The short answer
Surn Yi Vegetarian Restaurant: what visitors should know first
Yes, if you want a fully vegetarian menu close to the palace and the riverside. It is not tagged Pure Veg because the directory says egg may be used, so ask before ordering.
Useful facts
Surn Yi Vegetarian Restaurant facts at a glance
- Location
- Street 184, near the Royal Palace
- Dining style
- Vegetarian, Chinese and Western dishes
- Price signal
- Inexpensive, per directories
- Signature order
- Try: a noodle soup with a rice dish to share
- Good for
- Vegetarians visiting the palace area
Why it matters
Why Surn Yi Vegetarian Restaurant is worth your time
A palace morning in Phnom Penh is long on shade-less courtyards and short on food an Indian vegetarian can trust. A menu that is entirely vegetarian removes the daily argument about fish sauce and stock, and its location keeps the walk short for older travellers.
The cooking leans towards Chinese-style vegetarian food, the kind built around tofu, wheat protein and vegetable broths, rather than Indian spice. That is a useful comparison for the other Buddhist-run vegetarian places in the city. Because HappyCow marks it as suitable for vegans who accept egg, treat it as vegetarian and ask about egg and dairy for each dish.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Mock-meat dishes
The directory lists meat-style dishes made without meat.
- 02
Ordering sheet
Write item numbers on a laminated menu with a marker.
- 03
Close to the palace
Easy to fit into a Royal Palace day.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Surn Yi is a vegetarian restaurant on Street 184, half a block east of Norodom Boulevard and close to the Royal Palace. HappyCow describes veggie burgers, noodles, soups, mock-meat dishes, rice dishes and fruit shakes, and Wikivoyage lists a mix of Chinese and Western options at low prices.
Wikivoyage notes that you order by writing item numbers on a laminated sheet with a marker, which helps if you do not share a language with the staff. Check the sheet for egg-based dishes, and ask staff to confirm what a mock-meat dish is made from.
A good plan is to eat here before or after the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, when the heat is at its worst, and order a soup and a rice dish to share. Wikivoyage warns that another vegetarian restaurant stands next door, so check the sign before you sit down.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Check the sign: another vegetarian place is next door
- Ask whether egg is used
- Take a tuk-tuk in the afternoon heat
- Pay in cash
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Street 184 (Samdach Preah Thoamak Lekhet Ouk), half a block east of Norodom Boulevard
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Best time
- Lunch, or before an afternoon at the palace
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- We have no verified detail on steps or seating. The location is within a short ride of the Royal Palace, so it works as a break between sights; ask for a table near the entrance.
- Tickets and access
- No booking rule found. HappyCow lists it open daily from 7am to 8pm; Wikivoyage describes ordering by writing item numbers on a laminated sheet. Confirm the number on the door, since two vegetarian places sit side by side.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Surn Yi Vegetarian Restaurant
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
We have no verified detail on steps or seating. The location is within a short ride of the Royal Palace, so it works as a break between sights; ask for a table near the entrance.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Surn Yi Pure Veg?
It is vegetarian, but HappyCow marks it as vegan-friendly with egg, so we have not used the Pure Veg tag.
Where is it exactly?
On Street 184, half a block east of Norodom Boulevard, near the Royal Palace.
Is it Jain-friendly?
We found no Jain claim. Ask about onion and garlic in the sauces.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
