Knowing the names of popular Cambodian dishes will make ordering food much easier—and it's a great way to connect with locals.

Conversation

Khmer	Pronunciation	English
នេះជាមុខម្ហូបពិសេសរបស់ហាង។	Nih chea muk mhop pises robos hang.	These are the restaurant's specialties.
តើអ្នកណែនាំម្ហូបអ្វី?	Tae neak naenam mhop avei?	What dish do you recommend?
ខ្ញុំសូមអាម៉ុកត្រីមួយចាន។	Khnhom som amok trey muoy chan.	I'd like one fish amok.
ហើយសូមបាយសមួយចាន។	Haey som bai sor muoy chan.	And one plate of steamed rice.
ម្ហូបនេះហឹរទេ?	Mhop nih her te?	Is this dish spicy?
អត់ហឹរទេ។	Ot her te.	No, it's not spicy.
ឆ្ងាញ់ណាស់!	Chnganh nah!	It's very delicious!

Popular Cambodian Dishes

Khmer	Pronunciation	English
អាម៉ុកត្រី	amok trey	Fish amok (Cambodia's signature curry)
បាយឆា	bai cha	Fried rice
គុយទាវ	kuy teav	Rice noodle soup
នំបញ្ចុក	nom banh chok	Khmer rice noodles
ឡុកឡាក់	lok lak	Beef Lok Lak
បាយសាច់ជ្រូក	bai sach chrouk	Pork and rice
សម្លម្ជូរ	samlor machu	Sour soup
សម្លការី	samlor kari	Khmer curry
បបរ	bobor	Rice porridge
មាន់អាំង	moan ang	Grilled chicken
ត្រីអាំង	trey ang	Grilled fish
បាយស	bai sor	Steamed rice
បង្អែម	bang-aem	Dessert
ផ្លែឈើ	phlae chheu	Fruit

Useful Food Vocabulary

Khmer	Pronunciation	English
ម្ហូប	mhop	dish / food
សាច់មាន់	sach moan	chicken
សាច់គោ	sach ko	beef
សាច់ជ្រូក	sach chrouk	pork
ត្រី	trey	fish
បន្លែ	banlae	vegetables
បាយ	bai	rice
ឆ្ងាញ់	chnganh	delicious
ហឹរ	her	spicy
ផ្អែម	pha-em	sweet
ប្រៃ	prai	salty
ជូរ	ju	sour

Difficult Words

Khmer	Pronunciation	Meaning
ពិសេស	pises	special
ណែនាំ	naenam	recommend
អាំង	ang	grilled
សម្ល	samlor	soup / curry
បង្អែម	bang-aem	dessert

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Grammar & Usage

1. Asking for a Recommendation

តើអ្នកណែនាំម្ហូបអ្វី?

• Tae neak naenam mhop avei?
• What dish do you recommend?

2. Asking About Taste

ម្ហូបនេះហឹរទេ?

• Mhop nih her te?
• Is this dish spicy?

Other useful questions:

• ម្ហូបនេះផ្អែមទេ?
  • Is this dish sweet?
• ម្ហូបនេះប្រៃទេ?
  • Is this dish salty?

3. Saying You Like the Food

ម្ហូបនេះឆ្ងាញ់ណាស់!

• Mhop nih chnganh nah!
• This dish is very delicious!

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Pronunciation Practice

Fish Amok - អាម៉ុកត្រី (amok trey)

Beef Lok Lak - ឡុកឡាក់ (lok lak)

Cultural Tip

If you're visiting Cambodia, these are excellent first dishes to try:

• អាម៉ុកត្រី (Fish Amok) – A creamy coconut curry steamed in banana leaves; often considered Cambodia's national dish.
• ឡុកឡាក់ (Beef Lok Lak) – Stir-fried marinated beef served with rice, vegetables, and a pepper-lime dipping sauce.
• នំបញ្ចុក (Nom Banh Chok) – Fresh rice noodles with a light fish-based curry gravy, especially popular for breakfast.
• បាយសាច់ជ្រូក (Bai Sach Chrouk) – Grilled pork with rice, another beloved breakfast dish found all over Cambodia.

Practice Challenge

Translate this into Khmer:

"What do you recommend? I'd like one Fish Amok, one Beef Lok Lak, and two bottles of water. Is the food spicy?"