Phnom Penh Noodle Shack, 1644 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813
Phnom Penh is a local institution that’s been featured on shows like Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern; the Cambodian restaurant first opened in 1985. The restaurant grew in size and fame over the years. It’s still owned by the same family. Expect a wait, especially on weekends.
The menu includes noodle soups with your choice of noodles (small rice, big rice, big egg, mix egg/rice), other noodles, stir-fry noodles, rice porridge, breads, drinks and extras like soup, extra noodles, eggs.
Student noodles ($13 with beef, chicken, or pork): small rice noodles, chicken, fresh bean sprouts, peanuts, pickled cabbage, scallions, a side of pork bone soup, house garlic fish sauce, and lime wedges. The pork bone soup is a must – simple but delicious. You can tell that they cooked the bones for a long time because the broth has so much pork flavor and the meat has fallen off the bones (they include a bone or two). I think it’s meant to be enjoyed separately from the noodles. The fish sauce is served on the side. Each table also has an array of condiments, including three sauces (sriracha, hoisin, chili paste), salted soy beans, pickled chilis, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Stir everything together. The student noodles are similar to pad thai. The sauce is sweet. The thin, soft rice noodles soak up the sauces and other flavors. They were generous with the boneless, skinless chicken and the chicken was tender and flavorful. The portion was generous too. It was perhaps a tad sweet for me and the sauces weren’t spicy enough. The salted soy beans were too salty. I liked the crunch of the bean sprouts and pickled cabbage.
The restaurant looks like a converted home. It has a homey feeling inside. It’s noisy and busy. They sell bottles of their sauces. The food can take awhile and you may need to wait for a table, so plan accordingly. Check in on the iPad outside the restaurant when you arrive. They’ll call your name when your table is ready.
4.5 out of 5 stars
By Lolia S.