April 2026

Kampot for Vegetarians

By Jason for Discover Kampot

A guide to eating vegetarian in Kampot, Cambodia.

If you’re vegetarian, Cambodia can feel like a challenge. Almost every Khmer recipe starts with fermented fish (prahok), fish sauce, or shrimp paste. Dishes that look vegetable-based often aren’t.

Skip to restaurants

That might surprise you, given Cambodia is a predominantly Buddhist country. But Cambodian Buddhism doesn’t require vegetarianism. Monks must beg for their food and can’t refuse what they’re given, even if it contains meat. The one exception is food where an animal was killed specifically for them. Outside the monastery, most Cambodian dishes include some animal product.

Most people will learn the Khmer phrase awt sach (no meat). It’s a start, but it won’t get you far. Fish, seafood, fish sauce, and shrimp paste aren’t considered sach, and they’ll often still be in the dish.

The phrase that actually works is ma-hope booah (vegetarian food). Ma-hope means food, and Bouha is a religious person, either a monk or kru (traditional healer and practitioner), who follows a spiritually restricted diet that cuts out meat, fish, and all animal products.

The two phrases worth knowing are:

mean ma-hope booah tay? (មានម្ហូបបួសទេ?) - do you have vegetarian food?
klaen ma-hope booah (ឃ្លានម្ហូបបួស) - I want to eat vegetarian food

Pronunciation is tricky, so use Google Translate for the audio. Google Translate can be difficult as well though. “I am a vegetarian” will translate as “I am a monk.” Use the term “Vegetarian Food”, as in “I only eat vegetarian food” or “Do you have vegetarian food?” and it will translate correctly.

Fortunately, Kampot is a tourist town. There are enough good vegetarian restaurants that you won’t have to negotiate every meal.

Fully Vegetarian

Deva is a fully vegan cafe run as a social enterprise of the Banteay Srey Project, which trains and employs young Khmer women from rural communities. Vegan amok, jackfruit curries, dumplings, bao buns, pad Thai, Western breakfasts, and a smoothie list that includes things like a carrot cake smoothie that actually tastes like carrot cake. Produce comes partly from their own organic garden. No MSG.

The space has swings for chairs, a juice bar downstairs, and a breezy loft upstairs. Resident cats. Closed Tuesdays.

A quiet vegetarian cafe with a mostly vegan menu. The kitchen is run by the owner Sophie, who also bakes the bread and buns in-house. The menu is a mix of Western and Khmer: avocado toast, scrambled tofu, falafel burger, smoothie bowls, pasta, salads. Smoothies are $1.50. Soy milk at no extra charge.

Free WiFi. Open Monday to Saturday, 7:30am to 5pm.

Simple Things is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant with a yoga studio attached, and it’s one of the best restaurants in Kampot overall, not just for vegetarians. The menu leans Mediterranean: falafel with hummus and pita, a big Mediterranean breakfast with olives, feta and eggplant caviar, Turkish scrambled eggs, vegan cheesecake. Smoothies are all-natural, no added sugar, with around fifteen options.

Upstairs there are books, board games, and a quiet space that makes it easy to stay longer than planned. Dog-friendly, free WiFi.

A fully plant-based restaurant attached to a guesthouse. The menu includes Cambodian and international dishes: vegan amok, Bodhi Bowl, all-day breakfast, mango sticky rice, and an extensive smoothie list alongside locally-made kombucha and water kefirs. Part of the proceeds go to local animal charities. Closed Wednesdays.

Vegetarian Friendly

Most tourist restaurants in Kampot have vegetarian options, but these two are worth knowing about.

A riverfront noodle shop serving fresh hand-pulled Chinese noodles and handmade dumplings. The menu is short and focused, everything is made in-house, and most dishes are $2 to $3. You can watch the noodles being pulled from your seat. Vegetarian options available.

Greek and Mediterranean food made entirely from scratch: hummus, shawarma, bread, and sauces are all prepared fresh daily. If you’ve been eating Khmer food all week, this is the reset you want.

Indian Food

Unlike Cambodia, India is a vegetarian’s paradise, and Kampot has some amazing Indian restaurants, mostly run by Indians. Here’s just a few options.

Run by Simon from Kerala, with years of experience in hotel kitchens. One of the best Indian restaurants in Kampot. The vegetarian thali and paneer are the standouts for non-meat eaters.

The thali platters are the thing to order: six dishes, generous portions, around $7. Vegetable thali is excellent. The cheesy garlic naan and mango lassi are both worth ordering. Halal certified.

Rich, flavourful curries without the heaviness. Good daal, vegetable masala, and samosas for vegetarians. Masala chai for $1. Indoor air-con and outdoor seating.

Cheap and cheerful North Indian and Pakistani food. The owner will happily adjust dishes to suit you. The chana curry is fully vegan. Outdoor seating, dog-friendly terrace. Halal.

Fully Vegetarian

Vegetarian Friendly

Indian Food

Things Worth Knowing