Bor Bor Samchok, or Cambodian Combination Congee
by Malis Restaurant, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
During my recent visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I was excited to pay a visit to Malis, one of the city's most famous upscale Khmer food restaurants. I really wanted to visit to have a nice dinner, but the timing just didn't work out quite right with my schedule.
In the end, I decided to visit early on my last morning in town to check out Malis' breakfast menu. I ordered a bowl of bor bor samchok, a type of Cambodian congee, or rice porridge. This is a simple, hearty breakfast dish, and I was excited to see what Mallis would do with it.
 |
| bor bor camchok, or Cambodian combined congee at Malis Restaurant, Phnom Penh |
I stepped through the gates of the restaurant into a beautiful garden filled with tropical plants and water features. There was plenty of seating available inside the villa-style dining room area, but it was a pleasant morning and I decided to dine in the garden.
Read more: Kuyteav, or Pork Noodles with Khmer Coffee - traditional local Phnom Penh breakfast
Overall, I am really pleased with my experience at Malis. I'd love to visit for dinner sometime, as their dinner menu looks exemplary as well. Breakfast was filling and of a super high quality, and the service and ambiance were excellent.
I started out by ordering an iced Khmer coffee, a strong, dark brew served with a cup of simple syrup and a spear of sugarcane for an extra hit of herbal freshness.
 |
| iced Khmer coffee in Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
As I sipped my coffee and waited for my meal, the staff brought out a complementary pot of green Chinese tea and a tray containing a pile of smoky stir-fried noodles and a handful of fresh beansprouts. Immediately after, my big bowl of bor bor samchok and a tray of condiments and flavorings arrived as well. I really wasn't expecting to get such a big breakfast, and I was very impressed with the portion size.
 |
| full Cambodian breakfast at Malis Phnom Penh |
Bor bor somchok literally means "combination congee", and the name is really accurate! The rice porridge - cooked similarly to a Thai-style khao tom where the rice is still cohesive rather than boiled like in a jok - was filled with big, juicy pieces of shrimp, chewy squid, tender pork, liver, green onions, fried garlic, and more.
I added all of the bean sprouts to my bowl along with a small spoonful of spicy red chili paste for an extra kick.
I added all of the bean sprouts to my bowl along with a small spoonful of spicy red chili paste for an extra kick.
Congee may sound like a simple breakfast food, but it's one of my all-time favorite dishes, and I loved every bite of this breakfast.
 |
| Cambodian rice porridge with shrimp, squid, pork, liver, muchroom, and more |
As I was finishing up my porridge, the waiter arrived with a small bowl of some sort of mildly sweet warm porridge made from grains and seeds. I wasn't expecting a "breakfast dessert" at all, and was delighted, even though I was getting full. I enjoyed this dish a lot, and wish that I had gotten its name.
 |
| Cambodian sweet grain and seed porridge for breakfast |
Overall, I am really pleased with my experience at Malis. I'd love to visit for dinner sometime, as their dinner menu looks exemplary as well. Breakfast was filling and of a super high quality, and the service and ambiance were excellent.
The prices were reasonable as well for such an upscale place, so if you are visiting Cambodia and are looking for a nice meal that won't break the bank, I highly recommend visiting Malis.
More delicious rice porridge from across Asia
Price
Despite the restaurant's upscale vibes, breakfast meals are surprisingly affordable. The congee breakfast that I ordered cost only $5 (៛21,000) and came with a free pot of hot tea. Other breakfast dishes are between $5-10 USD).
Comments
Post a Comment