The hardest thing about being a vegetarian in Cambodia is fielding the question “How do you do it? It must be so hard!” every day. Thankfully, it’s not hard at all to be a vegetarian in Battambang, and almost every tourist restaurant has vegetarian options on the menu. In this post, I’ll cover the best vegetarian restaurants in Battambang that cater specifically to vegetarians and vegans, and a few runner-ups that I’m including because of their super special vegetarian menu.

There are lots of vegetarian and vegan eating options in Battambang! (Here, Monorom Garden)

Monorom Garden

This clean, well-decorated vegetarian restaurant that has been in town for many years, though they recently renovated and changed their name from Mercy House to the much more appealing Monorom Garden. The delicious menu here is exclusively vegetarian, but they do include egg on the menu, so vegans will need to ask for their plates without egg. The menu is mostly Asian-inspired cuisine, with Korean and Japanese dishes such as stone-pot meals and teppanyaki, alongside more traditional Cambodian specialties like basil fried rice and a vegetarian lok lak. My favorite dish is the simple ‘Japanese Rice,’ a big bowl of white rice with sou phay (fake meat), egg, and fresh veggies. Simple but delicious.

Bonlai Til I Die

This small casual pizza restaurant in the center of town packs an unexpected punch. The menu only consists of seven types of pizzas, all vegan, and each priced at $6. The pizzas are expertly made and really outstanding. The owner was the former chef from the gourmet restaurant Jaan Bai, and it shows.

Vegetarian Foods serves inexpensive Chinese-inspired vegetarian breakfasts with fresh soy milk on the side.

Vegetarian Foods Restaurant

This little hole in the wall is tucked away near Monorom Garden, and if you blink you might miss it. Not very glamorous, Vegetarian Foods Restaurant seems to appeal to locals and the more adventurous vegetarians in Battambang. But don’t let looks deceive you; the food is pretty delicious. It’s even good for traditional Khmer breakfast — the noodle soup is on point!

The menu features an array of mostly Chinese-style vegetarian food, much of it made with soy faux-meat products. Dishes are inexpensive, costing between 4,000 and 5,000 riel ($1 to $1.25 USD). They also make their own fresh soy milk every day in several flavors.

Riverside Balcony

As previously mentioned, all the restaurants that cater to expats in Battambang have vegetarian options, but Riverside Balcony takes it to the next level with homemade vegan cheese. As any expat in Battambang will tell you, the pizza at Riverside Balcony is top notch, so this non-dairy cheese opens up a world of pizza for Battambang vegans. The chef makes the delicious cheese out of cashews, and even has a vegan pizza listed on the menu. It isn’t super cheap, but it’s totally worth the money.

Nary Kitchen in Battambang

Nary Kitchen

Nary Kitchen is perhaps best known for their cooking classes, but they also serve up genuinely vegan and vegetarian dishes as well. The restaurant’s fare includes Khmer traditional food, as well as other typical Asian and Western dishes.  Fish amok is a specialty, and fresh spring rolls are always popular. On average, a main meal will cost you about three dollars. Their menu does include meat, but most dishes can be adjusted to suit vegetarians and vegans, and they won’t include oyster and fish sauce (which isn’t always a given.)

Bar Ang

In what used to be Chenda’s restaurant is now Bar Ang, and they are just as dedicated to plant-based eating as the former occupant. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and all dishes can either be made with meat, or to suit vegetarians or vegans, so it’s a nice compromise restaurant for mixed omnivore and vegetarian groups! Dishes are inexpensive, with most priced between $3 and $5. They grow many of their own vegetables, and use fresh coconut cream, palm sugar and limes from the owner Anut’s property.

And there you have it! Like I said, there are tons of options for eating vegetarian in Battambang. These are the three that are specifically vegetarian. If you find yourself in Battambang, don’t be afraid to explore, because most restaurants in town have some vegetarian choices.

Even if you aren’t near a tourist restaurant, as long as you know the right words you can usually get vegetarian food anywhere you go. Check our post on eating vegan and vegetarian in Cambodia to learn some handy vocabulary and get printable Khmer menu cards to take to restaurants.

Monorom Garden
Open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
La.A Street opposite of Asia Hotel, Battambang
T: 012 243 402

Vegetarian Foods Restaurant
Open daily, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
506 La He Street, between Street 101 and NH5, Battambang
T: 012 501 408; 092 335 252

Riverside Balcony
Open Tuesday through Sunday, 4 to 11 p.m.
Road No. 1, No. 465, Battambang
T: 010 337 7862
facebook.com/theriversidebalconybar

Nary Kitchen
Open daily, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Street 111, near Psar Nath, Battambang
T: 012 763 950
narykitchen.com

Bar Ang
Open daily, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Preah Vihea Street, Battambang
T: 015 896 387
facebook.com/BarAngInBattambang

Bonlai Til I Die
66 Street 2.5, Battambang [map]
T: 095 426 853

Original text by Megan; updated April, 2019 by Lina