03/06/2026
✍🏼 Admin’s Note
As a Cambodian, if you ask me what my favorite Khmer dish is, I would have to say Soup Ko, or Beef Soup in English.
It may sound simple, but the taste is anything but ordinary. The very first sip feels heavenly. The broth is clear, yet incredibly rich in beef flavor. You can taste and smell the depth of it in every spoonful.
Soup Ko is usually enjoyed with fresh green vegetables, enoki mushrooms, tofu skin, meatballs, thin slices of beef, and some pork organs. Vegetables and meat alone might not be enough to fill you up, so many people add noodles to the soup. Some also crack an egg into the boiling broth for extra richness.
One thing I can never skip is adding pork brain. It might sound unusual to some people, but it’s actually incredibly creamy and delicious.
Every Soup Ko restaurant has its own dipping sauce. My personal favorite is the sweet and spicy sauce topped with sesame. Add some crushed garlic and fresh chili, and it becomes even better.
There are many places serving Soup Ko around Phnom Penh, but the two most recommended spots are រំលឹក Romlerk and Soup Ko Penh Chet.
At Romlerk, a small set costs around 29,000 Riels (about $7.25), and you can order extra meat or vegetables on the side. Soup Ko Penh Chet is a bit more expensive. I haven’t been there in a while, so I can’t remember the current prices.
So if you ever find yourself in Phnom Penh, make sure to try Soup Ko. It’s one of those dishes that truly captures the comforting and flavorful side of Cambodian food culture.
