Night Food Stalls and Durian Smoothies

Night Food Stalls and Durian Smoothies in Kampot: A Real Experience from mr.hotsia

Hello, I'm mr.hotsia. Today, I'll take you to stroll through the night market in Kampot Province, Cambodia. This province not only offers a peaceful atmosphere perfect for relaxation but also many delicious foods to try, especially at the night market near the Durian Monument, which is the central point along the Kampot riverside road at night.

In the evening, a night market opens along the riverside road here. The atmosphere is quite lively, but the food stalls are not like typical single-dish or made-to-order eateries as in our country. Most focus on rice porridge, desserts, and fruit smoothies. I noticed that locals probably eat rice at home first and then come out to have light snacks at the night market instead of searching for heavy meals or single dishes far away.

The chicken rice porridge stall I tried is right near the Durian Monument. The rice porridge here has a strong aroma of Kampot black pepper. I saw bottles of black pepper on the table for customers to add as they like. Kampot black pepper has long been famous for its fragrant aroma and mellow taste. Adding plenty of it to hot rice porridge will make you understand why they are so proud of this pepper. I myself add Kampot black pepper to almost every dish I eat in Kampot.Read more about Kampot pepper here

Another must-try is the “Durian Smoothie.” The stall I visited is at the corner near the Durian Monument. The durian smoothie here contains no added sugar because the Kampot durian used is naturally sweet and creamy, especially the famous Monthong variety from this province. I ordered it with a little jackfruit added for crunchiness. The fragrant creaminess of Kampot durian mixed with finely crushed ice creates a sweet and rich flavor that is incredibly refreshing.Read more about Kampot durian here

Interestingly, they have a unique way of making smoothies that I haven't seen elsewhere: they blend in egg yolk with the fruit. If you don’t want egg yolk, you must tell them in advance because otherwise, the smoothie will include egg yolk. I tried it and it didn’t have a raw egg smell because they don’t add egg white, similar to how raw eggs are used in salad dressings. I have tried this style in Phnom Penh before, and it’s the same in Kampot. There are smoothie stalls selling fresh cut fruit topped with shaved ice, condensed milk, and blended egg yolk for extra richness.

The night market atmosphere here is simple and friendly beyond expectations. I leisurely walked around while tasting chicken rice porridge, durian smoothie, and local desserts. I saw locals sitting by the roadside eating snacks and chatting. This kind of atmosphere makes you feel like you are directly experiencing the sincerity of the people of Kampot.

For those who want a heavier meal, I recommend ordering at my hotel, Kampot Guesthouse. They have very spicy garlic fried pork with a strong garlic aroma. I ate it with hot steamed rice and it was so delicious I had to order several more plates.

If you want a change of scenery, try walking along the Kampot riverside in the morning or evening. You will find many international restaurants, including Indian food, which is unusual and interesting for such a small town. But if you truly want to taste authentic Kampot black pepper, come to the night rice porridge stall because the pepper there is fresher and newer than in regular restaurants due to high demand and many customers.

The prices are very reasonable. Overall, food in Kampot is slightly cheaper than in Thailand, which makes me confident to order without much worry. This is another reason I like to travel here because I get to eat good food at low prices without compromising quality.

For those who want to know more about Kampot Province, I recommend reading the articleTravel Information for Kampot Province, Cambodiato get an overview of this peaceful and charming town, including easy and convenient travel from Phnom Penh.

If you have extra time, don’t forget to visit important tourist attractions in Kampot such asPhnom Chhnork CaveandBokor Mountainwhich offer beautiful views and fascinating history.

Finally, I, mr.hotsia, want everyone to open their hearts and experience the flavors and lifestyle at Kampot’s night market for themselves. You will realize that the food here is not just for filling your stomach but also for creating unique memories and experiences.