The Banana Tree restaurant is a good spot to stop for lunch in the Tonle Bassac area of South Phnom Penh, not far from the Independence Memorial (on the way back from the Russian Market or Tuol Sleng Museum).

Located in the La Rose Suites, it offers good service, is nicely air conditioned, and has good food.

Fresh spring rolls

Fish Amok medium $5.85US

M02Pra hok kris, minced pork

M05 Stir fried pork ribs

M06 stir fried beef and ginger

M08 Stir fried beef with Khmer curry paste coconut and green beans medium serve

M12 medium serve fried fish with green mango in spicy sauce

M 15 stated Khmer permanated fish

 

La Rose Suites

No. 4B Street 21
Sang kart Tonle Bassac
South Phnom Penh
http://www.larosesuites.com

Romdeng is one of the two sister restaurants in Phnom Penh that belong to six Friends International restaurants across Cambodia and Laos, that train former street kids in hospitality skills.
Service is professional, friendly and efficient and it’s fun to interact with students and help them in their learning.
Like Makphet in Vientianne, Romdeng food mixes local regional dishes with western preferences in interesting and fresh beautifully presented recipes mirroring those featured in their cookbooks.
Flavours are a all delight, you can’t make a bad choice. It would be wonderful to work through the whole menu.

Romdeng also has a lovely pool that guests of the restaurant can use.
Best to go in the afternoon when it’s quite and enjoy an early cocktail or ice cream, but also lovely in the evening.
Entree

Crispy Tarantulas with Black Pepper and Lime Sauce $4.25 US
Mains

Grilled fish fillet with young tamarind and green mango relish $7 US

Five spice pork belly stir fried with Kampot Green Peppercorn and Pickled cabbage $6 US

Char grilled eggplant with pork and coriander $6.50 US

Stir fried tree ants with beef fillet and holy basil $7.50 US

Romdeng’s famous chicken and vegetable curry served with baguette (which went amazingly well with it) $6.50 US

Crispy rice noodles with Tofu salad with Potato coriander Spring rolls $6.25 US

The cocktails are amazing….

Frozen lime and black pepper daiquiri $4.50 US & Frozen mango and lime daiquiri $4.50 US

Candied ginger and pineapple margarita with Chilli $4.50 US

Fresh lime and black pepper icecream and coconut sorbet $3, amazing!

 

The local restaurant at the first French built school in Phnom Penh, now Sisovath High School, is a good spot to try some of the more challenging Cambodian snack foods.

Deep fried frog ( lots of small bones to navigate)

Duck eggs ( with baby duck cooked inside!) like leathery boiled egg, good with the dipping sauce.

Meatballs with dipping sauce                        Egg dish cooking

Located on the corner of Norodom Road and 174 Street, between 178 and 174 Streets on opposite side to the river.

 

A late afternoon- evening cyclo tour is a very good way to enjoy the best of Phnom Pehn.

Some ‘don’t miss’ highlights include:

Central market

Lady Ping memorial

Riverfront at sunset past the Foreign Correspondents’ Club

Royal Palace especially the Sunday evening picnicers eating Phnom Penh style in front of Palace (this happens every Sunday evening, but the extra lights are especially for the water festival coming up).

Independence memorial

Finishing with Cambodian delicacies like deep battered fried frog (watch the bones) and duck egg with embryo, at a local restaurant at first French built school in Phnom Penh now Sisovath High School.

   

 

The Cardamom Hotel in Phnom Penh is centrally located near the central markets and opposite the wonderful Romdeng Hotel. The Deluxe double room number 609 (see below) is an excellent at $78 US a night.
It offers a room safe, fridge and tea making facilities. It also generally caters for groups.

A standard room (like 605 below) is $58US.

Breakfast is a buffet, offering a good range of options….

…including a combination of traditions such asFrench baguette, Khmer soup, tropical fruit and sweet sticky rice.

Overall it’s a good business hotel with free wifi and pretty good breakfast, a cafe and a handy location.

 

Well worth a visit, particularly for the colourful and lively fresh food section (still operating in the late afternoon). More open and airy than the Russian Market.

Upstairs, overlooking the river and across to the Foreign Correspondents Club is Touk Restaurant.

Good for happy hour it usually offers 4:30-7:30 pm 50% off Angkor draught beer and cocktails are $4.50 US per glass.

Not as atmoshpheric as the Foreign Correspondents’ Club and not as good for food as Romdeng, Friends or Mali’s, it is however good value and has a choice of western and Khmer food. It also has a great view at sunset.

Fish Amok $6                                                Fried rice

Duck salad with spicy herbs       Salmon fillet and green mango salad

Vegetarian pizza                                                  Lok Lak

 

Romdeng restaurant in Phnom Pehn is a perfect spot to try the Cambodian famous deep,fried tarantulas and dipping sauce.
The spicy peppery sauce is wonderful and the spiders are crispy and tasty.
The legs are not tough reminded me of well cooked pork crackling.
The body is soft and creamy and reminded me of smoked tinned oysters.

The Foreign Correspondents Club is a must do in Phnom Penh.

Go for two for one drinks at happy hour $3.40US for two gin and tonics, $4.95 US for two cocktails and watch the sun set over the Mekong while nibbling the complimentary hot roasted peanuts.

The pizzas also looked good if you’d like a little more.

The history and heritage is wonderful to share and the furnishings and views worth a visit in themselves.
Service however, is exceptionally slow, so,it’s good to have plenty of time.

You can also stay here in a standard room for $US 84…

….or a nicer deluxe room with river view balcony for $100US.