Phnom Penh’s dining scene is thriving.

Japan is home to one of the world’s proudest and most popular culinary traditions. When eating Japanese cuisine in Cambodia, finding an authentic restaurant can be hit-or-miss.

Suzuki Katsuaki, manager of Fuji Restaurant on Trosak Pa Em (Street 63), says authenticity sets his kitchen apart from the crowd.

“Now there are a lot of Japanese restaurants in Cambodia, but we are unique,” he said. “Only we have master chefs from Japan, and we have many foods such as sushii, sashimi, tempura and shabu shabu.”

The restaurant itself is also notable for combining traditional elements of Japanese design and architecture with an old-style Phnom Penh home.

“For Lunch, each customer can pay from $6 to $9. It’s a very affordable price that no other restaurant can offer for food of this quality,” Suzuki said. “We have a famous chef here, who used to work in Ginza in Tokyo. He received a medal from French food guidebook Michelin. He came here to share his talent and the special flavour of Japanese food with general customers, especially Cambodian people.

“Our restaurant can serve 60 people at the same time,” said Panha, general supervisor of Fuji Restaurant. “About 50 per cent of our guests are Japanese and the rest are other nationalities, including Cambodian.

“Our donabe course changes daily (starter, appetizer, sashimi, grill dish, deep fried dish, donabe gohan) and our customers must call at least one day ahead to order this special food for two people, with the very reasonable price of $40 per person,” said Suzuki. “In Japan, this dish would be twice as expensive, but here the quantity of food and flavour are identical to what you would get in Japan.”

Fuji Restaurant is open from 11:30am to 2:00pm and from 17:30pm to 23:00pm, Monday through Saturday. Fuji Restaurant is located at Trosak Pa Em (Street 63), about 20 metres from the intersection with Sam Dach Pan Street.