Well, food in Cambodia is sometimes not the most exciting. It’s generally pretty basic, rice with vegetables and meat, and not too spicy unlike the neighboring countries. There is some influence from Thailand and Vietnam in the food. One nice thing is barbequed rice cakes in banana leaf. Grilled fish and other seafood including bangkea pisesh (prawns cooked in coconut milk with vegetables) is popular, especially in the south and around the Tonle Sap. Rice is the staple and Battambang is the big rice producing area.
Cambodia is a great place to try some things you may not have had before including cockroaches, beetles, toasted turtle and barbequed birds. It won’t ever be the case that you’ll get these things unexpectedly but it’s also good to say you’ve tried it once.
If you are ever in doubt, there is always guesthouse food. But food stalls are a great way to experience the country. Also, cold drinks are available everywhere and if you really crave a Coke, that should be no problem.
Some Basic Definitions:
Rice – bao
Noodles – mee
Bread – num pung
Vegetables – buong lee
Chicken – moan
Beef – gow
Fish – dt’ray
Spicy – m-the
Water – teuk
