It’s true that Cambodian food has much in common with that of its neighbors, particularly the cooking of Vietnam. Many dishes that are widely known as Vietnamese are also common in Cambodia. (Remember, part of southern Vietnam used to be part of Cambodia not so very long ago, and both countries have a shared history of colonization by the French.) For example, those tasty East-West sandwiches, called banh mi in Vietnam, are just as popular in Cambodia, where they are called num pang pâté. Other Cambodian dishes are more similar to Thai food, although Cambodian dishes usually contain less chili and less sugar, and coconut milk appears less often.
The most important part of every meal is rice. In fact, Cambodians greet each other by saying “Nyam bai howie nov?” (“Have you eaten rice yet?”) At lunch and dinner in Cambodian homes each person is served a large bowl of rice. Then at least three or four other dishes, usually including a soup (samlor), are served family-style. Prahok, a pungent fermented fish paste, is used to flavor many dishes and for expats can take some getting used to. Kroeung, a distinctive spice paste made with a base of lemongrass and galangal, is the foundation of many Cambodian dishes. Freshwater fish from the Mekong and Tonle Sap make up a large part of the Cambodian diet, whether dried, processed into prahok, or cooked up in that famous Cambodian speciality, amok.