04/15/18
Marinated Butter Beef at Phnom Penh in Vancouver, BC. It’s always a good sign when a hole in the wall joint has a long line, so I had a feeling I was in for a good meal when I saw the line grow 10 deep by 11:30 a.m. Fortunately, I was with someone in the know, and we ordered several of the dishes that Phnom Penh is acclaimed for by locals and foodies alike. The picture doesn’t do justice to this dish - so simple, yet so unique. Thin slices of fresh rare beef marinated with a medley of ingredients and flavors that burst into your mouth with a taste sensation that is not only memorable, but will want you coming back for more. Resting on top of the beef was cilantro and fried garlic, which gave it a nice crunch. While none of the servers (we asked three of them) would reveal what exactly the beef was marinated in, my best guess at the ingredients are fish sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, butter, salt, sugar and lime juice. Served at room temperature, the dish is sweet, sour, and tangy all at the same time and unlike like any dish I’ve ever had. Phnom Penh is open for lunch and dinner and serves Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine in the heart of Vancouver BC’s Chinatown. If you’re ever in the Pacific Northwest, grab your passport and go straight across the border for a Bigtime dish at a Bigtime place! I also loved their chicken wings, which were outstanding!