Elia Greek Kitchen Russian Market — Restaurant in Khan Chamkar Mon

After living in Cambodia for a few months, we finally decided to try this restaurant. Aesthetically, it’s beautiful — the décor is inviting and the ambiance well thought out. The owner, who happened to be there that evening, was welcoming and seemed genuinely proud of the place.

We ordered the mixed grill for two with lamb chops and their homemade lemonade, excited after completing a 5K run for breast-cancer awareness around the Royal Palace with local ministers. Sadly, the food didn’t live up to the setting.

When the meal arrived, the lamb chops were as hard as rocks. After sending them back, we waited another 10 minutes for replacements, which were slightly better — but the rest of the mixed grill was inconsistent: about half the meat was still tough and dry, the other half just about edible. The seasoning was bland, and the chili condiment had no spice at all. They offered Tabasco, but we were hoping for genuine Mediterranean flavor, not bottled heat.

My partner couldn’t eat at all — the meat was simply too hard for her. I ended up eating what I could, mostly out of hunger rather than enjoyment. I’m not a fan of hard, fatty meat, but after a long run and no food all day, hunger won over taste.

We discreetly mentioned our disappointment to the waiter, who politely said he’d “let the chefs know.” Unfortunately, that did nothing to improve the experience. No apology, no gesture of goodwill — just the full $43 bill presented to us at the end. At that price point, in Cambodia, you’d expect at least an attempt to make things right. They also don’t accept American Express, which was surprising for such a “premium” establishment.

We walk past this place often — it’s usually full of tourists or wealthy locals. Perhaps that explains why standards slip: tourists don’t return, and local elites may not know what authentic Greek or Turkish food should taste like. Having eaten in Greece several times and in countless Turkish restaurants, this was far from authentic.

It’s a shame, because the restaurant itself is lovely and clearly successful, with a strong brand and location. But as Cambodia grows and competition increases, food and service like this won’t cut it for long.

We went home hungry and disappointed — not exactly what you’d expect from a $43 “mixed grill for two.”

Good luck to them; hopefully they raise their standards before the market does it for them.

Response to Elia's Reply:

Thank you for replying — but it’s clear you didn’t actually read our review properly.

We never complained about portion sizes or pricing; our issue was the quality and preparation of the meat, which was extremely tough, fatty, and nearly inedible. My partner couldn’t eat her meal at all, and I only ate out of sheer hunger after a 5K charity run. That’s not what anyone expects from a so-called Greek grill.

Your response completely sidesteps the feedback and shows no sense of accountability or willingness to improve. We weren’t looking for excuses — just an acknowledgment that the food quality and service fell short that day.

It’s disappointing to see such a dismissive response from a restaurant that clearly has potential. Listening to honest feedback is how great places get better — ignoring it is how they eventually empty their tables. One final point, dismissing genuine feedback instead of learning from it says a lot about how little you value...

Loved Elia so much that I ended up eating there more than three times in my recent trip to Phnom Penh. They have since expanded from the last time I was there, and moved across the road. Their new premises is way nicer, with a great atmosphere and vibes. And you really feel like you're stepped into a little beautiful enclave. The service was really great too; the staff were very attentive and friendly. And I loved that they checked in after the meal and asked how was it; these little touches make a big difference!

Now on to the food... I managed to try quite a few of their options since I went there a few times. Their greek salad was refreshing. I loved that they had two sizes, which allowed me to try it out without getting too full for the mains. The Kalamari was really great. The batter was just nice and the squid tasted fresh. They had a side sauce that paired really well with the calamari. For the mains, I had the Mousakka, beef gyro, the Chicken Souvlaki and the Beef Souvlaki. All were really good. Portions were very large and definitely filling. Their chicken and beef souvlaki were beautifully seasoned. I really enjoyed them both. The Mousakka was also really nice and tasted unique. They definitely didn't scrounge on the ingredients too. Even the sides were surprisingly nice! I loved their take on the fries, and loved that the meal came with Pita bread and yogurt. The pita was so nice, I was tempted to order more for the next day's breakfast!

One last thing, the restaurant opens late (11pm), which was really great. It's not easy to find food that late in the evening, so this was a big plus for me!

Overall, I highly recommend this place! Would be back again in my...

APR 2021:great food. we ordered to go so we can add more roasted veggies, but we got: beef gyro and chicken gyro (both come with fries), meatballs, hummus, tzatziki, and lemonade. all were seasoned the way we like. see photos. all was packaged nicely and easy to carry home. clean open air dining area. prices reflect more european amounts but still worth it for the quality of food. staff speak khmer and nice english , idk about other languages. we will return and try other dishes to take home.

OCT 2022: moved back to Phnom Penh from Siem Reap and had not been here in over a year....everything still really yummy. We got mixed plate, chocolate cherry something dessert, rizogalo, and fresh lime juice. once a month is nice to have western food😇. (See photo). We felt very taken care of, they made sure we were having what we needed and enjoying...