Street food in Phnom Penh for beginners

Just arrived in Phnom Penh and nervous about street food? Relax. It is one of the easiest ways to eat well here. This post covers what to eat, how to order, and where to start. For a list of places, see our street food in Phnom Penh guide.

Street food in Phnom PenhThe guide · 7 places

Where to start

Start somewhere with a crowd. A busy stall sells a lot of food, so what you get is fresh. Look for places where local people are eating.

Not sure what to pick? Start with something cooked hot in front of you. Soup, grilled meat and noodles are all good first choices.

Think about the time of day

Street food keeps its own hours. Some places are for breakfast and finish by lunch. Others only wake up in the evening. So pick the dish to match the hour: noodles and grilled pork in the morning, salads at lunch, and night markets after sunset. Check opening hours before you head out, because many street places keep early or late hours.

What to look for

Bai sach chrouk. Pork grilled over charcoal, served on rice with pickled vegetables. The classic breakfast. Look for stalls in the morning.

Num pang. The Cambodian baguette. Think pate, pickles, herbs and a bit of chilli sauce. You will often find it near schools, markets and parks.

Kuy teav. A bowl of noodles in broth. Add lime, herbs and chilli to taste.

Num banh chok. Fresh rice noodles with a fish-and-coconut gravy and raw vegetables. It is mostly a morning dish.

Boklahong. A green papaya salad: crunchy, sour, salty and a bit spicy. Somphors Boklahong, on Street 358 in BKK1, is a casual spot for it, open 9am to 9pm daily.

Meatballs. Phnom Penh loves meatballs, in soup or on skewers. 007 World Meatball, the Bak Touk branch, is a meatball specialist open 10:30am to 9pm.

Try a night market

Khmer StrEAT is a night market on Koh Norea, on the Chbar Ampov side of the river. Our listing has it open Tuesday to Sunday, 4pm to 11pm, and closed on Mondays. Hours can change, so check before you go.

The easy plan: go around sunset, grab a few plates from different stalls, and share.

Breakfast and evening spots

Yi Yi Baykordot is near the Central Market (Psar Thom Thmey), open 6am to 3pm. Go early for breakfast. Breakfast places often run out by lunch.

For an evening bite, 1978 Street Food is on Street 1978 in Sen Sok and opens from 4pm to midnight.

How to order without speaking Khmer

• Point at what you want. Nobody will mind.
• Hold up your fingers for the number.
• Carry small notes.
• Smile. It works every time.

Staying well

If you are new, start with food that is cooked hot and fresh. Go easy on raw salads and ice on your first days, and drink bottled water. Do not let this put you off. Most people eat street food all week and are fine.

A one-day beginner route

1. Breakfast: bai sach chrouk or kuy teav near the Central Market. Yi Yi Baykordot is a good place to start.
2. Lunch: a plate of boklahong at Somphors Boklahong, or a meatball soup.
3. Afternoon: a num pang sandwich from a stall near a school.
4. Evening: the Khmer StrEAT night market on Koh Norea, then dessert.

Prices change from stall to stall, so check before you order.

Save these places in yummers

Found a stall you love? Add it to a list in yummers and share it with a friend who is new in town. Start with the street food in Phnom Penh guide.