Mamapen – A Hidden Gem in a British Pub

What’s better than a pub that serves drinks? One that serves food too. And what’s better than a pub that serves both drinks and food? Well – a pub that serves UNIQUE food.

Mamapen is the only Cambodian restaurant in London. It's located at Soho in a pub – The Sun & 13 Cantons.

Joe and I haven’t made it to Cambodia...yet – but it’s definitely on our (very long) travel list. Visiting Mamapen was our first little taste of Cambodia.

We booked for 7 pm, and by the time we got there, it was already pretty busy – every other table was taken. I guess that’s peak dinner time for most people. What we saw was, before and after our slot, our table was available for walk-ins, so the rush probably depends on the time or the day. The place isn’t big and has limited seating, so we’d still suggest booking ahead.

We wanted to try everything and couldn’t decide, so we ended up with 3 starters, 2 mains, and some jasmine rice on the side. Not too much for two, right? Haha!

For starters, we went for the BBQ Pork Neck Skewer, Pan-Fried Tofu Knots, and the Pickle Plate. I love pork neck, and this skewer did not disappoint – smoky and slightly charred on the outside, but still soft and juicy inside. It came with some chilli vinegar on the side, and dipping the pork into it was a little bonus which added some extra flavour.

Next up were the Pan-Fried Tofu Knots. If you haven’t had them before, they’re basically tofu sheets folded and tied into little knots. Joe and I are big tofu fans, and while I’ve had tofu knots before (and loved them), it was Joe’s first time trying them. We both enjoyed the texture – tying them into knots gives a “meatier” bite compared to regular tofu sheets. They were dressed in crispy chilli oil and sprinkled with spring onion. Tasty, but for me, not particularly unique since the flavour and cooking style reminded me a lot of Chinese cooking.

And of course, we couldn’t resist the Pickle Plate. We’re total pickle lovers – if we see them on a menu, we have to order them. I think it’s the vinegar kick we’re addicted to haha. This plate didn’t disappoint – you could tell the veggies had been nicely charred, and that smoky flavour really came through. It was excellent. We were also amused to see pickled cauliflower. Not a vegetable you’d expect to pickle, but it was delicious and had a great crunch.

After some lovely starters, it was time for our mains – Sour Pineapple Curry and Khmer BBQ Chicken. The curry was an absolute delight, with chunks of grilled pineapple, roasted sweet potato, and...ta-da...pickled mango! A curry with some “unusual” ingredients, and it definitely had a unique flavour.

And of course, curry’s best friend is rice. What’s the name of this blog again? RICE ROUTES! We love rice, and I always tell everyone – RICE IS LIFE!!! So of course, we ordered some jasmine rice to go with it, and it was perfect. Don’t forget your rice!

As for the Khmer BBQ Chicken, you can choose between a quarter chicken or a half. And of course, we went for the half haha. It was beautifully marinated and grilled to perfection, with moist, tender meat. It came with Tuk Trey Koh Kong dipping sauce, which we enjoyed, though I personally would’ve loved it even spicier. But I guess most restaurants keep the heat level to suit everyone’s taste.

If you’re worried it might be super noisy because it’s in a pub, don’t be – it’s separate from the main pub area. That said, don’t expect it to be whisper-quiet either. So if you’re planning a romantic evening, this might not be the best pick.

It was an evening full of big, fun, and punchy flavours – we enjoyed it. Our first taste of Cambodia was a great one, and now we can’t wait for the day we actually step in the country to explore...and eat even more!

Mamapen

The Sun & 13 Cantons

21 Great Pulteney Street

London W1F 9NG

United Kingdom