AsiaLIFE

Tucked away at the Sihanouk Boulevard end of Street 111, Asian Spice Café Pub is taking to the internet to gain an edge over its competitors in Phnom Penh’s crowded market of low-cost food options. With its own website, Facebook page and Twitter account, this family-run restaurant is ensuring its cheap and tasty Asian classics reach the widest possible audience.

Owned by a former chef from Singapore, and staffed by the younger generation of a likeable Khmer family, this location is building a loyal following on the back of a reputation for friendly, efficient service, reasonably priced meals, and free wi-fi. The establishment is divided into two spaces, with a bright and welcoming café-restaurant downstairs and a bar serving a full range of alcoholic beverages and basic bar food upstairs.   

Asian Spice has a lot going for it, but the prospect of dinner and a beer for less than US$3.00 has to be the chief attraction. The rice and noodle dishes are especially good value for the budget conscious. The kitchen can have a decent fried mee goreng with prawns and chicken (US$1.70) in front of you within a few minutes of sitting down. The fried green pepper beef with rice (US$1.70) is another simple but tasty option, comprising fried strips of beef, with onion, chunky green pepper, and carrot in a black pepper sauce with a kick. The curry chicken with rice (US$1.90) is slightly bland and uninspiring, but the rendang chicken (US$1.90) is a more flavoursome choice, with lemongrass, ginger, and a hint of cumin. The ‘weekday special’ Singapore laksa (US$2.50) was a slightly bewildering combination of tofu, shrimp, and sliced boiled egg in a curry with thick white noodles.

Angkor draught is available on tap for US$1.25 a glass or US$4.00 for a jug. Buy a couple of either during the happy hour from 4.30pm to 8.30pm and you’ll get a third free. And if you’re still enjoying yourself at the café’s closing time, or haven’t quite finished milking the free internet, you can always pop upstairs for another beer. 

Asian Spice Café & Pub, 79 Street 111, Tel: 012 606 255
Café open from 6am until 9.30pm, bar open from 2pm until late.