The Bugs Burger of Phnom Penh

In Phnom Penh, the Friend’s restaurant offers the opportunity to try a burger… made with insects. This experience is highly sought after by tourists of all ages, who usually come to try the dish while snapping photos for their social media.

Silk worm cocoons, grasshoppers, and a tarantula — these are the unique ingredients this restaurant includes in its vegetarian burger made with mushroom and black bean patties. "We've been offering this dish for five months now," says Chea, the restaurant’s floor manager. "Beyond the very original aspect that attracts many customers, the insects we serve provide real nutritional value, especially in terms of protein." The restaurant sells an average of 10 of these burgers daily.

A nod to the imagination

These animals are uncommon on the palate. When chewing them, the mind tries to associate their taste with more familiar foods, perhaps as a way to reassure itself in front of this unexpected feast. The silk worm cocoons, initially very rough but then smoother and more manageable, have a texture that is reminiscent of chickpeas. Their taste is similar to that of sea snails. Deep-fried to excess, the grasshoppers evoke the idea of appetizers, perhaps antipasti. Their texture is like that of chips, and their flavor is relatively neutral, dull, that of boiling oil. "The legs and flesh of the tarantula resemble chicken meat," Chea says, with a smile.

Nutritional… and medicinal benefits

The tarantula, the flagship insect in this dish, was not chosen by chance by the restaurant. It is sourced from hunters working in the regions around Kompong Cham and Kompong Thom. The price per unit is $0.50. In Cambodia, the animal is known for its curative properties. "My grandparents used to eat the spider or place it in bottles of rice alcohol," explains Chea. "It gives you a boost. After giving birth, some women eat this animal to regain their strength."

These properties are primarily linked to the spider’s gland. This part of the body, which is hard to imagine sliding down the trachea, may not be the most appetizing visually. But there is nothing harmful about it.

Thibault Bourru