Discover new dishes, flavors at recently reopened Angkor in Lombard
An internet search late last year of Chicago and surrounding suburbs showed a few Asian fusion eateries but none with a focus on Cambodian fare.
That changed in January when Eng Treng stepped in to fill the gap with Angkor Restaurant in Lombard, serving authentic Khmer cuisine from her homeland.
Various Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes round out the diverse menu that covers rice plates, kebabs, pan-fried noodles and a handful of market-priced seafood entrees.
Angkor, which occupies space that previously housed a Thai restaurant and can seat about 70, is a casual, comfortable venue - just the ticket for enjoying a meal and discovering new dishes. Large paintings on its walls show Cambodian landscapes and the world-famous 12th-century Angkor Wat temple.
When we arrived for an early dinner recently, we basically had the place to ourselves. But based on positive online feedback, it appears that Angkor has begun to cultivate a loyal following.
After taking a brief hiatus so Treng could tweak the menu, Angkor reopened Tuesday, July 5. The plan was to incorporate more Cambodian entrees while removing a select number of less popular offerings. (Gone are fried tofu, grilled chicken and pho, among others.)
Our meal started on a high note with a shared order of shrimp apple salad, a popular menu staple. This zesty appetizer featured Granny Smith apples cut to matchstick size, carrots, shrimp and cilantro tossed in an assertive sweet-and-sour vinaigrette and a sprinkling of toasted peanuts.
We were able to order two new whitefish curry entrees, kaop and amok, slated to join the lineup - both of which are definitely worth trying.
Served in a covered ceramic bowl, kaop was prepared in a green curry that derived a bit of heat from jalapeños. Whitefish mingled companionably with tiny mushrooms and drew flavor from lemon grass, fresh basil, coconut milk and chopped peanuts.
Meanwhile, a dining companion relished the amok, a milder red curry whitefish that came with mushrooms, coconut milk and collard greens. White rice accompanied both dishes.
Other entree options to consider include oxtail with potatoes in a red curry; pad thai; chicken satay; and a vegetarian stir-fry with Chinese broccoli, carrots, onions and zucchini in a black bean sauce. Among the soup choices is Khmer-style Machew Krueng: lemon grass, chunks of rib-eye, banana peppers and green papaya.
Diners also can order seafood such as crab legs, whole or headless shrimp, clams or crawfish. In addition, customers can pick their flavoring such as Cajun, lemon pepper, garlic butter or plain as well as degree of spice intensity.
Two made-in-house desserts were sampled, and we would gladly order them again. They included a warm, sweetened palm seed pudding (Cambodian comfort food?) and noum cheak, a warm, luscious steamed banana cake topped with coconut milk.
No alcohol is served. Guests can opt for coffee, hot or cold Jasmine tea or Thai iced tea, perfect to accompany a meal or dessert.
<i>Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.</i>
Angkor Restaurant
52 W. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, (630) 576-2000,
Cuisine: Cambodian/Asian fusion and seafood
Setting: Roomy, casual space in a strip mall
Prices: Appetizers: $4.95; rice, noodle, kebab entrees: $7.95 to $11.95; seafood: market price; dessert: $2.95 to $4.95
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday; lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays
Also: Carryout; free parking