Exotic Phnom Penh Restaurant
Posted on 02/25/2011
Address: 244 E Georgia St. Vancouver, BC
Having recently discovered urbanspoon.com, I decided to right away try a Vancouver classic: Phnom Penh Restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown. I can't believe I overlooked this eatery all these years. Especially since I do my weekly fresh-food grocery run in Chinatown! I think it has to do with my (incorrect) perception that this is a fusion-cuisine place.
The outside of this eatery is actually quite beckoning, if it were not for my all-pervasive distrust of hybrid cuisine restaurants. The minute I see Vietnam and Cambodia together long-time distaste for anything fusion kicks in and I subconsciously look the other way. I will have to revisit this negative aspect of my dining rule-book and make a very important update, starting with Phnom Penh.
I was under the impression that this place us usually packed on weekends, but at 6 o'clock on Saturday evening this was the state of affairs. Like I said, I shop at least once a week in Chinatown and have never seen a line-up out the door, so the crowding issue should not hamper one's dinner plans if it is a weekend I would say.
The beansprouts are fresh and the condiments are up to par.
First up, Hot & Sour Soup. This is a most excellent soup. It is truly hot (both temp. and chile) and sour (but not too). The broth is sourishly aromatic, with undertones of herbs and spices. A most intriguing soup dish. I want to try this again to understand more the depths of its rich taste.
A signature dish: Cambodian Butter Beef. This is an appetizer of beef carpaccio soaked in a vinaigrette-soya sauce dressing sprinkled with fresh green cilantro and other like herbs. I didn't come across this dish during my week-long tour of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, but that doesn't mean it isn't an authentic Cambodian recipe. It just means we have a wonderfully exotic Cambodian restaurant right here in Vancouver's Chinatown!
Noodle Soup with Fish Balls. In my travels I noticed similarities between Vietnamese and Cambodian rice noodle soups. In Vietnam I had noodle soup with and without beef and with fish. In Cambodia I had soup with round rice noodles, mild in flavor and textures. It seems to me therefore, hard to guess which country inspires Phnom Penh's soups. Perhaps just as well, and definitely prepared with much knowledge and skill in the ways-of-soup.
Noodle Soup with Beef Balls. Same broth as fish ball soup. Same good taste. Next time I will request members of eating party to refrain from ordering soup as there are so many other delectable, delicious and exotic looking/souding items on the menu.
Now I know why Vancouverites flock to this restaurant. It is immediately obvious that the quality of food preparation here is of a first-class grade. I will be back here many times.