Eating Out

Phnom Penh has a great variety of restaurants, ranging from local cuisine to a burgeoning selection of international menus. Generally speaking, eating out in Cambodia isn't too expensive. The main restaurant areas are Street 51, the Riverfront, and the Wat Phnom area (particularly Street 104). Food sections in markets or roadside food carts are decent alternatives to restaurants, especially for simple Cambodian variations of fried chicken and the like.

Regarding Khmer (Cambodian) cuisine, fare such as Prahok, (pungent, fermented fish paste) can challenging for foreign palates. That said, some local dishes are accessible. The most beloved of these is Cambodia's national dish. Called Fish Amok, it involves coconut milk, chilies, onion, and spinach, all served with rice in banana leaves. For the more adventurous, Khmer staples like deep-fried tarantulas and red tree ants are a must.

Cambodia's French-colonial history comes through in things like baguettes and frog's legs.