Seafood Business is blooming everywhere on the streets of Phnom Penh City. While the city is teeming with seafood stalls, the difficulty of choosing the right place to eat may also arise. Seafood dishes are one of the most on-demand foods for not only youngsters, but also other demographics out there. Here in Cambodia, we indulge in ourselves in freshly made meals more than any other type of food, which explains the increasing number of seafood vendors.

(credit: Deth Vannara)

When the sun sets, there will come an emergence of one of the most busiest seafood vendors in Phnom Penh. This recommended seafood place is located just right outside the Russian Market. If you ever take an evening stroll down the Toul Tom Poung lane for food, we suggest you go all the way to the Russian Market and make a drop by at the place. Situated at the outermost north side of the market, this seafood joint goes by the name ‘’Toul Tom Poung’’.

Toul Tom Poung Seafood Stall are usually packed from 6PM onward.

My friends introduced me to the place and the back-story was kind of like a lesson. Seafood dishes don’t normally appeal to me because in most places seafood can be stored up to months in icy cold container before being served. Despite my conscience and generalization, I decided to give in and agreed to go to whichever place my friends were taking me.

 

As soon as I got to the place, I saw that the tables were packed with customers including the ones that were waiting anxiously for their takeaway.  I was rather impressed by the service because within seconds of being seated, a waiter presented himself and took our orders right away. My friends took care of the food choices because they had been here before so it would make sense that they know what is good and what is not.

Once you know this place, there's no going back. (Credit: Jerry Kit)

While waiting for the food, which wasn’t long, the steam from the grill and the smell from the clacking sound of the wok cruised down my nostril, signaling my brain cell, making me famished than ever. After about 10 minutes, my temptation was finally tamed. On the table lies a plate of stir fried crab, a steaming clay pot of glass noodle and shrimp, a whole grilled mackerel wrapped in aluminum foiled, and a plate of sweet and sour stingray.

(Credit: Kuy Souheng)

Don’t get me started, but the crab was tremendously flavorful and each pieces were cracked prior to cooking making the process of meat extraction super easy breezy. The steamed glass noodle with shrimp was also a star by itself. The glass noodle was seasoned to taste and brought to life with a dash of dark soy sauce with garlic, ginger, chives as garnishes.

Hot chili grilled crab. The smell of it will bring you to life. (Credit: Socheata)

The shrimp wasn’t so disappointing regarding the size, the freshness, the texture, and my initial expectations. The exquisite grilled mackerel was also a major bomb as far as seasoning and cooking technique go.  Finally, the sweet and sour stingray delivered a victory savory dish, but the verdicts came in, every dish was a winner in my defense.

In the end of the day, I learnt my lesson and came to realize how quality distinctive this place could be. Words can be deceiving, but the only way to find out is to visit Toul Tom Poung seafood, where flavor speaks for itself.

Location: Stree 450, At Toul Tom Poung Market (Motor Parking Lot)

Budget: $2.50 - $20.00

Opening Hours: 5:50pm - 9pm

Contact: (855) 93 382 008 / (855) 17 998 757

https://www.facebook.com/Toul-Tom-Poung-Seafood-1476142672627444/