Kampot has something no other town in Cambodia can offer: the highest-quality fresh pepper in the world, right at your fingertips. Pair it with fresh crab from the Gulf of Thailand or fold it into a coconut amok curry, and you get a flavour you won't find anywhere else on earth. Kampot food doesn't just fill your stomach — it fills you up in the quiet of a river-side restaurant among the old colonial buildings.
#1 Kampot Pepper Crab
The dish that put Kampot and Kep on the international map. Saltwater crab fresh from the Gulf of Thailand is stir-fried with fresh green peppercorns picked from nearby farms the same day. The bright, tingly heat of the fresh pepper is nothing like dried pepper — it carries a floral, fruity note that's unfamiliar at first but instantly addictive. Eat it with hot steamed rice or French bread; it's the kind of meal that's worth the trip to Cambodia on its own.
- Ask for fresh green peppercorns rather than dried. Good spots have fresh pepper from January to March; the rest of the year they use black or red pepper.
- Price depends on the size of the crab and the restaurant. One medium crab runs US$8-15 at local places; spots in Kep cost 20-30% more.
- Order 2-3 crabs for a group of four, with blanched vegetables and plain rice so the meal doesn't sit too heavy.
#2 Fish Amok
Amok is considered Cambodia's national dish and appears on UNESCO's list of world food heritage. It's made from freshwater or sea fish steamed in a thick, fragrant coconut curry paste with herbs, served in a folded banana-leaf cup. The flavour is soft and gentle, scented with kaffir lime and turmeric, and not very spicy — suitable for every age. In Kampot it's often steamed in a coconut shell instead of banana leaf, and restaurants near the sea use crab or prawns in place of fish.
- The crab or prawn version costs about twice as much as fish, but it tastes quite different — order both and share.
- Local spots that cook for Khmer diners tend to be richer than the more tourist-focused ones. Ask to see it before you order.
- Eat it with hot steamed rice and fresh vegetables to balance the fairly rich coconut flavour.
#3 Nom Banh Chok
A breakfast Khmer people have eaten every day for hundreds of years. Soft, smooth rice noodles are served with a green broth made from lemongrass, galangal, shrimp paste and turmeric, with a gentle sourness and the scent of fresh herbs. It's topped with a variety of fresh vegetables like lotus, long beans and mint. The flavour is light and easy, perfect for breakfast before sightseeing. In Kampot there's a seaside version with boiled prawns added, which is better than the original in several ways.
- Buy from a roadside stall in the morning, 6.00-9.00 am, for noodles made fresh the same day. A bowl costs US$1-2.
- Ask for extra fresh vegetables, since stalls usually add fewer for tourists.
- If you have a sensitive stomach, skip the raw lotus — it's hard to wash and may carry dirty water. Ordering only the cooked vegetables is fine.
#4 Khmer Iced Coffee
French-style Khmer coffee handed down from the colonial era. Strong robusta is brewed through a traditional cloth bag, then poured over sweetened condensed milk in a glass of ice. The taste is rich and just sweet enough. In Kampot there are still coffee shops inside colonial buildings 70-80 years old that have been open since the grandparents' generation — sitting back in that old setting with a river view is an experience you can't find in Bangkok.
- Many old coffee shops in the Old Town still use the original brewing gear and recipes from the parents' generation. Look for signs noting the shop's age.
- Hot coffee (no ice) is stronger and shows the coffee's true flavour better. Order both side by side to compare.
- Expect US$1-2 a glass. Any shop charging more than US$3 is one aimed specifically at tourists.
#5 Stir-Fried Prawns with Black Kampot Pepper
The choice for anyone who wants to try Kampot pepper in a dish that doesn't involve cracking crab shells. Large fresh sea or river prawns are stir-fried with garlic and coarsely ground black Kampot pepper. The hot, tingly heat of the black pepper soaks into the soft, juicy prawn meat, and the thick, rounded sauce is excellent over rice. It's the dish where Kampot pepper shows itself most clearly after the crab — and it costs half as much.
- Ask for fresh prawns from the chiller, or ask whether they came out of the sea today. Fresh prawns have bright orange heads and firm shells.
- Say how much pepper you want. Most places range from very mild to very spicy; black pepper has a tingly heat quite different from red.
- Eat it with Khmer garlic fried rice or French bread to soak up the fragrant pepper sauce.
#6 Num Pang (Khmer Baguette Sandwich)
A legacy of the French colonial era that became a national Khmer street food. A baguette, crisp outside and soft inside, is filled with Khmer pork sausage, pickled carrot and papaya, fresh coriander, and peanut or chilli sauce — sour, sweet and salty in a single bite. It's very cheap at just US$1-2 and very filling, perfect for breakfast before a full day out. In Kampot there's also a version with pâté, pork sausage and a boiled egg that feels like being in an old-time Paris shop.
- Buy from a roadside stall in the morning, 6.00-9.00 am; cheaper and fresher than the shops in the market.
- Try asking for pork sausage, pâté and boiled egg all together — this triple combo is the one locals love most.
- If you have a sensitive stomach, skip the raw pickled vegetables; just fresh vegetables, coriander and chilli sauce is just as good.
Where to stay in Kampot for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Kampot — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
Amber Kampot
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The Columns
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Rikitikitavi
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Les Manguiers
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Tours, tickets & activities in Kampot
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Kampot — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Before You Pack
Kampot food tastes best eaten fresh by the river. Many of the good restaurants have no English signs, but the locals are warm and always happy to help you order. Don't forget to pick up some fresh and dried pepper to take home — it will make the food in your own kitchen better overnight.