When I arrived in Siem Reap, I was hit with exhaustion, hunger, and a sudden wave of panic that I’d made a huge mistake. My hotel didn’t serve vegan food, and when I asked, the guy looked at me like I’d grown a second head. After some confused conversation and frantic pointing, he jumped on his bike and disappeared down the road. A few minutes later, he came back with a bag of rice and fresh vegetables to cook for me. I don’t think he fully understood what veganism was, but he tried, and I’ll always appreciate that.
That first night left me feeling like maybe this trip was going to be harder than I thought. He warned me I’d struggle to find vegan food in Cambodia, and for a moment, I believed him. But the next day, I posted in a Facebook or Threads group (I can’t even remember now), and a lovely woman told me about Peace Café and her hostel that offered vegan meals too.
The Peace Cafe deserves its own post (which I’ve already written: Peace Cafe Siem Reap ) but to sum it up: it was a total game-changer. From that point on, things got easier. In Siem Reap and Battambang, I found lots of vegan food, but most of it was aimed at tourists. And by “aimed at tourists,” I mean smoothie bowls, Western café vibes, and prices to match.
Cambodia does have vegan food, but it exists in two very different spaces:
- Vegan food for tourists: Trendy, Western-style, expensive
- Vegan food for locals: Cheap, more traditional, and often found in quieter, less-polished places
In Phnom Penh, I stumbled on a great little local spot with a full menu clearly aimed at Khmer locals, not tourists. Everything was written in Khmer, the staff spoke very little English, and there wasn’t a single “vegan” label in sight. Still, the food tasted great, cost next to nothing, and seemed completely meat-free. I won’t lie – I felt nervous about whether it was safe to eat, but I didn’t get food poisoning, so I’m calling that a win.
One thing I found surprising: not much tofu. For a region where tofu is usually a staple, it wasn’t nearly as common as I expected. That said, Khmer curry was a standout – rich, fragrant, slightly sweet, and totally worth hunting down. If you can find a vegan version, don’t miss it.
Where I struggled most was at hostels and hotels. Even when breakfast was included, I couldn’t eat it because it was never vegan. Most places didn’t understand what vegan meant or couldn’t offer anything beyond plain toast and fruit. After a few awkward “no egg, no butter, no milk” conversations, I started skipping the free breakfasts and heading out to cafés instead.
Tips for Surviving as a Vegan in Cambodia
- Stick to cafés and restaurants that advertise vegan or vegetarian food
- Download the HappyCow app – it’s a lifesaver
- Learn or save a few Khmer phrases to explain your needs
- Always ask about fish sauce, eggs, and meat stock
- Expect higher prices in tourist spots, but cheaper options do exist if you look around
- If all else fails, go for a basic survival order:
“Vegetable fried rice, no egg, no fish sauce, soy sauce please” – it’s simple, filling, and usually available even in places that don’t fully understand veganism
Helpful Khmer Phrases
- “No meat” – Ot saich (អត់សាច់)
- “No fish sauce” – Ot tuk trei (អត់ទឹកត្រី)
- “I’m vegan” – Khnhom chea neak vegan (ខ្ញុំជាអ្នកបរិច្ឆេទសត្វ)
- “No milk” – Ot tuk doh ko (អត់ទឹកដោះគោ)
- “Vegetables only, please” – Som pak peks tech (សូមបន្លែប៉ុណ្ណោះ)
Tip: save these on your phone or write them down to show people when ordering.
Final thoughts
Being vegan in Cambodia is absolutely doable, but it takes a bit of planning and patience. There were moments I genuinely panicked (like that first night), but once I found a few safe spots, it became much easier. It’s not seamless, and it’s definitely not Bali-level vegan, but it’s full of flavour, kindness, and surprises. Khmer curry, rice and veg combos, local fruit – there’s always something if you know where to look. And if nothing else, there’s always my go-to lifesaver: vegetable fried rice, no egg, no fish sauce, soy sauce please.
Before you go…
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