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Cambodian street food is not as famous as its counterpart, Thailand.
The cuisine in general is overshadowed by its popular neighbors, Thailand and Vietnam.
Cambodian street food offers unique and surprising delicacies that are foreign for most visitors. The street food in Cambodia is not for the squeamish travelers.
That said, Cambodian street food from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap offers an authentic culinary adventure, a taste of the “real” Cambodia.
As you dive deeper into the Khmer street food culture, there are many gems and wonderful delicacies to discover.
After exploring the local food specialties in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, we’ve put together this guide for your culinary travels.
Here are our top 10 Cambodian street food you want to try.
1- Lort Cha – Cambodian Short Stir-Fry Egg Noodles
Lort cha is one of the most popular Cambodian street food. It is a stir-fried dish consisting of Lort which are short fat rice noodles, with bean sprouts, chinese broccoli, and chives.
Generally, it is cooked with beef and topped with a fried egg.
For flavor, lort cha is traditionally served with a thick red sauce which is sweet and spicy. And if you want more spice, you can add red chilies to your dish.
Where to Eat Lort Cha – Popular Street Food in Cambodia
You can find Lort cha vendors on the streets or at the markets in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Lort cha is typically prepared on a food cart in a large stir-fried pan.
We had this dish several times in Cambodia and enjoyed it best at the local markets.
It is easy to spot the vendor as you see them cooking in real-time. Look for vendors where locals are eating or stopping by for take-away. This is a sign of good and safe food.
This is a very tasty dish with a nice amount of vegetables and a great mix of protein.
It is no wonder it is such a popular Cambodia street food and is a definite must-try while visiting the country.
READ RELATED: 6 Surprising Phnom Penh Markets That Will Shake Up Your Senses
2- Num Pang – Typical Cambodian Sandwich
You will quickly recognize this familiar Vietnamese ingredient in Cambodia, the baguette. Brought by the French during the Indochina colonization period, Cambodia calls it Num pang.
This sandwich is typically served with meaty ingredients such as pate, ham or pork. It is generally topped with cucumber, carrots, chives, and onions.
Where to Eat The Popular Num Pang Street Food Sandwiches
Num pang street food vendors and their carts can be found outside of markets or near office buildings. They are easy to spot with the baguettes exposed on their carts.
If you want to try a modern twist on this classic street food sandwich, Nompang, a newly opened chain in Phnom Penh offers an interesting selection of sandwiches.
We recommend the Classic which consists of red pork and ham. Made with quality ingredients, it is excellent and quite filling.
They have several Nompang locations in Phnom Penh. The one we went to is listed below.
Address: No.17, St 310, Phnom Penh
Hours: Open everyday from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
Prices: $1.95 per sandwich
Nompang in Siem Reap
In Siem Reap, we recommend the local market called Pho Langka Market. There you will find one dedicated vendor selling only these Khmer sandwiches.
We had the classic pâté sandwich, which we enjoyed immensely. This Khmer street food was tasty with slightly sweet and sour flavors.
Pho Langka Market
Look for the cart that says Khmer Sandwiches No MSG. (see photo below)
Address: Along Siem Reap River in the north part of town.
Hours: Vendor typically there at Midday or lunch time
Prices: 3,000 Riel per sandwich (approx $0.75 USD)
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: One of the best ways to explore Cambodian street food is with a local guide. If you are in Phnom Penh, this Evening Streets Eat Tour will take you on a culinary adventure through the markets while admiring the historic sites. In Siem Reap, this Evening Food Tour will introduce you to unique street food like snails, bbq chicken, rice wine, and much more.
3- Cambodian Bamboo Sticky Rice
Bamboo sticky rice, known as Kralan in Khmer, is a type of sticky rice roasted in bamboo sticks.
It is made of sticky rice mixed with black beans, grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is packed into a bamboo stick and slowly roasted over a charcoal fire until cooked.
We first discovered bamboo sticky rice dessert in Thailand and really enjoyed it. In Cambodia, we learned that the rice used in bamboo sticky rice is a special kind of fragrant rice coming from terraced rice fields of Battambang, Kratie Provinces.
The taste is sweet and slightly salty with hints of smoky flavors. It is quite a delicious and filling snack. And, a fun and playful street food to unravel.
READ RELATED: 15 Delightful Thai Desserts To Indulge In
Where to Eat Bamboo Sticky Rice Street Food in Cambodia
The city of Battambang in the northwest region of the country is popular for bamboo sticky rice. It is Cambodia’s leading rice producing province in the country.
While we didn’t personally visit the city, the sticky rice from here comes highly recommended as the area is referred to as “sticky rice villages” by locals.
In Siem Reap, around the Angkor Wat World Heritage Site, you will find ladies on bicycles selling bamboo sticky rice.
Feel free to approach any one of them and enjoy this sweet roasted Cambodian dessert. The sticky rice is sold in three sizes, small, medium and large.
And, the costs range from 2000 Riel to 4000 Riel (approx. $0.49 to $0.98 USD).
4- Snails – Surprising Cambodian Street Food
One of the striking things we noticed when we arrived in Phnom Penh were street vendors with long flat carts on wheels.
These carts are strategically placed under the hot burning sun loaded with freshwater snails. The snails are seasoned and cooked prior to being dried under the sun.
The snails are spiced with red chili sauce or with garlic and salt. A popular snack, snails are sold by the bucketful or a smaller cup size.
To eat this street food safely, you want to make sure all the snails are thoroughly cooked. Most vendors will let you try a sample first before indulging in more.
Where to Eat Snails – Popular Street Food Snack
On the streets of Phnom Penh, you’ll see plenty of carts loaded up with snails. This Cambodian street food delicacy appeared to be much more popular in Phnom Penh than in Siem Reap.
Prices are typically about 2,000 Riel (approx $0.49 USD) per cup of snails.
If you are squeamish about the air dried snails, you can have snails in Amok. Amok, is the national dish that is typically prepared with stewed fish.
There is one version known as Amok Chouk that is made with snails instead.
READ RELATED: Fascinating Cambodian Cuisine – 12 Unique Dishes To Feast On
5- Chive Cakes – Delicious Chinese Influenced Cambodia Street Food Snacks
One of the popular Cambodia street foods you will see everywhere are street vendors selling small chive cakes on bicycles.
These Cambodian chive cakes are fried in shallow pans, and made with glutinous rice flour and served with a sweet spicy fish sauce.
Chive cakes, also known as Num Kachay, are a popular Cambodian street food originating from China.
While the ingredients are simple, the taste is surprisingly delicious.
They are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. When dipped into a sweet spicy fish sauce, the flavors blend together perfectly in the mouth.
This was one of our favorite Cambodian street foods.
Where to Eat Chive Cakes
You will find mobile street vendors with Chives pretty much everywhere. Look for the vendors at busy street corners in the afternoons. Chive cakes can also be found cooking at the local markets.
In general, chive cakes are sold hot, reducing the risk of getting sick. And, you can buy them by the piece, at about 500 Riel (approx $0.12 USD) per chive cake.
6- Deep Fried Bread and Shrimp Cakes – Popular Cambodian Street Foods
At the local markets in Siem Reap, we were struck by the abundance of fried bread and shrimp cakes.
You see vendors at various stalls bending over the hot flames to produce golden, crispy French bread topped with delicious fried shrimp.
After being tempted by one particular vendor’s freshly cooked batch, we bought some for lunch.
While we typically do not enjoy fried foods, we were surprisingly delighted.
The cakes were delicious. And with the bread soaking in the fat, you are left with the taste of perfectly spiced shrimp.
After that first tasty experience, we happily bought the shrimp cakes several times again.
Let your taste buds go wild and try this unique street food in Cambodia.
Where to Eat Deep Fried Bread & Shrimp Cakes
Look for the friendly ladies with large deep fryers at the outdoor food stalls at the Pho Langka Market in Siem Reap.
Try a freshly cooked batch and expect to pay between 500 100 Riel (approx $0.12 – $0.25 USD) per cake.
7- Grilled Worms and Crickets – Cambodian Street Food For The Brave
Worms and crickets are probably two of the most popular bugs you will find in Cambodia, in addition to red tree ants.
Yes, you will also find edible spiders and scorpions though we found these multi-legged arachnids to be more popular amongst tourists than with locals.
And, honestly, worms and crickets were far more enticing, in our opinion, than trying spiders and scorpions.
The taste was surprising. We found the worms to be soft with a slight crunchy skin and a nice nutty flavor.
While the crickets were definitely crunchier and meatier. This reminded us of eating grasshoppers or chapulines in Mexico.
Whether you choose worms or crickets, they are both unique and tasty and a great source of protein.
Where to Eat Worms and Crickets Street Food in Cambodia
Street vendors can be found selling different types of insects at the local markets. They are typically grilled and sold in large baskets that might contain different kinds of bugs.
These traditional delicacies are sold by the can or cupful. Plan to spend about 4,000 Riel (approx $0.98 USD) per can.
If eating bugs at the market doesn’t tempt you, there are a few restaurants that offer insects on their menu.
In Phnom Penh, you can try Romdeng restaurant. And if you are in Siem Reap, you can order a snack platter at Bugs Cafe in Siem Reap.
Both these restaurants offer many more options on their menu beyond the insects.
8- Street Food Barbecue – Freshly Grilled Squid
Street food barbecue is quite common and popular in Cambodia. In our article about the surprising facts about the food in Cambodia, we mention how anything and everything is grilled.
At dusk, vendors pop up around the markets and on busy streets, grilling various dishes for dinner.
For a seafood barbecue, go for the grilled squid. Served with chili sauce, the squid is as delightful as it is impressive in size.
Where to Cambodian Street Food Barbecue
It is easy to find barbecue street food in Cambodia. Simply walk around any of the local markets after 6:00 pm or after the markets close.
Look for the vendors selling squid from their street cards. Pick a popular one and have them barbecue the squid for you.
If you want to try the grilled squid during the day, your best bet will be at the markets.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: On your travels, always make sure you leave home with travel insurance. You want to be prepared for the unexpected. Read how Allianz Travel Insurance came to our rescue in Thailand.
9- Sweet Pork Sausages – Popular Cambodian Street Food
Pork is quite popular in making sweet Khmer sausages known as kwah ko (ត្វារគោ). On street carts around the local markets are vendors with different types of pork sausages hanging off their carts.
These sausages are sold either as skewers or wrapped into small sausage balls.
After seeing how popular the sausages were with locals, we bought one sausage to try. The red color and the taste surprised us.
The sausages were very sweet and quite fatty. We later learned that the sausages are made with palm sugar and composed of half pork and half fat.
Personally, we were not fans of the sweet taste of the sausages, however, locals seemed to enjoy them with a cold glass of beer.
Where to Eat Sweet Khmer Sausages
The local markets are your best bet for the best street food in Cambodia. And, to try the sweet Khmer sausages, we also recommend visiting the markets.
Look for the street carts around the local markets with sausages hanging from their stalls. You’ll easily pick out the Khmer sausage by its distinctive red coloring.
Expect to pay about 500 Riel (approx $0.12 USD) per sausage.
10 – Cambodian Iced Coffee
Small coffee carts are a common sight in the Kingdom of Cambodia. These carts are typically sidecars pulled by motorcycles or converted tuk-tuks.
Iced coffee, or gah-fay dteuk-gork in the Khmer language, is a sweet and refreshing popular drink with locals.
It is Cambodia’s drip coffee served with condensed milk. Sweet and strong, the coffee can be served black with ice, or with condensed milk for an even sweeter taste.
Rosemary, a coffee drinker preferred it with condensed milk. The rapidly melting ice cubes dilute the strength of the coffee and the sugar making it much more tolerable.
Where to Have Cambodian Iced Coffee
During the peak morning hours and after school/work in the afternoons, the coffee carts are visible everywhere.
Simply choose from any popular street cart and try Cambodian iced coffee. The experience will set you back between 2500 – 3000 Riel ($0.62 to $0.74 USD).
In Summary
Cambodian street food is quite diverse and offers a unique perspective into the country’s food culture and delicacies.
We found the street food in Cambodia to be more unusual compared to street food in Thailand, Vietnam or the Philippines.
With Lort Cha, grilled squid and Num Pang you will find familiar tastes that will delight you. While worms, freshwater snails and bamboo sticky rice will be ways to test your adventurous palate.
No matter which way you look at it, with Cambodian street food, you are in for a special treat.
Have you ever had Cambodian street food? Please let us know what you would be tempted to try in the comments below.
Savor The Adventure!
Cambodian Food Recipes
If you want to try Cambodian food at home, here are our favorite cookbooks with authentic Cambodian food recipes.
We particularly love chefJoannès Rivière’s cookbook, especially after meeting him and dining at his restaurant, Cuisine Wat Damnak in Siem Reap.
However, in all the cookbooks below, you’ll find simple Cambodian street food recipes to make at home.
More Local Food Experiences
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Chinatown Bangkok – Where To Have Amazing Street Food
7 Authentic Peruvian Street Food You Want to Have
Mexico City Street Food Tour – A Fascinating Local Adventure
Love Cambodian Street Food? Pin It!
Claire is co-founder of Authentic Food Quest and a lover of simple and exquisite cuisine. Since 2015, with her partner, Rosemary, she has been traveling the world as a digital nomad, creating content about local food experiences.
Her advice from visiting 45 countries and more than 240 food cities has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post. She has also co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
An ex-mechanical engineer, Claire is responsible for SEO, keeping the website running, and the fun food & travel videos on YouTube.
When Claire is not eating, she can be found running or cycling. Find out more about Authentic Food Quest
I think I’d stay away from the crickets and worms, but everything else on this list looks yummy. I especially like the look of those chive cakes!
Don’t be afraid Johns of the crickets and worms. Not as bad as you might imagine. And, yes, the chive cakes are quite tasty. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers
wow this is great idea for enjoy this street food thanks sharing this amazing tips and article
Wow this is really too good about the Cambodian street food thanks sharing this article
You are most welcome. So glad you enjoyed the article. Cheers.
I am reading this article about the Cambodian street food this is help us information
Great to hear and so glad you found the article helpful. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers
Thanks sharing this article about the Cambodian street food
Thanks sharing this article about the Cambodian street food
I would have loved to try it. I have to admit, I had plenty of chances to try worms and crickets, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it–maybe one day! Thanks for the great post!
Thanks, Jeena.So glad you enjoyed the article. Don’t hesitate the next time you have the chance to try insects. Cheers.
Thanks sharing this article about the Cambodian street food
Look like you really enjoy the street food. I really enjoy to read this content. Thank you for sharing your experience.
This is really to good and lovely about the Cambodian street food thanks sharing this article
You are most welcome, Mishi. Glad you enjoyed reading about Cambodian street food. Cheers
This is so amazing reading for me. I really love it. thank you for sharing it.
Wonderful article. you shave really great experience of street food. I enjoy this whole reading. Thank you for sharing it.
You are most welcome and so glad you enjoyed the article. Thanks for stopping by.
This is information very enjoy it because I love it Cambodian street foods thanks share this article and help us
So glad you enjoyed the article, Mark. You are most welcome. What’s your favorite Cambodian street food?
Hi Claire!
This is very interesting and amazing article, I really like all of these yummy recipes. I really love this article as I am a foodie person. Thanks for sharing this article with all of us
Thanks, Kate. So glad you enjoyed the article. Is there any particular street food that stood out for you? Cheers and thanks for stopping by.
Wow. I was looking for an itinerary to Vietnam-Cambodia for a post lockdown trip. But a virtual food trailing dropped as a boon. Loved reading your words. Cheers!!!!
Thank you so much and thrilled to read our virtual food trailing left you eager for more. Post lockdown, you will have an amazing trip and be sure to sample the delicacies in both countries. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to hit us up with any questions. Cheers.
Thank you for your sharing. I’m searching for useful information for my trip next month. Shrimp cakes look tasty to eat. I can’t wait to explore more street food in Cambodia. Hope you keep your work.
You are most welcome, Thao, happy to help guide your food adventures to Cambodia. Indeed, use this list for the best local experiences. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Cheers and safe travels 🙂
i was tryin for sandwich khmer .. and no one sandwich in this world is better than cambodian sandwich street food. two thumbs up !!
Great to hear Rachel… the Khmer Sandwich is indeed delicious. Cheers.
That all looks delicious! We are flying to Phnom Penh next week to meet our son and his girlfriend then traveling to Kampot where we hope to try some pepper crab, Koh Rong Sanloem and then Siem Reap. I was curious about iced coffee, is it safe to drink with ice I assume is made with local water? Thanks for your information!
You are most welcome. Happy to help make your trip to Cambodia an interesting culinary journey. Do let us know what dishes you end up trying. Regarding the iced coffee, we never had a problem. Most of the ice is “brought in” by companies (you’ll see trucks early in the morning delivering huge chunks of ice to varies eateries) and is pretty safe. Don’t be afraid to try the iced coffee. Have a safe and fun trip 🙂
Planning a South East Asia trip in 2019… I really enjoyed your article and I am saving it to my SouthEast Asia Pinterest page lol! I would try everything on this list without exception… and I hope to find even more amazing street foods on my journey! Thanks!
You are most welcome Michelle. You will love the diversity of food in South East Asia. What countries are you planning on visiting? Feel free to reach out with any questions as you prepare for your trip. Thanks for stopping by!
Street food is a window to the culture of a place. Getting to eat street food is a great way to get a slice of the local life of the region. The street food in Cambodia seems to have a vast range of items. Being vegetarian, probably our choices are limited but I am sure we would enjoy veg noodles or veg rice. One thing I thought was something we would love is the Bamboo sticky rice. The way it is served looks so fascinating.
You are right Sandy, when you taste the local street food, you bite into the local culture. We found a lot of meat-based options, but vegeterian options do also exist. The bamboo sticky rice is quite tasty and the lort cha and chive cakes are also not be missed. So glad you enjoyed the article!!
I don’t know much about Cambodian cuisine or Cambodian street food, but I have to say after reading this I definitely want to try more! It looks delicious. I love the idea of the Num Pang (and the introduction of the baguette) and I’d give Chive cakes a go when I’m on the move!
Awesome to hear that you got some insights into Cambodian street food. Those are definitively two great choices to begin with, but don’t hesitate venturing out further 🙂 Thanks Samantha for stopping by!!
I enjoy trying out the local flavors wherever I go and a post like this is just the perfect reckoner for figuring out where to get the best. Cambodia does seem to have a lot of choice for non vegetarians but the few that I saw for me, are quite interesting. Like the Bamboo sticky rice. I definitely would want to see how different it is from the Thai one.
There are loads of street food options in Cambodia. The bamboo sticky rice was certainly quite interesting. We had previously eaten it in Thailand and were also quite curious about the taste differences. Quite interestingly, there is a difference in taste. Perhaps the rice or different kinds sesame used. Either way, quite tasty and an experience not to miss. Cheers.
Wow! That’s a nice list. We once found a whole cow or a buffalo or something on bar-be-cue.
Being mostly vegetarian we still managed pretty well out there. I remember the bamboo sticky rice and black beans . We also learnt how to say “steamed rice with fried vegetables and eggs” in Khmer and that helped us in most of the street food shops. 🙂
Wow, that’s incredible that you found a cow or buffalo. So many strange things grilling on the streets of Cambodia. We once saw a dog! Frightening!
Indeed, picking up a few local words go a long way 🙂 Thanks Nisha for stopping by.
This is probably not a good article to read when I am hungry. The description of Lort Cha sounds so good my stomach literally rumbled while reading it. I am not brave enough to try the cooked snail, but I know my son would because he is the adventurous eater. From seafood to insects, I would agree with you that Cambodia is diverse.
There is never a good time to read about food 🙂 The Lort Cha is amazing and quite tasty. Not everything is for everyone from this list of popular Cambodian street food dishes. A little bite of whatever dish is a bite into the local culture. Thanks, Chris for stopping by.
I am a foodie and I love to try local cuisines when I travel. Especially in Asia, food forms a big part of my trip and is actually a key part of it. I’d love to try the street food in Cambodia, and you’ve done a great job not only by listing the best foods to try but also the places to try them out. I would love to give a shot to Lort Cha and also some experimental foods like grilled worms, crickets and snails. I really don’t mind having some iced coffee at the coffee carts after that experiment 😉
Awesome and so glad that you also love exploring the local cuisine. Hold onto this article and take it with you to Cambodia. With the directions given, you’ll be in for an amazing time in Cambodia. Thanks, Medha for stopping by!
The Lort Cha dish looks amazing and I do like escargots, so I’m wondering if I’d also enjoy the snails? I’d at least be willing to try some of these foods!
The lort cha dish looks great and tastes amazing. You would love it. Not everything on this list is for everyone, but even a taste of just one Cambodian street food will give you a glimpse into the local culture 🙂 Thanks, Tami.
As I read through I kept thinking “I want that” than i got to the worms, crickets and squid and you lost me. I’m a wimp. But I am all about the Nompang sandwich, bamboo sticky rice, chive cakes and that fried shrimp!
Not everything in Cambodia is for everyone. That’s for sure…Eating what you can like the sandwiches, shrimp, chives cakes and sticky rice is still a wonderful introduction to the local flavors. Hope you get to Cambodia soon to experience the food. Thanks, Sherianne!
Having recently enjoyed my first street-food heavy holiday (to Thailand) I’m very keen to see and eat more of South East Asia and Cambodia is very much on the list. Loved reading about popular street food items, I’m particularly keen to try bamboo sticky rice and chive cakes and deep fried shrimp cakes but I’d love to try all ten!
That’s wonderful that you enjoyed your Bangkok street food experience. It’s truly the street food mecca with amazing food everywhere. The street food in Cambodia is different but full of its own local flavors. It’s worth trying all 10, but the ones you mentioned are a good way to get started. Thanks for stopping by Kavita.
What a detailed post! I loved the section on ‘where to try’…that helps in planning too 🙂
I’ve been to Cambodia, but didn’t try the street food (lived on an island and there was little of it there), but now I am stoked to visit Cambodia again! Being a vegetarian, the options are a bit limited for me…but I think I will love Lort Cha for sure 🙂
That’s amazing that you lived in Cambodia. What island? For how long? That must have been an amazing adventure. True, the street food we found was mainly in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. You are right, heavy protein and limited vegetarian options, though the Lort Cha is good option. Glad you found the tips helpful.
Nothing special compared to Thai food which is a lot better and offers so many more dishes.
I love tasting street food wherever I travel. Cambodian street food seems finger-licking!
Great comment..lol…the street food is certainly finger-licking good..especially with all the BBQ served on skewers. Absolutely worth exploring!!!
I wish I had this guide before I went to Cambodia. I missed out on so many of these awesome delicacies–I wondered what the ladies on the bicycles were selling in Siem Reap and had no idea it was bamboo sticky rice. I would have loved to try it. I have to admit, I had plenty of chances to try worms and crickets, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it–maybe one day! Thanks for the great post!
Oh wow, so you did see the ladies in Siem Reap…it’s too bad you missed out on trying the bamboo sticky rice. That would have been such an experience. Glad you like the guide and do hold onto it for your next trip. Cheers!
You are real food explorers! I don’t have fond memories of food in Cambodia, probably because I did not go deep into Cambodian cuisine like you say. Actually I don’t remember to have seen any of your proposals, too bad!
It’s too bad you missed out on the delicious and unique local specialties in Cambodia. It’s true you do have to seek out the local gems, but when you find them, you get to really appreciate and taste the local culture. Perhaps another trip in the future? And with our guide 🙂 Thanks Elisa.
Awesome list of street food! I have only tried a few when i was there. I didnt have the chance to try the snails and worms and crickets. Will remember these for when I come back!
When were you Cambodia? Did you enjoy the food scene? Do you remember which street foods you enjoyed? Certainly, a trip back is required. A country rich in history, filled with warm locals and an emerging culinary scene. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Claire,
Delish stuff! I always recall seeing the tarantulas for tasting when getting off the bus in Siem Reap. Big time snack in those parts. I also recall seeing a huge pig over the spit in PP; at first I swear it was a Great Dane. I am not kidding. Turns out it was pork, although a bit skinny, it was a big pig. My wife and I hit up this awesome vegetarian haunt in town. A handful of blocks away from the river. Green restaurant. I cannot recall the name.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ryan
So glad Ryan you enjoyed the article. Did you like the tarantulas? Have to admit, we did not have the courage to taste them. Overall the food and street food was quite enjoyable. It’s a shame Cambodian cuisine is not well known….but that’s changing!!
This is such a great post! We’re heading for Cambodia later this year and adore streetfood… perfect match 🙂
That’s wonderful to hear Marlo. Use this guide and have a great time. Feel free to reach out with any questions as you prepare for your trip. Where in Cambodia are going? Cheers.
I think I’d stay away from the crickets and worms, but everything else on this list looks yummy. I especially like the look of those chive cakes!
Fortunately, Adelina, there is much more than the worms and bugs. Cambodian street food is certainly worth trying!!
How similar are some of these dishes to Filipino street food!
Some are similar, but the tastes and flavors are different. Is there any particular one that stood out to you or reminded you of the Philippines?
You make such a great point about Cambodia’s food scene being overshadowed by Thailand and Vietnam. I loved the bamboo rice and the chive cakes while I was in Cambodia. I’d love to try some Lort Cha but I’d need it sans beef, chicken, etc.. As a vegetarian, I found plenty to eat in Cambodia but also found it easier to explain my dietary restrictions in cafes and restaurants than on the street.
That’s wonderful to hear Jackie that even as a vegetarian you were able to find to find food in Cambodia. That certainly dispels a myth. Indeed the bamboo rice and chives are easy to eat and delicious! Appreciate your feedback. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m sorry to say but I would not eat worms. Maybe crickets. In fact, I have eaten crickets. But no worms thanks.
Surprisingly, Penny, the worms were not as bad as they look. We had them at Marum restaurant and liked the flavors. Fortunately, there are many more street foods that don’t involve bugs, and that are worth trying. Thanks for your comments.
Love the variety of Cambodian cuisine. I knew very little of the food prior to visiting, but was really blown away with how delicious it was! We tried a variety of street foods, and I really liked the num pang (funny enough, there is a chain of sandwich stores in NYC called Num Pang, which are amazing). I never got tempted to try the crickets or bugs, especially the spiders on a stick I saw at a few markets in Phnom Penh. Sure they taste fine, but have a hard time getting past the fact they are bugs!
That’s interesting Drew that there is a num pang in New York 🙂 We need to check that out for ourselves. Agree, the bugs didn’t tempt us either, but we did taste them as part of our quest to discover the local and authentic flavors of Cambodia. No spiders though!!
So much of this looks so good. I would love to try the fried shrimp cakes. The stir-fried egg noodles look really good, too. I’m not sure about the snails, crickets, and worms, though. Looks like a great trip!
The bugs are snails are certainly not for everyone 🙂 However, they are local specialties coming from a difficult history. You can’t go wrong with the fried shrimp cake, lightly fried and delicious. The stir-fried egg noodles as well. Cheers, Stacey.
All these look like so tempting. I knew about some Vietnamese dishes to have and have planned a food trail in Vietnam, but thanks to you am going to go on a food trail in Cambodia too.
Thats awesome Arnav. Please do let us know if you have any questions as you prepare for your Cambodia food trail. And let us know what you discover and think. Glad the Vietnam and Cambodia resources are helpful. That is our goal with Authentic Food Quest – explore the local flavors!