Underwhelming Bai Sach Chrouk — expected more

I was looking forward to Bai Sach Chrouk here based on the reputation. The reality was disappointing. The fresh with lemongrass character that makes this dish special was muted — either from shortcuts with kroeung lemongrass paste or from scaling up production at the expense of quality.

prahok is a uniquely Cambodian ingredient that foreigners find challenging but locals consider essential. The a Phnom Penh riverside restaurant setting I was hoping for wasn't quite there either. sugarcane juice was available but not suggested appropriately. I've had much better versions elsewhere. Two stars because the dish concept is sound; the execution let it down.