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Best Food in Phnom Penh (2026)
Start with a bowl of num banh chok, Khmer rice noodles in a fish-based curry, best enjoyed at a morning market stall. For lunch, try lok lak, stir-fried beef with a tangy lime-pβ¦ π Must-Try Dishes
Start with a bowl of num banh chok, Khmer rice noodles in a fish-based curry, best enjoyed at a morning market stall. For lunch, try lok lak, stir-fried beef with a tangy lime-pepper dip, available at restaurants like Malis on Street 136. Don't miss the iconic fish amok, a steamed coconut curry, which you'll find at Romdeng on Street 174.
π’ Street Food Hotspots
Head to the riverside area near Sisowath Quay for grilled skewers and fried insects from evening carts. The bustling Central Market (Phsar Thmei) on Street 126 offers cheap fried noodles and fresh spring rolls from 7 AM to 5 PM. For a late-night snack, visit the night market on Street 106, where grilled corn and sugarcane juice cost under $1.
π½οΈ Top Casual Restaurants
Friends the Restaurant on Street 13 serves excellent Khmer dishes in a cozy setting, with mains averaging $5-$8. For authentic Cambodian street food in a sit-down format, try Khmer Surin on Street 57, open 11 AM to 10 PM. Another favorite is The Lost Room on Street 240, offering modern takes on classics like beef loc lac for around $6.
π² Fine Dining Experiences
For a high-end meal, book a table at Malis on Street 136, where the amok and grilled prawns shine, with dinner costing $20-$40 per person. Cuisine Wat Damnak on Street 57 offers a tasting menu ($35) featuring seasonal local ingredients. Both restaurants require reservations, especially on weekends.
π International Food Scene
Phnom Penh has a vibrant international food scene, with excellent Vietnamese pho at Pho Viet on Street 278 for $3. For Japanese ramen, try Ramen Yume on Street 240, open 11 AM to 9 PM. The city also has great Indian food at Namaste India on Street 51, where a thali costs around $7.
π° Budget Eating Tips
Street food meals cost as little as $1-$2, with dishes like fried rice or noodle soup from carts near the Royal Palace. Local eateries (quan) serve set lunches for $2-$3, often including soup and a drink. Avoid tourist-heavy areas for better prices; head to the Russian Market (Phsar Toul Tom Poung) on Street 440 for cheap eats.
πΉ Best Drinks and Desserts
Cool down with a fresh sugarcane juice from a street vendor for $0.50, or try a coconut shake at a cafe like Lot 369 on Street 19. For dessert, sample sticky rice with mango at the Central Market, or enjoy a scoop of local coconut ice cream at The Ice Cream Shop on Street 240 for $2.
π Getting Around for Food
Use tuk-tuks for short hops between food spots; negotiate a fare of $2-$3 for trips within the city center. For a food tour, consider hiring a driver for the day ($20-$30) to visit markets and neighborhoods like Boeung Keng Kang. Walking is best for exploring street food along the riverside, but watch for traffic.
honestly this guide nails it but i gotta say the best num banh chok i've had is from the lady with the cart on street 108 near wat phnom, she's there every morning til about 10am and her curry is way more coconutty than the market stalls. also if you're doing the riverside street food thing, skip the grilled skewers and go straight for the fried spring rolls at the cart closest to the night market entrance, they're like 50 cents and still crispy even when they've been sitting out. for a cheap lunch that's not on here, try the beef loc lac at the little family spot on street 130 near the central market, it's $2.50 and comes with rice and a fried egg, way better than what you get at the tourist restaurants
Appreciate the thorough guide, I've been eating my way through Phnom Penh for about a year now and this covers most of the essentials. One thing worth adding is the Sunday morning food market at the Tuol Sleng genocide museum parking lot, it runs from 6 AM to around 11 AM and has maybe 30 stalls with everything from grilled freshwater prawns to Khmer desserts you won't find elsewhere. The grilled banana wrapped in sticky rice there is about 50 cents and way better than what you get from the carts by the river. For the Russian Market tip, I'd suggest going on a weekday afternoon when it's less crowded, the vendors are more relaxed and will usually toss in an extra spring roll or two with your order.
the guide's got the basics but i'd add that the best fish amok isnt at romdeng imo, it's at a tiny spot called sam's on street 278 near the russian market. they use fresh coconut cream and serve it in a real banana leaf bowl, costs like $4 for a portion that's easily enough for two. also for drinks, definitely try the iced soy milk from the lady on the corner of streets 51 and 136, it's 25 cents and comes with a little bag of sweet jelly bits mixed in. the central market tip is solid but go early around 7am when the fried noodle guy sets up, his portion sizes are double what they are by noon.
phnom penh transit tips for a trip in 5 months?
grab is the safe bet when you land since you don't have to haggle, but passapp is usually a buck or two cheaper once you're settled. street tuk tuks are fine too, just agree on the price before you get in, and know that anything under 2km should be around 8000 to 12000 riel. airport to riverside or dauns penh area runs about 8 to 12 usd depending on traffic, the official taxi counter inside is fixed price if you want zero stress. one thing nobody mentions, the tuk tuk apps surge hard when it rains so build in buffer time if you've got a flight.
passapp is cheaper but the app interface is clunky and half the drivers call you to confirm in khmer, which is rough if you dont speak it. honestly for a first trip just use grab, the extra dollar is worth not dealing with that. one thing tho, if your hotel is down a small alley in Daun Penh some drivers will stop at the main road and make you walk, so drop a pin at a landmark instead of the exact address. also the airport train to the city just opened and its like 2.50 usd if you want to skip traffic entirely, runs every 30 min or so
Worth knowing that the tuk tuk apps need a local SIM or data to work properly, so sort that out at the airport before you leave the terminal. Smart and Cellcard counters are right in arrivals and a tourist SIM with a few gigs runs about 5 dollars. PassApp only takes cash in riel so keep small notes on you, the drivers rarely have change for a 20. If you're staying around BKK1 or Tonle Bassraat most trips stay under 15 minutes anyway, so honestly the difference between apps is a few hundred riel, not worth stressing over.