Eating Vegetarian in Cambodia
From Phnom Penh to Battambang, eating vegetarian in Cambodia becomes easier with some excellent addresses: salads, bowls, organic menus, Mediterranean cuisine and adapted Khmer dishes.
Whether by personal conviction, preference, or medical necessity, eating vegetarian in Cambodia is not always straightforward. Khmer cuisine typically includes fish or meat in most dishes. Here are our favourite addresses in Phnom Penh, Kampot, Siem Reap and Battambang, Cambodia's most important cities for satisfying your appetite while eating vegetarian.
If you're unfamiliar with Cambodia, finding reliable vegetarian restaurant addresses can prove challenging. To avoid any disappointment, we set out to investigate and discover the country's best vegetarian restaurants.
Phnom Penh
Vego Salad Bar
Vego is something of a specialist in salads, wraps and bagels in Phnom Penh. A wide selection of snacks is available for around $6. If you wish, you can also choose to compose your own salad.
Highlights: we appreciate the thoughtful décor.
Practical Info
Address: 3Eo Pasteur St. (51), Phnom Penh
Backyard Café
What is Backyard Café? Plenty of wholesome food for a budget of around $7. There's no shortage of choice—you can enjoy pasta, sandwiches, bowls, salads, or house specialities, all served generously.
Highlights: the carefully crafted aesthetic and creativity of the dishes served, plus the restaurant donates 10% of profits to an organisation called the "Good Vibe Foundation" that enables schoolchildren to eat healthily.
Practical Info
Address: 11b, street 246 Phnom Penh
Kampot
Eco Vegetarian
Eco Vegetarian is a charming little restaurant with a cosy atmosphere that will delight your palate with fresh, organic ingredients. Upon arrival, you'll be captivated by the thoughtful décor and the warm, welcoming hospitality of the English-speaking owners. As for the menu, there's a different daily special each day of the week, plus a short selection of tempting dishes on the regular menu. Expect around $10 for a main course, dessert and drink.
Highlights: quality, flavourful ingredients and genuinely friendly staff.
Practical Info
Address: Street 710, Kampot
Siem Reap
The Veg G Table
Quality and quantity are guaranteed for around $6 in a restaurant with a warm atmosphere. The cuisine served is primarily Mediterranean-inspired, notably featuring the famous hummus from the Middle East.
Highlights: special mention for the burger and the restaurant owner. We also appreciate the establishment's responsible approach, using bamboo straws for example.
Practical Info
Address: 175 Wat Bo Rd, Siem Reap
Battambang
Around the World
A modest-looking little restaurant that punches well above its weight. The dishes prepared here are simple and delicious. The establishment features both a terrace and an indoor dining room. It's in the latter that you can eat Khmer-style, seated on cushions at low tables in a welcoming atmosphere.
Highlights: unpretentious surroundings and the warm smile of the family running the restaurant
Practical Info
Address: 121 59 Street No. 2.5 Between 119, Battambang
What are the other alternatives to vegetarian restaurants?
If you're short on time or prefer to keep things simple, you'll find that many Khmer restaurants offer at least one vegetarian dish.
If, by chance, this isn't the case, you can always ask for stir-fried rice without meat or fish.
Frequently asked questions
While traditional Khmer cuisine often contains fish or meat, it is possible to eat vegetarian in Cambodia, especially in major tourist cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap that offer specialised restaurants.
A few traditional dishes like vegetable fried rice (bay cha), certain noodle soups and salads can be prepared without meat or fish upon request.
You can say 'Kyom nhi chea cheh' (I am vegetarian) or more simply ask 'min mean trey ning sach te' (without fish or meat).
