street food of Siem Reap

In the heart of Siem Reap, along the riverside, food carts line the streets. These carts dish out everything from lort cha (short pan-fried noodles) to french crepes to fruit shakes. However, these are hardly your typical food carts. Unlike those we saw in Vietnam, these carts are actually a compact, mobile restaurant. They'attached to the side of the chef’s motorbike, making transportation to the city’s most bustling neighborhoods a non-issue. We've seen an entire family, cruising through town on one of these contraptions. Dad driving, mom, sitting behind, young daughter playing with a toy on top of what normally would be the food prep area. Creative and flexible, they also serve up some tasty and cheap eats.

Our favorite street food in Cambodia is lort cha. Short, worm-like noodles, stir fried with broccoli and cabbage, served with a fried egg on top. Enjoyed on red plastic chairs with a local beer, it’s one of the best $2 dinners you’ll ever have. Other options include stir fired veggies and rice, yellow noodle stir fry with egg and even "fried pineapple," mixed with chilies.

We also haven't gone a day in Cambodia without a smoothie or fruit shake, as they’re called here. Mango, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, banana, dragon fruit and coconut are always available and any combination of the above is pure magic on a 90-degree day. Sometimes infused with a few drops of sweetened condensed milk and coconut water, and you'll be in heaven. Again, they’re $1, so we won’t judge if you have a second.

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the details:

• Most street food carts can be found just off Pub Street, by the river, and night market
• Look for fruit shakes on every street surrounding Pub Street (they're everywhere)
• The locals eat at a group of casual street side restaurants (think plastic chairs and shared seating). Head away from Pub Street a couple of blocks and turn left at the Park Hyatt Hotel. We found one restaurant called Chae Ngek with a translated menu. Nearly every dish is $1.50, each a variety of something stir fried in a giant wok. Fruit smoothies are just $.75.
  

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