If you are anything like me, one of your favourite things about travelling is the food. Indulging and eating your way from place to place is submerging yourself in the culture, right? What if I told you, you could eat your way around Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, on a budget, all while ‘giving back’ to this beautiful country and its people? Well, you can!
Khmer chefs are gentle cooks who strive to provide cuisine that will appeal to just about every pallet. But you simply cannot decline the opportunity to feast on a traditional Khmer meal. It will most always consist of rice or noodles with seasonal vegetables, garlic, soy, and whatever else is cheap, yummy, and available at the local market. The Khmer people have a beautiful way of taking wholesome staples and turning them into delicious, comforting food and the best places to find these are at local NGO’s.
Cambodia’s scars run deep, and since the Pol Pot regime in the seventies, Cambodia has struggled to survive, let alone thrive. Cambodia relies heavily on NGOs that are quite literally, keeping the country ‘propped up’ in terms of providing training, education, and support to the people. NGOs are Non-Government-Organisations, run mainly by westerners, who work tirelessly to help the less fortunate.
Cambodia uses U.S. dollars as their currency of choice, so I have used U.S. dollars here. (I recommend exchanging your money once in-country as you will get a much better exchange rate.)
So, here is your all you need to know guide about eating at some of the yummiest and ethical NGO/fair trade cafes and restaurants.
- Daughters of Cambodia ~ works to support victims of sex trafficking, quite literally taking them from the street and placing them in a dignified job, that provides promising futures. Not only does Daughters of Cambodia create delicious food, but they also offer day spa services, and handmade fair-trade products to buy. So, you can eat, shop, and be pampered all in the one place! My meal pick for here would have to be, the lentil, chickpea, and cumin soup, for $4.50.
- Bloom Cafe ~ This gorgeous NGO cafe provides training and employment opportunities for at-risk Cambodian women, focusing on building patisserie skills and hospitality industry knowledge. Bloom is all things pretty and sweet, specialising in cupcakes. My pick here would definitely be the coconut raspberry cupcake. All signature cupcakes are only $1.65 (vegan options $1.95) or add a coffee for $4.50.
- Jars of clay ~ You will find not one, but two of these delicious cafes in Phnom Penh. Established in 1998 by U.K. missionaries, Jars of clay now employs over twenty, at-risk and disadvantaged women. By working here, the women are able to earn a fair wage and provide for their families, which means their children will be safe and most likely sent to school. My meal pick here would have to be the pan-fried fish with lemon and parsley sauce. An absolute bargain at only $5.75.
- Restaurant 72 ~ On 123 street. Don’t be deceived by looks. Once you are inside, you will discover that all ‘normal’ size plates are $2 with unlimited rice and tea! Your food will probably be eaten off mismatched plastic plates, and your rice may just arrive at the table in the pot that it was cooked in! But hey, this only adds to the whole experience. This place is a favourite for locals and ex-pats and delivers an authentic Khmer food experience. 72 has a genuine locals vibe, and it is where many charity workers gather to eat. I recommend trying as many small dishes as you can fit in!
- Friends ~ Located near the National Museum, this fun, art-filled training restaurant is a must-visit. Friends has been operational since 1994 when owner Mith Samlanh decided that he would create a place for former street children to thrive. The menu here consists of small dishes that are ideal for sharing with friends. I recommend the sautéed mushroom lapp on smoky eggplant with lime and chilli. Share dishes range from $4-$7. Definitely not for everyone, but if you are feeling brave, you might like to try the ‘Adventure seekers – Giant Creepy Crawly Bugs Burger’ for $7.50.
So, what are you waiting for? Oh, that’s right, for this world health pandemic to fade into the past so that you can get packing and book a flight to Cambodia. Well, for now, you can most certainly start saving, planning and dreaming, and hopefully, your next travel adventure isn’t too far away!
Loren Russell is a full-time education student at Avondale college, and volunteer with not-for-profit charity, Restore One Cambodia.