Phka Slaa, A New Gastronomic Concept in Phnom Penh

Set in a beautiful colonial villa at the corner of St 240 and 19, Phka Slaa is a new restaurant concept that opened in July 2017. Inspired by the name of the ancestral ceremonial flower, “Phka Slaa” evokes the idea of the traditional Khmer wedding blessed to the bride and groom among by family and friend. 

 Phka Slaa revisits the tastes of an authentic Khmer cuisine by offering culinary specialties from almost all provinces in Cambodia. Head Chef, Mr. Seng Dara puts all his heart in reviving those childhood flavors. Former apprentice trained at the reputable French NGO “Pour un Sourire d’Enfant”, he compiled an original menu with both traditional Khmer dishes as well as some western signature delights. With both a-la-carte choices and a lunch set-menu with four options as main dish, Phka Slaa is sure to surprise their guests at every other visit. 

To match with this new restaurant concept, the in-heritage building required some adjustments: highlight the colonial style with additions of Khmer features here and there, without affecting the foundations. It was as quite a challenge to renovate. Maxk Dsign started in March 2017. From colonial floor tiles to lighting, Maxk Dsign enhanced the original character of the villa: larger windows, extra openings on the side of the building transform it into an airy, comfortable and welcoming place when looking just even from the street. 

 “One of the main challenges in this project was the knowledge of the existing structure in order to make openings in appropriate parts of the building.” said Mr. Benjamin Thomalla, General Manager of Phka Slaa. As part of Maxk Group, Maxk Dsign has been a reliable contractor that could provide a complete set of services and adapted solutions, during a short period of time. Artsy paintings and an eclectic music selection add a contemporaneous feel to the venue, making it a lively place for gigs and performances. At Phka Slaa, one may feel the passage of time, between past and present, east and west, from the old to a new modern Khmer society.