Top Rated Pizza Joints in Phnom Penh That Locals Swear By
Words by
Dara Sok
I have lived in Phnom Penh long enough to watch the pizza scene evolve from a handful of tourist-only spots into something genuinely exciting. If you are hunting for the top rated pizza joints in Phnom Penh, you will find that the best ones are not always the flashiest. They are the places where the dough is made by hand every morning, where the owner knows your name after two visits, and where the line out the door on a Friday night is made up of more Khmer families than backpackers. This guide is built from years of eating my way through the city, one slice at a time.
1. Pizzeria Aromat on Street 278, BKK1
Pizzeria Aromat sits quietly on Street 278 in the BKK1 neighborhood, a short walk from the Aeon Mall area but far enough to feel like a local secret. The owner trained in Naples before returning to Phnom Penh, and you can taste that training in every Margherita that comes out of the wood-fired oven. The crust has that perfect char and chew, the kind that makes you forget you are eating pizza in Southeast Asia.
The Vibe? Intimate and unhurried, with exposed brick walls and a small open kitchen where you can watch the pizzaiolo work.
The Bill? A Margherita runs around 12,000 to 15,000 Cambodian riel, roughly $3 to $4 USD, which is standard for the area.
The Standout? The Diavola with local Cambodian chili flakes added on request. It is not on the menu, but the staff will do it if you ask.
The Catch? They close at 9 PM sharp and do not take reservations, so showing up after 7:30 on a weekend means a wait.
Local tip: If you sit at the counter near the oven, the chef sometimes hands you a small complimentary bruschetta while you wait. This is not advertised, it just happens if you are friendly and patient.
What makes Aromat matter to Phnom Penh is its role in the BKK1 food renaissance. This neighborhood has become the city's most cosmopolitan dining corridor, and Aromat was one of the first places to prove that a small, independent kitchen could compete with the big restaurant groups. It sits within walking distance of several embassies, which means the clientele is a genuine mix of diplomats, NGO workers, and local university students from the nearby Paññāsāstra University campus.
2. Pizza Company Cambodia, Multiple Locations Including Aeon Mall Sen Sok
Pizza Company is the chain that Cambodian families actually love, and dismissing it as "just a chain" would be a mistake. The Aeon Mall Sen Sok branch is the most popular, and on any given Saturday afternoon you will see Khmer families celebrating birthdays, teenagers sharing pitchers of iced tea, and couples splitting a large Supreme pizza without a word of English spoken between them. This is local pizza spots Phnom Penh style, meaning it is woven into the daily rhythm of the city.
The Vibe? Bright, loud, family-friendly, and unapologetically commercial in the best way.
The Bill? A medium pizza runs about $6 to $9 USD, and combo meals with drinks and sides come in under $12 per person.
The Standout? The stuffed crust options, which are far more generous here than what you would get from international chains elsewhere in Asia.
The Catch? The Sen Sok Aeon location gets absolutely packed between 11 AM and 2 PM on weekends. Expect a 20 to 30 minute wait for a table.
Local tip: Order through the Pizza Company app before you arrive. You skip the line entirely and your pizza is ready when you walk in. Most regulars do this.
Pizza Company matters because it represents something important about modern Phnom Penh, the rise of a middle class that eats out regularly and expects consistency. The brand is Thai-owned but has been fully localized, with menu items that cater to Cambodian tastes, including sweet chili dipping sauces and seafood-heavy toppings that you will not find on a menu in Bangkok. It is a mirror of how Phnom Penh absorbs outside influences and makes them its own.
3. Il Forno on Street 51, Daun Penh
Il Forno has been a fixture on Street 51 in the Daun Penh district for years, and it occupies a sweet spot between tourist-friendly and genuinely good. The restaurant occupies a renovated shophouse with high ceilings and ceiling fans that actually keep the dining room comfortable even in April heat. Their oven is gas-fired rather than wood, but the dough is made in-house daily and the toppings are fresh.
The Vibe? Relaxed and slightly upscale without being pretentious. White tablecloths, but no dress code.
The Bill? Pizzas range from $7 to $14 USD, with the truffle mushroom option at the top end.
The Standout? The Quattro Formaggi, which uses a blend that includes a local Cambodian white cheese alongside the usual mozzarella and gorgonzola. It is subtle but distinctive.
The Catch? The air conditioning struggles on the second floor during peak lunch hours in the hot season. Request a ground-floor table if you are heat-sensitive.
Local tip: Ask for the "off-menu" garlic bread, which is essentially a thin-crust pizza base with garlic butter and herbs. It costs about $2 and is perfect for sharing while you wait for your main order.
Il Forno connects to the Daun Penh district's identity as the old commercial heart of Phnom Penh. Street 51 has long been a corridor for small restaurants and guesthouses, and Il Forno has survived the neighborhood's many transformations, from post-war recovery to the current building boom. It is a reminder that some things in this city endure even as the skyline changes around them.
4. Yelo on Street 240, Daun Penh
Yelo is a small, no-frills pizza place on Street 240 that most tourists walk right past. It is the kind of spot where the menu is handwritten, the tables are close together, and the pizza arrives on a plain metal tray. But the quality is shockingly good for the price, making it one of the best cheap pizza Phnom Penh options if you are watching your budget.
The Vibe? Casual to the point of being bare-bones. Think plastic chairs, fluorescent lighting, and a TV playing Khmer music videos.
The Bill? A full personal pizza runs $3 to $5 USD. A large shared pizza is around $8.
The Standout? The spicy sausage pizza, which uses a locally made pork sausage with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf mixed into the meat. It is unlike anything you have had outside of Cambodia.
The Catch? No air conditioning. Just fans. In March and April, this place is an oven itself.
Local tip: The owner speaks limited English but is incredibly welcoming. Pointing at what other tables are eating works perfectly, and he will often bring you a small plate of pickled vegetables on the house.
Yelo represents the backbone of Phnom Penh's food scene, the small, family-run operations that do not have Instagram accounts or PR teams. Street 240 is a residential corridor that most visitors never explore, and eating at Yelo gives you a glimpse of how ordinary Cambodians eat on an ordinary Tuesday night. It is also a five-minute walk from the Royal Palace, which means you can grab a genuinely local meal after doing the tourist circuit without spending tourist prices.
5. The Pizza Company at Exchange Square, Daun Penh
I am including a second Pizza Company location because the Exchange Square branch deserves its own mention. This is the one that office workers in the central business district flock to during lunch, and the energy here is completely different from the family-oriented Sen Sok branch. The pace is faster, the tables turn over quickly, and the lunch specials are aggressively priced.
The Vibe? Efficient and businesslike. You are in and out in 45 minutes if you want to be.
The Bill? Lunch sets with a personal pizza, a drink, and a side salad run about $5 to $7 USD.
The Standout? The lunch combo deals, which change weekly and sometimes include fusion options like a pizza topped with prahok-marinated chicken. It sounds strange. It works.
The Catch? The lunch rush between 12 and 1 PM is brutal. Service slows noticeably, and you may wait 25 minutes for your food even with the fast-casual format.
Local tip: The branch has a small outdoor terrace that most people ignore because it faces the street. It is actually the quietest spot in the restaurant and gets a decent breeze in the late afternoon.
Exchange Square itself is a landmark in Phnom Penh's commercial history, one of the first modern shopping centers built during the city's rapid 2000s expansion. The Pizza Company here feeds the clerks, the bank tellers, and the motorcycle taxi drivers who park outside. It is a small but real piece of the city's working life.
6. Deco on Street 51, Daun Penh
Deco is not strictly a pizza place, but its wood-fired pizzas are good enough that locals regularly rank it among the best casual pizza Phnom Penh has to offer. The restaurant occupies a beautifully restored art deco building, which is where the name comes from, and the interior feels like stepping into a 1930s Phnom Penh that still exists in the city's imagination. The pizza menu is short, only about eight options, but each one is executed with care.
The Vibe? Stylish and slightly romantic. Dim lighting, jazz on the speakers, and a cocktail menu that rivals the food.
The Bill? Pizzas are $10 to $16 USD, which is on the higher end for Phnom Penh but justified by the quality and the setting.
The Standout? The prosciutto and arugula pizza, which uses imported Italian prosciutto and locally grown arugula from farms outside the city.
The Catch? The wait times can stretch to 40 minutes on Friday and Saturday evenings, and there is no formal reservation system. You leave your name and wait at the bar.
Local tip: If you are dining alone or as a couple, sit at the bar facing the kitchen. The bartenders are chatty and will recommend wine pairings that actually complement the pizza, which is rare in this city.
Deco matters because it represents Phnom Penh's growing sophistication as a dining city. The building itself survived the Khmer Rouge era and was restored by a French-Cambodian partnership, and eating here connects you to the city's layered history, colonial architecture, French culinary influence, and the modern Cambodian creative class that now fills the dining room.
7. Rocco's on Street 178, Daun Penh
Rocco's is a small Italian-run pizzeria on Street 178 that has developed a loyal following among both expats and locals who live in the surrounding streets. The owner, Rocco, is originally from southern Italy and has been in Phnom Penh for over a decade. He makes his own mozzarella on certain days, and when he does, the Caprese pizza is something close to transcendent.
The Vibe? Warm and personal. Rocco often greets regulars by name and will come to your table to explain what is fresh that day.
The Bill? Pizzas range from $8 to $13 USD. The mozzarella-making days are worth the premium.
The Standout? The homemade mozzarella, obviously, but also the calzones, which are enormous and stuffed with a mix of ricotta, ham, and a surprisingly good local mushroom.
The Catch? The restaurant only seats about 25 people, and Rocco does not believe in rushing anyone. A leisurely dinner here can easily stretch past two hours, which is lovely unless you have somewhere to be.
Local tip: Rocco sometimes offers a "pizza and wine" night on Wednesdays, where he pairs a special pizza with an Italian wine he has imported personally. It is not always announced on social media, so you have to ask when you visit.
Rocco's is a testament to the kind of slow, personal entrepreneurship that still exists in Phnom Penh. In a city where new restaurants open and close every month, Rocco has stayed put on Street 178, building relationships one table at a time. His place is a five-minute walk from the National Museum, and many culture-minded visitors end up here after an afternoon of exploring Khmer art and history.
8. Domino's Pizza at Various Locations, Including near Wat Phnom
I know what you are thinking. Domino's? In a local directory guide? But hear me out. The Domino's near Wat Phnom has become a genuine gathering spot for Cambodian teenagers and university students, and the way they have localized the menu tells you something real about how global brands adapt in Phnom Penh. The sweet chili pizza is a Cambodian exclusive, and it is genuinely popular.
The Vibe? Fast-food casual. Bright, clean, and designed for groups of young people hanging out.
The Bill? A medium pizza is about $5 to $7 USD, and the two-for-one deals on Tuesdays draw massive crowds.
The Standout? The sweet chili chicken pizza, which is a Cambodian market exclusive and has a sticky, spicy-sweet glaze that works better than it has any right to.
The Catch? The Wat Phnom location has almost no parking for motorcycles, which is a serious problem in a city where most people ride. You will end up parking on the sidewalk and hoping for the best.
Local tip: The Tuesday deal is real and heavily used. If you go on a Tuesday after 6 PM, expect the restaurant to be standing room only with a 15-minute wait for pickup orders.
Domino's near Wat Phnom is worth mentioning because Wat Phnom itself is the founding site of Phnom Penh, the hill where Lady Penh built the first temple in 1372. Having a global pizza chain operating within sight of this sacred landmark is a perfect snapshot of the city's identity, ancient and modern, sacred and commercial, all occupying the same few blocks without any sense of contradiction.
When to Go and What to Know About Eating Pizza in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh's pizza scene operates on its own rhythm. Lunch service at most places runs from 11 AM to 2 PM, and dinner typically starts at 5:30 or 6 PM. Many smaller spots close by 9 or 9:30 PM, so do not expect late-night pizza culture the way you might in New York or Rome. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest across the board, and if you are visiting the more popular spots like Deco or Aromat, arriving before 6:30 PM is your best bet for a table without a wait.
The city's rainy season, which runs roughly from May to October, affects the pizza scene in a way most visitors do not expect. Street flooding is common in Daun Penh and BKK1 during heavy downpours, and some of the smaller, open-air spots like Yelo may close temporarily or become difficult to reach. Always check social media pages before heading out during a storm.
Tipping is not traditionally part of Cambodian dining culture, but it has become common at mid-range and upscale restaurants in Phnom Penh. Leaving 5 to 10 percent at places like Deco, Il Forno, or Rocco's is appreciated. At cheaper spots like Yelo or the chain locations, rounding up the bill is sufficient.
Most pizza places in Phnom Penh accept cash in both US dollars and Cambodian riel. The US dollar is widely used throughout the city, but you will get change in riel for transactions under a dollar. Credit cards are accepted at larger locations like Pizza Company and Deco, but smaller spots like Yelo and Rocco's are cash only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water in Phnom Penh safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
Tap water in Phnom Penh is not safe to drink. The municipal supply is treated but the distribution infrastructure is old and contamination is common. Bottled water costs about 2,000 to 3,000 riel (roughly $0.50 to $0.75 USD) at any convenience store, and most restaurants serve filtered or bottled water by default. Many guesthouses and hotels provide free filtered water refill stations.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Phnom Penh is famous for?
Fish amok is the dish most associated with Cambodian cuisine, a steamed curry made with coconut milk, lemongrass, and freshwater fish, traditionally wrapped in banana leaves. In Phnom Penh, you can find it at most Khmer restaurants for $3 to $7 USD. For drinks, try sugarcane juice from any street vendor, which costs about 2,000 to 4,000 riel per glass and is freshly pressed on the spot.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Phnom Penh?
Vegetarian options are widely available, particularly because Buddhist dietary practices mean many Khmer restaurants already offer meat-free dishes. Dedicated vegan and vegetarian restaurants number at least 15 to 20 across the city, concentrated in BKK1, Daun Penh, and along Street 51. Most pizza places, including Pizza Company and Il Forno, offer at least one vegetarian pizza, and places like Yelo will customize orders on request.
Is Phnom Penh expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier traveler can expect to spend $40 to $70 USD per day. Budget around $15 to $25 for a guesthouse or budget hotel, $10 to $20 for meals (mixing local and Western dining), $5 to $10 for transportation via tuk-tuk or ride-hailing apps, and $5 to $15 for activities and incidentals. A meal at a local pizza spot like Yelo or Pizza Company runs $5 to $10 per person, while upscale options like Deco or Rocco's will cost $15 to $25 per person with a drink.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Phnom Penh?
There is no strict dress code for restaurants or casual dining spots in Phnom Penh. However, when visiting temples such as Wat Phnom or the Silver Pagoda, shoulders and knees must be covered. Shoes are removed before entering temple buildings and some traditional homes. When greeting locals, a slight bow with hands pressed together in a sampeah gesture is appreciated. Tuk-tuk fares should be agreed upon before riding, as meters are not used.
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