasty) lime and pepper sauce is supplied for the purpose of arachnid subterfuge. Beyond making tarantulas palatable, the restaurant offered a pleasing pomelo salad and a gratifying Tonle Sap fish entrée. The stir fried squid with fresh peppercorn and oyster sauce was my favorite; a clean, simple dish that got straight to the point.
Highly recommended.