Has anyone ever tried a Cambodian food? The secret?

[Arajella Sam]

Hi everyone, I would like to know if anybody have ever tried a Cambodian cuisine? I went to Cambodia few months ago and I have to say the food was amazing, the cooking process and the ingredients were somehow exotic and unusual. I would love to try it again, but haven't got any plans to visit Cambodia soon, so would like to know if there is a Cambodian restaurant here in the UK? I did a search on the internet and I found only one, Lemongrass it's called in London. Has anyone been there to share their experience? I have looked at their website and the dishes are very similar with the ones I had in Cambodia. 

 

http://www.lemongrass-restaurant.co.uk

 

The restaurant claims it has been opened since 1987, but I've never heard of it, perhaps I didn't try hard enough? I would love a comments if you have tried this restaurant? If nobody has been there then I guess I just have to go and try, perhaps this week...

 

Many thanks for your time 

[Ashen]

Have you ever been to a thai restuarant?   I won't suggest that it is exactly the same but the cooking styles and ingredients are often the same or similar . If you liked Cambodian cuisine you will most likely enjoy Thai food as well. 

[Arajella Sam]

Hi, I have been to Thai restaurant and yes agree really lovely food, but I don't know why the Cambodian is on top of my list   I would definitely visit this Cambodian restaurant soon...

[liuzhou]

While Cambodian food has some Thai influence, it is also heavily influenced by Vietnam, Laos and China. And to a lesser extent France via Vietnam.

 

I've been to the Lemongrass restaurant in London, many, many years ago, not long after it opened. It was OK, as I recall, but not stunning. It won't be what you tasted in Cambodia, but close enough perhaps to make you want to book a return trip to what is a beautiful, if tragic country.

Edited July 21, 2014 by liuzhou (log)

[heidih]

The eGullet topic on Cambodian/Khmer cooking may be of educational interest to you http://forums.egullet.org/topic/122363-cambodiankhmer-cooking/

[MelissaH]

There was a wonderful Cambodian restaurant called Phnom Penh in Cleveland, OH, when I lived there eons ago. It was a favorite when some of us wanted to do something a little bit special for lunch. I don't remember a whole lot about it, except that it was delicious, lots of noodles and fresh ingredients and chile heat if you wanted it. In particular, I remember the one dish that we all always seemed to gravitate towards, because we could never decide what we wanted and it had some of everything: noodles, soup, and slices of eggroll. For the life of me, I can't remember what it was called, though. I also remember the frozen (nonalcoholic) drinks they'd make, especially the one with jackfruit.

 

I wish I lived closer to somewhere with a large Cambodian population, so I had a chance of eating more!