Noshwellmenu

[rating:3]

Angkor is a restaurant, so named for a historically significant region in Cambodia, which echoes the origin of the cuisine they serve. It sits in the middle of a lonely plaza on the corner of 33rd and Victoria sandwiched between an aging laundromat and a relatively new Chinese restaurant.

(Above: Cambodian Seafood Noodle Soup.)

Inside, the family operation is minimal; a well kept hole in the wall. We peer inside the menu to review our options. Case and I each ordered the seafood noodle soup — mine with rice noodles, Cases’ with egg noodles. The broth at Angkor is distinctively sweeter, but clear and flavourful. The noodles are well cooked and the dish is generously garnished with chunks of prawns, liver, pork and fried garlic. A jar of pickled peppers sits at the table, awaiting daring patrons to partake.

(Above: The infamous fried chicken.)

We couldn’t pass up the fried chicken: wings and drumettes coated in a sweet, salty and garlicky batter and served with a side of lime and pepper dipping sauce. The flavour was certainly spot on, but it was difficult to overlook the sheer density of the batter.

For dessert, we had a banana, tapioca dessert: chunks of fried banana bathed in a light coconut milk with tiny pearls of tapioca. The crumbled peanuts provided a nice textural counterbalance — a nice surprise.

(Above: Banana, Tapioca dessert swimming in coconut milk and sprinkled with a dusting of peanuts.)

Our meal came to just over $30 with taxes and tips — which felt a bit pricey. The menu at Angkor is very similar to, so comparisons with Chinatown’s Phnom Penh will be inevitable. But Angkor has its own thing going on, and will ultimately survive on its own merits.

Perfect for: an alternative to Phnom Penh.

The Details

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