Phnom Penh food tour
PHNOM PENH FOOD TOUR - Before the midday heat settles over the capital, market stalls are already piled with tropical fruit, pots of broth are steaming and vendors are turning rice, coconut, fish and fragrant herbs into the dishes Cambodians have eaten for generations. Khmer cooking has absorbed influences from neighbouring Southeast Asia, centuries of regional trade and French colonial rule, but the result is unmistakably Cambodian.
Over four hours and 15+ tastings, we're diving into the markets, street stalls and local eateries around the heart of Phnom Penh.
Begin outside the National Museum of Cambodia before plunging straight into Psar Kandal, one of the city's great everyday food markets. Dodge baskets of herbs, vegetables and wriggling seafood as we taste exotic seasonal fruits and attack our first snacks: nom kong, Cambodia's crisp, chewy doughnut, and golden nom kroch fritters hiding sweet mung bean beneath their shells.
Then follow the locals to breakfast. Num banh chok is one of Cambodia's defining morning dishes: soft rice noodles tangled with fresh herbs and vegetables beneath a fragrant Khmer-style gravy.
Keep moving through the market and track down a vendor steaming nom putu bambu. These soft rice cakes are cooked inside bamboo tubes before being showered with fresh coconut. Nearby, we'll see how Cambodian noodles are prepared, and why they are one of the country's most important staples.
That's breakfast dealt with. Now things get serious. Pull up a chair for amok trey, tender fish cooked with coconut and aromatic kroeung spices, followed by samlor machu moan, a bright chicken and lemongrass sour soup that punches salty, sour and fragrant at once. Then comes beef lok lak, Cambodia's beloved stir-fry of tender beef with its signature peppery dipping sauce.
There are 15+ tastings to conquer, so we're only getting warmed up. Cambodia spent almost a century under French influence, and one particularly delicious souvenir is bread. Tear into nompang pΓ’tΓ©, the Cambodian baguette sandwich stuffed with savoury fillings and fresh accompaniments, French bakery technique thoroughly commandeered by Khmer appetites.
Then we're back on the streets. Crunch through nom kong Kampong Cham, a crisp shrimp cracker loaded with savoury flavour, before raiding another specialist vendor for num koum, sticky rice with coconut and sesame, and num bot, its savoury cousin filled with mung bean and pepper.
Our final bite is ta-pae, fermented rice paired with fresh coconut. Sweet, gently boozy and completely different from where we started, it's a fitting end to a morning spent discovering just how many directions Khmer cooks can take a handful of staple ingredients.
Why this tour is awesome
Dive into Phnom Penh's morning food scene over four hours and 15+ tastings, weaving through Psar Kandal Market, street vendors and local eateries while the city is at its hungriest.
Expect fragrant Khmer noodles, coconut fish amok, sizzling beef lok lak and Cambodian baguettes, alongside handmade rice cakes, tropical fruits and sweet market snacks you'd be hard-pushed to find alone.
Start your day with 15+ tastings across the streets of Phnom Penh.
Start among the vendors and food stalls of lively Psar Kandal.
Fresh herbs, tropical fruits and vegetables fill Psar Kandal.
The food heroes of Phnom Penh.
Discover the dishes at the heart of Phnom Penh's food culture.
Golden nom kong and crisp nom kroch filled with sweet mung bean.
Fragrant num banh chok, Cambodia's beloved Khmer noodles.
Watch nom putu bambu steamed fresh by a local vendor.
Fresh Khmer noodles made by hand in the heart of the market.
Handmade noodles, fresh from the market.
A steaming bowl of mee kieo teuk with fish and bouncy fishballs.
A glimpse into daily life among Phnom Penh's market vendors.
The food heroes of Phnom Penh.
A Khmer feast of creamy fish amok, tangy chicken soup and beef lok lak.
Crisp nompang pΓ’tΓ©, Cambodia's beloved baguette sandwich.
Sweet num koum with coconut and sesame alongside peppery mung bean num bot.
Watch a local vendor make traditional ta-pae.
Ta-pae, a traditional Cambodian treat of fermented rice and coconut.
Includes
- Price US $45 per person. Children under 13 are half price
- Language English
- Small group Our small group tours have a maximum of 8 guests. Larger private groups are available on request
- Tastings The tour includes 15+ tastings. No hidden charges
- Drinks Bottled water and local drinks
- Duration The tour lasts for 3.5-4 hours
- Guides Led by one of our superb Phnom Penh food hosts
- Cancellation Cancel up to 48 hours before departure for a full refund
- Family-friendly Families welcome on all our tours
- Transport This is a walking tour
- Instant confirmation Book now to secure your space (before we sell out!)
- Pick up / drop off Our guests come from all over the city, so to save time we have a meeting point for everyone. Your guide can help you find transport back at the end of the tour
Dietary information
- General advice Many streetside vendors specialise in signature menus, and may not have alternatives. It is not always possible to cater for all dietary requests at every stop
- Vegetarian Unsuitable as meat and seafood is used in 6-7 tastings (our of 15 total)
- Vegan Unsuitable as meat, seafood and dairy is used in 7-8 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pescatarian Possible, though meat is used in 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pork Suitable for no pork diets.
- Halal Unsuitable as none of the stops are halal certified.
- Gluten intolerance / Celiac Possible, though 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total) have larger sources of gluten. A further 2-3 tastings used soy sauce.
- Lactose intolerance Suitable for lactose intolerance and mild dairy allergies
- Tree nut / peanut allergy Suitable for mild nut allergies.
- Seafood / Shellfish allergy Possible, fish is used 1 tasting (out of 15 total). A further 3-4 tastings used fish sauce, shrimp paste or other seafood ingredients
- Severe allergies Due to the nature of street food cooking, we can never guarantee any dish to be 100% free from allergens, as there is always the risk of traces and cross-contamination. It is unsuitable for severe allergies. Contact us: info@achefstour.com
How to book
To join the Phnom Penh food tour, use the calendar to select your date and secure your tour with your card. For special requests, private bookings, or dietary requirements, please contact us. Safety of our customers is our first priority, so if you have any allergies, please contact us before booking.
What to expect
Our Phnom Penh food tour is designed for adventurous eaters with an interest in discovering the food that locals eat. Itβs an easy-paced walking tour, where the terrain flat and there are plenty of rest (eating) stops along the way.
Meeting point
This Phnom Penh food tour departs from outside theΒ National Museum of Cambodia.Β It's easy to reach by taxi from most of the hotels in the city. There will be more details on your booking confirmation.Β
Cancellation Policy
Why you should book with us
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99% 5 star reviews across our tours -
Secure payments through provider Peek
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No hidden charges - all food tastings included in the price
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Authentic food experience, escape the tourist traps