Phnom Penh

When an eatery is top rated by both locals and tourists alike, something surely went right. Phenom Penh more than lives up to its hype and more than justifies any wait time at the front for your seat at the table. By our conclusion, what these guys do right is that their menu selection contain a good mix of both 1) comfort and 2) novelty. For those who eat Cambodian/Vietnamese food often, the flavours here evoke a sense of nostalgia because the flavours are authentic and the chefs are faithful to their recipes. For the locals who revisit frequently, they could always depend on the consistency of the food they order here – meal in, meal out. For the curious newbie to this cuisine, there are enough on the menu that will be unlike anything you have eaten before. So much so that a meal here makes a pretty decent impression of a trip to South East Asia. Their Marinated Butter Beef is a prime example of this. The combination of raw meat and the sharp tangy freshness of the vinegar dressing and cilantro both shocks and titillates the senses. How about the Pan Fried Lotus Stems? The crunchy yet slippery stalks of lotus does a good job as a palate cleanser between the other heavier dishes, yet the texture of this vegetable will often be a new discovery for diners from many cultural backgrounds. Come dine here and discover what everyone has been raving about. It is an accomplished and proud staple on the Vancouver food scene and deserves all its plaudits.

We waited for 1 hour and 40 minutes to get a table at this highly acclaimed restaurant, drawn in by its numerous awards and even a Michelin plaque. While the ambiance and presentation were impressive, the food itself didn’t quite live up to the hype. The flavors were good but nothing extraordinary—just your typical Vietnamese restaurant quality. It’s worth a visit for the experience, but manage your expectations if you’re coming for something truly unique.

We got there, and the host was ok she said we were to wait 30 mins for our table which was fine. We sat on the bench inside, then got seated. I was excited to try it out as i heard great things about it. We sat down and got super rushed to order, the food was ok, nothing like OMG...When we finished our meal we were still eating and there was a lady with a rag and a spray bottle to get out and leave the table. It was very rude, and the whole thing seemed like a waste of money as we felt like we were being pushed through like cattle. I wont be going back as it was such a awkward experience overall. Lastly we were not there for more than a hour tops!

Everything tasted so fresh!! Wonderful service. Loads of food! We enjoyed: Shrimp Fried Rice (best ever!), Phon Penh Deep-fries Chicken Wings (not like anything we have in the USA!), Crispy Crepe wrapped with shrimp, sliced and minced pork, sprouts and beans.