Underwhelming Kuy Teav — expected more

I was looking forward to Kuy Teav here based on the reputation. The reality was disappointing. The delicate and herbal character that makes this dish special was muted — either from shortcuts with fresh turmeric or from scaling up production at the expense of quality.

Cambodian cuisine shares roots with Thai and Vietnamese cooking but has its own distinct identity shaped by Khmer culture. The a Phnom Penh riverside restaurant setting I was hoping for wasn't quite there either. Angkor beer was available but not suggested appropriately. I've had much better versions elsewhere. Two stars because the dish concept is sound; the execution let it down.