Beef is minced and seasoned, then wrapped inside usually one betel leave to the size of two fingers. Six together in one bamboo stick and grilled for approximately 10 minutes before getting another peanut paste on top. Two sticks or 12 of these costs US$4 in Mok Mony Restaurant, a well-known local restaurant in BKK area (maps here). This family-oriented, little restaurant serves a wide range of lunch and dinner at an reasonable rate, with the setting tailored for both locals and expatriates.

This dish is most popular served as a snack, but for the course of lunch or dinner is just fine. The flavor is somewhat strong and salty with a small acidic bite. What makes it particular interesting is the soft aroma of betel leaves, which many Cambodians and South Asians chew as a breath freshener, gives it a unique look. No sauce is needed for this. However, this is too small for a full blown meal. You will need to order other dishes.

Indeed, if you would love some exotic food adventure at an reasonable rate from the comfort of central Phnom Penh, go for this grilled seasoned beef in betel leaves in Mok Mony Restaurant. It might not be the best food you could have ever found, but it is definitely one of the rare specie.