5 Best Khmer Restaurants in Phnom Penh — Where to Taste our Khmer food (August 2026)

5 Best Khmer Restaurants in Phnom Penh — Where to Taste our Khmer food (August 2026)
By Charlotte, Property Consultant in Cambodia

If you’re buying property, relocating, or investing in Phnom Penh, you need to know more than just sqm prices — you need to know where to eat. Great food is part of the lifestyle that makes Cambodia such an attractive place to live. And trust me, Phnom Penh’s Khmer dining scene is incredible right now.

So, whether you’re scouting a condo in BKK1 or settling into a new villa in Toul Kork, here are the 5 best Khmer restaurants you absolutely must try.

1. Malis — The Gold Standard of Khmer Fine Dining
📍 Norodom Boulevard (near Bassac Lane) | 💲💲💲 Premium

Malis is the undisputed heavyweight of Cambodian cuisine. Helmed by legendary Chef Luu Meng, this restaurant has spent two decades rescuing forgotten Khmer recipes and elevating them to world-class fine dining.

Walk through the doors and you’re greeted by a stunning courtyard with lotus ponds and sandstone carvings — it feels like stepping into a temple garden. The signature dish is fish amok, a fragrant coconut curry steamed in banana leaf, and it is simply the best version you’ll find anywhere.

• Perfect for: Impressing a business partner, celebrating a property closing, or a special date night
• Neighborhood context: Located near the Bassac Lane area — one of Phnom Penh’s most desirable expat residential pockets. If you’re looking at apartments in Tonle Bassac or along Norodom, Malis is practically your neighborhood restaurant.

🏠 Real estate angle: Properties within walking distance of Norodom’s dining strip command premium rental yields — proximity to lifestyle amenities is a top factor for expat tenants.

2. Khmer Surin — A Phnom Penh Institution Since 1996
📍 Near Wat Phnom / Central Phnom Penh | 💲💲 Moderate

Khmer Surin has been serving authentic Khmer and Thai food for nearly 30 years — it’s one of those rare places that both locals and expats genuinely love. The ambiance is warm and traditional, with wooden interiors, silk textiles, and soft lighting that makes you want to linger.

The menu is extensive, but the standouts are the fish amok (rich and creamy), green mango salad, and the mango sticky rice for dessert. Portions are generous and prices are very reasonable for the quality.

• Perfect for: A relaxed family dinner, casual business lunch, or introducing visiting relatives to Khmer food
• Neighborhood context: Central location near Wat Phnom — convenient if you’re showing properties around Daun Penh or the riverside area.

3. Kravanh — Classic Cambodian, Elegantly Done
📍#112Sothearos Boulevard (also on Oknha Ket St 174) | 💲💲 Moderate

Kravanh is what happens when you take classic Khmer home cooking and serve it with elegance and consistency. The name means “cardamom” — that essential Cambodian spice — and the food here honors that heritage beautifully.

On the menu you’ll find nom banh chok (Khmer fish curry noodles), prahok ktis (fermented fish dip with pork and vegetables), and an excellent lok lak (stir-fried beef with lime pepper sauce). Two locations now, both rated 4.4+ on TripAdvisor from hundreds of reviews.

• Perfect for: An authentic introduction to Cambodian flavors without the fine-dining markup
• Neighborhood context: The Sothearos Boulevard location sits between BKK1 and the riverside — two high-demand expat areas. The Oknha Ket St 174 location is closer to the Central Market area.

4. Eleven One Kitchen — Healthy, Affordable & Community-Driven
📍 Toul Tom Poung (TTP) — Russian Market area | 💲 Budget-Friendly

Eleven One Kitchen is a Phnom Penh favorite for a reason. The food is fresh, healthy, and incredibly well-priced. The menu focuses on clean Khmer and Asian dishes made with local ingredients — no MSG, no shortcuts. The fresh mango spring rolls are legendary, and the open kitchen means you can watch your meal being prepared.

With over 1,170 reviews on TripAdvisor and a 4.6 rating, this is consistently rated among the top restaurants in the entire city. The TTP location has a lovely garden courtyard — perfect for a lazy weekend lunch.

• Perfect for: Everyday dining, a casual lunch after shopping at Russian Market, or a healthy meal that won’t break the bank
• Neighborhood context: TTP (Toul Tom Poung) is one of Phnom Penh’s fastest-growing expat neighborhoods — popular with young professionals and families. Property prices here have risen steadily as the area gentrifies. A restaurant like Eleven One Kitchen is exactly the kind of amenity that attracts tenants.

🏠 Real estate angle: TTP’s transformation from local market area to expat hotspot has pushed rental demand up 15-20% over the last three years. Restaurants like this are the signal.

5. Romdeng — Traditional Khmer with a Heart
📍 Street 240 (corner of Street 55) | 💲💲 Moderate

Romdeng isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a social enterprise run by Friends International (formerly Mith Samlanh), an NGO that trains and employs disadvantaged youth in hospitality. The food is deeply traditional: country-style Khmer dishes, some using almost-forgotten recipes from Cambodia’s provinces.

The menu is adventurous — yes, you can try the famous deep-fried tarantula if you’re brave — but also features beautifully executed classics like pomelo salad, tiger prawn curry, and a very good fish amok. The setting is a restored colonial villa with a lush garden courtyard. Rated 4.5 on Google from 533+ reviews.

• Perfect for: A meaningful meal that supports a great cause, or introducing visitors to rustic Cambodian flavors
• Neighborhood context: Street 240 is one of Phnom Penh’s most charming lanes — boutique shops, cafes, and tree-lined sidewalks. It sits between the Royal Palace and BKK1. If your clients are looking for that “Paris-meets-Phnom Penh” lifestyle, this is the area.

🍽️ Quick Reference Guide

Every one of these restaurants sits in — or near — a neighborhood with active property demand. When expats and investors ask me “What’s it actually like to live in Phnom Penh?”, food is always part of the answer. A great restaurant scene signals a neighborhood that’s livable, walkable, and attractive to tenants.

If you’re considering buying or renting in any of these areas — Bassac Lane, Daun Penh, BKK1, TTP, or Street 240 — reach out to me.
I’ll help you find a property with the best of Phnom Penh’s dining scene right on your doorstep.
If you have any questions about Phnom Penh neighborhoods or Cambodia real estate, do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Charlotte
your property consultant in Cambodia.
+855 81916829
charlottecambodia.com