Malis (Norodom Boulevard) — Restaurant in Khan Chamkar Mon

Absolute dissapointment. Way, way below the online recommendations…can’t find what may have impressed the foodies who highly recommended this place…capitail fail for dinner tonight! If you want to run reputable high end expensive reataurant, you should be able to afford welll English spoken waitresses. Those who are able to discuss the menu with guests and then follow the agreed order. You cannot serve a meal that is not ordered, and without doubt, you shouldn’t be serving express restaurant food, as there is no way that in 3 minutes after the order, three completely different meals hit your table…and on the top, serving the 18 $ pork stew with no pork in it, except the bones and cartilage and without any taste. Serving the 10$ starter scallops without actuall scallop meat, or that minimized so much that you can’t feel it when eating, and so stuffed with green pepeprcorn that you can’t taste any other flavor in it…yet another starter with 11$ deep fried crab meat (or hard to figure out actually if it were crab meat in it, at all and laid over the tasteless fried noodle, that is complementary to nothing…and to sum the dinner experience with a 31$ duck, with a superiorly dry dark rice pile, thrully inedible, along the way with the too dry duck mostly wings and other piecea where only the skin dominated, bringing a trully painful experience. On the good side, I will mention the hospitable young lady with glasses which was settling us to a nice table, on the side of the pond. Actually, all ladies who serve were nice indeed, but cooking is desperatly bad. Additionally, I must say, this rating was meant to be only with one star, point but as they have realized that their dinner was not enjoyable by any means, when I inquired to pay they stood up and offered to coveri the dinner. For that only, I am rating this reataurant with 2 (two) stars…but I am sorry, not paying it, didn’t make up for my and my wife’s very bad dinner. I simply needed to share this food nightmare experience with future foodies visiting Phnom Penh, to avoid this unreasonably expensive and obviously not up to its ratings reataurant. You’ll be better off with a basic cheap street food, where you will have a flood of tastes and not spend even the fraction of expected dinner in Malis… I wish that restaurant’s managers, cooks and owner may use this review to learn of their mistakes and improve the entire experience to someone else...

Malis is a tourist trap, do not come here the chef/owner no longer cares about the quality of service and food. I came here at 2pm, parking was full but the restaurant was empty. I sat down and that is when all the disrespect began, wait staff attempted to speak English but failed at doing such. In an attempt to make it easier for them my wife spoke Khmer to them and that is when the disrespect started, the disdain malis staff has for their people is an example of poor leadership by chef/owner who caters for foreigners rather than his own people. We sat down at a table with no tableware, I had assumed it was because the table was just cleaned but later we would find out that wasn’t the case. my wife ask for a high chair for our son, just a look and no response, then as we ordered, mind you by this time the restaurant is empty at this point so no should they mess up my order but surprise surprise the one dish that is the staple of malis that the chef prides himself on, the amok, was somehow absent from my order, it wasn’t even a large order just 5 dishes. So the dishes start coming, no tableware until we asked, no water refills unless we asked even though I bought the bottle of water, it’s not free water it’s my water so leave it on the table with me if all 5 of your female wait staff are going to be lazy and disrespectful and just walk by me then leave the water on my table. Then we ask for rice which they seem hesitant to give even ignoring my child until we told them to give him rice too, does Malis think kids on deserve food? The food was mid tier, good mango salad but anyone can do that, the beef sticks were sub par I’ve had better in Stockton, CA, prohok theis with shrimp is absolutely disgusting the flavors and textures clash, the thuk kreung was like dirty mop water no flavor or texture l, Battambang style is superior and the 5th dish is the amok that I was not able to taste due to extremely poor service. Then when my ask for the a hand towel which all the tables around us had, apparently my family wasn’t good enough to receive one so instead they gave us food stall napkins to clean our hands. Overall this is the worse restaurant in Cambodia if you are Cambodian completely disgusting behavior by Malis. YouTube influencer, Gordon Ramsey and everyone else should be disgusted for promoting such a culture hating location. But parking...

Malis Restaurant is undoubtedly one of the best dining experiences in Phnom Penh, offering an exquisite blend of traditional Khmer flavors with high culinary standards. Every dish is crafted with precision, showcasing the richness of Cambodian cuisine in an elegant and inviting setting.

Must-Try Dishes:

Fish Amok – A Cambodian classic, Malis’ version is creamy, fragrant, and perfectly balanced with coconut milk and kroeung (Khmer curry paste). The delicate steamed fish melts in your mouth, making it a must-order.

Pork Kulen – This dish features succulent pork sourced from the sacred Kulen Mountain, a historically significant region in Cambodia known for its pristine forests and high-quality free-range pork. The meat is tender, smoky, and packed with flavor, reflecting the natural richness of its origin.

River Lobster Sour Soup – A delightful harmony of tangy and savory, this soup is brimming with fresh river lobster and aromatic herbs. The broth is light yet deeply flavorful, a true testament to Khmer culinary artistry.

Salt-Baked Goby Fish – Juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned, this dish highlights the natural sweetness of the goby fish. The salt-baking technique locks in moisture, creating an unforgettable texture.

Saraman Beef – One of Cambodia’s most beloved curries, Malis’ Saraman beef is rich, aromatic, and slow-cooked to perfection. The tender beef, infused with spices and coconut milk, is simply divine.

With its impeccable service, refined atmosphere, and dedication to preserving authentic Khmer flavors, Malis Restaurant deserves to earn a Michelin star someday. Whether you're a local or a traveler seeking the best of Cambodian cuisine, Malis is a dining experience not...