Mao San, the co-owner of Angkor Cambodian Cafe, frequently tells first-time customers how flavorful the food she serves is, because they’re not familiar with the abundance of the bold aromatics that define Cambodian cuisine: lemongrass, galangal root, makrut lime leaves, turmeric and basil, which are pounded with a well-worn metal mortar and wooden pestle.

Even though Cambodian flavors are unfamiliar to a lot of people in Eugene, for San, each dish is an opportunity to share her heritage through the rich, complex flavors of the country where she was born.



Vanessa Salvia is a former food and dining correspondent for Lookout Eugene-Springfield.