Cambodia may seem like a challenging place to be completely vegetarian, however more choices are becoming available and many places are happy to adapt dishes to suit.
A strictly vegetarian diet in Cambodia is not as difficult as it may first seem. There is loads of fresh produce and locally made tofu too. The markets are abundant in freshly made noodles and great spice and curry mixes ready to go.
In the bigger cities, there is a wide variety of cuisine with options for vegetarian dishes, such as Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, Malay, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Thai. A lot of Asian food is vegetarian or vegan by design and some famous Khmer dishes have been adapted for vegetarian/vegan consumption by substituting fish for mushrooms or tofu with delicious results! Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
has some great spots; The Vegetarian, Vibe, Eleven One Kitchen and various Indian and Burmese restaurants. There’s even Ethiopian injera at Sarah Ethiopian Restaurant and Café which serves a huge variety of healthy, vegetarian meals.
The capital also boasts a huge number of organic stores and the occasional farmers market with organic produce; including honey, milk, yoghurt and eggs. Sometimes fresh honey is available, sometimes on a bicycle vendor, sometimes in busy markets.
Some restaurants have vegan mayonnaise and veggie burgers, many coffee shops offer soy milk and other alternatives to cow’s milk. There are a lot of options in Siem Reap to fulfil your burger desires too, most burger menus include a veggy option.
Siem Reap
The Peace Café in Siem Reap, Chinese vegetarian restaurant near Wat Damnak, Chamkar Vegetarian Restaurant, Sister Srey Cafe, Moringa Bar, Green Go Garden are some old and new favorites to quell your appetite.
Considering becoming vegetarian or vegan?
Here are the top 5 reasons people choose to eat without animal products:
1. Love the animals! Many people don’t want animals to be harmed for their dinner.
2. Environment Animal agriculture and industrial dairy farming is having a devastating effect on our planet — the place we live and rely on to survive.
3. Health A vegan or vegetarian diet is considered healthier than a meat protein diet. It’s all about balance and, no, fries do not count as healthy vegetarian food.
4. Financial It’s much cheaper than a meat diet.
5. Ethics and religion In yoga the 8 limbs of yoga practice encompass the philosophy of non-violence among other things — by eating a vegan diet a person fulfills this. For many people ethical living or religious reasons are supportive of a vegetarian diet.