Monorom

This casual sit-down spot makes food from across Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, but our favorite dishes are from the "Khmer Favorites" section of the menu. Order the intensely seasoned green papaya salad that's marinated with a ton of lime, chilis, and fish sauce. You can choose your own spice level, but even the spiciest option gets a balance out with herbaceous freshness from the handful of basil on top. Round things out with the prahok ktis, which is like a spicy dip that tastes what would happen if someone rolled a few chunks of pork down a mountain of lemongrass and into a pool of creamy coconut milk.

photo credit: Matt Gendal