Num Kochay, or Fried Cambodian Chive Cakes in Phnom Penh

Num Kochay, or Fried Cambodian Chive Cakes

by Sok Lang Lort Cha, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Num kochay is a popular fried street food snack in Cambodia. These savory cakes are made from a dough made from glutinous rice flour and filled with chopped chives. The cakes are typically pan-fried until they develop a crispy exterior while remaining soft and chewy on the inside. 

They chive cakes are often served with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and chili, which adds a tangy and spicy flavor to the dish. This traditional Cambodian snack reflects the influence of Chinese cuisine on Cambodian food culture.

num kochay, or fried Cambodian chive cakes in Phnom Penh

The smell of frying chives is really appealing, and that's what drew me to Sok Lang Restaurant, a small traditional family-run noodle shop located near Cambodia's National Museum in Phnom Penh.

I had ordered lort cha there before, but I had never tried the chive cakes and decided to order them so that I could taste something new.

The num kochay arrived at my table piping hot and right out of the wok. I cut one of the cakes open to reveal the delicious, savory chive filling on the inside. The outside crust was crisp and crunchy, and the inside was steamed and soft and every bite was bursting with flavor.

They were bigger than I expected as well, and looking around the restaurant, I noticed that people were mostly sharing an order of num kochay for the table. I ended up eating two and taking the remaining two back to my hotel to enjoy later, although they were definitely best when they were served hot and crispy right out of the oil.

fried chive cake snacks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Menu and Prices

Sok Lang's menu is below along with prices in both Cambodian riel and US dollar (both accepted currencies in Cambodia). A serving of 4 num kochay costs 8000 riel, or $2 USD. As a snack, four pieces is plenty to share between two people.

Sok Lang Lort Cha menu and prices (KHR and USD)

Location

Sok Lang Lort Cha is located at 18 Preah Ang Makhak Vann St. (178), Phnom Penh. The location is excellent as are the prices.

As the name suggests, the restaurant's signature dish is actually their lort cha, or rice pin noodles, which I reviewed previously. 

Sok Lang Lort Cha Restaurant in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The restaurant is on the same road as the Cambodian National Museum and is on the corner of the road that leads to the nearby Royal Palace just a few meters away. It's a convenient location for people hitting up the most popular tourist sites near the riverfront area.

inside Sok Lang, a traditional local restaurant in Phnom Penh