Temple stonework in Cambodia
Kampot and Kep

Kep crab market and the coast

A lunch worth building a day around

Rivers, lakes and beachesType
In short

Kep is a small seaside town an hour from Kampot, and its crab market is a row of waterfront shacks where the crab is lifted out of baskets submerged just offshore and cooked with green Kampot pepper. It is the most famous dish in the country and this is where it is at its best.

Checked

September 2026

Part of Food
At a glance

Visiting

Where
Kep waterfront, about 25 km from Kampot
Time needed
A long lunch, or a day with Rabbit Island
The dish
Crab fried with fresh green Kampot pepper
Pair with
A pepper farm in the morning, the crab market at noon
Also here
Kep National Park, and boats to Koh Tonsay

Questions travellers ask

Is the crab really that good?
Yes, and the green pepper is the reason - it is only good fresh, which is why the dish does not travel.
Do I need to book?
No, but arrive before or after the tour-bus hour if you can.
Nearby

Also in Kampot and Kep

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Kampot

Bokor National Park

Bokor National Park covers the plateau above Kampot, reached by a long switchback climb to around 1,000 metres. At the top are the remains of a…

Where
Above Kampot, about an hour to the top
Time needed
Half a day
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Kampot

Kampot pepper farms

Kampot pepper is a protected-origin crop grown on the red soil between Kampot and Kep, and several farms are open to visitors. A visit walks you…

Where
Between Kampot and Kep
Time needed
60 to 90 minutes
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