1. Kralan (Cambodian Bamboo Sticky Rice)
Bamboo sticky rice is a famous dish in Cambodia that is fragrant roasted rice in bamboo sticks. This dish is known as Kralan in Khmer and is popular in Battambang (the second-largest city in Cambodia). Fragrant rice, black beans, grated coconut, and coconut milk are the main ingredients of Kralan. These are together packed in bamboo sticks and roasted. You can find ladies around Angkor Wat World Heritage Site in Siem Reap selling Kralan on bicycles in three sizes; prices may vary with size.
2. Lort Cha (Cambodian Short Stir-Fried Egg Noodles)
Lort Cha is one of the classic street foods of Cambodia. It is a food rich in proteins. Lort Cha is a stir-fried dish mainly made from short rice noodles and minced vegetables like Chinese broccoli, bean sprouts, chives, and green onions. Other ingredients include beef, pork, or shrimp, and the dish is served with a fried egg, soy sauce, and thick red sauce as toppings. Lort Cha is enjoyable at any time, whether for breakfast or as a snack. Although you can have Lort Cha anywhere in the country, it would be easier to spot a vendor selling freshly prepared Lort Cha in the streets of Siem Reap (the capital of Cambodia).
3. Num Kachay (Chive Cakes)
Cakes are something one can never get tired of. There’s crispy street food in Cambodia called ‘Chive Cakes’ made from glutinous rice flour. Chopped Chives are the primary ingredients, while sugar, pepper, and garlic are secondary ingredients. This traditional cuisine comes in two styles - round cakes with chives filling and square cakes with chives blended with rice flour. The cakes are fried and served with the famous fish sauce of Southeast Asia. You can enjoy the sweet-tangy Num Kachay in the afternoon at local markets in Cambodia.
4. Num Pang (Cambodian Sandwich)
Much similar to Vietnamese bread snack, Num Pang is a traditional street food of Cambodia. It is a sandwich or a demi-baguette mainly consisting of pate, ham, or pork. Other ingredients include pickles and finely-cut slices of carrots, onions, and chives, and is served with coriander and chili sauce. You can find vendors near office buildings selling different varieties of lip-smacking Num Pang. And you will find yourself being magnetically attracted to the Cambodian Sandwich. Vendors prepare and sell the dish at multiple locations in Siem Reap and Pho Langka Market.
5. Nom Pao (Cambodian Steamed Buns)
Nom Pao, also known as Bao are brioches with meat as the filling. Cambodia wrapping cake is popular around New Year’s Eve. Even students love to eat it during exams as the cuisine is rich in proteins. Nom Pao is steamed dumplings you will stumble upon every few meters in Siem Reap. There is a wide range of toppings to try. However, mainly the pork is mixed with onions, garlic, sugar, chives, and mushrooms. Finger-licking baos are served with fish sauce like every other street food in Cambodia.
6. Mi Char (Fried Noodles)
Young hearts’ favorite is the fried noodles - Mi Char, a Cambodian snack also served as a noodle soup. There are three types of Mi Char - Rice, egg, and instant noodles. The main ingredients of Mi Char are bean sprouts, chopped vegetables, coriander, meat, fried egg,s and lemon juice. Lettuce leaf acts as an essential topping. Fish sauce and chili sauce give a touch-up to this mouth-watering dish. You can enjoy the noodle soup in the evenings on the streets or in the Old Market in Siem Reap. This street food is affordable, delicious, and nutritious.
7. Nom Banh Chok (Khmer Noodles)
Nom Banh Chok is another popular street food in Cambodia. You will find the natives calling it ‘Khmer Noodles’ and enjoying it in the morning or as an afternoon snack. The fermented rice noodles have the main ingredients of banana blossom, cucumbers, water lily stems, and fresh herbs. Khmer Noodles are then topped with lemongrass, rhizome, and other Cambodian ingredients.
8. Bai Sach Chrouk (Cambodian Grilled Pork and Rice)
Bai Sach Chrouk is one of the most popular breakfast items in Cambodia. In simple terms, it is Cambodian-style pork and rice found in every nook and corner of the streets in Cambodia. It is prepared by slow-roasting thin cuts of pork marinated in coconut or garlic spread over coals. To add complexity, this smoky pork is elevated by a fresh serving of fragrant rice and fried garlic or onion. The pickled daikons or cucumbers served with the pork and rice cuts through the fatty richness and add a nice touch of acidity. While some barbeque stalls prefer chicken soup, others serve it with a dipping sauce, fried egg, and iced coffee. One of the best places to try this dish is Pork and Rice Man in Phnom Penh.
9. Balut (Fertilized Duck Egg)
Balut is the fertilized embryo inside a duck or chicken egg that has been incubated for 14–21 days, leading to a partly developed embryo which is then cooked. This dish, a hot topic of controversy for people worldwide, is a popular staple in Cambodian street food. This fertilized egg is eaten straight out of the eggshell and has a soft and creamy texture which is very delightful. It is eaten by dipping the eggs into salt and pepper and sprinkling some lime juice, and herbs from the street vendors. Then, one is supposed to sip the egg's insides straight out of the shells. The taste is tangy and creamy.
10. Grilled Skewers
Meat and seafood skewers, as well as barbeque dishes, are one of the best street foods to try out in Cambodia. They are easy to eat, filling, and inexpensive, making them one of the best dishes to eat throughout the day. One can find grilled chicken thighs, chicken hearts, pork, beef, prawns, and quails, or for a vegetarian option, pineapples or aubergines. For a whole meal, you can find a stall that sells skewers with pickled vegetables and rice, or you can have a skewer loaded with spices and herbs for a snack. Some barbeque stalls serve skewers with veggies or cheese. The best place to try them is the Central Market in Phnom Penh.
11. Kuy Teav(Cambodian Noodle Soup)
Kuy Teav is one of the most authentically South East Asian dishes one can find in Cambodia. With square flat rice noodles served with a flavourful broth including pork, beef, or chicken garnished with scallions, and green or fried vermicelli, the dish is heart-warming and a flavor bomb. There is also an option to add liver, meat blood, or intestines to your broth if you are looking for an exotic adventure. This dish contains nutrients and proteins, making it a wholesome meal. One of the best places to try Kuy Teav is the Central Market in Phnom Penh.
12. Chet Chien (Cambodian Banana Nuggets)
Fried foods and desserts are two of the most indulgent items, but a fried dessert is just at another level of decadence. Chet Chien is a fried dessert with a flattened ripe banana, coated in a sweet batter or a spring roll wrapped in sesame seeds, and deep-fried. It is then coated with sugar and sometimes served with vanilla and Kampot pepper ice cream. Many stalls make this delicious sweet treat, and enjoy it hot there. One of the best places to try this dessert is in Psar Leu in Siem Reap.
13. Pickled Fruits
Pickled fruits are a very unusual but interestingly delicious street food in Cambodia. This is usually prepared by pickling fruits such as papaya, mango, guava, pineapple, or apple. They are served with salt, chili, sugar, and fish sauce. The flavor of this dish is intense, as pickling the fruits brings out their acidity and natural flavors, leaving it with a sweet and sour taste. This is a very nutritious snack and equally a hygienic and accessible item found in Cambodia. The best part about this dish is that it can be enjoyed without burning a hole in your pocket. A great place to find a wide variety of pickled fruits in Cambodia is the BKK Market in Phnom Penh.
14. Cha Houy Teuk (Colourful Jelly)
Cha Houy Teuk is a sweet colorful jelly loved by children. The dessert is made of gelatin derived from seaweed and attains colors from pumpkin, red beans, and cocoyam. Its main ingredients are jackfruit, sticky rice, coconut cream, sago, and taro. Tourists will find numerous vendors selling the jelly dipped in ice.
15. Local Doughnuts
Of course, doughnut lovers will stand with worldwide famous outlets that sell doughnuts, but to add glitters to your tri,p you shouldn’t miss the local cuisine of that area. Although there are many expensive bakeries in Cambodia, the doughnuts sold on the streets of Cambodia are tastier and worth tasting.
16. Coconut Ice Cream
Under the glistening sun in Cambodia, ice cream is a cure. While wandering in Siem Reap, many vendors sell chilled ice-creams in coconut shells with coconut toppings. Condensed milk and crushed peanuts make Coconut Ice Cream even tastier. You would not want to miss this affordable delicacy.
17. Cambodian Iced Coffee
One of the most loved beverages in Cambodia is Iced Coffee, known as cafe toek doh koh toek gok. It is a sweet, robust drip coffee served black with ice or condensed milk. Small iced coffee carts on the streets sell this refreshing drink in peak morning hours and the afternoon.
18. Jaggery Wine
Ever heard about Jaggery Wine? Cambodia is the country where you can enjoy this exotic beverage made from brown sugar. People buy jaggery wine from the street shops in the daytime.
Cambodia lies in the subtropical region and produces dense vegetation. The cuisine of Cambodia is rich in multiple tastes and flavors and is incomparable to other Southeast Asian countries. Try different mouth-watering street foods of Cambodia to get acquainted with the culture and experience an authentic delight.