Organization
Udom Khmer Restaurant
Udom Khmer Restaurant is a family-owned Cambodian restaurant and event venue on East Anaheim Street, at the western edge of Cambodia Town.[1][2] It serves Cambodian snacks, desserts, Asian barbecue and the dishes found along the back streets of Cambodia. It is also one of the neighborhood's gathering places for Khmer weddings, graduations and other celebrations.[1][3][4]
History
Adam Van and his wife opened Udom a couple of months before the COVID-19 pandemic began, after about a year of renovations. Van's family came to Long Beach as refugees in the 1980s. In 2021 he also owned Monorom Cambodian Restaurant, and he said both restaurants had come through the pandemic shutdowns intact.[5] He later sold Monorom.[6][7] Van has said Udom is about four times the size of Monorom.[7]
Food
The menu runs to 10 illustrated pages, with dozens of color photographs and long notes on the dishes and on Cambodian cooking.[2] Jrouk quai is roasted crispy barbecue pork with fresh pickles and fish sauce. The fish amok is made with curry paste and coconut milk and garnished with kaffir lime leaves and red bell pepper, and the Khmer beef jerky is marinated, briefly dried and grilled.[2] Among 19 snacks and shareable appetizers are jek jien, battered fried banana with sesame seeds, and sweet-and-sour chicken feet pickled with lemongrass and peppers. There are also egg rolls, steamed barbecue pork buns and green papaya salad with dried shrimp.[2]
"Student noodles" are seared rice noodles with scrambled egg, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, scallions and sweet fish sauce. Monn cha kroeung is lemongrass chicken stir-fried with peppers, jalapeños, onions and kroeung, the Cambodian spice paste. Iced Ovaltine is among the drinks.[2] The soups include samlar machu kroeung, which L.A. Taco called the Khmer comfort soup; it also pointed to the whole roast duck to go.[3][4] The kitchen also turns out Chinese barbecue, such as roast duck and pork, and sautéed watercress.[7][8] The restaurant caters through ezCater as Udom Khmer Catering.[9]
Community
The dining room doubles as an event space, with a triple-sized screen on the back wall and a stage for live bands.[2][8] Music ranges from Khmer karaoke to DJ remixes, and karaoke nights are held every Friday and Saturday.[8] Van has said the restaurant offers live entertainment for events.[7] In 2023 Cambodia Town Inc. held its 19th Annual Gala, celebrating the Cambodia Town Business and Cultural District, at Udom.[10]
Visiting
Udom sits in a large space in a Cambodia Town strip mall, with a takeout counter and a wide central dining floor.[2] Parking is plentiful.[8] Delivery is available through Uber Eats.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Yelp, Udom Khmer Restaurant
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Press-Telegram, Cambodian food surprises deliciously at Udom Khmer (June 2021)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 L.A. Taco, best Cambodian food in Long Beach (October 2023)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Eric Kim, Udom Khmer Restaurant, Long Beach
- ↑ Long Beach Business Journal, Midtown business district not renewed (October 2021)
- ↑ TheFoodieBro24 (YouTube), UDOM Khmer restaurant (June 2024)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Yelp, Monorom Cambodian Restaurant
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Atly, best food in Cambodia Town
- ↑ ezCater, Udom Khmer Catering
- ↑ Cambodia Town Inc., activities
- ↑ Uber Eats, UDOM KHMER Restaurant