Cuisine Scene: Cambodian
Home to the largest Cambodian population outside of Asia, Long Beach is the ultimate destination for those who are craving or are curious about authentic Khmer cuisine. The city’s Cambodia Town district is renowned for offering an incredible array of restaurants offering familiar favorites, authentic specialties and creative fusion. Whether you're new to Cambodian cuisine or consider yourself an aficionado, these restaurants–conveniently clustered on and around Anaheim Street–can always be counted on to deliver a delicious culinary adventure.
PHNOM PENH NOODLE SHACK
This Cambodia Town landmark–a true benchmark for the area–opened 40 years ago and serves everything from rice porridge to stir fry. But, as the name suggests, it's the noodle dishes, as well as soups, that keep the people coming back .. and back to Phnom Penh Noodle Shack (1644 Cherry Ave). And of these, none is more popular than the House Special with ground pork and sliced pork paired with pork stomach, liver and shrimp and placed atop noodles. It’s so good, regulars have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
SHLAP MUAN
Shlap Muan (2150 E South St)–Khmer for chicken wing–has quickly earned a reputation for serving one-of-a-kind food. And not just here in Long Beach. It was recently ranked as one of the 15 best places to eat in the country by Yelp. Its wet sauces and dry rubs range from orange habanero (wet) to Cambodian Dirt, i.e. lemongrass pepper (dry). They have meal deals that include wings, rice, fried egg and salad. And then there’s the Dirty Elvis, featuring wok-tossed wings that come out tasting sweet and smokey with a caramel finish. Thank you very much.
SOPHY’S: CAMBODIA TOWN FOOD & MUSIC
If you’re in the mood to explore the taste and also the very feel of Cambodia Town, few places–if any–fit that role as well as Sophy's: Cambodia Town Food and Music (3240 Pacific Coast Hwy). This longtime Cambodia Town staple is where locals go to not only eat but also celebrate as well as gather for arts, culture and civic-minded events. It does all the classic dishes but is best known for creating an incredible beef jerky. Make sure to use the vinegar and garlic dressing that comes with it!
HAK HEANG
Community touchstone Hak Heang (2041 E. Anaheim St) is a 300-seat space that serves as a destination for locals when they want to celebrate, party or just talk about the neighborhood. They do Cambodian staples–Phnom Penh noodles, beef lok lak, etc.–but distinguish themselves for the seafood selections. These range from the expected (Shrimp Fried Rice) to the amazing, such as Lemon Fish Soup Seafood Mixed Flat Rice Noodles, Hot and Sour Shrimp and Catfish Soup and a signature Salt and Pepper Crab served in its shell.
BATTAMBONG BBQ
Battambong BBQ features Chef Chad Phuong’s inventive creations merging Texas-style barbecue with Cambodian flavors and techniques. His brisket has hints of lemongrass, his popular twako, a Cambodian sausage with fermented rice, is smokey and delicious. There are sandwiches, sliders, tacos and a little number called Long Beach Nachos that includes pulled pork and smoked nacho cheese. Chef Chad pulls his smoker up at Ten Mile Brewing (1136 E Willow St) for a pop-up every Friday from 12 noon until sellout.
MONOROM
Monorom (2150 E Anaheim St) has built an impeccable reputation for offering classic dishes prepared authentically and with the freshest ingredients. Among its most popular offerings are roasted meats of all kinds, lemongrass chicken and specialties such as prahok ktis, a ground-pork curry made with coconut milk that tastes even better when spooned over steamed rice. Its curry chicken is fun to share as it is served hot pot style, allowing the whole table to feast on its sweet and savory goodness.