We are all familiar with Thai food (which I’m yet to cover because it is too easy to find here), and many of us assume the food round them parts is essentially the same. As Cambodia represents a bit of a blind spot for me, and I figured there must be some here somewhere because of the high number of South East Asian migrant workers of various stripes, I set about finding some. My former colleague at Unnecessary Targeting Ltd, Mr. Music, informed me that the bakeries in Auckland are generally Cambodian owned, and by his experience their food is quite sour, which to his mind that is a good thing. It was no easy feat to find such a place. I did find one with an English name, but the reviews were pretty bad and in a more difficult spot to get to in town. So I opted for this one, which I’m going to have to call Cambodia Restaurant. The outside is pictured in the header so if you can read Chinese, you’ll know it. If you don’t, just follow the instructions at the bottom. The menu is also only in Chinese which could be a problem for some (including me).
Fortunately today, I had with me Crispy Pete, the world’s cleverest man, who can do pretty much anything, including reading/speaking Chinese well (which is not that special over here, true, but he can use about three language systems by my count). We are actually scared that he will be sat at work one day trying to decide something like if there is any merit in early theories on cross pollination in the Hindu Kush or discrepancies in the life cycle of the monkfish (possibly both) and he will suddenly implode, consumed by his own intelligence. As that day has not yet arrived, he remains a steadfast dining companion.
In what was probably a change of pace for Crispy on a weekday, which I presume is translating Homer’s Odyssey into Nordic runes, and then back into old English, I managed to coax him out of his library, by making him follow a trail of Elizabethan sonnets and difficult math equations so we could have food which was a bit off the map so to speak. In fact, it turned out Cambodia Restaurant was around the corner from his gaff, and he had been there before some years earlier. Whether or not it had changed hands in that time, we had no idea. He did remember enjoying it, however. So, still game, we went in.
In my experience of these things, not having an English menu can be a double edged sword. If it is Chinese and other country language (say Khmer) that is a sign that people from the old country go there and it is probably a safe bet. If it is only in Chinese you run the risk of it being “I’ve been to Cambodia once, so I know”and thus, you get a regular chicken leg and rice dish.
After a bit of a natter about how messy it is in the US right now compared to the calm of Taiwan (he had just returned) , we ordered. Here is the relevant part of the menu
For non-Chinese readers, the first section is salad and we opted for beef salad. As I had suspected it was very Thai like, very enjoyable, not sweet and also had noodles as its base. Could have been a meal on its own. Then came the Amok pork, (which as per usual I forgot to get a picture of. I’m such a professional- please hire me) which was more like an Indian curry in consistency but tasted like a cross between the best parts of Thai and Vietnamese food. Gorgeous! Completing the trinity, there was a deepish fried chicken leg which I did get a picture of. Again, fantastic stuff. I should point out that CP has visited Cambodia and felt that the food here was pretty good, and it was cheap too. Three dishes came to 340NT so 170NT each.
The décor of this particular place is cheap and cheerful, artwork of Angkor Wat etc, which I take to be the Cambodian restaurant equivalent of those horrible metallic cups you get in Thai restaurants. It is very much a “lunchtime for the workers” type of place rather than an “occasion” restaurant if you get my meaning, but very good for what it is. And for an average of about 100NT (3USD) a dish, not bad at all.
I’m unlikely to go again, but only for the fact that it is a bit out of the way for a general lunch for 100NT type place, and there thousands of such places around Taipei. It would probably cost me about that to travel from my new house to there anyway, so would be a bit strange. But if you live in the environs of Taipei Arena, can read Chinese (or have someone with you who can), and have a taste for adventure, go for it. Just don’t expect anything other than “I like to go there for lunch sometimes”.
As we bid farewell, I left CP with his vicissitudes of Taiwan and The US and came back to witter on WordPress.
Nearest MRT: Taipei Arena
No. 3, Lane 6, Lane 133, Section 4, Nanjing East Road
* I had to delay this visit though due to the fact that Crispy had returned from the US just (mere hours) before the borders to Taiwan were closed, and he had to do some extra quarantine measures before he could come out socially*.
52 Cuisines? 