One of the best reasons to eat beyond the waterfront is Long Beach’s Cambodian food scene. The city is home to one of the largest Cambodian communities in the United States, and that history has made Khmer cooking an important part of local food culture.
For visitors, this offers something far more distinctive than eating another generic meal beside a tourist attraction.
What should you try?
Cambodian cooking combines herbs, fermented flavours, grilled meats, soups, noodles and influences shaped by the country’s geography and history. Menus vary widely, so rather than searching for one mandatory dish, ask what the restaurant does particularly well.
Some flavours may feel familiar if you know neighbouring Southeast Asian cuisines, but Cambodian food has its own identity and deserves to be approached on its own terms.
Explore Cambodia Town
Long Beach officially recognises a Cambodia Town cultural district along part of Anaheim Street. Eating there can be combined with exploring local businesses and learning more about the community.
I would make Cambodian food a deliberate part of a Long Beach trip rather than something you try only if it happens to be convenient. The Queen Mary tells one part of the city’s story; neighbourhood food tells another.
Restaurants change over time, so explore current local options rather than relying solely on an old list of supposedly “best” places.
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