Phnom Penh’s Culinary Underground: Local Food Tour by Tuk-tuk
Description
Enjoy unlimited food and beer and/or soft drinks on this authentic evening food tour by tuktuk that gets you deep into our favorite neighborhoods where locals eat. During this adventure you’ll discover how deep Cambodian cuisine reaches within Southeast Asian culture. This experience goes beyond the usual market and street food samples to shine a light into local life that can still be found hiding in Phnom Penh. We'll visit 4 authentic sit-down eateries plus a local bar, including the best versions of our favorite dishes. We'll explore local neighborhoods by tuktuk, with unlimited cold beer in hand, and enjoy the evening with your local foodie guide. Our goal isn't just to eat a LOT (which we'll do!), but show you every part of the process and tell you about each dish and each vendor. This is why we visit mom & pop style shops who have become a local staple in their neighborhoods.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Taste a time where Cambodian kings rode armored elephants into battle, where the Tonle Sap lake was only known by legend as the “Land of Gold” to far-off Indian empires, and Spanish invaders on the Mekong brought the Khmer cities of Chatamouk and Longvek to its knees through cannon fire. Dishes that were created and defined through pivotal moments of history persist through the centuries despite the efforts of the Khmer Rouge to isolate and eliminate local food culture. Come and see what they tried to destroy and couldn’t, and taste the act of rebellion by local chefs who dared to remember and rediscover these recipes in a post-civil war era.
Khmer Curry Noodles: Try humble 5th century noodles that predate the Angkorian Empire alongside local patrons at simple tables and chairs, as they have for centuries. This is Cambodian comfort food that is popular for breakfast through dinner.
Stews & Stir-fries: Try three (or more) low-and-slow stews and stir-fries at Phnom Penh’s busiest roadside eatery. These are ancestral dishes born deep within countryside homes, now served by a family on the streets of the capitol city.
Slow-roasted Ribs: Located across the street from the museum, meet Auntie Song’s family, who’s pork short ribs once made a guest claim they “made me believe in Santa again.” Served alongside a special dish brought daily from Battambang province that features seasoned fish cakes grilled in banana leaves.
Fish Amok, Local Curry, and More: Sample golden-age ingredients and dishes at a trendy and lush setting hidden from the bustle of the city. These are the best versions of Cambodia’s go-to dishes.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Hotel pickup is included from centrally located hotels. Please kindly let us know in advance where you are staying (hotel name & address) so that we can plan the route and give you the exact pick-up time. We will provide your exact pick-up time approx 24 hours before your tour starts. Hotel drop-off will be provided at the end of the tour back to your hotel or preferred destination in central Phnom Penh.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(254)
My group of four booked this experience to try out Cambodian food from around Phnom Penh. We are Cambodian and familiar with Khmer cuisine but didn’t want to chance eating something that could make us sick so we left it in the hands of our wonderful tour guide. The tour is well organized starting with the coordination of the tuk tuk pick up, all the way to the specific restaurants and menus. Our guide was Chea who is warm, welcoming and enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge of the city, the food and Cambodian culture. We went to 6 different locations that started with nom banh chok all the way to dessert of nom pler eye and ended the night with cocktails on a rooftop bar. Needless to say we were stuffed and a little tipsy 😂 the drivers were quiet but they were accommodating, if you needed a water or an extra beer, you weren’t left needed one for long. A couple feedback items, expanding hotel pick up locations, a food rating card are nice to have. The team is always in communication with you and Chea took great pictures and shared them promptly with us. It’s a wonderfully delicious tour!
I love Lost Plate tours! I've done them in 3 countries in probably 9 different locations. I can't recommend this business enough. Phnohm Phen was no exception! Chea was knowledgeable, friendly and ensured that the group had what they needed. He shared stories from his childhood and the different regional foods as well as some history of culinary changes. It was a wonder evening of flavors and new friends.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear you've enjoyed our tours in multiple locations and found them consistently engaging. Chea will be delighted by your feedback, and we're overjoyed you had such a flavorful and enriching evening. We truly hope to have you join us on more culinary adventures in the future!
A really great fun evening. Chea and Mean were excellent guides, knowledge on the food and great fun too. Both had excellent English. All the stops were different and we enjoyed about hearing the history and traditions about the dishes. We got to try things that we wouldn't have been able to order on our own. Highly recommend this tour and the guides.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour and the expertise of our guides—it means a lot to us. Exploring unique dishes and understanding their stories is what we aim to provide, and we're glad we met your expectations. Your recommendation is much appreciated!
Our tour in Phnom Penh with with Chea was fantastic! Chea is such a friendly and welcoming guy. He showed us a great variety of foods from very traditional street food to some more modern cuisine. We really appreciated the variety and everything tasted so good! It was the perfect introduction to Cambodian food. Would 100% recommend!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour in Phnom Penh and that Chea made it memorable with his hospitality and knowledge of Cambodian cuisine. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
We had an absolutely wonderful time with Chea! We have done Lost Plate tours in the past and they never cease to disappoint. You should definitely come hungry! We had a wonderful variety of food showing the culture of Cambodia and was a great introduction. Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing your delightful experience! We're thrilled you enjoyed the cultural and culinary variety on the tour. Sharing the essence of Cambodia's food culture is our passion. Your feedback highlights the essence of what we strive for. We look forward to hosting you again for more culinary adventures. Always arrive hungry for the best experience! 🍴
Amazing food experience with our guide Chea. Food was great, he was really cool and relaxed, speak amazing english. Took us to some nice places, there was just too much food. And we also got small gift in the end.
Thank you for sharing your experience! It's great to hear you enjoyed the tour and the food. We're thrilled that Chea provided an enjoyable and interactive experience with a focus on excellent locations. We value your insights and hope to see you again for more culinary adventures!
Chea, the guide, was phenomenal. Great way to get a custom tour of Phnom Penh with all the food and drink you care to enjoy. The cool refreshing towels between stops were a dream. Loved wrapping up the tour on a rooftop terrace bar overlooking the Russian Market with a chilled cocktail. Great experience, amazingly fresh and tasty cuisine, and the stories and cultural nuances as explsined by Chea made it all the worthwhile. Thank you
Thank you for sharing your experience! It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the insights and culinary highlights memorable. Chea will be thrilled to know their efforts enhanced your time with us. We aim to create unforgettable experiences, and your feedback reaffirms our commitment!
Chea was an amazing guide for our first visit to Cambodia. We loved sharing food and stories with him. We learned alot about the local food as well as hear about Chea’s perspectives on the food and what he grew up eating and enjoying. I felt we got a real taste of authentic khmer cuisine. He truly MADE the tour!!! Kathy
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that Chea made your tour special and offered an authentic taste of Khmer cuisine. Your feedback inspires us to continue providing such memorable cultural experiences. We hope to host you again in the future!
We loved our time with Chea- sooo much food, many laughs, and we learned so much about the history of food in Cambodia and it made the experience that much more meaningful. Felt like we were meeting an old friend for dinner in Phnom Penh :) food was great and authentic but seemed to be prepared safely for tourists.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to know you enjoyed the delicious food and insightful cultural stories during your time with Chea. Ensuring a safe and authentic culinary journey for our guests is a priority for us. We hope to see you again for more memorable moments in Cambodia!
Chea was amazing!! He took us to some great local spots that had different eras of food. A genuine and fun person. He will make you laugh. Knowledgeable about the history Cambodia. Speaks great English
We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your experience! It's wonderful that you appreciated the insightful tour and Chea's guidance. Thank you for sharing!
