Most hotels in Phnom Penh have their own restaurants and most guesthouses also offer a small dining area. But be sure to venture out of your comfortable room and discover the many restaurants, cafe and market food stalls on offer in Phnom Penh, serving everything from Thai, Japanese, French, Italian and Chinese to Vietnamese, Indian, Nepalese, Mediterranean and, of course, Khmer cuisine. Tipping is not customary in most restaurants (excluding upscale restaurants) but always appreciated as local salaries are very low.
You also have the option of "dining with a conscience" by patronising any of Phnom Penh's restaurants run and owned by aid organisations. The proceeds from the restaurants go toward their humanitarian operations and their staff are often disadvantaged or poor Cambodians receiving skills training.
Below we have created a list of restaurants in Phnom Penh that come highly recommended, including some that are run by NGOs and aid organisations.
Phnom Penh Restaurant Guide
Even as recent as ten years ago, Phnom Penh had just about ten eateries where you could go to satisfy your curiosity about the gastronomic wonders of Cambodia. Today that same city has 50 to 60 restaurants right from chic upmarket places to pavement joints and open noodle bars. From French to Khmer, American style grills to Chinese noodle fares, the city has it all.
The restaurant scene in Phnom Penh is bound to excite the foodie in you. New joints, with varied and special menus, are opening almost every day, appealing to a variety of tastes. Both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are going through a culinary revolution, so while in Cambodia be a part of it. For those of you on a budget, fast food shops with the regular backpacker snacks are value for money.
The Cambodian cuisine is mostly dominated by Khmer and French influences. Vietnamese and Chinese food is also very good. Khmer or Cambodian food is similar to other Southeast Asian cuisine but is less spicy and more delicately flavoured. They have their range of curries, sates and fish preparations.
Want to enjoy the beauty of the Mekong but worried how to go about it on your budget holiday? Just catch a cross-river ferry, sit on the mat, dig into cheap hawker fare and watch the sun setting across the vast expanse of water! The riverfront area near the Royal Palace is lined with many dining and shopping areas, stalls to French bistros to cafes, all overlooking the magnificent expanse of the river. The riverfront restaurants have a great ambience, serve imported liquor and are good places to relax, albeit at a steeper price than at other places. However, be very careful while eating from open food stalls. Do not have any vegetable, fish or meat that is not well cooked. Sugar cane juice is available from stalls at 500R. Coke is priced at 1000R, while fruit shakes cost between 1500 to 2000R.
Restaurants List
Friends - The Restaurant
Friends is one of the most popular 'dining with a conscience' options in Phnom Penh. The food is reasonably priced and served as small tapas-style dishes. The restaurant is run by former street youths and their teachers and provides the third and final level of training for the students.
For more information about Mith Samlanh / Friends, please visit www.streetfriends.org.
Le Cafè du Centre is a French style café serving fresh salads and sandwiches, home-made pies and cakes, French crèpes and a great choice of ice-cream. It is located in a beautiful and peaceful garden.
Le Café du Centre is a Mith Samlanh project, generating funds for the organisation.
French
French Cultural Center
Street 184, Phnom-Penh, Cambodia
This cafe serves Khmer and Thai food, but most notably the fish curry in a banana leaf, the dish from which the cafe takes its name.
Khmer and Thai
No. 2 Street 278
012 912 319
10:00
to 10:00
Boat Noodle Restaurant
Excellent Thai food at excellent prices. The food even comes served in a boat!
Thai
No. 184 Eo, Trasak Paem (Street 63), south of Sihanouk Boulevard
011 952 120 /12 200 426
07:00
to 10:00
Boddhi Tree - Umma
Boddhi Tree Umma is situated in a lush garden setting, just opposite the Tuol Sleng Museum, and serves a variety of sandwiches, fruits, salads, Asian foods and Mediterranean inspired meals - as well as a range of mouthwatering ice-creams and desserts.
The Foreign Correspndents Club is a Phnom Penh institution. The restaurant and bar on the upper floors is a fantastic vantage point if you are interested in watching the Tonle Sap River. The international food and wood-fired pizzas are also especially good.
International
No. 363, Sisowath Quay
023 724 014
023 427 758
phnompenh@fcccambodia.com
17:00
to 23:00
Fusion Sushi
Japanese and Korean fine dining accompanied by jazzy tunes, aquarium of fishes and calm subtle lighting can be found at Fusion Sushi.
Sushi / Japanese / Korean
#18, Street 47 & 84, Phnom Penh
023 430 066
16:30
to 22:00
Goldfish River Restaurant
This restaurant specialises in fish and crab dishes.
Seafood
Sisowath Quay, on the riverbank opposite Street 106
016 909 075 / 012 577 732
07:00
to 23:00
Happy Herbs Bistro
Excellent quality pizzas at moderate prices. Sit outside and you can watch riverside life go by.
Italian
No. 345 Sisowath Quay
023 362 349
09:00
to 00:00
Jars of Clay
If you are tired after shopping at the Russian Market pop by this cafe for lunch, or coffee and cake. Another of the 'dining with a conscience' options, this cafe serves excellent homemade cakes.
Cafe
No. 39B, Street 155
023 300 281
09:00
to 17:30
Java Arts Cafe
Java Arts Café was established in 2000 as a unique combination of a business and non-profit gallery to promote the development of contemporary art in Cambodia. To accomplish this over 45 exhibitions featuring both local and international artists have been hosted in addition to artist presentations, exchange projects and forums.
Overlooking Hun Sen park, Java Arts Café is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the scenery or meet friends while enjoying delicious homemade food, desserts, great coffee, a refreshing drink or cocktail.
This restaurant is set in a charming old wooden house, the food served is Khmer and Thai. Prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere is cozy.
Khmer and Thai
No. 9, Street 57
023 363 050/ 023 993 163
khmersurin@online.com.kh
06:30
to 10:00
Le Deauville
The French menu is very popular, and there is live music on Friday night.
Opening hours are Monday through Saturday from 11:00 to 14:00 and again 18:00 to 23:30.
Fench
Wat Phnom, Street 94
012 862 422/ 012 843 204
ledeauville@yahoo.com
18:00
to 23:30
Nordic House
Centrally located just off Sisowath Key, Nordic House offers traditional Khmer dishes as well as a range of Scandinavian specialities.
Scandinavian / Khmer
#22 Street 136 (just off Sisowath Quay),
Phnom Penh
023 998 676
07:00
to 23:30
Mamak’s Corner
Great Malaysian food and a wide variety of vegetarian dishes.
Malaysian
Nº. 17, Kramuon Sar (St. 114), Phnom Penh
023 998 104
07:00
to 21:00
Origami
This little restaurant serves the best value Japanese food in town. The food is beautifully presented but is not the cheapest meal available in Phnom Penh.
Opening hours are Monday through Saturday from 11:00 to 14:00 and afain 17:30 to 21:30.
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With an extensive knowledge about Cambodia and its people combined with a few passport stamps of our own we have a balanced view of what works well for travellers and what doesn't. We put great focus on responsible tourism practices and aim to provide travelleres with unique experiences and, at the same time, support the community we work in.
