Russian Market Phnom Penh

Tuol Tompoung Market (ផ្សារទូលទំពូង), or Russian Market as it is known by foreigners, is a traditional Cambodian marketplace which I guess you could call them the Walmarts of Cambodia. Replace the fancy building with a sweltering barn and some wooden tables, add the hundreds of independent traders and you have everything you could possibly need for daily life in the city all under one roof. From vegetables and pigs heads through to knock-off Under Armour shirts, it’s got it all.

It also has a lot of local handicrafts, local silverware, and herbs and spices which could be great take-home items if they’ll fly by your customs officer when you get home.

What truly adds character to the place is the numerous food and snack stalls in and around the market as there really is something inviting about seeing all the fresh produce and then seeing it cooked in front of your eyes and getting to eat it on the spot.

On a side note about the fresh vegetables, they are super fresh, with most being picked that morning and sold out by the end of the day. Not many items are carried over to the next day if any. the same goes for meats, which is shocking to most foreigners to see meat unrefrigerated in such heat but this is fresh that morning and sold out by days end. I’m not sure on the science behind it but nobody gets ill and oddly many here frown on days-old refrigerated meats that you see in modern supermarkets.

Here is a video from one of Asia’s top food bloggers, Mark Wiens, and his visit to the Russian Market at Phnom Penh exploring the street food scene.

Address
St 163, Phnom Penh

Hours
6:30AM–5PM but food stalls go till late

Top Rated Hotels near Russian Market

Double Leaf Boutique Hotel – Great value near to the Russian Market with pool, restaurant, and bar.

Nearby

The unique Wat Toul Tompong is locted just 300m from the northern end of the market and seven or so blocks away is Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.

Sopanha

- more..