Best Restaurants in Phnom Penh for Khmer Cuisine

Traditional Khmer meals with classic dishes and prices between $10 and $20 per entrée are available at Malis and Embassy Restaurant, located within 2 to 3 km of central landmarks.

Malis is situated on Street 93 near the Royal Palace, approximately a 25-minute tuk-tuk ride costing 12,000 to 20,000 KHR ($3 to $5). The menu highlights Fish Amok, Prahok Ktis (fermented fish dip), and fresh vegetable sides made with local produce. Embassy Restaurant can be found on Street 7 near the Central Market. It serves elegant Khmer cuisine with entrées averaging 60,000 KHR ($15). Bus line 2 from Central Market takes about 15 minutes to reach Embassy Restaurant, making it an affordable public transport option at 1,500 KHR per ride. Both restaurants provide atmospheres reflecting Cambodia’s culinary traditions but with refined service.

Khmer street food is best found near Central Market and along Sisowath Quay, with prices typically between $1 and $4 for dishes like Nom Banh Chok and grilled meats.

Central Market, located on Street 130, is about 800 meters west of Sisowath Quay. Around 4 pm to 6 pm, vendors prepare fresh Nom Banh Chok (Khmer rice noodle salad) for 6,000 to 7,000 KHR ($1.50 to $1.75). Sisowath Quay, stretching along the Tonle Sap River, hosts grilled meat stalls and insect vendors selling fried crickets and grasshoppers at 8,000 KHR ($2) and above. The smells of lemongrass, garlic, and charcoal smoke fill the air, while the sizzling sounds of grills draw locals after work. These areas provide quick, inexpensive meals favored by residents and travelers seeking authentic street flavors.

Modern Khmer cuisine in Phnom Penh can be found at restaurants such as Baitong and Khmer Surin, where dishes blend traditional recipes with contemporary presentations, with prices ranging from $8 to $18.

Baitong Restaurant on Street 93, about 2.5 km from the National Museum, focuses on organic ingredients and creative plating. Main courses start at 32,000 KHR ($8). Khmer Surin, located on Street 278 near the city center, serves classics reinterpreted with modern techniques, with entrées around 48,000 KHR ($12). These venues provide quieter dining environments with ambient music and minimalist decor. Customers will hear soft Khmer pop or jazz while tasting dishes like Tamarind Duck or Pumpkin Curry with a twist.

Several Phnom Penh venues offer Khmer cooking classes priced between $25 and $40 per session, typically lasting 3 hours and including market visits for ingredient sourcing.

The Khmer Cooking Class in Cambodia, located near the Riverside area on Street 13, provides hands-on lessons starting at $30 per person. The course includes a guided walk through the nearby Orussey Market, where participants select fresh herbs, spices, and vegetables before cooking. Friends the Restaurant has shorter classes at approximately $25, combining instruction with a meal. These sessions run mainly in the mornings from 9 am to noon or afternoons between 2 pm and 5 pm.

Meals can be paired with nearby cultural tours such as the Phnom Penh Remembrance & Resilience Tour and visits to Angkor temples, with restaurants like Malis located conveniently within 2 to 3 km of major attractions.

The Phnom Penh Remembrance & Resilience Tour includes Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields, roughly 4 km from downtown. After tours, diners often choose Malis on Street 93, 2 km from the Royal Palace, providing a short tuk-tuk ride. For day trips to Angkor Wat and related temples from Phnom Penh, local Khmer eateries along the highway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap offer meals priced between 10,000 and 30,000 KHR ($2.50 to $7.50). Combining food stops with cultural visits gives a fuller sense of Cambodia’s heritage.

Khmer dining etiquette involves communal eating with shared dishes, using a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left, and waiting for the eldest person to begin before starting the meal.

Most meals are served family-style, with several dishes placed in the center of the table. Diners typically take rice with the spoon and use the fork to push food onto the spoon. It is polite to wait for the eldest or most senior person to start eating first. Tipping between 5 and 10% is customary in higher-end restaurants but not compulsory. Phnom Penh’s restaurants generally operate from 11:00 am until 10:00 pm, so planning mealtimes within those hours is important.

Transport options to reach Khmer restaurants include tuk-tuks, moto-taxis, and city buses, with fares ranging from 1,500 KHR for buses to 10,000–20,000 KHR for tuk-tuks within central districts.

Tuk-tuks remain the most common way to travel between neighborhoods like BKK1, Daun Penh, and Toul Tom Poung, costing 8,000 to 15,000 KHR ($2 to $4) for trips under 5 km. Moto-taxis are faster and slightly cheaper but less comfortable for longer rides. Phnom Penh’s bus network has expanded, with lines 2 and 3 connecting the Central Market area and Russian Market to cultural and dining spots at a fare of 1,500 KHR per trip. Walking is viable in areas such as the Old French Quarter, where many restaurants cluster within 1 km of each other.

The dry season from November to March is considered the best time for comfortable dining outings, with pleasant evenings ideal for street food markets and outdoor seating.

Temperatures during these months average 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, with lower humidity. Many street food vendors set up from late afternoon until 9 pm, particularly near Central Market and Sisowath Quay. The Khmer New Year in mid-April sees many restaurants close or operate with limited hours, so plan accordingly. High season also brings more tourists, which can increase wait times at popular restaurants. Off-peak hours around 11:30 am or after 8 pm often provide quieter dining experiences.

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