Phnom Penh Dry Egg Noodle dish

Type of Cuisine: Cambodian and Vietnamese Cuisines

Hours: Mon-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 10am-10pm

Seating: Total 100; can accommodate small to large groups; handicap accessible

Price Guide: $ (Dinner for two under $25); Visa, Master, Amex, Diners card accepted

Reservations: Recommended for dinner

Chef Specialty: Butter Beef, Spicy Garlic Squid, Dry Egg Noodles

The Scene: Phnom Penh stands out among other eateries in Chinatown. Its unique Cambodian and Vietnamese menu is definitely different from the usual Wonton and BBQ meat of the surrounding restaurants.

To start, Cambodian Hot and Sour Soup and Papaya Salad come highly recommend. The Soup is made of tomato, pineapple, water lily stem and your choice of fish, prawn or chicken. This soup is similar to but not as thick as the Cantonese and Sichuan style. For the Salad, papaya, fish sauce, pork and herbs are mixed together and topped with shredded beef jerky. It is everything from sweet, salty to sour.

The most distinguished dish on the menu is Butter Beef. The meat is cooked medium-rare and sliced thinly. Unlike Korean beef sashimi, this dish is topped with Chinese parsley, and a secret vinegar and butter blend. Its sweet and sour taste is a blast on the tongue.

Other not-to-miss dishes include Deep Fried Spicy Garlic Chicken Wings, Squid or Frog Legs, all served with a spicy pepper lemon dip. The frog meat is white in colour but more smooth, soft and tender than chicken.

Phnom Penh Dry Egg Noodle is as authentic as it can get. Noodles mixed with garlic oil, special sauces, minced pork, and shrimp are served with a bowl of soup, bean sprouts and chilli.

There is no other better way of ending the meal than with the Xoi Xim Durian Dessert. A layer of sticky rice at the bottom, egg, topped with creamy durian sauce makes this an extremely thick, filling and freshening dessert. The large portions make this great for sharing.

Exotic and exciting, Phnom Penh is the place for adventurous diners who like to try new things.