Ingredient appreciation — what makes Samlor Korko special

What sets Samlor Korko apart is the handling of prahok fermented fish paste. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the fresh with lemongrass result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Cambodian cuisine shares roots with Thai and Vietnamese cooking but has its own distinct identity shaped by Khmer culture. The a village feast during festival season atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had fresh coconut water as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Samlor Korko is the place to start.