The countdown to Khmer New Year feels different this year with more challenging news unfolding by the day. This time two years ago, many of us in Cambodia would have already mapped out our holiday plans, bought new clothes, and been ready to hop on our rides to our hometowns for a breather. Now that the Covid situation here is worsening, we can’t wait to just snooze the world away and stay indoors this New Year. It’s definitely staycation time for Team Raintree.

While a lot has changed since Covid, Team Raintree’s dedication to support local entrepreneurs stays the same. Through conversations with friends, we learn that some of their favourite restaurants are closing during the holidays, and that just like Team Raintree, people in our community will be staying at home, as well as limiting travel even within the city. To make sure everyone can still spend this holiday with a full belly, we partner with Cambodia’s largest online food & grocery delivery service NHAM24 to curate this special list of restaurants that are opening (and delivering!) during this time. It’s a win-win by sharing and ordering from these independent businesses, we can do our small part towards supporting entrepreneurs and restaurants who continue to serve incredible flavours.

In conversation with Borima Chann, founder and CEO of NHAM24, we learnt that one of the most pressing challenges they face during Covid is reimaging ways to continue to offer uninterrupted business services while prioritising the health and safety of their staff. “Our team is so proud to have played a crucial role in bridging customers to restaurants when dine-in and in-store shopping have been greatly affected. We’ve helped small and medium businesses alike to continue delivering their services to thousands of customers who are staying at home. In doing so, we’ve also created so many jobs for our delivery partners, which in turn contributes to the overall economy of the country.”

Below is our list of some of our favourite restaurants in Phnom Penh that will still be open during the holidays. From Khmer cuisine to more exotic treats, all of the restaurants listed below are on NHAM24, which means they can all be delivered right to your doorstep. (*Pro-tip: Pay digitally with Pi-pay to get FREE delivery + 5% cashback for orders of $5 and above. You’re welcome.)

All things Khmer for your Khmer New Year

From yummy street food, to gourmet pastry and premium coffee, explore below some of Team Raintree’s favourite spots to keep eating and drinking local this holiday.

Spicy seafood: Nesat Seafood House hides in the shrub of Toul Tom Poung, carrying oysters and crabs so fresh that you can almost taste the sea. Some of our favourite dishes include seafood noodle salad, but of course they also offer everyday options like burgers and salad too. See menu here.
Wholesome meals: Eleven One Kitchen offers a wide range of healthy, delicious options, from chargrilled eggplant with pork to classic fish amok, to seafood tom yum. Their wide menu also includes vegan, western and drink options. All made with locally sourced produce, no MSG, and eco-friendly packaging. If you’re ordering for the family, their CEO Soklim recommends their latest creation - 5-flavours roast chicken. See menu here.
Street treats: Lort Cha Heng Heng 118 offers all things stir-fried Khmer, from famous pin noodles to egg noodles to rice. Top any with paté, egg, or beef (or all three together combo!). Be sure to ask for extra hot sauce because it’s absolutely to die for. You can always wash it down with their iced lemon tea. See menu here.

Champion coffee, teas and smoothies: Devour some of the richest tasting coffee and more from the nation’s favourite homegrown coffee brand BROWN Coffee and Bakery. Their new flavours from their latest bean roasts include Extra Chewy, Make It Better and High on Fiber, available only during this season. See menu here.
Delightful dessert: From ansorm jruk to num seysoy to num korm, ‘Neal’ caters to all your sweet-tooth needs with their delectable and nostalgic dessert options. All wrapped in banana leaves - just like old times. See menu here.

Exotic tastes from around the world

Experience culture from beyond (on your own plate!) even with travel restrictions. Below are just a few curated by Raintree’s very own residents.

Thai: Mama Thai spice it up in BKK1 with their grilled pork neck and crab curry, amongst the classic Thai hits like pad thai and green curry. Open from lunch to dinner, with both vegetarian and vegan-friendly options available. See menu here.
Vietnamese: Magnolia Restaurant (aka Champa Restaurant) has been serving original tastes from Vietnam to Cambodia for many years, through their signature banh xeo pancakes and special pho, serving from lunch until late at night with vegetarian-friendly and vegan options available. See menu here.
Korean: Founded in 1997, Jaru delivers both traditional and contemporary Korean food in their mission to use food as a vehicle to deliver authenticity. Our favourite dishes from them include galbi pork ribs, bbq pork with fried kimchi and their Korean fried chicken with chilli is the perfect Netflix snack food. See menu here.
French: For casual bites, Khéma Go aims to fit great food into any time of your day, and new year holidays are no exception. From gourmet sandwiches, to salads, to cakes, there’s something for everyone to snack on. We love their tuna salad for a quick lunch and their killer salted caramel tart (with a massive dose of dark chocolate). See menu here.

Indian: One of the oldest and most premium Indian restaurants in Cambodia, Shiva Shakti is one of the few restaurants in the country that has received King Sihaonouk’s stamp of approval. Some of their best dishes include classic butter naan, chicken rarra and palak paneer. Of course plenty of veggie options. See menu here.
Mexican: Bringing the unique tastes of typical Mexican dishes, Mexicano and Itacate hit the spot with their incredible tempura fish tacos, cochinita pibil and so much more. See menu here.
Aussie-Italian-Western whatever: Penh. 278 caters some of our favourite comfort food from all parts of the world, serving from breakfast to dinner. We can’t decide which we love more: heavenly lamb shank that melts in your mouth or their green shakshuka perfect for brunchtimes. Bonus: weekend roasts are a huge feed and they’ve got a new wagyu burger special we’re dying to try! See menu here.

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Above are just a few of our favourite places to eat in the city. We understand that preparing a meal for the family during big holidays like Khmer New Year is also a culture on its own. So for friends who’d like to continue this tradition without going to a busy wet market and with minimal exposure to others, check out Nham24’s grocery option to access over 250 stores including large supermarkets (e.g. Kiwi Mart, Chip Mong Supermarket, and of course NHAM24 Fresh) for all your grocery needs.

We hope you find this top list helpful ahead of the annual holiday. Join Team Raintree to #stayhomestaysafe and we wish everyone សួស្តីឆ្នាំថ្មីឆ្នាំឆ្លូវ ព.ស ២៥៦៤ - a happy Sangkran.

This feature is just part of our support for the food & beverage industry that has been adversely affected by Covid-19. Check out our previous blog HERE for some inspiring stories about how 3 women are pushing boundaries for the food and drink scene in Cambodia.