Asia - Best Khmer food in Cambodia

A seemingly simple question: where in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Sihanoukville can I get the best Khmer food in the country? I'm open to suggestions on all ends of the scale, for local eatery to five-star restaurant. But no spiders please...

this site may help http://www.phnomenon.com/

Please let us know what you experience. I'm always eager for reports of true local cuisine. ^

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Thanks! I'll take a look.

Has anybody been to Meric (http://www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com/meric.php) at Cafe de la Paix, SR? Worth the price tag?

Thanks! I'll take a look.

Has anybody been to Meric (http://www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com/meric.php) at Cafe de la Paix, SR? Worth the price tag?

I haven't been to Siem Reap since Meric opened. But Phil (the author of Phnomenon, referred to above) has a great review of Meric - he was there recently and raved about it. You can read about it here (http://www.phnomenon.com/index.php/cambodian-food/khmer/meric-and-the-nostalgia-for-the-future/).

There are some pretty good places here in PP as well, though not (I presume) at that level. I'll try to post some suggestions in the coming days.

Michael

Without question go to Meric. Paul and Johannes are brilliant. Paul is a friend, but I honestly think he is the best chef in Southeast Asia.

The guys have developed an amazing Khmer tasting menu sand are excellent about using the freshest local ingredients. I personally am not terribly fond of Khmer, but this is special.

Looks like Meric it is then ^

I'm actually leaving tomorrow, so any suggestions within the next 24 hours would be particularly appreciated :o ^

Let us know what you found. Personally I only eat from street vendors in Phnom Penh or home cooking. It's all great as I recall. I'll probably be back in a few months so any tips would be appreciated.

The very night we were supposed to Meric -- and our last night in Cambodia -- the flu I'd picked up from the rather overly enthusiastic aircon at the Raffles kicked into full gear, and when around lunchtime I realized that my sense of taste was pretty much gone, we had to reluctantly cancel that plan. :(

We did try a couple of other Khmer places here and there, but nothing really memorable: either they were touristy and tasted like neutered Thai, or a bit too local and tasted like, well, prahok (the rather nasty Khmer version of fish sauce). However, if you're looking for a fancy French experience in Phnom Penh, I can recommend 102 (http://www.yellowpages-cambodia.com/restaurant-and-bar-guide/restaurants/102-restaurant-16495.html) (on 102 St., of course): great ambience, reasonable prices ($10-20 mains) and the best onion soup I've had in a very long time.