Le Samot
It's been a while since I featured a restaurant so today I thought I’d share a wonderful new restaurant that has recently opened up in Toul Kork, Phnom Penh. Inspired by the sea, Le Samot, which literally translates to the Sea in Khmer, is a [mostly] seafood restaurant founded by restaurateur Fong No. Born and Bred in Koh Kong province, Fong’s passion for food started as a child during hours spent watching his grandmother lovingly prepare food for the family.
Even though a career in hospitality wasn’t always on the cards, having spent much of his teens and 20s in Australia and being immersed in a rich culinary environment, Fong decided to sell his Brisbane-based restaurants and move back to Cambodia to create something he felt was missing in the local scene. He opened his first Cambodian-based restaurant in his hometown during the height of Covid, but thanks to a supportive community and an inspiring menu the restaurant was able to sustain itself, and allow Fong to set his mind on creating something in Phnom Penh.
Le Samot is somewhat of a homage to his grandmother, who’s patchwork of khmer fabrics are framed and hung proudly in the restaurant's main dining room. The menu itself features lots of seafood, hence the name, but there are meat and veg options for those who prefer something a little less, well, fishy. What makes Le Samot unique is not so much the choice of ingredients, but rather the way it’s been prepared. Take the crab nom bank chok, for example. Traditionally, Nom Bank Chok is made using fresh water fish and a fragrant green broth. Here Nom Banh Chok features stone crab and a curry-like broth. There’s also the mussels with basil stir-fry, which is inspired by the popular Thai dish Pad Gra Pao.
What is clear in Le Samot’s menu is not only Fong’s passion and commitment to using locally sourced products, but also the influence of his up-bringing and surroundings. Koh Kong is located on the southernmost part of Cambodia and borders Thailand to the west. The influence of Thai cuisine and cooking styles is evident in the menu, but Fong has added his own unique touch.
I am a huge foodie, and it's not often I meet people who match my enthusiasm for eating and talking about food. Fong is one of those people, and his restaurant Le Samot is a manifestation of that.
