Rules of Engorgement: Cambodian Breakfast

By Mark Wiens 8 Comments
Food at Angkor Wat
Eating in Cambodia

Com Tam (rice with fried pork and pickles), Khmer Noodles

Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia, at Angkor Wat eating with the Tuk Tuk drivers

Cost: 4000 KHR Cambodian Riel each dish ($0.95 USD)

Khmer Noodles
Rice noodles

The tourist catered cuisine in Siem Reap near Angkor Wat, doesn’t always appeal by both taste and budget to a voracious food connoisseur.  Fortunately, the local tuk tuk drivers who constantly transport tourists from temple to temple need to eat too.  The driver’s laughed as they hinted that we would unquestionably get sick if we partook.

Khmer Rice and Pork
Pork over rice

Our general instincts and African experienced stomachs overruled the driver comments and soon our palettes were filled with a grilled pork cutlet over rice, and rice noodles suffocating in a delightful chili paste.

The salty pork cutlet was expertly complimented by a cabbage and cucumber sour pickle and a sweet chili sauce.

The noodles were equally pleasing and covered in an herbaceous chili sauce with the same accompanying pickle.  Our stomachs held up and the dishes were a smashing delight!!!

8 comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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  • Abigail

    12 years ago

    Nice write up, Mark! Pork and rice is my favourite breakfast – carbs, protein, veggies … not too heavy on the stomach and great with an iced coffee. And there’s something wonderful about eating it from a stall on the street with locals – definitely a quick route out of the tourist bubble.

    Reply

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Fully agree with that all Abigail – eating it locally completely adds to the experience. Mmm, an iced coffee sounds wonderful right about now too!

      Reply

  • lakwatsera de primera

    12 years ago

    I can’t wait to try the Cambodian cuisine, (drooling now 🙂 )

    Reply

  • Hector Gull

    12 years ago

    breakfast foods should always be high in protein and also in carbohydrates, we need food energy during the early morning “*-

    Reply

  • jen laceda

    13 years ago

    Great photos, Mark! The food looks super yummy! Street food is always the most vibrant in ‘developing’ countries! Cambodian food looks spicy — the way I like it~

    Reply

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Thank you Jen, and yes, the extra chilies added to the dish made it flaming! Great news to hear you also like your food spicy!

      Reply