When it comes to food events in Long Beach, few things have felt more overdue than a Cambodian food festival. Last year, thanks to the persistence of Chef Chad Phuong—the “Cambodian Cowboy” behind Battambong BBQ—that gap was finally filled. And now, the Long Beach Cambodian Food Festival is back for its sophomore year. It takes over the Ten Mile Brewing space in Signal Hill once again Saturday, Oct. 4, from noon to 8PM. The event is bigger and even more flavor-packed than before.
“As we continue to own and expand the Khmer community and culture here in Long Beach, festivals like this are important,” said Chef Chad. “It’s about sharing the food we grew up with at home with everyone, Khmer or otherwise. It’s about sharing our memories so people can create new ones.”
And it’s not just food to buy. There’s live food demos. Traditional Khmer dances. DJs. Live music. Raffles. Giveaways. And, of course, plenty of beer. (And maybe some Henney if you keep it discreet.)
Cambodian food as resilience: Why the Cambodian Food Festival matters.
The Cambodian presence in Long Beach is more than demographic. It’s cultural endurance. For decades, the community here has carried the weight of genocide and displacement, showing the stark difference between an immigrant and a refugee. That history comes through every time you sit down with a bowl of noodles at Noodle Shack or pick up a plate of smoked BBQ from Chef Chad. Cambodian food is never “just food”—it’s a taste of survival, of resilience, and of cultural pride.
For Phuong, the festival is both tribute and showcase: “This event is really about celebrating the many ways Cambodian chefs have expressed their culinary roots,” he said. “From smoked BBQ to tacos, from chicken wings to traditional Khmer dishes, the festival is a platform to uplift each other while sharing our food with the wider community.”
And what to expect? Tons of food. N’om asom chrouk—sweet rice came with mung bean and pork belly. Fried banana, sweet potato, taro… Kuytier, or what is known as classic Cambodian noodle soup. Ban chao, a savory crepe unlike any other. Nom p’jok, my favorite bowl of noodles on the planet. Lemongrass beef and chicken skewers. The best chicken wings in Long Beach. Papaya salad. The best BBQ in Long Beach. And more…
Cambodian Food Festival 2025 Lineup
The roster of participants reads like a who’s-who of Cambodian food talent in and beyond Long Beach:
- Battambong BBQ – Chef Chad’s nationally recognized Cambodian-meets-Texan BBQ.
- Lao Cambo Food – A new popup serving exactly what its name says.
- Mama Lao: Sausage plates, vermicelli noodles, more…
- PV Grill: Pop-up that specializes in kuytier, banh chao, and beef sticks
- Sophy’s – A legacy Long Beach restaurant carrying Khmer food traditions for decades.
- Shlap Muan – Hawk and Sophia Tea, Long Beach’s undisputed chicken wing masters.
- House of N’om – Makers of nom krok, the coconut-rice pancake snack.
- Ida’s Sweets – Vera’s handmade Khmer desserts.
- Shady Jerky – Jerky done right, Cambodian-style.
- Vivot Craft Cafe: Superior grade matcha, fresh milk, lightly sweetened with house-made alkaline water organic simple syrup.
The second annual Cambodian Food Festival returns to Ten Mile Brewing, located at 1136 E Willow St. in Signal Hill, on Saturday, Oct. 4 from noon to 8PM.
