This was my first time visiting St. Paul, and made it a mission to eat here, and I'm really glad I did. I ordered their Somlaw Koa Kou and it was delicious (menu item #45A). If you're looking to try a dish that is uniquely Khmer, this soup is one of them. The soup has flavors from roasted rice and kreung, a fragrant blend of lemongrass, makrut lime leaves, garlic, galangal, tumeric. Cheng Heng's version had green beans, round green eggplants, spinach, young papaya, and kabocha squash, plus a protein choice (I chose chicken). The somlaw was hearty, and very filling. The portion was more than enough to share. I can imagine myself ordering this on a cold winter evening. Their menu was full of amazing Cambodian dishes, but unfortunately, I was one, otherwise I would have ordered other items like the Somlaw Machu Kreung, and Somlaw Machu Angkor as well. I would love to return but with company, so I can taste more of their dishes. read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - #45A - Somlaw Koa Kou with chicken. Flavor was on point, delicious. - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Local favorite for Cambodian and Vietnamese with Thai influences. Fish curry wrapped in large green leaves (banana leaves?) some might feel 'adventurous' going to Cheng Heng. An absolute gem and the Fish Curry is the favorite dish on all of University Ave in Saint Paul for this 30 year Un. Ave diner. So many places have come and gone and here remains a flavor giant. Curry soups are special and salads deserve a mention. Small parking lot. read more

This was my first time trying Cambodian food - everything here was so good and affordable! Spring rolls were only $4.95 and really good - they had chicken, shrimp, and a variety of herbs inside. Chive cakes had a nice chewy texture inside and crispy outside from being fried. The noodle soup bowls here are a great portion size... they range from regular-L-XL. Regular was a good size for my friend and I, especially when combined with our apps. The roasted chicken was tender and had really good flavor and color. Both noodle soup broths are on the sweeter side. Overall would highly recommend this spot to anyone looking to try Cambodian food for the price, quality, and portion size. read more

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The service was very kind and quick. The restaurant is super cute with lots of seating. Free street parking and a small parking lot on the side. Food was served hot and super flavorful! They have so many options to choose from and are accommodating. The #17 is a regular favorite, and the fried rice was delicious as well. Plenty of leftovers to take home too! read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Fried rice with tofu and #17 - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Yum! Great service, very clean restaurant. Casual space with plenty of tables, finding space should be easy even when they are busy. The food was great, we got two dishes, a salad and a noodle soup. Everything was delicious, the soup was hot and fresh, a bit sweet but easily customized with some chili oil. The meat dishes were very good, several came with limes or a lime dip which gave a really fun, balanced tartness to the meals. Very casual, we brought our baby and found the place very family friendly, even though our baby was a bit fussy during dinner. Definitely check out this MN staple restaurant! read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Classic beef noodle soup, Chinese broccoli and chicken, single egg over rice side - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I don't know why I don't go to this restaurant more often. The food is so good. Clearly, I need to visit more frequently. Chang Heng is a bit of a hole in the wall on university Avenue, that serves Cambodian food. If you're not familiar with Cambodian, it is similar, but not identical to Thai food. Not as spicy for most dishes. We started with an appetizer. I can't remember the name, but was some kind of scallion puff. We didn't know what to expect, but it was a little dumpling shaped object filled with scallion that had been lightly fried. It was light and very tasty. We split three different dishes. If you haven't been to Chang Heng before, you have to start with number 17, which is a peanut curry. It is amazingly delicious. We also tried a black mushroom and fish dish that had the most subtle, but tasty flavors, and a noodle dish. I was impressed with how quickly the food was ready, even though they had a fairly decent lunch size crowd. The prices are reasonable, and the staff is attentive if you need anything while eating. If you are in the area, or if you were just wanting to try Cambodian food. I highly recommend stopping in here, more than once. read more

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Food was amazing! came here after seeing the underrated restaurants in MN video on Instagram from Explore Minnesota. The menu here was very expansive and definitely allowed for the opportunity to explore Cambodian cuisine. It's very much a family run restaurant and so they wanted to take our order quickly (we had a tough time deciding with the variety present!) and food came out quickly as well. You pay at the counter after you're done with the meal! We got the #22 Banh Xiung noodle salad and #37 Phnom Penh Noodle soup. The noodle salad was our favorite with the nice crunch of the egg rolls and the sauce and cucumbers and flavors went well with the soft round noodles. The pork shrimp noodle soup / Phnom Penh was flavorful and came with peppers and bean sprouts. We took the remaining soup home and I was able to make a lunch out of it with some rice noodles. :) The restaurant interior is decorated with a lot of Cambodian art pieces but honestly the food was the highlight. Would definitely come back to try a few more dishes on the menu and maybe their congee and dessert!! Very well priced overall. read more

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Favorite Cambodia place hands down. Run by the woman owner here for 28 years! We had a feast with 10 of us on a Thursday night and everything was really good. I can't begin to tell you what all we had but the noodle dishes were good as well as the pepper beef. Service was straightforward. The owner still works there so she helped take our order. I think anything you get there will probably be good so just go and try. read more

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This is the only Cambodian restaurants I've come across in the Twin Cities. The dishes here are delicious, offering a taste of Southeast Asia that's milder compared to other cuisines. For me, Cambodian flavors are more subtle, less spicy and punchy than Thai food, making it a perfect spot to try something new and enjoy a flavorful, authentic meal. read more

Came here on a Saturday and was promptly served. We got the jumbo phnom phen and loth cha and both were great! I've not tried Cambodian food before so I am excited to come back and try other menu items. The phnom phen had similarities to pho and was a hearty portion with a generous amount of rice noodles. Prices are very reasonable and parking was on the street but not difficult. read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Loth cha - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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An amazing family-run restaurant serving authentic Cambodian food, a must try! Ambiance looked nice and full of happy customers, although I opted for take out. Fast service and fair prices! read more

We went back twice -- the first visit was solid, the second just good. The beef noodle soup was delish, rich and satisfying, and the stir-fry flat noodles were tasty enough to keep you nodding along. But the sweet-and-sour soup and the chicken wings? Just "meh," didn't quite land. Overall a dependable spot for Cambodian classics, though inconsistent enough that I wouldn't call it a must-repeat every time. read more

It's 10 years since I last wrote a review for Cheng Heng. It was in 1996 that I first ate here. Now, 30 years later, it is still my most regular stop. And when my children visit, who grew up with this food and these people in their hearts, when they come home from NY or Paris, Cheng Heng is on our list without fail. Incidentally -- the food is still, fresh, vibrant, unique and compelling. In fact it is probably even better than it was 30 years ago. read more

I've lived this restaurant for decades. EHR welcoming owners who take time with their guests. Every dish we purchased was incredible- savory and steaming hot! Highly recommend. read more

This place was very good! We got two recommended soups, the Kor Koo Noodle Soup and the Machu Angkor. They were very different soups. One dark red with a rich broth and the other more clear. They were both incredible! Pineapple was even in the soup which was a first for me, but it was tasteful and great! We also got the fried rice, and it was very good as well. I love when the fried rice has visible marks have actually being fried (slight black spots). It could have used a little more salt, but otherwise it was great. We'll be back! read more

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This place is a pretty hidden gem. I have been here once before but that was a while ago. I try this place again with my friend. This is his favorite place in Saint Paul with other places. My friend order all of the dish on our table and everything was so yummy. The chicken wing was not too spicy, and it was sweet, not dry and decently big. It was my favorite on the table. I really enjoy the seafood curry that we order as well. The curry wasn't so strong, and it went well with rice. The papaya was good, it wasn't spicy but it had a lot of flavor. Another place to come back to so I can try other food item on the menu. The server was nice, but I would say it would be nice to get water refill. There was a good amount of people coming in and out of the restaurant. I think a family came in to order pho. It is a small hidden location on University. Make sure to slow down so you can park in the parking lot. read more

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This Cambodian restaurant truly surprised me--in the best way. The food is authentic, full of bold, rich flavors that taste like real home cooking. From the moment I walked in, the hospitality was warm and genuine. It's clearly an honest, hardworking family-run business. The recommended dishes were fantastic--good portions, lots of meat, and very affordable. We tried spring roll, papaya salad, #17, 22 and #38. #38 is especially good, spicy and full of flavor. I highly recommend #22 as well. Some of the dishes might be a bit on the sweet side for some people, but I liked it just fine. Everything we ordered tasted great, and it all feels lovingly made. A great spot if you want authentic Cambodian food and great service. read more

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Had the spring rolls and the peanut sauce was like vinegar. The soup had over cooked beef that was like shoe leather. The broth was tasty but had so much better. read more

The food here is amazing! There are so many choices, and they're all good. The owner is very friendly and will help you choose your entree if you're struggling to decide. The restaurant is clean and bright, and the service is prompt and attentive. We also ordered food from them to cater a party and it was incredible. The owner helped us figure out quantities and she was spot on! We thought it was too much, but we only had a little bit of leftovers. So, no guests felt like they missed out on food, but it wasn't too much to fit in our fridge at the end. Perfect! As a side note, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Cambodian food is different than Thai or Vietnamese. I kind of thought they were all sort of the same (somewhat embarrassing...), but there are definitely different flavors going on here. It can be hard to spot this gem hidden on University Ave. in St. Paul, but it is definitely worth the trip! read more

Very authentic, delicious, and reasonably priced food with a large menu of options. We loved the crepe served with lettuce and mint to wrap bits of deliciousness. Salads are luscious. Service was prompt but we were never hurried. The decor is a bit worn and dingy but they seem to try hard to keep it clean and tidy. Highly recommend if you want real Cambodian food and flavors read more

Recently visited for a family lunch,had no idea this place existed - def locals know about this place Love that its family run, actually the owner told us it has been here for 27 years Authentic Cambodian cuisine very fresh vibrant flavors and affordable They do have their own parking lot and inside it's very small and quaint but cosy If I'm the area again I would totally come back here Service was good - we shared family style dishes so make sure to ask for extra plates etc as to not confuse the servers read more

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Food is amazing and great service , also love the new sign they put up in front of the restaurant read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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A while back' my sister brought some of their food for dinner. The food was awesome. I can't believe I've never been here, I drove past it almost everyday for years. I thought it was an Asian grocery store and boy was I wrong. I stopped by last week to grab some spicy pork and veggies and the owner told they are the oldest Cambodian restaurant in St Paul. He was very nice and gave me some ideas for foods I might enjoy and even went over a few dishes that would be best eaten while dining there. The only issue with this spot is the parking lot is in disrepair, the table and chair I sat in was super sticky and I had a hard time getting it of my dress pants. But I will be back (in casual clothing) soon. I think I found one of my top 3 lunch spots in St. Paul. This place is definitely worth a stop if you have not been. read more

It was my 1st time trying Cambodian cuisine. Hubby tried this place with coworkers and enjoyed it. So I gave it a go! This place has its own parking lot which is nice on this busy stretch of university. Definitely a hole in the wall type of joint. It was busy but we managed to get a table. I ordered #38 Kor Koo Noodle Soup. I was looking for some type of beef soup...it was good though some pieces of beef had some fatty spots. The soup was good but very oily. Husband scarfed down his food which is one of their most popular dishes. The service was great and helpful. The locals seem to love it. Cambodian cuisine might not be for me but I was glad to try a new place! read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - #22 - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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The food was amazing! I had the eggplant green curry with tofu and the chive cakes. The prices are reasonable and the portions are large.

The food is fresh and phenomenal. Something on the menu for everyone. We were seated immediately - fantastic service. Our order came out efficiently, and the restaurant was quite busy. Justifiably so, since the food is so good. We parked in a lot next to the restaurant but street parking is also available. Can't wait to return and try a few more new-to-me dishes. Highly recommend. read more

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Loved this little family-owned authentic Cambodian spot! It may not be much to look at from the outside, but the inside is nice and cozy, the owners are so lovely and striving to please, the menu is crazy extensive (and with photos!), and the flavors are on point. I opted for the spicy beef noodle soup, but I wish I could have tried the curries and a million other dishes! read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Spicy beef soup - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Great place! I almost always get the Curry soup as it's fantastic, but have enjoyed all the other dishes I've had here. The people here are friendly, there's always space, and the food comes out quickly. read more

One of my favorite Cambodian restaurants in the country! Great and fast service, and appreciate the private parking lot of diners. read more

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Cheng Heng is fabulous. I had the # 17 with beef and it was perfect, savory and delicious. It was so satisfying and the service for our larger group was exceptional. They were timely with filling glasses, offering to go containers and answering questions from the menu. The prices are so reasonable ! We commented about how clean, and beautifully decorated the surroundings were and the atmosphere was conducive to having conversations in our group ( not too noisy) despite the busy and full restaurant.The woman who owns the restaurant, was so friendly and spent time with me discussing a Cambodian friend we missed, who we had in common. I highly recommend having a meal here, everything was just right for an excellent experience. read more

Insanely good food with adequate portions. The spices really reminded me of the taste back home.

A group of 14 of us enjoyed excellent service and delicious Cambodian food. We loved numbers 16, 17 and 23 and the Cambodian egg rolls.

Overall, this place gets 4 and a half stars. The food was great but a little sweet. The inside reminds me of a typical hole-in-a-hole Asian restaurant. read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Kor Koo Noodle Soup and Chha Mekatain - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I'm sad to post this...because I know this is a beloved restaurant for it's authentic food, but I will never step foot in here again. It's filthy. I went to the bathroom and thought, "if this is how little they care about the cleanliness of the restaurant where the customers can see, how much effort would they put into cleaning the kitchen where we can't see?" And that assumption was probably right because my family got sick after eating there. The food was decent but not worth the stomachache. Owners, taking care of your restaurant is taking care of your guests! read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Sweet and sour soup - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Hi so me and a few friends decided to eat here after the Renn Faire and this became our favorite restaurant during our Minnesota trip. We are from NYC and SF and met in the middle and we will never forget the delicious food we had here. Recommended by the lovely and passionate service from the owner, we got #58, 45A, 31A, 17, and 10. I know I can speak for the group when I say we will absolutely fly back just for the food, just like the owner's daughter does. read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I went here with a friend recently, and I absolutely loved it! I thought the food was truly outstanding. The service was attentive, though it's definitely not a very fancy place in terms of ambience. I think moving forward I will most likely rely on takeout. I think their food is fantastic, the portions were really significant and the flavors were outstanding. I can't wait to eat it again and again and again. My only complaint is that they did leave the tails on the shrimp. This is not unheard of, but it is really irritating. No one wants to fish through their soup or stirfry or curry and pick off the tails with their hands and then have a big, huge mess. Like most restaurants they do remove the feathers from the chicken and the fur from the beef, so I would encourage them to remove the tails from the shrimp as well. read more

There weren't that many people there when we arrived, but locals started coming in soon after we seated. I got #22 as I heard it was quite famous and I'm glad i did, it was refreshing and savory! The chive pancakes were soft and the dough felt like mochi. The tea was strong but sweet and definitely worth the try! read more

Cheng Heng Restaurant - Banh Xiung - Cambodian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Third time, what a charm. Consistently delicious food: vegetables bright and flavorful, noodles beautifully-seasoned, everything appealing to the eye and palate. I delighted in my main course, green beans with a spicy lemongrass sauce. Vegan and completely fulfilling. In addition, subtly-flavored rice-paper spring rolls, and the tofu dishes my friends ordered were just as pleasing. I shouldn't forget the tangy, lively papaya salad, full of crunch and lively flavor. And, yes, it matters that the diners were happy, the staff was gracious and eager to please. Are there other restaurants in St. Paul? I really don't care: this is IT. read more

Husband found this via Yelp as we enjoyed our time visiting Cambodia before COVID. Friendly staff and we were seated immediately. Lots of soup options but without much description like tomatoes based or clear broth. There are pictures on some and the female server just said it's good and not spicy. I know bun rieu (tomato crab base) Vietnamese and was trying to see if they got something similar. Ended up getting #38 which the broth was quite oily and sweet. The beefs were tender enough but those vermicelli were overcooked. Never had a spring roll that the rice wrapper is opened. People said we eat with our eyes first before the flavor. Anyhow, glad we tried but it's not something I'd return. Maybe it's too Americanized... read more

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Met a friend for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by how amazing the food was and even better that there was parking. Nice size place with tables on both sides of the place. After driving through every pot/sink hole was very happy to see there were a few parking spots in the back. Food ordered: Spring rolls Roast pork with rice, eggs and other deliciousness. Whatever they do to the pork is amazing. It was so good! Service is good and the menu is extensive with so many options to try. Prices decent. read more