Cuisine Scene: Cambodian
While Long Beach offers a delicious variety of international cuisines, it's arguable the one that is most unique to the city is Cambodian food. Long Beach has the largest population of Cambodians outside of Asia and is home to the vibrant, designated neighborhood known as Cambodia Town. It’s in and around this neighborhood that you’ll find restaurants of all shapes and styles serving some of the best Khmer food in the country. The country. The beauty is that they are all so close to each other – every restaurant on this list is located either on Anaheim Street, Cherry Avenue or Pacific Coast Highway – that you can easily and tastily compare.
Classic Community
If you’re looking for not only the taste but feel of Cambodia Town, few places fit that role as well as Sophy's: Cambodia Town Food and Music (3240 Pacific Coast Hwy.). The longtime Cambodia Town staple is where locals go not only to eat but to celebrate and gather for civic-minded events. It does all the classic dishes as well as prepares its otherworldly beef jerky – make sure you use the vinegar and garlic dressing that comes with it. Another community touchstone is Hak Heang (2041 E. Anaheim St.), a 300-seat space that also serves as a destination for locals when they want to celebrate, party or just talk about the neighborhood. They do all the Cambodian staples as well, including Phnom Penh noodles and beef lok lak, prepared with cucumber, tomatoes, black pepper and soy sauce.
Community Classics
Monorom (2150 E. Anaheim St.) offers classic Cambodian dishes such as Curry Chicken – served hot pot style, it’s fun to share, allowing the whole table to feast on its sweet and savory goodness. Also popular are roasted meats of all kinds, lemongrass chicken and such specialties as prahok ktis, a ground-pork curry made with coconut milk that tastes even better when spooned over steamed rice. Little LaLune (2054 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.), celebrating its 10th anniversary, is descended from the original LaLune restaurant, a community stalwart. They also serve the classics such as beef sticks, noodles, deep fried pork with dipping sauce, and porridge. Perhaps what they’re best known for, though, is their cha quai, a sweet and savory offering in the form of a doughnut, which looks a bit like a cross between a churro and a cruller.
Noodling
It says something that when it comes to noodles, arguably the signature dish of Khmer cuisine, Cambodia Town locals are more than likely to think first of Phnom Penh Noodle Shack (1644 Cherry Ave.). For nearly 40 years it has served the community with all manner of staples, everything from porridge to stir fry, but it’s its noodle dishes and soups that have kept the neighbors coming back. 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/or dinner. Cyclo Noodles (4754 Pacific Coast Hwy.) is the creation of members of the family behind LaLune. They serve substantial bowls of Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Thai noodle soups, along with stir-fried dishes. People seem to really like the Khmer chicken curry vermicelli noodles with fresh cucumber and mint.
Small Wonders
Naga Cafe Khmer Street Food (3225 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.) serves fast-casual Cambodian cuisine in a no-nonsense space where diners order at the counter. Not only is it fast but frugal, most meals are in the $7 to $12 range and portions are generous. Beef skewers are a popular and succulent choice. For those who may be intimidated by foreign cuisine, Naga offers comfortable choices such as a fried chicken sandwich as well as chicken wings, each done with a Cambodian flair. Kim Sun Kitchen (5449 Cherry Ave) is a diminutive, sit-down restaurant celebrating its 25th year of operation. Its bowls, painstakingly created, include beef stew complete with tendon, tripe and noodles. There are also such favorites as pan-fried noodles, porridge, and grilled lemongrass beef skewers.
Cambodia Town
Cambodia Town Parade & Festival
