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Phnom Penh may distract or even confuse you with its quirky interior, but its friendly service and mouth watering cuisine make up for all of that.
It’s late spring; Summer is on the verge of taking over, but it’s not apparent today. Though the temperature is mild, rain has been pounding down in erratic spurts throughout the morning.
The restaurant is located on King St. East just off of Princess St. It is away from the bustling vehicles, but still close enough to feel the excitement radiating from “the Heart of Kingston.”
I escape the daggers of rain and duck into the rustic building.
I am greeted promptly and warmly by a waiter and given a table. I’m impressed with the service at this point.
Once at my table, I take a look around.
The walls are splashed with deep reds and greens and large landscapes hang delicately around the room. It feels quaint at first glance, but then I’m slightly confused.
They are offering me Thai and Cambodian cuisine, but the paintings are clearly from all different cultures and there are paper lanterns and Christmas lights decorating the restaurant. Maybe it isn’t just me who’s confused about ethnicity.
The waiter returns in a mere moment with water and menus. Again, I am impressed.
That is until the glass draws my attention to the small and slightly sticky table in front of me.
Owner and chef, Lay Soleak, emerges from the kitchen for a light conversation. Though this may seem over the top, he repeats his actions when the next group comes in. It isn’t special treatment for a critic; it’s just the way he is.
During the conversation, I learn that Soleak took over the restaurant in November of last year. Phnom Penh is his first venture.
He has no official training in cuisine, but comes from Cambodia where he learned about the food. The last owners also showed him a thing or two before they left. I’ll see if it’s enough.
I order Thai Curry ($10)—this price reflects the rest of the menu—and wait only minutes until the food is brought to me.
The plate is placed in front of me and I am overwhelmed by the sheer size of the helping. But quality trumps quantity.
On my dish are a number of items: strips of chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, green beans and a side of rice. This is all smothered in red curry sauce. Though not exactly a pretty presentation, I am very tempted by this meal.
The spices of the curry sauce bounce in the air around me, pulling the envious stares of my fellow diners toward my plate.
Without another second of hesitation, I jump into my first ever experience with Thai food.
At first, all I can taste is the sauce; it is an explosion of flavour. Though it has a kick, it is not completely overwhelming like the green curry sauce—an option that is offered with this dish.
The broccoli and cauliflower are cooked to perfection and soaked in the hot curry sauce. My teeth grind down, crumbling them to nothing but flavour.
The white rice is cold and lacks all aspects of life, especially colour. Though it cannot stand on its own, a splash of the fiery sauce changes all of that.
The chicken is tantalizingly slippery with sauce. And unlike other places, they are not skimpy with their meat. There is more than enough on my plate.
Individually, these ingredients are not so special, but together, the succulent vegetables, mild chicken, plain rice and red curry sauce, create a sublime puzzle of food, fitting together deliciously.
Though the interior with its mismatched themes and objects is somewhat tacky, there are many upsides to eating at Phnom Penh.
The quality of the cuisine is as large as the quality, but the price isn’t. The amount of food you receive for $10 is unreal; it’s sure to fill anyone.
And it’s anyone that eats here. All different people come to this restaurant when they do, they are sure to find exactly what the menu offers: “exotic and delightful Thai and Cambodian cuisine.”
It’s good food at a good pric
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Dim Sum near Elm Tree ON (2 Result(s))
335 King St E, Kingston, ON K7L 3B5
Cambodian Cuisine, Thai Cuisine, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Cambodian, Asian, Take-out
Phnom-Penh Restaurant welcomes you to our dining room. Come discover our exotic Thai and Cambodian dishes. We are open late all week.
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