AsiaLIFE

Those who work at Pannasastra University are most likely familiar with Cup Cafe. It is hidden away in a small street opposite pencil supermarket near the riverside.

Although Cup’s prices are well within the bargain bucket’s price range, this two storey establishment has the feel of a slightly more up market eatery. The doors are opened for you on arrival and the venue is roomy and comfortable. On entry you might notice two things: 1 – the air-con can hit you in the face, and 2 – there is a slight gangsta feel here- many middle aged Khmer businessmen seem pepper the place. In my head at least, I am conscious of all sorts of shady dealings going down, but in reality, I am sure they are just talking about fluffy clouds and puppy dogs. If you happen to be visiting the cup for breakfast, you’ll find the mornings seem to attract the military and policeman types. Accompanied by a constant stream of chatter from their walkie-talkies. So if you are arriving at cup cafÈ on your moto make sure you don’t have your head lights on at lunch or you might just find yourself paying for one of the policeman’s meals.

Cup cafe offers a range of coffee’s hot and cold starting from the rather obscure price of US$0.95. The range includes a coffee float featuring a scoop of ice cream atop your caffeine hit for US$2.20, and the coffee is strong. There is also a range of smoothies starting at US$1.70, including some odd flavours such as taro, which may not sound particularly appetizing for some.

As far as food goes, cup cafÈ offers your standard noodles, noodle soups, as well as loc lac in either beef, pork, chicken. All meals range around US$2, with some meals going for as high as a whopping US$2.20. The chicken loc lac was fantastic and colourful and comes with fried rice and a bowl of broth on the side. Of course it comes with the usual concoction of MSG and pepper with lime that no plate of loc lac is complete without. The chicken itself is surprisingly tender, and the loc lac sauce was sweet without the usual garlic taste. With your little MSG it tastes great, even with the missing garlic flavours. Ice cream is also available at a steal for US$1.20. The Khmer gangsta/businessman next to me seemed particular happy with his.

Overall cup cafÈ serves up quality food at affordable prices, in a setting that doesn’t have the feel of a cheap nasty restaurant. Add to that the entertainment of the rich (and powerful?) Khmers chatting away on their walkie talkies and you have a great and you’ve got yourself a fun filled lunch hour. The staff are pleasant, sometimes the English is not so good but you’ll get there in the end.

Cup Cafe South of Pencil on Sisowath, behind Hong Kong Centre off Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 012 859 666