In Bizarre Foods Phnom Penh, part of the Delicious Destinations series featuring Andrew Zimmern, the host and his crew visited numerous restaurants in the city, showcasing a variety of unique and delicious dishes. Here is a convenient list of all the addresses and dishes highlighted in this exciting exploration of Phnom Penh’s food scene.
READ MORE: THE GUIDE TO EATING INSECTS IN CAMBODIA
DISH – Fish Amok
WHAT IS IT?
Fish amok is a signature Cambodian dish made of curried river fish steamed in a banana leaf. It is prepared through marinating flaked goby fish meat in prahok (Cambodian fermented fish), fish sauce, Cambodian sea salt, palm sugar and coconut cream. Kroeung paste made with turmeric, chopped lemongrass, Kaffir lime leaf, red chili pepper, shallot, and galangal is then added. The marinated fish is then placed in a cup made from banana leaves then garnished with kaffir lime leaf and chili before being steamed.
WHERE IS IT?
Malis Restaurant
# 136 Street 41
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS PHNOM PENH
At Malis, fish amok is plated with a drizzle of coconut milk on top.
DISH – Num Banh Chok
WHAT IS IT?
Num banh chok or Khmer noodle soup is green fish curry rice noodle soup. To prepare the noodle soup, stock is made using whole goby fish. The deboned fish is then mashed with peanuts, kroeung paste, and coconut cream. The mash goes into the stock, along with prahok and palm sugar to make the broth. Broth is then ladled over Khmer rice noodles.
READ MORE: 8 DISHES THAT YOU MUST EAT IN BANGKOK, THAILAND
WHERE IS IT?
Yi Sang Restaurant-Riverside
Preah Sisowath Quay
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS PHNOM PENH
Yi Sang Riverside Restaurant serves traditional Cambodian cuisine. It uses house-made kroeung paste heavy on lemongrass and turmeric, along with garlic and coconut milk on its num banh chok. Each bowl of num banh chok is served with colorful condiments like cucumber, hummingbird flower, banana blossom, and morning glory. Customers garnish their own bowls.
DISH – Lort Cha
WHAT IS IT?
Lort cha is a Cambodian dish of stir-fried short white rice noodles (called lort) with beef and egg. Lort is marinated in soy sauce and chicken bouillon before being dropped in a pan. Chinese broccoli leaf and bean sprouts are then fried in soy sauce. Once cooked, oyster sauce is added to boost the flavor. Beef is then stir-fried along with the other ingredients. The stir fry is then crowned with a fried duck egg.
WHERE IS IT?
Orussey Market
Oknha Tep Phan St. (182)
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS PHNOM PENH
Once can find several food stalls that serve lort cha inside the Orussey Market.
ANDREW ZIMMERN PHNOM PENH DISH – Plea Sach Ko
WHAT IS IT?
Plea sach ko or Khmer beef salad is a dish of beef mixed with a cornucopia of vegetables and herbs. The salad is made with raw beef “cooked” in lime juice, fish sauce and other acids. Beef is tossed with chopped onion, tomato and green pepper, saw-leaf (an herb similar to cilantro), and banana heart (the flower of the banana tree). String beans and shaved carrot are added. The dressing is made with lime juice, sugar and aromatics. A sprinkle of chopped lemongrass is further added.
WHERE IS IT?
Khmer Surin
# 9 St 57
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS PHNOM PENH
Khmer Surin uses cooked beef in its plea sach ko. As of this writing, the restaurant has been closed since May 2019 for renovations.
DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS PHNOM PENH DISH – Kdam Ang
WHAT IS IT?
Kdam ang is spicy grilled blue flower crabs served with kampot dipping sauce. Blue flower crabs are thoroughly washed before their top shells are separated. The lids are prized for their fatty innards locally referred to as “grease”. The crabs are then cut in half and marinated in chili paste and a healthy dose of sugar. They are then grilled and later on served with rice, and a mix of kampot pepper and salt along with a lime wedge for customers to create the dipping sauce.
WHERE IS IT?
Heng Heng Oyster Restaurant
Corner of Norodom Boulevard and Street 154
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
NOTES – BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS PHNOM PENH
Despite its name, Heng Heng Oyster is renowned for its kdam ang.
READ MORE: ANTHONY BOURDAIN CAMBODIA : ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON A COOK’S TOUR
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