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Cambodia is a small country in the heart of South East Asia, tucked between Thailand and Vietnam. It is a destination on most travelers’ routes through this part of the world thanks to the famous Angkor Wat. But this charming country has so much more to offer once you look a little closer. And, you can find delicious vegan food in Cambodia!
This is a guest post contributed by Callie from Counting Our Footsteps. Callie is a vegan traveler that has sustainability at the forefront of everything she does!
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Did you know Cambodia has some of the most pristine white sand beaches in the world? On the Koh Rong islands, just a short boat ride from Sihanoukville, you will find pure paradise.
Or if you are interested in the people and their history, then exploring the tragic events that darkened their recent years will leave you with a whole new appreciation for these incredibly strong and resilient people.
Food is also a huge part of travel and experiencing local culture. So if you’ve found yourself wondering, is it hard to be vegan while backpacking in Cambodia? Hell no! In this post, I will tell you all about what you can expect to eat on a typical day and where to find the best Vegan food in Cambodia.
Koh Ta Kiev, Cambodia.
Before you arrive and get stuck into trying all the delicious local foods, there are a few handy things to know that will make ordering and finding Vegan food in Cambodia a little bit easier.
Cambodian food takes a lot of inspiration from both Vietnamese and Indian dishes, so a lot of rich spices are used in most dishes but they are rarely spicy.
Luckily for us vegan travelers, it is most common for dishes to be cooked with oil rather than butter. This is because it is just too expensive for most locals to use.
Eggs are a common ingredient in or on many local dishes but dairy products are rarely used in cooking. So that is one less thing to worry about.
Most main dishes will contain fish or meat of some kind but nearly all of them can be made without. Though the important part is making sure they understand what it is you are requesting, as most Cambodians won’t understand the term Vegan.
The National dish of Cambodia is called Amok Trey. It is a spicy, coconut and fish curry usually cooked in Banana Leaves. Don’t worry, there are places where you can try a vegan version so you won’t miss out.
If you haven’t yet downloaded google translate then now is the time. This app will be your new best friend.
A great tip is to download the Khmer language on the app, so you can still use it even if you don’t have internet.
Alternatively, you can print the below phrases out and show them to your server;
I would avoid using the word Vegan as not many Locals will understand fully what it means.
Monkey at Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Now that we’ve discussed the cuisine and the way to communicate; let’s dive into what I typically ate on a day in Cambodia.
Traditional Cambodian breakfast usually consists of soups, noodles, or bread. You’ll be able to find lots of fruits and bread with jams on breakfast menus. Luckily, in the more touristy places, there are loads of vegan options to pick from!
A typical Cambodian lunch often includes more soup, rice and vegetables, and fruit. You’ll notice that both lunch and dinner are very similar.
The National dish of Cambodia is Fish Amok. There are vegan versions available in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh which are 100% worth checking out. We will get to these later.
Other than that, Red Khmer Curry is another of their traditional dishes, but make sure to ask for a veggie one without fish sauce. More dinner options typically include stir-fried noodles and fried rice dishes.
Nom Banh Chok is one of the most common types of street food. It is a rice noodle soup with meat and veggies and It’s available anywhere in Cambodia. Typically it can only be found vegan in tourist areas.
Chek Chien is a sweet snack made of deep-fried flattened, battered bananas with sesame seeds and are often available as street food and are fully vegan.
With all of that covered, here are some of the best restaurants and cafes to find vegan food in each of the main destinations in Cambodia.
Vegan soup and noodles
If you have extra time in Siem Reap and are interested in taking your Cambodian food experience to the next level, check out the cooking classes at Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel. They have an entirely vegan cooking class menu!
Vegan veggies and tofu and mango sticky rice
Kampot pepper plants, Kampot, Cambodia.
Fried spring rolls and delicious rice dishes
In case you were also looking for vegan accommodations to support, here are my top recommendations for vegan-friendly places to stay in Cambodia:
This country is a real gem to explore and has so rich in history that I know you will love it. Hopefully, now you can also see how easy it is to find vegan food in Cambodia and will have the best time when you visit.
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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