Kampot Night Markets Guide
Kampot's evening food scene is intimate and uniquely flavorful—riverside stalls serving pepper-crusted seafood, seasonal durian from the surrounding hills, and quiet charm that larger cities cannot match.
Overview
Kampot's night market scene is small but perfectly formed. Unlike the sprawling markets of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Kampot offers a quieter, more intimate evening food experience centered on the riverside promenade and the streets around the Old Market. What the town lacks in scale it makes up for in flavor—this is the heartland of Kampot pepper, fresh river seafood, and Cambodia's finest durian.
The town's growing expat community and steady trickle of travelers have encouraged a small but vibrant evening food scene. Weekend nights are the liveliest, when the riverside night market draws families and visitors to browse grilled seafood, fried noodles, and sweet treats under strings of colored lights.
Kampot Night Market by the River
Location: Riverside promenade, near the Old Bridge
Hours: 5 PM – 10 PM (Friday–Sunday, some vendors on weekdays)
Best for: Sunset dining, seafood, local atmosphere
The main Kampot Night Market occupies the riverside promenade near the old French bridge. On weekend evenings, 20–30 food stalls set up along the waterfront, offering grilled seafood, noodle dishes, fruit shakes, and local snacks. The setting is beautiful—the Praek Tuek Chhu river reflects the sunset while you eat, and the pace is wonderfully relaxed.
This is the best place in Kampot for affordable pepper crab. Several stalls specialize in whole crabs stir-fried with fresh green Kampot peppercorns, served with rice for just $4–6. River prawns grilled over charcoal are another highlight ($3–5), as are the barbecue pork skewers that draw long queues.
- Pepper crab (kdam chaa): Whole crab with fresh green peppercorns and garlic ($4–6)
- Grilled river prawns: Giant freshwater prawns over charcoal with lime sauce ($3–5)
- BBQ pork skewers: Marinated pork on bamboo sticks ($0.50–1 each)
- Fried noodles (mi cha): Wok-fried egg noodles with vegetables and choice of protein ($1.50–2)
Sunset Timing
Arrive at the riverside market by 5:15 PM to grab a spot with a view. Kampot's sunsets over the river are spectacular, and eating pepper crab while the sky turns orange is one of Cambodia's most memorable food experiences.
Old Market Evening Food
Location: Phsar Kampot (Old Market), town center
Hours: 4 PM – 8 PM daily
Best for: Cheap local food, morning and evening snacking
The colonial-era Old Market is the heart of Kampot's daily food scene. While primarily a morning market, several vendors continue selling into the evening. The streets surrounding the market fill with food carts from late afternoon, serving kuy teav (noodle soup), grilled meats, and fresh spring rolls.
The northeast corner of the market is particularly good for evening food, where a cluster of family-run stalls serves traditional Khmer dishes at rock-bottom prices. A bowl of noodle soup with all the fixings costs just $1, and freshly grilled chicken with sticky rice is $1.50. This is where Kampot locals eat, and the quality is consistently excellent.
- Kuy teav: Rice noodle soup with pork, herbs, and bean sprouts ($1)
- Num banh chok: Khmer noodles with green fish curry ($0.75–1)
- Grilled chicken: Half chicken over charcoal with sticky rice ($1.50–2)
- Lok lak: Stir-fried beef with pepper-lime dipping sauce ($2–3)
Durian Season Stalls
Season: May – August (peak: June–July)
Location: Bokor Road, Old Market area, main highway
Price: $2–5 per fruit
Kampot province grows some of Cambodia's finest durian, and when the season arrives in May, the roadsides erupt with durian stalls. The Kampot variety is smaller than Thai durian, with a creamier texture and a sweeter, less pungent flavor that even durian skeptics sometimes enjoy.
The best durian stalls are along the road from Kampot toward Bokor Hill Station, where farmers sell directly from their orchards. The Old Market also has seasonal durian vendors in the morning. For the full experience, visit a durian farm—several welcome visitors for tastings during peak season.
Durian Etiquette
Durian is banned from most hotels and guesthouses due to its strong smell. Eat it at the stall or outdoors. Many vendors will cut the fruit open for you and provide a plastic bag for the remains. Wash your hands thoroughly after eating—the smell lingers.
Street Food Spots
Beyond the night market and Old Market, Kampot has several street food hotspots worth seeking out:
- Durian Roundabout area: The streets around the famous durian statue have evening grilled meat and noodle carts. Popular with locals finishing work ($1–3 per dish)
- Riverside road (south of bridge): Several permanent food carts serve grilled fish and seafood with river views. Less touristic than the night market ($2–5)
- Road to Kep: Seafood vendors and small restaurants line the highway toward Kep. Fresh crab and prawns at wholesale-adjacent prices ($3–6)
- Morning noodle alley: A narrow lane behind the Old Market has 4–5 breakfast noodle stalls that also open in the late afternoon ($0.75–1.50)
What to Eat
Kampot's street food and night market scene centers on fresh, local ingredients. Here are the essential dishes:
| Dish | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pepper Crab (Kdam Chaa) | Whole crab with fresh Kampot green pepper | $4–6 |
| Grilled River Prawns | Giant freshwater prawns over charcoal | $3–5 |
| Squid Stuffed with Pork | Whole grilled squid filled with minced pork | $2–3 |
| Kampot Pepper Steak | Beef crusted with cracked black pepper | $4–6 |
| Durian (seasonal) | Fresh fruit from surrounding hillsides | $2–5 |
| Num Krok | Coconut rice pancakes in clay molds | $0.50–1 |
| Kampot Pepper Ice Cream | Black pepper-infused artisan ice cream | $2–3 |
Prices & Budget
Kampot is one of Cambodia's most affordable food destinations. Night market and street food prices are lower than Phnom Penh and Siem Reap:
- Budget street food meal: $1.50–3 per person
- Night market dinner with seafood: $4–8 per person
- Pepper crab meal for two: $10–15 including drinks
- Draft beer: $0.50–1 at market stalls
- Fruit shake: $0.75–1.50
- Durian (whole fruit): $2–5 in season
Tips & Advice
- Weekend evenings are best: The riverside night market is fullest on Friday and Saturday nights
- Combine with sunset: Eat at the riverside market while watching the sunset over the Praek Tuek Chhu
- Visit during durian season: May–August transforms Kampot's food stalls with the king of fruits
- Buy pepper to take home: Night market vendors sell packaged Kampot pepper at 30–50% below tourist shop prices
- Bring insect repellent: Riverside dining means mosquitoes. Apply repellent before heading out
- Try the crab market too: The famous crab market toward Kep is just 15 minutes away by tuk-tuk
- Cash only: All night market stalls accept cash. Bring small USD bills or riel
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