Phnom Penh - Recommendations for a Perfect Cambodian Meal
Written: Oct 24 '02
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Pros: lip smackin' Cambodian grub
Cons: long wait outside
The Bottom Line: Everyone should try the Cambodian food at Phnom Penh.
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| megugrrrl's Full Review: Phnom Penh House |
The Phnom Penh House in Oakland's Chinatown is an East Bay hotspot attracting the denizens of Oakland, Berkeley and surrounding cities. The food is authentic, fresh, and Cambodian. With rockbottom prices and warm service, Phnom Penh is just one of those places you have to try at least once. (Yes, you'll have to wait in the line that forms outside, but who cares?)
I've been to Phnom Penh (the restuarant, not the city) enough times to have tried the best and the worst of their menu and here's a veteran's recommendations: (Note: the more people you go with, the more you can try) (Note 2: Phnom Penh is pretty small, only able to seat 30-35 people at a time, so don't bring too many people.)
To Start
I have a love/hate relationship with appetizers in general. I love ordering and enjoying them. When I'm starving, I am so thankful when they come out right away. But I hate the way they fill you up, taking the glory away from the entree. Despite the uncertainty, I always order them anyway, especially at Phnom Penh.
I'd strongly recommed starting with one of the following:
1. their crepe - an eggy Cambodian crepe bulging with ground pork, teeny shrmip, tofu chunks, bean sprouts, with a smidgeon of coconut and peanuts. The textures and flavors are delectable. What's more is that it comes with that sweet lime sauce.
2. spring rolls - noum kreap jeane - I know it seems boring, but they're exceptional at Phnom Penh - tightly packed with ground meat, glass noodles, mushrooms, and fried to a warm brown - they're really the best spring rolls I've ever had.
3. the combination seafood sour soup - avec mushrooms - the broth is intensely yummy with a nice tangy punch and spicy kick with clams and shrimp. I also appreciate the fact that it arrives hot, not warm.
Appetizers range from $3.50 - $6.50. They also have things like squid and green papaya salad.
Entrees
You'll find a strong south Chinese influence in their entrees - there aren't as many curry dishes as you might expect, but it doesn't really matter because the entrees are good.
Here are my favorite five:
1. Hamok Trei - Steamed Fish - a small portion of delicate and flakey whitefish, sliced, and steamed with an intense coconut/lemongrass/Cambodian goodness.
2. Grilled Eggplant - an eggplant stuffed with ground pork and teeny shrimp, which might remind some of the crepe, but the textures are very different since this one lacks the sprouts. It comes with those magical Cambodian spices that make everything taste good. Eat all of it at Phnom Penh because it's not very good the day after. Dunno why.
3. Beef on a Stick - Cambodian BBQ. Beef cubes marinated in lemon grass, ginger, fish sauce and various spices, served with that sweet lime sauce. The flavors are mouth watering and it's charbroiled so you get some charred goodness. (chicken and pork available as well)
4. Ginger with Tofu - probably for serious ginger fans only. The beauty of this dish is its gingery simplicity - it's just tofu chunks (the nice 'n chewy kind) and slices of onions slathered in a a lemony ginger-based sauce with loads and loads of ginger slivers. If you're a fan of Le Cheval's Lemongrass Tofu, you'll love Phnom Penh's Ginger with Tofu.
5. Minty Noodle - the best of all worlds - thin rice noodles topped with that yummy barbecued meat, a sliced up spring roll, chopped peanuts, a few mint sprigs, a bit o' lettuce, and a little bowl of sweet lime sauce. When it arrives, you toss it like a giant salad.
Entrees range from $6-12 and comes with warm 'n fluffy rice.
Desserts
While they offer fried bananas served a la mode - skip dessert here.
Beverages
Cambodian Iced Coffee and Cambodian Iced Tea are just like the Thai kind - super sweet and super strong.
A Note About the Service
Co-owner Ricky and the all-male waitstaff at Phnom Penh are delightful - they're friendly, polite, professional, and genuine. They constantly act like they know everyone (well, maybe they do) and say goodbye to many of the patrons by saying, "See you tomorrow!"
Closed on Sundays (who knows why?). It's also about a block away from the Lake Merritt BART station, making it easy to get to.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
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megugrrrl
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Location: Oakland
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