9 Must-Try Street Foods in Cambodia (2024)

Street food is something that you must try during your visit to Southeast Asian countries, especially Cambodia. Made with fresh produce, street foods in Cambodia unravel the best opportunity for you to take yourself on a gastronomic journey. As you go on a culinary adventure in Cambodia, you must try the wide variety of street foods available here. If you thought Cambodia is all about spending time amidst rejuvenating nature or visiting historical temples, you are wrong. Cambodia is also about street foods that will literally tingle your taste buds. Here are some of the best street foods that you must try during your stay in Cambodia.

9 Must-Try Street Foods in Cambodia

Fish Amok

Fish Amok is one of those street foods that you must try during your stay in Cambodia. This Khmer street food is quite popular among the locals here. This dish is prepared by cooking fish mousse with coconut curry in banana leaves. A wide range of spices such as lemongrass, turmeric root, and kaffir lime are added to this dish to further uplift the layers of flavor present in this dish. Even though you will find Fish Amok in the neighboring countries as well. Cambodia makes it even special by putting the local herb called shlok ngor. The distinct flavor of Fish amok in Cambodia comes from this herb.

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Grilled Pork on Skewers

Grilled pork on skewers is another popular street dish that you shouldn’t miss in Cambodia. Usually seen all over Phnom Penh, this street food is quite unique in terms of flavor and texture. Available at portable cars, this dish comes in two varieties. While the popular one is served with veggies, rice, and pickle salad, another version of the food comes adorned with condiments as well as herbs. Being a prominent breakfast, the popular version of the grilled pork provides you with much needed energy. When you need a snack on the go, you can try the second version of the dish. In order to get a comprehensive experience of Cambodian BBQ, you must try both of them.

Lok Lak

Having its roots in Vietnam, Lok Lak is another popular street food dish that you can’t leave Cambodia without trying. This street food involves generous portions of juicy beef which is quite popular among the locals as a meat. After being stir-fried, this meat is garnished with a number of items including crispy lettuce, raw cucumber, fresh onion, and sweet tomato. What adds to the taste of this street food is the combination of seasoning made with lime juice and black pepper. If you want to experience the traditional way of eating this dish, you can have it served wrapped in a lettuce leaf as well.

Balut

This one might actually shock you a little. Balut is nothing but the fertilized embryo of a duck. Besides being extremely popular in countries such as Vietnam and Philippines, this street food is simply loved by the people of Cambodia. While other countries serve this street food with a lot of herbs as well as condiments, Cambodia serves it only with a pinch of garnishing. Many Cambodians prefer this street food because of the fact that it is nutritious and comes loaded with protein.

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Steamed Pork Bun

When you see a steamer cart on the street, you must try the steamer pork bun. Capturing the traditional taste of bun, this street food comes stuffed with eggs and pork. Leaving all the unnecessary condiments behind, this street food will definitely remind you of the pork buns of China. When you want to have a quick snack during the afternoon or evening, this is the perfect dish for you. Also, be careful about removing the paper at the bottom of the street food dish.

Pickled Fruit

Known for being the land of pickled fruit, Cambodia is quite popular for offering a wide variety of pickled snacks. Whether you are looking for pickled apple or pickled guava, you will find everything pickled in Cambodia. In addition, you can also get the sauce that combines different ingredients such as sugar, salt, chillies, and other seasonings. Simply dip the fresh fruit in the sauce and take yourself on a gastronomic journey. The other sauce comes with a sweet, sour, and spicy flavor which is ideal to be served with fruit between meals.

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Grilled Sausage on Skewer

Another street food that Cambodia is known for is barbecued food. Being one of the most recognizable street foods in Cambodia, grilled sausage on skewers comes with unique flavor and texture. Made with tender meat, the sausage balls available here unravel the best opportunity for you to take your taste buds on a culinary tour. Try the grilled sausage with salad and baguette to make it a perfect meal. You will remember the taste of the grill for the rest of your life.

Grilled Frog

You probably never even imagined having a grilled frog before you! It can be a little uneasy at the beginning but it is one of the must-try street foods in Phnom Penh. Besides selling chicken, beef, and pork, street shops in Cambodia are quite popular for offering delectable grilled frogs. You will see the seller putting an entire frog on the grill in the capital of Cambodia. The tender meat coupled with juice inside will melt in your mouth.

Chive Cake

Having its origin in China, Chive Cake is another popular street food that you must try during your stay in Cambodia. Made with chopped chives and rice flour, this dish is seasoned with herbs. If you are thinking that this will be a boring street food, you are wrong. The deliciousness of this cake will leave you amazed. This pan-fried street snack has a crispy texture on the outside and is chewy inside. Dip it in sweet and spicy fish sauce, this cake presents the best opportunity for you to experience the flavor of Southeast Asia.

Offered at pocket-friendly prices, street foods in Cambodia unravel the best opportunity for you to experience the unique flavors of Southeast Asia. Try these street dishes at the local stalls and make your Cambodia trip a memorable one.