| Blog

Review: Mike’s Burger House, Sihanoukville

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Sharlie and Ed

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 →

5 cheap and delicious places to eat in Battambang

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Elisabeth Tuck

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.

Lan Chov Khorko Miteanh/Chinese Noodle Dumpling

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 →

Review: Irina Russian Restaurant, Phnom Penh

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Lina Goldberg

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 →

Review: Da Matti? Italian restaurant and reggae bar, Koh Rong

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Cynthia Herman

On the 3rd pier closest to Koh Toch village is Da Matti? (the question mark is theirs), an Italian restaurant, formerly called La Mami, now under different, but still Italian, ownership. With the name change came the addition of a reggae bar, that incongruously compliments their menu of homemade gnocchi and ravioli, traditional Italian pastas, and interesting cocktails.

Sunset on the Koh Rong pier where Da Matti? is situated.

We chose to lounge outside on floor cushions at low tables further down the pier, although normal height tables and chairs are available inside and closer to the restaurant building. As the sun went down, a string of red, yellow and green string lights added a nice glowing ambient light along with candles on table. Da Matti? is centrally located but still far enough down the pier to feel peaceful, with only a low thud of music coming over from the beach bars — this is probably as romantic as Koh Toch restaurants get. Continue reading →

Fancy weekday breakfasts in Phnom Penh

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Jen Green

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and my coffee dealer agrees. But it’s hard to manage a weekday morning when you are not rushing off to work or school or dropping the kids off…you know what I mean. In the hopes of inspiring you to take a day off for brunch, we’ve explored some of Phnom Penh’s swanky new breakfast spots.

So what if it’s a weekday? You deserve a beautiful breakfast.

The Tiger’s Eye

South African chef Timothy Bruyns is serving some favorites from Common Tiger’s brunch menu, along with some new Western and Asian breakfast dishes at the gastropub incarnation of his restaurant, The Tiger’s Eye. Braised short rib stirred through egg noodles and bok choy with a fried egg on top was excellent, with the tender meat holding itself together just until it’s inside your mouth. Scrambled eggs with toast and bacon isn’t fancy per se, but in-house cured bacon and fresh rye bread made this a satisfying plate, even if the eggs were a bit softer than I prefer. Continue reading →

Keeping fit in Battambang

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Elisabeth Tuck

Surprisingly enough there is no shortage of ways to get or stay in shape in Battambang. Whether it is more traditional means you seek or some fun ways to enjoy the local area while working up a sweat, you really just need to know where to start!

Quite possibly the biggest pool in Battambang.

Take a stroll down to the banks of the Sangker River at dawn or dusk and you will be intoxicated by the culture and community spirit that culminates. Whether running, walking, or making the most of the permanent work-out machines, there is no shortage of activities to help you keep fit. The best part about choosing this option, other than that it won’t cost you a single riel, is that you also get a great opportunity to interact with the locals. Additionally, dance workout groups run 6 to 7 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on the Wat Sangker side of the river, offering low-cost (1000 riel) exercise groups with a really fun and social vibe. Continue reading →

Review: Skybar, Koh Rong

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Cynthia Herman

As your boat arrives at Koh Toch pier, high above the line of beachside bars, restaurants and guesthouses, you’ll see the word “Skybar.” The term is often been used to describe city bars perched on top of a high-rise block, and it seemed unlikely that the view from a beach bar that wasn’t serviced by an elevator could match the vertiginous heights of skybars I’d been to before. But, after having put in the legwork to get up to the bar-restaurant, the panoramic view of sea and sky did justify the name.

The view from Koh Rong’s hilltop Skybar.

In case the climb begins to put you off, the stairway up is dotted with encouraging signs — “Keep going! Not much further!” — as you make the ascent. We arrived around 5 p.m. to find a happy hour from 6 p.m. offering two-for-one cocktails (normally priced between $3 and $4.50). They also have regular daily deals, such as Wine and Dine Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursdays. The lovely view along with reasonably priced spirits and a couple of choices of wine make this arguably the best spot on Koh Toch for some sundowner drinks — even if you won’t be getting a direct sunset view (which you would need to be on the other side of the island on Sok San beach for). Continue reading →

Review: Cambodian Cultural Village, Siem Reap

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Tessa

In a town dominated by foreign tourism, the Cambodian Cultural Village in Siem Reap offers a uniquely local — and to Western eyes, decidedly odd — take on Cambodian culture and history. Part amateur museum, part theme park, part fun fair, the CCV may disappoint more serious-minded visitors, but it’s an ideal outing for those with young children to entertain or a taste for the quirkier side of the Kingdom.

Just one of many photo ops at the Cambodian Cultural Village in Siem Reap.

The Cambodian Cultural Village aims to sum up the essence of Cambodia within 210,000 square meters (about 52 acres). There are miniature versions of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, the Reclining Buddha, and other famous landmarks (“It like you have traveled all over Cambodia in haft day,” boasts the CCV’s vaguely English-language web site) and a series of “villages” dedicated to the Khmer and six of the country’s other ethnicities, including the Cham and the Chinese. Continue reading →

Move to Cambodia