So you came to Battambang for work or maybe because you were visiting and got stuck (it’s been known to happen). Now you need to feed yourself.
Wondering where to stock up on produce? Start at Battambang’s local markets.
In Battambang, there aren’t many grocery stores or supermarkets like at home or in Phnom Penh; you will have to go to the open air markets. Here are some tips to make the most of your shopping experience: Continue reading
Plain old pepper never seemed very interesting until we visited this small farm outside of Kep. More than growing pepper, Sothy’s Pepper Farm wants to educate the world about the subtleties of a spice that’s too often taken for granted, and win international recognition for the particularly excellent pepper grown in the Kampot-Kep area.
Black and white peppercorns drying at Sothy’s Pepper Farm.
In fact, the farm is now part of the official Kampot pepper geographic area — the first officially protected geographic appellation for any Cambodian product. Continue reading
Anyone who enjoys a good industrial tour — and who doesn’t? — should visit the Angkor Silk Farm, about 20 minutes outside of Siem Reap, for what might better be termed a pre-industrial tour. Silk is being produced there in the same way it’s been done for hundreds of years in Cambodia, and the process is fascinating.
Silk doesn’t make itself, you know. Learn about the whole laborious process at Angkor Silk Farm.
Cambodia is known for its superior golden silk, and silk weaving and production have a long history in the Kingdom. In recent years the industry has come under threat because of the rising cost of raw silk and the falling price of finished products, which have traditionally been made by hand by women in small villages where silk weaving has been the predominant trade for generations. Continue reading
We’ve traveled the route between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh and vice-versa several times now. Usually we’re firm fans of Giant Ibis, but, as they were fully booked this time, we thought we’d give a Sihanoukville-based travel company with a good reputation a go, CTT Transportation and Tours.
Hop a CTT mini-bus to Sihanoukville (or Phnom Penh).
CTT operate five mini-buses every day in each direction between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. They’re based in Sihanoukville, and with this many departures it won’t be long between they are a dominant player on this route. CTT operate from two offices in Sihanoukville, one on Ekareach Street and another on Serendipity Beach Road in the little block of stores behind Daily Mart, but tickets can be booked via local agents, we used Mottah Travel. Continue reading
There are plenty of reasons to get out of the city and explore the countryside around Battambang. There is so much to see: the rural way of life in small villages, the rice paddy fields, and expansive stretches of open space that yield long and flat from the city to the horizon. The outskirts of Battambang are also dotted with some awesome points of interest, so you can most certainly do a bit of sightseeing along the way as well. I’ll start off with some recommended modes of transportation and move on to a few hot spots and suggested routes.
Moo! Get out of town and explore the Battambang countryside.
In order to take it slow and have time to really enjoy your surroundings, I highly recommend taking a bicycle around some of the nearer countryside areas. You can rent one from a number of guesthouses and tour operators in Battambang quite easily for $1-2 per day. Cycling allows you to stop and enjoy the environment at your leisure, tailoring your own schedule and allowing you to really appreciate the journey. Continue reading
In Sihanoukville a new place to eat is exciting news (well, for us at least!), so we were pleased to see the recent arrival of Mike’s Burger House. Phnom Penh expats have told us about the solid reputation of Mike’s Burgers House — they specialize in California-style burgers inspired by legendary American fast food chain In-N-Out — so we thought we should check it out for ourselves.
I hope you’re hungry! In-N-Out-style double bacon cheeseburger at Mike’s Burger House.
Located opposite the Golden Lions next door to Olive and Olive (and not too far from the recently expanded Ernie’s Burgers), the Sihanoukville branch of Mike’s Burger House is the 5th to open in the Kingdom following three in Phnom Penh and one in Siem Reap. Owned by Mike Im, a Cambodian who moved to the US after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, the restaurant seeks to recreate the burgers that he loved so much during his 30 years in California. Continue reading
Battambang is home to an astonishing range of restaurants, offering something to suit most budgets and tastes. You’ll find both traditional Khmer dishes as well as a host of international options, leaving Battambang expats spoiled for choice. If you are looking for something tasty and low cost, these are a few of the best places to dine in Battambang on a budget:
Cheap and cheerful Chinese noodles.
Located on Road 2 between Pub Street and Psar Naat, Lan Chov Khorko Miteanh — or Chinese Noodle Dumpling as it’s more commonly called — is a great low-cost noodle restaurant. The menu includes a number of delicious stir-fried and soup dishes made with their own hand-pulled noodles, as well as steamed and fried dumplings. Most dishes cost less than $2 and come with free jasmine tea. Portions are huge and watching the ‘Noodle Man’ prepare dishes at the front of the shop is one of the highlights! Continue reading
In case you missed it, Russian food is all the rage at the moment. Unfortunately, despite a not insignificant Russian population, there aren’t a lot of choices for exploring Russian cuisine in Phnom Penh. Luckily for us, Phnom Penh stalwart Irina Restaurant is still going strong, serving delicious Russian fare in their 10th location since 1999.
Irina Russian Restaurant is a long-time player in the Phnom Penh food scene (but that’s not a bad thing).
Irina Russian Restaurant has always deserved more attention than it has gotten, and been all but ignored by most non-Russian speakers. Over the years, the quality has waned and waxed, but the restaurant is now in the hands of Irina’s daughter Alina, who has brought renewed energy to the existing menu.
If you’re not used to Russian food, it’s easy to think it’s stodgy, bland, and homogeneous. But the food of Russia and of the greater region — which Russian cooks have adopted and adapted — is surprisingly flavorsome and diverse. This diversity is seen on the extensive Irina menu, which features both classic Russian and Ukrainian dishes, but also specialties from the former Soviet states, including Georgia and Uzbekistan. When we visited, we ordered five dishes between four of us, and after finishing, couldn’t resist ordering a few more. We liked it so much, in fact, that we went back again the next night. As such, I’ve now tried a large selection of the menu and feel confident in declaring that it is delicious. Continue reading