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Phnom Penh
Category: Restaurants Cambodian Cambodian [Edit]
244 E Georgia StVancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Neighbourhood: Strathcona
(604) 682-5777
- Hours:
Mon 10 am - 9 pm
Tue-Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
146 reviews for Phnom Penh
Review Highlights
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"The star was definitely the amazing Butter Beef." In 51 reviews -
"Don't leave without trying their chicken wings." In 81 reviews -
"I happen to LOVE the frog legs." In 10 reviews
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146 reviews in English
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Review from Namit M.
5/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not sure I can add to what has already been said, but this place is the bomb. Emphasis is on the food, which is great and plentiful.
The Chicken Wings : Excellent wings.
The Butter Beef: Raw beef with lots of cilantro, can not go wrong here.
The curries and the beef with the fried egg on top - excellent.
I really want to go back over and over again and just work my way through the menu. -
Review from Joseph H.
Richmond, BC
Updated - 5/25/2012
Best chicken wings in the city. Light, crispy batter, lightly brushed with sugar, tender meat.
Butter beef is delicious as always. I feel that the portion size is too small for the price though.
As others have said, its probably a good idea to get take out if the line up is long. You'll get your food before you get a table.Listed in: Favorite Noodle Joints
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/2/2011
The Butter Beef (#71) should be renamed Vietnamese Beef Carpaccio to make it sound more appetizing.… Read more »
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Review from Wendy Y.
5/24/2012
I came here after they renovated this place not too long ago and I love it.
Dining here is now a lot more enjoyable because the eating area seems a lot cleaner and inviting. Food is just as good.
I am not going to repeat myself here with how good their chicken wings are, with a side dipping liquid of fresh lemon juice and black pepper. This dish has been reviewed enough so all I am going to say here is if you haven't tried, order it. It's damn good.
I came here for some deep fried frog legs the other day. Oh yum yum... I was happy. The batter was light and not greasy. The frog meat was juicy. It tasted like chicken, it really did. The frog legs were a tad too fishy for my taste but hands down their fried food are pretty awesome.
Just for fun my partner and I ordered a side snack which neither or us has seen or heard. It's steamed rice flour cake served with minced pork, coconut milk, shredded dry coconut, deep fried shallots, green onions, and chili. This dish is to be eaten with the same fish sauce you use for spring rolls. It was tasty. We really enjoyed it.
Despite the good food here I must say the highlight of the night was seeing the newly renovated women's washroom. It's night and day compared to the old ghetto look. The walls finally got their long deserving fresh coat of paint. They even added glass tiles. The mirror frame was new so was the lighting fixture.
Now that the dining atmosphere is improved a great deal, more money will be spent here.Listed in: Malaysian/Singaporean/Vie…
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Review from Mandy N.
Vancouver, BC
5/19/2012
I usually get lunch from here when I have work.
Its a pretty good place. I usually do take out cause wait for lunch is usually like half an hour. they are famous for their fried chicken wings. gotta say it's pretty good as well. Service is ok i guess. But food there is pretty good. Then again they put a lot of MSG in their food.
The price is relatively cheap for the portion you get. I usually order noodles and I always save the rest for later or I share one with someone. -
Review from Sam W.
4/26/2012
Butter beef.
Chicken wings.
Luc Lac w Egg.
Everything else is great -- but the above mentioned are "must dos"Listed in: Mouthgasm
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Review from Tom N.
5/11/2012
This place earned a lot of rewards on their walls, but is it worth the hype and 30 minute wait? YES THEY DO!
Me and my friends got their Vietnamese/Cambodian fried rice, which was good, nothing speculator, but their must try dishes to try was definitely their chicken wings and butter beef. My friends talked about how good it was and I must say... they were right.
The chicken wings was so crispy, yet flavorful and the sauce that came with it was amazing.
The butter beef was so soft and tender, drowned in some secret sauce and lots of cilantro...I was afraid of getting food poison from eating it, but it was so worth it and hey, I'm still alive!
My friend also ordered some fried squid and it came some lemon sauce, which made it even better!
I'm sure every one of their dishes are great and flavorful. The wait was so worth it and the awards on their walls, they EARNED IT! -
Review from David E.
Surrey, BC
5/1/2012 1 photo
I love this place. Definite must haves are the Butter Beef, Chicken Wings, and Papaya Salad. On our last visit I ordered a Cambodian egg noodle soup which was delicious. It was a bit spicy, and has nice chunks of tender beef. The butter beef is awesome with the acidity of the sauce, and the freshness of the herbs. The wings are always fried and seasoned perfectly, with that awesome citrus sauce.
The only problem is that there is usually a wait to get seated. -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
4/24/2012 2 Check-ins Here
What more can be said of its chicken wings? Warning about its MSG, but once in awhile..
also try:
butter beef on rice, with egg.
beef vermicelli, actually quite underrated nice and light, almost like a salad.
Egg noodles seafood.
And i didn't get too excited for their fried frog legs.
but I wouldn't order their iced coffee after Thuan An's, which sets the standard ;)
Always lineups so best to call ahead so one can 'time' your trip since they dont' take reservations unless it's for the big table, 8 ppl.
Or before you park your car, drop off a friend to reserve on the waiting list, that oughta save you 10-15min by the time you finish parking, the list grows exponentially fast. -
Review from Arnold P.
Updated - 4/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Still consistent. I still over eat 3 orders of chicken wings tonight.
FYI, new menu coming = new prices. Prices going up :(Listed in: My Favourites!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/6/2012
The one of only a few places where I would wait to eat and it's that good! Chicken Wings, Butter… Read more »
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Review from Edward L.
2 words: Butter Beef. *drool*
Every time I come here I am reminded of why the food is so addictive.
Interesting side note: even though they're Cambodian style, they don't have Cambodian beer (specifically their Angkor brand), which is a shame.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/13/2011
There is a reason why this place ALWAYS has a huge lineup, even on a Thursday. I swear, this place… Read more »
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Review from Karen W.
4/19/2012
After hearing about this place for years I finally got a chance to go try it out and everything anyone has ever said about this place was true. I haven't been to Chinatown in years and this was so worth that trip there. Sadly it was a mistake to go with a vegetarian because she only had chive dumplings while I went on full blast and ordered four dishes to try and ended up packing nearly everything up. Yet I'm still feeling that bloat and fullness from this huge meal I had two days ago.
Just looking at the menu made me dizzy. They have such a wide variety with over 80 items on the menu! Good thing I came prepared and with some research, the general consensus was that the garlic chicken wings and marinated butter beef are absolute musts. The chicken wings were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Perfection. The marinated butter beef was simply amazing. A big slab of thinly sliced beef with a ton of cilantro and fried garlic on top drizzled with what tasted like ponzu sauce. Will definitely order again.
I was curious about their pho soup base and since I saw a lot of tables with noodle orders, I decided to try it. The soup was clear and flavourful and no clear trace of msg. The noodles were fresh as were the beef balls and tendon. At this point after naming five things off the menu, our server suggested we get a half order of the garlic chicken wings and squid because of the alarming amount of food we were ordering between two girls. Since she gave us half orders, I decided to stack on another shrimp salad roll. Best peanut sauce ever. Definitely the best meal I've ever had in a long while and will definitely go back again next time I'm in town.
Go with a group of people if you're trying for the first time since you'll be tempted to order nearly everything on the menu. -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
3/31/2012 7 photos
Go for casual Cambodian in Chinatown, and definitely try their infamous chicken wings and butter beef! You can expect quick service and decent dishes for everything, so come with 8-10 friends, pay ~ $15 and seriously go to town! Totally worth a visit.
Ya, I agree with everyone that their cracked-seasoned chicken wings are amazing (sweet, crunchy and heavenly), but I'd still have to give them a 2nd place for best in Vancouver. Honestly, Zabu on Robson is a hands-on winner for me. -
Review from Dee B.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Warning: This review contains no vegetables, 3000 calories and 400 carbs.
A Chinatown hole-in-the-wall with ridiculous wait times that is really just a form of torture as you're forced to stand there and watch/smell all the food go by. Once we were seated (at a big round table with 2 other couples that we don't know - provided entertaining conversation and food comparions), service was prompt and easy going.
I did it:
-Chicken Wings (These are good, but I thought they'd be better - less salt would probably do the trick. The wings come in 2 sizes: large and small. We got a large, but for 2 people I would recommend a small unless you are feeling ultra glutinous)
-Butter Beef (If you don't like cilantro, make sure you tell your sever because this dish comes with a salad portion of cilantro. I wouldn't change a thing about it. Delish.)
-Luc Lac w. Egg (Sooooooooooo gooooooooood. Definitely my favourite dish of this adventure)
-Lychee Moo Shake (Tastes like a real lychee with a bunch of sugar blended in to some ice)
Total with tip: $44
Next, we headed across the street to the Keefer bakery and picked up a pineapple cream bun, a butter cream bun and an almond cookie followed by a Chinatown stroll in the sunshine.
I will definitely repeat this experience and recommend you do as well. -
Review from Florence C.
Vancouver, BC
4/26/2012
I'm a not fan of chicken wings but I make the exception at Phnom Penh!! They're so crispy, I don't know how they make it. Also like the butter beef of course.
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Review from Daren D.
1/14/2012
Luc Lac: good. Soy drink: good. Ambience: nice chandelier. Service: good.
I wasn't feeling too adventurous with the menu. I came here just for the sake of coming here. This one girl across from me was super hawt, though.
*peeks over inbetween bites* -
Review from Neill M.
Richmond, BC
4/14/2012
Hidden among the homeless locals and convenience stores is this little gem you could easily walk by without noticing. Friends and colleagues had high recommendations to try the chicken wings and they were VERY delicious. There was a constant line up for seats so make reservations (must be party of 5 or more). Friendly service and excellent food.
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Review from Nicolb T.
2/6/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I'm on the fence with Phnom Penh.
On one hand, I absolutely love the chicken wings, squid, frogs legs and butter beef.
On the other hand, I loathe any restaurant that has more than a 20 minute line-up. Even with reservations, we waited an extra 20 minutes before we got a table.
If you are willing to wait, or are lucky enough to not have to wait in line, then go ahead. Gorge yourself on delicious Vietnamese/Cambodian food. The price isn't exactly cheap either though, so watch your wallet.
Avoid the pho though. There's much better pho (and cheaper) elsewhere. -
Review from Annie W.
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Here's my advice.
Just DO IT:
- Chicken Wings
- Butter Beef
- Luc Lac w/ Egg
- Lychee Moo Shake
- Vietnamese Coffee
Think About It:
- Oyster Pancake
- Deep Fried Squid
- Cambodian Dry Noodles
If Feeling Adventurous:
- Durian Slush
- Lotus Seed in Tapioca Coconut Milk -
Review from Katie C.
Vancouver, BC
5/1/2012
i still cannot believe how busy this place was on a tuesday night!!
from the outside, the georgia st. simply looked abandonned but once in the restaurant, all of chinatown seemed to be packed in this restaurant.
food:
1. chicken wings
yes, they were quite delicious. an interesting mixture of different tastes and lightly fried so that you didn't feel sick afterwards. i usually don't eat chicken skin but this is one exception!
2. curry frog legs:
having eaten some of the best frog legs in france, evidently i was not blown away. nevertheless the legs were soft, but the curry surrounded the legs rather than being soaked up by the legs. the legs themselves were quite tasteless. we also got some mutant frogs, some of the legs were massive!!! my friends who have never tried frog legs before really enjoyed them.
3. luc lac
had to order this due to the overwhelming number of reviews raving about this dish. it's just tender beef, nothing special really...
now drinks is what i would like to talk about, because they made the night so much more memorable. what we ordered was based on how interesting the drink name was.
1. ice rainbow ice crush
it's essentially a red/green bean drink mixed with these green and red jelly-like strings with the odd pieces of mango. very bizarre. it's nothing like the chinese red bean ice i'm used to, because it was just bean and no milk whatsoever...therefore it wasn't a drink
2. salted lemonade
we will never order this again, even if you paid us a million dollars. the look and taste of it is so nasty!! yellow-tinged clear liquid with floating green pulp. my friend described it tasting like "old sea water." if you enjoyed this, perhaps message me on where we went wrong, because we fail to understand how this drink should be on the menu! -
Review from Dave P.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were up for some wings tonight, but I don't think Vancouver is much of a wingey dingey. Phnom Pehn came up number 1 on the list. Being close to our place, we took your yelping advice.
I don't want to bash too hard, but they really were nothing special. None of this sweetness that everyone raves about. I did like the nice hunks of garlic, but that made it on about 3 of my wings. Where were my cocaine wings? I found myself dipping them in the Butter Beef sauce.
And what's with the butter beef? Again.... just okay. Seriously, I wanted to like everything as much as you all did. I'm going to try it again, because as I looked around me, it looked like everyone else had ordered what I would have wanted. Should have ordered more noodles.
Still no the hunt for some good wings, though. -
Review from Larry L.
Last week, was a special event for Yelpers. I was here with a whack load of Yelp Elites who were all hungry after an event and wanted only one thing. Chicken wings, from Phnon Penh!
To have such a unanimous decision made out of just knowing.
It wasn't even really organized, it just sorta happened.
A few tried to keep it hush hush....."psst, we're going to Phnom Penh, but just a small group".....
And the result was quite funny. We showed up and so did everyone else. All Yelpers!
So probably one of the first ever in Vancouver to have a Yelp attack on a restaurant. It coudn't have been a better place than this.
Their chicken wings are to die for. In my case literaly. After munching on some of their special calimari, then the chicken wings, I noticed that they had a crystaly shine to the fried skin. SUGAR!!! They toss them in sugar!!! That's why they're so good!!
For me, I try to stay away from sugar and carbs, but I don't try very hard obviously cause I loved and devoured my share of wings.
We tried the Butter Beef which is also a favourite signature dish here too.
We tried the Papaya salad ( a bit sweet and sour) which was fresh and had a nice bite that complimented the fried wings and calimari. It took the edge off the friedness of the other dishes which was a good thing for me.
So it was a very entertaining evening afterall and couldn't have been spent with better people that fellow Yelpers. We basically took over the place.
And I"m sure that every review made that night was, "most excellent!"Listed in: Mojofoodies -Chinatown, Where to go after a Yelp…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/6/2010
I have been in this place before, a long long time ago. Something like back in the 80's. Now we… Read more »
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Review from Mo' N.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
I went at this restaurant with a group of twenty persons and the service was just as fast as if we were four. The table had quickly been covered with enough plates to cover it totally.
I personally tried the excellent deep-fried chicken wings and beef noodle. The choice for the meal was really difficult since there are 90 different choices between Vietnamese, Cambodian and other Asiatic food -
Review from Mark H.
11/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My name is Mark and I'm addicted to crack. Crack-seasoned chicken wings. Damn they are good.
Thanks to Michael C for herding up a group of hungry Yelpers to this place after an Elite party. FYI it's pronounced 'Nom pen'. I still screw it up though. Stupid silent letters.
1st visit, I didn't do any of the ordering. My hungry drunken state was electrified when I took a few bites of their magical wings. It's a modern day miracle. When you look the skin, it looks simple. A light dusting of fairy dust. With a hint of sweetness, the spices that coat each wing (and drums) will get you hooked. They are not oily and have just the right amount of crisp. Even Col. Sanders would have an affair with these wings.
I sampled some other dishes that night, but nothing distracted me from those crack wings.
2nd visit (same week) I discovered my #2 favourite: fried squid (same style as chicken wings). Served to us by the owner himself, he didn't say a word. He didn't have to. His proud perfect dentures smile said enough. Damn good. Superb.
We also ordered ling cod fish soup which had tomatoes, some greens, and pineapples. Tanginess of the broth worked well.
Prepare to wait 20-30 min to get a table, though you'll be glad you did. -
Review from KT L.
Vancouver, BC
5/8/2012
Agree with 99% of the reviews here. Wings, luc lac with egg, butter beef, rice cake with egg and bean sprouts, and hot and sour soup with prawns are all must haves here! Yummy food with excellent service. Make sure you make resos (if you can)!
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Review from Derek W.
11/26/2011
Beef like butter, but
servers not as smooth. Kind though.
The best chicken wings!
Really! The best wings!
You think I'm poopin' you, Bub?
Go taste them yourself!
Named for a city
the flavours of two countries
are sumptuously wed
Didn't try the pho
Didn't bother. I mean, why?
So many options. -
Review from Sean N.
Vancouver, BC
Phnom Penh has been serving up great Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes on the border of East Van and Downtown. With one of the biggest menus I've ever seen at a restaurant I was kinda overwhelmed with what to get!
I was dining alone so some portions of the dishes I wanted to try were a bit on the large side so I'm going to have to wait to get back with some friends for a chow down and the fact on this visit it was the day before there 2 week vacation so I couldn't get any pho.
Food wise I went with a combo plate that consisted of a couple great items like Vietnamese spring rolls, shrimp on sugar cane and a skewer of grilled pepper beef all for $12.
The Vietnamese spring rolls were OK, there filled with veggies and meat. The filling was seasoned nicely and tasted great but they were a bit greasy. At the end of the day I think if they were fresh out of the fryer I would have enjoyed them more.
This is the shrimp on sugar cane, it's a shrimp mousse formed around a piece of sugar cane and then deep fried. It was a firm texture to it and wasn't light and fluffy like I thought it would be but it tasted OK dipped in the spring roll sauce.
The grilled pepper beef skewer was really good and I could eat a plate of them, the thin slices of beef were nice and tender and had a nice grilled flavor, the slices were separated with pieces of onion and red peppers.
This being my 1st visit to Phnom Penh I already cant wait to come back and eat some of their famous crispy chicken wings and try the butter beef, I saw a few great looking dishes coming out of the kitchen on my visit and my mouth is already watering. -
Review from Vincci L.
If you love wings and you haven't been to Phnom Penh, then you are truly missing out. I'm afraid by writing this review; it will get even busier than it already is. In case you haven't noticed in the other reviews, there is a constant stream of customers and be prepared to wait.
I usually come here just before 5, and have been able to get a seat fairly quickly. Of course, I order the essential deep fried chicken wings and the butter beef. I also get the deep fried squid, which is battered the same way as the wings, and has the same salty goodness.
Wings are always perfectly deep fried, sprinkled with salt, garlic and peppers. Dip it into the lemon black pepper sauce, and the flavours will mingle together so wonderfully you'll want to have more. And more. And then some more. The squid is just as good, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. The butter beef is a raw beef dish-topped with parsley, a sweet vinegar sauce, and lightly seared at the edges.
I still have yet to try the papaya salad and as well as their rice dishes and their pho, but I can just never seem to stray away from the chicken wings. There's something that's just so addicting about them..... -
Review from Michael U.
3/2/2012 31 photos
Billed as an authentic Cambodian and Vietnamese restaurant and accepting no reservations our arrival at Phnom Penh would be just prior to 4:00pm and although we had been warned of long waits nothing would have led me to anticipate what we found at an off hour between lunch and dinner on a rainy day - namely a 75 minute wait exacerbated by a fluid crowd comprised of patrons that clearly knew how to work the system in order to be seated faster while the rest of us stood around waiting for our names to be read from a handwritten list carried by one of the many staff members.
With our party of two finally called we were quickly led through the growing throng to a large 4-top along the wall without a word from the hostess and handed the encyclopedic menu to browse before water was poured and our arrived to take our order - all this occurring in a mere four to five minutes thus leading us to defer and apparently forfeit our "turn" as the young woman would not return for at least twenty minutes; plenty of time to make our decisions and to watch the chaos while taking in the room's brightly colored decorations.
With orders finally placed and tables being turned and being filled at an uncanny pace while the line never seemed to shorten it would not be long before a collection of condiments would be delivered by the hands of one server while water was refilled by another. With servers speaking English only slightly better than I speak Cambodian or Vietnamese I'm relatively certain that it was at this point that our server said "food out in 5 minutes but you order too much" and true to these words the first dishes arrived shortly thereafter as we sat picking at the vinegar soaked carrots, sweetened soy sauce, bean sprouts, fiery BBQ sauce, and dried spices that were meant to compliment our selections.
With only two of us present but wanting to make the most of our meal the first plate to arrive would be Prawn Ball Rice Noodle in Soup with Bean Sprouts and served in what can best be described as a punch bowl I instantly realized why our server had suggested we had ordered too much - both at our table and those around us the portions were gargantuan - but digging into the bowl with a spoon I was quickly reassured that although some would likely go to waste it would not be for lack of trying as everything about the dish from the starchy hand pulled noodles to the savory snappy balls of prawn was texturally lovely with flavors brought to a peak by the fatty and briny broth, an effect amplified even further with the addition of some of the dry spices leading us to consume all but a half-cup of broth and a few stray noodles by meal's end.
Served as a duo the next pairing would feature one sweet and one savory, both seemingly present on every table in the restaurant - the Strawberry 'Moo Moo' Shake and the "Canh Ga Lan Bot," or Deep Fried Chicken Wing with Lemon Pepper Sauce. Beginning first with the smoothie, a relatively "familiar" dish consisting of pureed strawberries, condensed milk, ice cubes, and in this case coconut milk the concoction was light, flavorful, and airy like an Italian Ice but substantially more creamy and served with a thick straw it went quickly. Moving next to the chicken, considered by many to be Phnom Penh's signature item, we opted for a half order for $8.00 and with 9 wings to the order not only was this a pretty good deal compared to many other purveyors of wings, it was also a hell of a lot better with a sweet meets savory shell that crackled on mastication giving way to supple flesh beneath. Slightly peppery on their own and served with lemon tinged vinegar pepper sauce for dipping I definitely understood why these were present at every table and with turmeric and garlic notes aplenty my only regret was that we didn't order a full plate.
Seeing the time approaching 6:00 and not wanting to risk missing the anthem I asked our server if we could order our dessert to arrive with our final item and assuring us this was "no problem" it would be a mere five minutes later that we would receive the "Banh Xeo" and less than a minute later when the Taro Tapioca would arrive. Beginning first with the Vietnamese Crepe - an enormous golden fold of crispy bean sprouts, shrimp, pork, and eggs fried to perfection and served with raw vegetables the dish was surprisingly not overly oily and absolutely chalk-a-block full of savory notes carefully balanced by the vegetal bitters of the beans; another must order and something I've managed to recreate with minimal oil since returning home as a healthy protein packed breakfast.
Moving finally to dessert, the aforementioned Taro Tapioca - all I can say is that if you like taro and you like tapioca this warm preparation is a must order as the fibrous texture of the tuber blended nicely with the tapioca while the light saccharine notes of the maltodextrin and a dollop of condensed milk provided just enough sweetness to highlight the taro's flavor. -
Review from Thear K.
1/2/2012
First off, Amazing Chicken Wings!!! The best garlic chicken wings I ever had in my life. It's sweetness is soo addictive. Everytime I go here I get a plate of my own. Secondly you have to come here and try everything. You can't go wrong. I am an adventurous person that loves to try new things. I been here 10 times and never felt unhappy.
I'm from seattle so everytime I get a chance to hit up Vancouver, BC I can't leave until I have Phnom Penh.
This place rocks! -
Review from Ellen L.
11/19/2011
The first comment the bf made about this place: it feels like I'm in a 70's office building lobby with old Asian wall stuff.
The second comment: whoa, look at that fat menu!
Yeah, the decor is not their forte, but the fooooooood!!!!!! I'm glad the menu is fat - so that I can come back to try more things. :)
Everyone and their mother have mentioned the Marinated Butter Beef and Chicken Wings like a zillion times (ok to be technically accurate, in 48 and 76 reviews, respectively, at the time of writing). So I don't feel the need to describe them further. JUST GET 'EM!!! Definitely the highlights of the meal.
The Phnom Penh Dry Egg Noodle (no broth) - #4 on menu - was delicious! Noodles had good chewy texture. Right amount of sauce. Lots of toppings to make the dish interesting - liver, kidney, etc. The broth soup that came separately had rich flavour too.
The Vietnamese Crepe was so so. Bf thought it was bland. Yeah, I kind of agree - didn't think the crepe fillings worked well together (bean sprouts, dry shrimp, pork I think, and mushy potato? etc.). It needed a hearty dosage of fish sauce to add flavour. Wouldn't get this again.
The whole lot came to $45 (after tax, before tip) - the Chicken Wings were half order. So not the cheapest place for Cambo-Viet food, but so worth it. We came at 5:30pm and was seated right away, but it was already 80% full. Starting at 6pm, the line up was A-T-R-O-C-I-O-U-S!
Final thought? I can't believe I lived in Vancouver for 15 years and haven't been here. -
Review from Henry B.
Vancouver, BC
Seems like most first timers to Phnom Penh comes in with high expectations from so much accolades. It either meets it or you are disappointed. If you love Cambodian or Vietnamese food then you will love this place.
The restaurant itself is unassuming, tucked away in a sketchy area in Chinatown. It's literally a "hole in the wall". It's a very popular spot as it's absolutely packed at all times, pretty much till closing. You can tell why so much people come here by the awards and newspaper clippings on the wall in the waiting area. I even saw a menu signed by famed Anthony Bourdain endorsing the place with a message "Fantastic meal, many thanks".
I've tried their noodle dishes before but this time I went for the lemongrass chicken on rice, a little bit on the conservative side. As mentioned by so many, you will see all tables with a dish of their famous deep fried chicken wings. It's a "must have" for sure. It's slightly battered and came with a tart/peppery dipping sauce. It's very juicy and tasty, perfectly fried with the right amount of salt and pepper. The other famed dish was their raw butter beef but it was just too exotic for me.
Definitely recommended if you like Cambodian/Vietnamese food. They have quite an extensive selection. -
Review from Gary M.
11/2/2011
4.5 / 5 stars
I've heard about the legend of Phnom Penh for some time. Years in fact.
Never went. Never tried. I had it in my mind that I don't really like "that" kind of food... Whatever that means...
Fast forward a decade and my best friend offers to take me there. After some prodding I relented and off we went.
We arrived in Chinatown at about 8PM and the place was packed. Somehow we only waited 8 minutes and were seated. Right time, right place....
My companion did not even need to look at the menu. He ordered immediately. Two beers were at our table in a moment. After another, chicken wings. YES they are that good. NO they are not over hyped. I have no idea how they got to our table so fast. Salty, savory hot and crispy. Beer loves this kind of company.
We also had the Vietnamese crepe, fried rice, hot and sour soup and spring rolls. All for two. We did not bring any home. We ate it all. We were the last guys in the restaurant.
That crepe thing was amazing. Crispy, light, fluffy and savory. The sauce they gave us was vinegary with sweetness. hmmmm I want that crepe thingy now!
The room was alive with young people. Three times they turned down the lights for birthday cakes. The female clientele were pretty and stylish. (sorry couldn't help but notice and I didn't notice how the guys were) The service was chop chop, but we laughed and enjoyed our two servers.
FOUR and a HALF STARS goodness. yum yum yum! -
Review from Yvonne P.
Calgary, AB
3/12/2012
I'm sorry but we just didn't get it. Got there about 9:30 Saturday night, requested to order right away as they closed at 10pm. The server suggested butter beef, wings and papaya salad. Butter beef - don't get the attraction, it was "okay", wings, again nothing special, just deep fried wings with a bit of sugar, didn't enjoy the papaya salad - I make it at home and it's much better. No ambiance at all (as in absolutely none) so average food no ambience? Hard sell for me ps. and it was significantly more expensive, lower quality than a meal enjoyed recently at guu.
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Review from Carmen P.
Vancouver, BC
3/4/2012
Cannot stop raving on about this place. Only reason why I am giving them a 4 stars is because they won't take reservations over the phone. Every single time I visit this awesome restaurant, I have to wait for over an hour (on and off peak hours). Its ridiculous! Their reservation system is the archaic way of putting your name down when you arrive and wait till your name is called.
For anyone who likes salt and pepper calamari, this has to be the place to soothe your cravings. Its done to perfection as its not rubbery and it has the same lemon pepper dipping sauce as the chicken wings. In fact, its so good I reckon the calamari beats their signature deep fried chicken wings which was ordered by almost every single table in the restaurant during our visits.
The first time I ordered their infamous butter beef, I was stunned when I was served a plate of raw thinly sliced beef drenched in vinegar and sweet light soy with a massive serving of coriander on top. It takes a few bites to get used to the flavours and it slowly grows on you.
They have such an extensive list of dishes and it took me awhile to decide and finally decided on a noodle dish similar to pho but with the soup on the side. The noodles came with meat and a dark sauce at the bottom and you're meant to scoop the soup into your bowl to wet the noodles as you eat. It was very tasty but will definitely try something else on their long list of items.
As for dessert, their durian cake is not too bad. It has a subtle taste and does not smell whatsoever. Great for trying to induct newbies who have never tried durian. Delicious too! -
Review from Dru C.
12/25/2011 3 Check-ins Here
One of the most yelped places in Vancouver. I think it deserves that crown, but I am not 100% sure about that though.... But I can say it is my favourite place for food. *drools*
Only negativity about this place is long line ups and the places is extremely small, with metered parking.
There are 4 dishes that are a MUST when you come here:
1) The Chicken Wings
They are just perectly deep fried, as it is not oily to the touch, the flavour on the wings are in perfect amount of salt, and if you want to dip it into the dark pepper sauce, it adds a little spicy punch to the flavours.
2) The Butter Beef
It is a great dish. It is not made with butter, but it feels like butter as it melts in your mouth. It is one of my favorite dishes here!
3) The Grandma Special Recipe Deep Fried Prawns
If you dipped it into the sauce, it is totally delicious!! I had so many of these as well. It is not oily to the touch and it serves as an amazing sharing dish with you and your friends!!
4) #35
I do not know the name but it is a rice dish with slices of beef and some type of special sauce which is plated on top of rice. This finishes the night with some carbs. I had to mix the sauce with the amazing rice! YUMMMMMYY!! :3
Their dishes are amazing, but a HUGE tip, their bowls of noodles are not to be touched as it is not good. And call in to reserve seating if you have a party more than six people. Other than that, it is worth the wait for the food!! NOM NOM NOM!! -
Review from beki L.
Vancouver, BC
8/10/2011
FINALLY, the line up didn't end up on the street and we were able to get seated in a fairly quick manner!!
My first time here today for lunch and of course we had the deep fried chicken wings.
Is the hype true?
Yes, it is. Not much exaggeration there...and the lemon pepper dip completes it.
We enjoy that with a plate of steamed rice and garlic pea tips.
Absolutely delicious.
Don't come in expecting great service or fancy eye appealing decor.
Don't leave without trying their chicken wings.Listed in: Not exactly home…
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Review from Mike S.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2011
BINGO! This is it... If only I lived closer! OK, it's not the newest of spaces nor maybe even not the quickest, nor maybe even not the cheapest, but it truly makes up for any deficit with the food and a warm hospitable setting.
I've tried several great dishes here but would have to say my favorites are, yes, the butter beef everyone mentions; the crack wings - I mean chicken wings - awesome, and the sweet and sour soup w/fish. A tasty delight indeed...
I'm thinking of going back tonight for carry out - it's that good... -
Review from Chris L.
Surrey, BC
2/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I just love this place for the chicken wings and the fillet beef on rice. The wait is long at times but worth it. highly recommend this place if ur in or around china town for a good meal.
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Review from Liza B.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2011
Butter Beef. Seriously. Just do it.
Red meat and seafood aren't up there on my list of things to devour in a restaurant..or anywhere...but again, I eat my words. And butter beef. Now, why on earth it's called this I don't know, but I'd have licked the plate if it was socially acceptable to do so.
Decor is typical of the usual Asian restaurant and could use a bit of an update, but the fact that it is always stupid busy is a testament to how great the place really is!
It's a huge menu, I wouldn't have known where to begin had I not been there with someone who'd previously frequented the joint. Lots of seafood and meat though so vegetarians, beware. -
Review from Jacqueline T.
8/8/2011 1 photo
I think i'll over say it when the things to try here are:
Chicken wings, frog legs, and their beef sashimi! They have a good selection of their dessert drinks too.
Their chicken wings are different. They wouldn't be classfied under wings you find at a "bar" or local restaurant. These are cambodian-fied wings. If there is such a word. The wings are cooked with what i expect timely precision, as the crispness is perfect. It seems that most of the dishes I liked.. have a more lemony, peppery taste. Its nice! Keep refilling the water tho please!
Tip: Go at 6 for dinner to avoid waiting and line-ups.
First Cambodian/Vietnamese place I've been to. But it hits the spot! Hoping to find other Cambodian places to try. Suggestions welcome!
