I Heart Cambodia Restaurant

"For deeply flavorful dishes made in the Cambodian tradition, look no further than I Heart Cambodia. The broad menu features a variety of Khmer fare, including several vegetarian options. Highlights include the somlor kor ko, a stew made with papaya, pumpkin, eggplant, and rice, and the fish chhian chhoun, made with fried tilapia sautéed with ginger, scallions, black bean sauce, and more." - George Banks-Weston

"Since you can come here without a reservation, you don’t have to worry about waiting awkwardly in front of the restaurant with the couple who’s told you three times that they have to be home by 8:30 sharp. There’s zero chance that you’ll grab a drink after or sit around talking about planning a group trip to Coachella. When you need a place that has good food that comes out quickly, head to South Philly’s I Heart Cambodia. The food here is on the less expensive side ($15 mains) and you won’t encounter a dining room that’s super loud and crowded. The menu ranges from summer rolls with jumbo shrimp packed inside and a large beef lok lak that’s drenched in soy. For better or worse, dipping, dunking, and chewing is the most fun you’ll have all night. " - candis mclean

"You can grab breakfast at South Philly’s I Heart Cambodia every day of the week (except for Monday). And since it’s one of the best Cambodian spots in the city, you should stop by the casual mom-and-pop shop for a creamy avocado or durian shake and a bowl of noodle soup. The Phnom Penh rice noodle soup, which is packed with beef, shrimp, and green onions, is the best brothy option on the menu." - Candis Mclean, Alison Kessler

"Sarun Chan of CAGP names the Khmer plear beef salad (rare beef lightly cured in lime juice and spices), extra spicy, as his favorite salad in the city. Another wonderful option: the Sadao salad with bitter flowers, shredded pork, and shrimp atop an herbaceous bouquet of cabbage and cucumber with a tangy tamarind sauce. Make it a meal with trey chhian chhoun, a gorgeous whole fried fish in a sweet and sour black bean sauce; somlor kor kou (slow cooked sour stew made with green papaya, pumpkin, and eggplant); and some peppery-with-a-hint-of-sweet steak with grilled onions and crunchy veggies." - Diana Lu

"In a town that has more Cambodian restaurants than Mariah Carey has hits, I Heart Cambodia is one of the best. They serve up a great spread of shareable Khmer dishes, but this is also a supreme group dinner spot. Swing by, order off the massive menu, and pass around bowls of noodle soups and bright papaya salads at one of the many communal tables that always seem to be available. If you come here right after they open at 9am, they have a starter pack for your morning routine with French press coffee, avocado and durian shakes, and big streetside windows. Bring a group of your friends and you’ll be able to pull up to any of the open tables in the dining room (except maybe on a Friday night when it gets busy). Although outside you may see the streets buzzing with some sidewalk grills and a crowd of people going from shop to shop, inside the atmosphere is relaxed and easygoing. The only frantic tempo you’ll feel is how fast the food comes out after you order it. The mains here are generally big enough that you could get full from almost any of them on their own. But everything is so good you should go for a full spread of shrimp summer rolls in chewy rice paper wrapper, papaya salad, a noodle soup, and the tilapia and ginger dish. We’ve had fish many ways in this town—fish and chips, in a cheesesteak, and in tacos—but this blend of lightly breaded fish and peppery ginger is one that’s surprising and something we can’t stop thinking about. When you want some of the best pizza in town, you’ll have to wait in a line outside of Pizza Shackamaxon. Same goes for one of the best cheesesteaks at Jim’s. You’ll even have to play reservation roulette to experience Zahav, one of the top restaurants in the city. At I Heart Cambodia, though, you can have some of the best Cambodian food in Philly by just walking right in. And just like how we turn on Mariah when we can't think of what to listen to, we always turn to I Heart Cambodia when we want to go somewhere on a random weeknight that we know will never let us down. Food Rundown Papaya Salad This salad has strips of green papaya, tomato, and marinated baby crab all tossed in a sweet and tangy fish sauce. And because of its lightness and sweetness, it’s a must-order appetizer. Summer Rolls The bright clear sleeve of jumbo shrimp and leafy greens comes with a tangy peanut dipping sauce. The skin is satisfyingly chewy and they’re good to have for the table, especially since they can act as a cool down bite if you order anything with an extra spicy kick to it. Rice Noodle Soup With Chicken You’ll find green neem tree buds, tender chicken drumsticks, and clear rice noodles all swimming in this brothy bowl. The blend is comforting, full of tender chunks of meat, and it could replace our favorite comforter with how soothed we feel after downing a bowl. Beef Lok Lak These sweet cubes of beef are perfectly balanced by the salty soy and fish sauce that will linger in your mind long into the night. The dish also comes with a warm bowl of white rice that you should drench with the meat and sauce, or wrap it all up in the lettuce to make the whole thing satisfyingly crunchy. Fish With Ginger Some shareable dishes are so good that you just straight up don’t want to share them. This is one of them. Between the soft crackle of the skin and the flaky white fish, this is the entree to prioritize here. Plus, the strips of ginger give each bite a tart and peppery boost." - Candis R. McLean