The short answer
Malis: what visitors should know first
Go if you want one sit-down Khmer meal in a more formal setting and are happy with meat or fish on the table. Vegetarians should phone ahead, since none of the pages we read describes a vegetarian menu. Check hours and prices first.
Useful facts
Malis facts at a glance
- Location
- 136 Preah Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh
- Dining style
- Sit-down Cambodian (Khmer) restaurant
- Price signal
- Not stated by the pages read; ask for the menu
- Signature order
- Try: a few shared Khmer plates; ask staff to suggest
- Good for
- A planned Cambodian dinner or an introduction to Khmer food
Why it matters
Why Malis is worth your time
Most visitors to Phnom Penh see the Royal Palace, the markets and the museums, and then eat wherever is closest. Malis is one of the few restaurants that several independent guides point to for Khmer food specifically, which makes it a reasonable answer to the question of where to try Cambodian cooking in a proper setting.
For an Indian family it also works as a calm evening after a long day of sights. You can order several dishes to share, take time over the meal and let older relatives sit comfortably. The honest limitation is that it is a mixed menu, so strict vegetarians will need to ask questions and may prefer one of the vegetarian restaurants already listed in this guide.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Named by several guides
Four of the pages we opened list Malis for Cambodian food.
- 02
Boulevard address
Number 136 on Preah Norodom Boulevard is easy to give to a taxi or tuk-tuk driver.
- 03
Share and sample
Ordering a few plates to share lets the table try several Khmer dishes in one sitting.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Four of the guides we opened name Malis, and they describe it a little differently: one as new-age Cambodian, one as traditional Cambodian, one as Khmer, and one as a sound introduction to Cambodian cooking or a dressier night out. The common thread is that it is a sit-down Khmer restaurant on Preah Norodom Boulevard, number 136, rather than a street stall.
The pages do not list dishes, so do not arrive with a fixed order. Ask the staff to recommend a few Khmer plates to share between the table and say at the start what your party does not eat. Many Cambodian dishes use fish sauce or shrimp paste, and none of the pages we read describes a vegetarian or Jain menu, so vegetarians should ask directly what can be cooked without them.
Treat this as a planned meal rather than a quick stop. Phone ahead or check a current map listing for hours, then arrive by taxi or tuk-tuk. Prices were not stated in the pages we read, so ask for the menu before ordering and settle the bill method in advance.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Reserve a table for dinner
- Ask whether any dish can be made without fish sauce or shrimp paste
- Ask for the menu and prices before ordering
- Take a taxi or tuk-tuk to the door
- Confirm opening hours before you go
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- 136 Preah Norodom Boulevard, central Phnom Penh
- Time needed
- About 1.5 to 2 hours
- Best time
- Dinner, or lunch if you prefer to avoid late nights
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Norodom is a wide, flat boulevard and you can arrive by taxi or tuk-tuk at the door. We could not verify steps, lifts, toilets or noise levels, so ask when booking and request a quiet table.
- Tickets and access
- Booking is sensible for dinner or a group, though none of the pages we read states a reservation policy. Confirm hours, prices and dress expectations by phone or on the restaurant's own channels.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Malis
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Norodom is a wide, flat boulevard and you can arrive by taxi or tuk-tuk at the door. We could not verify steps, lifts, toilets or noise levels, so ask when booking and request a quiet table.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Malis vegetarian?
No page we opened says so. It is a Cambodian restaurant with no diet tag here, so ask about meat, fish sauce and shrimp paste.
Where is it?
Two guides give 136 Preah Norodom Boulevard.
Do I need to book?
None of the pages we read states a policy, so booking for dinner is a sensible precaution.
Sources and further reading
- Rusty Compass: Phnom Penh Khmer eating
- 12go: Phnom Penh food guide
- Travel Belles: Phnom Penh eat, drink, shop
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
