SIEM REAP — In recent years, grilled pig has emerged as a popular new dish drawing tourists to Preah Dak commune, adding to the area's reputation for local specialties like nom banh chok and steamed palm cake.

Located in Banteay Srei district, Preah Dak has long been celebrated as a food-lover’s destination. Visitors often flock to the village to sample its traditional cuisine — and now, grilled pig is fast becoming a must-try item on their culinary itinerary.

Among the local vendors cashing in on the trend is 40-year-old San Sean, who has only recently started selling grilled pig during the Khmer New Year holiday, is doing so in response to a surge in customer demand.
 

Previously, Sean focused on grilling chicken and fish, accompanied by a variety of Khmer dipping sauces.

“This grilled pig now is very popular. Many tourists who come here are craving to taste it,” Sean said, noting that despite being new on the scene, she already sells one whole grilled pig per day.

As the dish gains traction, more street food vendors in the area are adding grilled pig to their menus, hoping to capitalize on the growing appetite among visitors.

Sean explained that the cost of a fresh whole pig depends on its size, ranging from over 20 to 50 kilograms.

“The pigs are raised locally. Each kilo of fresh pig would cost around 16,000 riel ($4),” she said. Grilled pork, meanwhile, goes for 60,000 riel ($15) per kilogram, and customers can buy as little as 100 grams at a time.

For the best experience, Sean recommends pairing the grilled pork with prahok (fermented fish paste), lemongrass slices, and lime juice — a combination she says brings out the full flavor of the meat.

Still, she's unsure how long the hype will last.

“I don’t know how it will go, but I think it will quieten down after the Khmer New Year, so maybe I will stop selling it,” she said.