What is a Cambodian wet market?
If you’ve never been to a Cambodian wet market before, they can seem a bit scary, but not to worry. They much easier to handle once you’ve learned a thing or two about them.
A wet market differs from grocery stores and supermarkets and even farmer’s markets in that they are largely open to the outdoors with a large portion underneath roofing, often made from corrugated metal.
Wet markets in Cambodia are often cramped and crowded and can be quite hot and stuffy inside with little airflow, however, the trade off is that you get the freshest, healthiest ingredients with zero processing or packaging at prices that can’t be beat anywhere else.
Is the food safe at a Cambodian wet market?
You’ll see fish, meat, eggs, and much else right out in the open and might wonder if it’s safe. Of course, it’s safe, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to stay in business! The trick is to arrive early in the morning when the market opens and the food is at its freshest. It was very likely obtained the day before or even that morning.
The main thing is the smell test. If the meat smells at all, don’t buy it. Same with fish. If seafood smells fishy, it’s not fresh. Also make sure to only get seafood that’s on ice that’s not melted. If it’s sitting in a water/ice slush, I’d avoid it. As for vegetables and fruit, they’re generally always safe.
Just be sure to wash everything before consuming or cooking. An extra tip is to make sure to wash cans of drinks as they tend to have been in warehouses with rodents, but a quick rinsing and drying of the top of the can will take care of any issues. It’s also wise to use a reusable metal straw to drink from.
If you’re getting hot food that’s served fresh at the market, you can bet it’s not only quite safe, but also amazingly delicious!
What hot food can be found at a Cambodian wet market?
There are so many scrumptious Khmer dishes to be found. Some favorites are Khuy Teav which is a hearty noodle soup with veggies and meat. It comes in many different varieties and they’re all good.
Lort Cha is another favorite. It’s made of tapered, hand-made noodles, a meat like pork or chicken, some herbs, and a yummy marinade and it’s all stir fried right in front of you and served as hot and fresh as can be.
One more dish is beef lok lak. It’s beef chunks marinated in a pepper sauce, usually using world famous fragrant peppercorns from Kampot in the south of Cambodia. It’s served with tomatoes, lettuce, and rice and is so satisfying.
There are many more things to try and it’s worth it to be adventurous and try something new each time you go!
What else can I find at a Cambodian wet market?
Besides food, you can find just about anything you’d need in a home at these markets. Clothing, fabrics, jewelry, cookware, utensils, dishes, silverware, cleaning supplies, auto parts, tools, souvenirs, health and beauty products, the list goes on!
There are even services like manicures, shaving, and tailoring. You can have a suit, shirt, or dress made to order and it will generally be less expensive from non-bespoke items you’d find at home
How do I pay for things at a Cambodian wet market?
You can pay with cash, either in USD or Cambodian Riel. If using USD, make sure the notes are in pristine condition because, even though recent legislation means banks and money changers must accept damaged bills, many vendors won’t want to go through the hassle of exchanging it and will still refuse damaged USD.
If you are an expat with an ABA bank account, you can often pay with the ABA app by scanning a QR code.
However you pay, you’ll need to learn the art of haggling. When it comes to the fresh food ingredients and the hot food, don’t haggle, just go with the given price. Everything else is fair game. Just remember that the point is to bring the price down a bit with some friendly banter and smiles. Not to get it for pennies and be competitive. It’s supposed to be fun with both people being happy with the result.
Let us know in the comments what your favorite part of Cambodian wet markets you enjoy the most. Find out more about the various kinds of Cambodian cuisine that are available. Take a look at my walkabout in Phsar Leu Market in Siem Reap!
Leave a Reply