Though it looks like a banh mi, Cambodia’s num pang is actually its own delicious thing.
The biggest similarity is the bread: they both use light, crispy baguette-style loaves that are basically perfect for this type of sandwich.
I’m not entirely certain what was in there (like with my last meal here, I had to find this place on my own by wandering around and seeing what was popular with the locals), but it definitely had fatty pork, a sweet pickled slaw, chili sauce, and slices of… tofu, maybe?
Whatever it was, it was extremely tasty. The bread was nice and crispy on the outside without being overwhelming (no need to worry about cutting the roof of your mouth here) with a soft, chewy interior. And all of the other elements are really satisfying. It’s definitely sweeter than a classic banh mi, but it works.
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Good stuff! I used your directions and actually found the guy still there…4 months later and at 9:30 pm. Num pang was my absolute food goal for Cambodia. Thanks for the lead. Not as good as the one I had in NYC, but for 50 cents and in Siem Reap? Not bad at all.
Nice! Finding good food in Siem Reap is weirdly difficult online, so I’m glad I was able to help.