Restaurant Details

There’s a reason the Cambodian ambassador to the United States recently brought their counterparts from six other Southeast Asian countries from Washington, D.C., to Philly’s Washington Avenue for lunch. That’s because Sophie’s Kitchen, a BYOB run by chef Sophia Neth and husband Danny Duk, is turning out some of the best traditional Cambodian cooking on the East Coast in a charming bi-level space that has ceilings illuminated by a purple glow, turning fans, Khmer art, and plants blooming from every corner. An order of prahok kteah — the classic dip of ground pork jazzed with aromatic spice and fermented mudfish paste served with crudité — is non-negotiable. Don’t forget the crunchy, sour and chile-pounded threads of green papaya salad (bok lahong); stir-fries fragrant with lemongrass (cha kroeung) or sweet chunks of kabocha (cha l’pau); one of the iconic sour lemongrass soups like somlaw machu kroeung; or the crispy chicken wings encrusted with lemongrass paste.