Overview
Here in Melbourne, like most Aussie cities, Cambodian cuisine hasn't enjoyed anywhere near the representation of its more popular Southeast Asian cousins. But brother and sister duo Ivanra and Linna Hun are out to change that, making it their mission to acquaint us all with the bold flavours of their heritage.
The pair is behind what's thought to be the city's first dedicated Cambodian restaurant, recently unveiling their debut venture Cambodia's Kitchen on Russell Street.
For the uninitiated — and there'll likely be a few — Cambodian fare plays it subtle with the spice factor, packing its flavour punch with bold ingredients like lemongrass, lime leaf, garlic and galangal. There are influences from neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, but the cuisine boasts plenty of its own personality, too.
Here at Cambodia's Kitchen, the Huns' long-held family recipes and use of traditional techniques deliver an accurate reflection of what's being cooked up on the streets of Phnom Penh.
Linna's menu draws plenty of inspiration from her own mother's and grandmother's cooking. The signature Cambodian rice noodle soup is the hero offering — a pork broth base loaded with minced and sliced pork, pork liver, and homemade beef balls, fish balls, fish cake and pork loaf.
Elsewhere in the Cambodian classics lineup you'll find a thick beef noodle soup with stewed beef, tripe and beef balls; a dish of marinated fried pork or chicken, served atop rice with sliced omelette, pickled vegetables and a homemade fish sauce; and a beef drop noodle stir-fry.
Soup-lovers have plenty of mix-and-match options, too, with a slew of broths, noodle varieties and toppings to customise their perfect bowl.
Find Cambodia's Kitchen at 175 Russell Street, Melbourne. It's open daily from 11am–12pm.
Images: Griffin Simm