Cambod-ican Kitchen
- Pittsburgh, Devoured
- Mar 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 18
You’re barhopping on the Southside. It’s 2am. You’re hungry.
No wait, you’re heading home from work. A closing shift, downtown. It’s after midnight. You’re hungry.
No, no, you’re heading to work, the graveyard shift at the hospital. It’s almost 12am. You didn’t pack a lunch.
No, no, no. You’re hustling. Working a side-gig. You see a fare pop up on the south side. It’s 1:30am. And you’re hungry.
All these roads lead to Cambod-ican Kitchen, an Asian-American food-truck turned brick and mortar some 20 years ago, while managing to retain its food truck sensibility: High caliber, takeout-worthy food, generous portions, late-late-night hours.
You can imagine the clientele walking in after 1am on a Saturday night, and if you can’t, just read the signs. Signs reminding patrons to behave themselves, a note that ‘if you can’t stand, you can’t stay’, a jar suggesting that it will feel good if you insert a tip.
There is a key for the bathroom, an atm (it’s cash only), some tables if you’ve nowhere to go.
There’s a woman at the counter who’s seen it all and heard it all. She’s kept her smile and infinite patience throughout the years. She’ll likely recommend Chicken Kebabs, marinated and grilled, served over rice or steamed lo mein noodles. Fried wontons are another specialty, offered with seafood or beef fillings. You’ll also find plenty of noodle options, spring rolls, Americanized entrees.
Their signature Moon Sauce is on many of the dishes, and it’s delish. What is that, hoisin? a bit of plum, a touch of soy? Don’t ask, just dip and dunk.
They are open early enough to pick up dinner for the family while it’s less busy. If you bring the kids in with you, just be ready to explain the sign on the tip jar.
Go if: It’s late, and you’re hungry.
Don’t go if: It’s early, and you’re not.
Your online concerns, addressed (they won't do it, but The Monster will):
“Phone orders are horrible when the Father answers. They tell you to come in 15 min and have you waiting over an hour for an order that never been put in then say sorry I'm not God. Will never come back and was a very loyal customer for years.”
ONE STAR
You’re not wrong. That’s annoying. But maybe, just maybe, we can give people a break sometimes and understand that they're all not just like us, and that if they were it would make for a pretty dull restaurant landscape.
If they suck at taking phone orders, maybe only eat there when you can go in person. Not returning after years of being ‘very loyal’ because they messed up your phone order sounds harsh. I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong. But I still go to the same dentist and they keep me waiting every time. Good dentist, though.
“I got the Shish Kabob Platter, with rice. But it wasn't a shish kabob they mixed the chicken inside the rice for some reason! How is it a shish kabob platter if it's mixed into the rice!”
TWO STARS
No skewer, no dice. I will not negotiate with terrorists.
Cambod-Ican Kitchen
1701 E Carson St
South Side
