Abu Ayah A.

Good for ordering take out. A little pricy thought.
(3)
Lia T.

This is one of those hole in the wall restaurant that once you have tried it once, you WILL become a regular. All of the dishes here have their own unique flavor. Each dish are full of flavors that complimented blended together to create a unique and unforgetable taste. If you able to make time and stop by to try their foods during the small window that the restaurant is open, then rejoice! And prepare for your taste buds to be delighted! I recommend coming here with a party because the portion match with the pricing! Share the foods so you can try more dishes ^_^!!! Prices avg to be about $10 a dish. If you only have $10 in yout pocket and you have to make a choice order the Amok. Amok is made with basa fish fillet, a mixture of egg, coconut milk, lime leaves, and lemon grass with other seasonning to taste. A MUST try.
(5)
Sam W.

Wow this place is legit. It looks a little sketch from the outside, with bars outside the window and doors. But once you step inside, you feel at home. We came in a few minutes before closing time (whoops!), but the owner was very kind and still seated us. They were sold out of #1 and 2, but he made some recommendations and we trusted him! He came over and chatted with us, joking around. He's a great guy who understands life isn't about money (this place is only open weekdays for lunch 11AM-1:30PM). Food is bomb, portions are huge! Had the shrimp salad, beef yellow curry, and ginger fish. The ginger fish was my favorite - crispy and yet so soft and flaky, with ground chicken on top and fresh ginger. The beef curry was delicious as well, and the salad had a light lime dressing that was yum!
(5)
Erin Y.

I've been yelping so much lately I've been having yelp dreams (or nightmares, whichever). All I know is Yelp has given me foodie goals, and I knew I wanted to check out this place at some pt after kind fellow yelper Bryan R's rec. From the outside, looks like a dinky laundromat or a place that shoots porn videos. (Come into Chez Sovan oui harharhar.) Red light district vibe notwithstanding, oh god, was this hole in the wall a hidden treasure. It's kinda dark, crowded, and noisy inside, but the food more than makes up for it. Oh yes it does. Never have I ever had Cambodian food this good before. (Well never have I ever had Cambodian either..yes I realize thai, viet, and cambodian aren't the same thing), but ya know. Second bite in, I can already tell this will be a high bar for future Cambodian places to live up to. We ordered (in order of preference): 1. Amok $10- basa fish filet in a banana leaf "steamed to perfection," they say. Yes, it was soft, fluffy perfection alright. I prefer steamed to fried anything most of the time, and this didn't disappoint. I'm usually not fond of coconut milk, but with this dish, it was a perfect complement to the lemongrass, curry powder, and...surprisingly, eggs. Yes, folks, it turns out eggs are the magic ingredient that makes an ok fish into a delectable one. 2. Ginger fish (L) $11.50-a close second. The sauce was a bit sweet and tangy. The 2 deep-fried fish filets were definitely very crispy, almost too crispy..kinda wish I'd had more fleshy meat in the middle. Alas a little thin, but perfectly flaky on what inside there was. Topped with tons of freshly sliced ginger and ground chicken in what was a divine combo. Twas a good thing I love me some ginger. 3. 2 beef kabob skewers ($3/stick)-About 5 pieces per stick. Tasted like Korean bulgogi. Seasoned well..can never go wrong with lemongrass, paprika, and house special sauce, right? Charred and a little too burnt for my personal taste. I've probably been spoiled by kbbq. +The owner has a sense of humor. I like. +The food was so good (apparently), that I only had enough time to take pics of the menu before the food swam into my belly. Oops. +It turns out I actually love fish. What's next? Me loving veggies? My mom would be proud. 1 complaint walking out: Why is this place only open for lunch? What have the people of the bay ever done to deserve this?
(4)
Amy G.

I love Khmer food! This place is as authentic as it gets. It's definitely not a "nice" place but the food is really good. We got the chicken and beef skewers which I would highly recommend. They were cooked perfectly! The noodles were also just right! The amok is probably the most ethnic dish but also very tasty.
(5)
Boyo I.

Still the best tasting, best-realized food in San Jose. The Amok, the Curry...they are the best.
(5)
Sam C.

I came here hoping to get a taste of home, but was unfortunately disappointed. As a Cambodian individual who has grown up eating Cambodian food all my life I'd have to say that this place is average. The dishes are pretty expensive - most of the dishes on the menu should run about half the price they are. But, I must say that the beef sticks are really good. I have tried the amok, ginger stir fry, chicken stir fried, and the curry. The dishes didn't seem to carry the complex flavor and depth of Khmer cuisine, and the tastes seemed to be adjusted a bit to please unfamiliar palates. Overall though, I do appreciate this place for putting Khmer food on the map.
(3)
Quyen And Vi L.

This is a good place to grab lunch, but be warned it can get very crowded. I went here with a group of co-workers for a Monday lunch. We stopped by early to avoid the lines, but upon arrival were told that we could have called ahead to reserve a table since we had such a large party. Decor-wise, it isn't the best looking restaurant. The space is on the smaller side, the tables and chairs aren't exactly new, and the layout is pretty bare. But even though the restaurant isn't bright or exciting, the owner certainly makes up for it. I don't think you will ever meet anyone who is so charismatic and welcoming in a restaurant. He really makes you feel comfortable. For our food, we ordered the amok fish which was wrapped and steamed in banana leaf, skewers of chicken and beef, a tofu salad, a tofu curry, ginger fish,and refillable rice bowls. I have never tried the amok fish before and was a little hesitant about the way it looks. Triangular in shape, it looks like congealed fish, but once you spear it, the real pieces of fish are on the inside. I love how moist it was and the light coconut flavor throughout the dish. The skewers were grilled to tender perfection, both the chicken and the beef. The tofu salad had a delicious fish sauce vinaigrette that had a nice tangy flavor and the tofu curry was wonderfully creamy and thick. The ginger fish was the dish with the most powerful flavor, but it went well with the white rice. Once again, the fish was moist and juicy. While I don't have any specific cons (besides maybe the decor of the restaurant, or lack thereof), I can't say that the food is mind-blowing. I came in with pretty high expectations from looking at the reviews, but for me, the taste wasn't too spectacular. Still, all in all, this place is quite good; however, keep in mind that their hours are EXTREMELY limited. If you ever have the chance, stop by, meet the owner, and try some decent Cambodian food.
(3)
Tran N.

We really like the fried rice noodle here and the beef stew. The food kind of reminds me of Vietnamese food (makes sense because the countries are so close to each other). We had a great experience and would recommend this place to any one!
(4)
Andrea W.

I came here for lunch with a party of 5, and we ordered stir fried eggplant and chicken, amok, ginger fish with pork, chicken curry, fish stew, stir-fried noodles, and plain rice. All of the food was really good and really flavorful, but portions were a bit lacking. I really liked the amok; I haven't eaten (or even see) that anywhere else before. The other dishes reminded me of other Asian dishes, but they were very tasty nonetheless. I think the prices are a bit high for the amount of food served, but I would come back here if I'm in the area wanting some good, flavorful, unique food!
(4)
John C.

Located this spot via Yelp after finding out my First choice for lunch was closed Monday's. When I visited Siem Reap, Cambodia in 2013 the food didn't necessarily stand out and was basic. So, I was intrigued by the High Yelp rating and thought it would be worth giving this place a shot. First off this place is open M-F only for lunch between 11:00 am - 1:30 PM. The hours alone should be reason enough to encourage you to try this place out. Upon entering Brian the owner promptly asked me (solo) to grab a seat at the counter. There are only 2 or 3 counter spots and enough seating to keep the place pretty full throughout the time it took me to have lunch. Ordered the highly touted Amok and is was pretty good. Perfect serving size for one person with a lunch appetite. Apparently the menu has been getting smaller and smaller over time and it's all about keeping it simple and providing a quality product. Brian is an energetic, charismatic guy who moved to the States in 1975 and has had this place since 1987. After some small talk he mentioned his version of wealth starts with the inside and this is why he is comfortable turning out menu items that keep people coming back while being open very limited hours. How can you not respect that outlook on life? Great guy, great lunch spot and looking forward to come back whenever in the area to try some of the other items. BTW - there is a location in Campbell. This spot has a more extensive menu and hours of operation. However, I'm not sure if or how Brian is affiliated with this location.
(4)
Terry Ann B.

My co-worker introduced me to this place today and he was lucky to get to eat his own lunch because I was going to eat both after a taste. Went with Chicken Curry and the Fish Stew and OMG! delivered piping hot and delightfully delish!! Was full to my neck but kept on eating, couldn't stop. It is a dive, it is in a sketchy neighborhood, parking is a challenge and timing is key but do yourself a FAVOR and go EAT! The only complaint I have is that it's only open from 11:00-1:30 on weekdays. Maybe it's just as well, I'd probably live there otherwise....
(5)
Joaquim S.

The food is amazing if you are looking something different that has that home style taste this is the place to go. I would suggest coming with a few people that way you can try a bunch a different foods because they have so many good choices. One of my favorite places to go for lunches I highly recommend you try it for yourself you won't be disappointed. I hope you take my word on this and just try it yourself.
(5)
Chase B.

Excellent food! This was my first time trying Cambodian food and the Amok (catfish wrapped in banana leaves) was delicious. It had just the right balance of salt to sweetness, with beautifully light, hints of coconut milk. The minute you cut into the Amok, it is fragrant and it cascades a delicious broth onto the banana leaf wrapper. Yum!
(5)
Avocado Donbur I.

I was this close to giving up on this place because they're only open until 1:30pm Mon-Fri. But today was a MLK Jr. day and I finally got to try this unbelievable restaurant. WOW!! This was my first Cambodian food and it was AMAZING!! Unfortunately Amok was sold out so we had Ginger Fish, Chicken Curry and Fish Stew. I cannot find words to describe the delicate flavor each dish had. They were full of flavor and all ingredients were in perfect harmony. I will try to come back to Chez Sovan every chance I get. My office is too far from here but I'm now convinced it may be worth playing hooky and come eat at Chez Sovan. I begged the owner to stay open until dinner time but he said he's too lazy (I guess he already makes enough money with this popular restaurant). There is another Chez Sovan in Campbell but I'm not sure if that's run by the same owner. One more thing - the service is amazing as well. The Fish Stew took a little while so the owner gave us 2 free dishes. We were so impressed with the amazing food and amazing service that we left a huge tip. Chez Sovan might as well be the best restaurant in San Jose.
(5)
John J.

Today, I tried Cambodian food for the first time because my cousin said it was her favorite restaurant in San Jose. My cousin is also this restaurant's best customer. From the outside, Chez Sovan looks unassuming. The bourgeoisie might even call the neighborhood "sketchy." Rest assured that if you're coming here, it'll be in broad daylight as this place is only open for lunch from 11 to 1:30 PM Mondays through Fridays. Chez Sovan is one place where I don't recommend taking pictures of your food. Why? Because after coming once, you'll be coming back so many times that these dishes will become ingrained into your memory. The three seconds you spent taking pictures were three seconds you should've been savoring a dish at its ideal temperature. You won't be taking pictures of the splendid decor of Angkor Wat paintings either because your five senses will be too immersed in the food. I would certainly introduce my friends to this place. The food is much too good not to. Sometimes I rate a place higher because I feel a business is doing its best. In Chez Sovan's case, their best is the awesome-st skewers you've ever had. I also recommend the Amok (the first two items on the menu.) Afterwards, it's tasters' choice. Make sure to bring your sense of humor as the owner is full of bon mots. Bon apetit! P.S. First-timers, there is a private lot around Chez Sovan on Madera Ave. Please park on the same side as the other cars.
(5)
Peter D.

This is a hidden gem! If you are in the area for lunch, you better get here a bit early or it fills up fast, and they close at 1:30PM, they only serve the lunch crowd. I got the chicken curry and the hot and sour soup for lunch the last time I was here and it was the best I have ever had. If I could, I'd eat here everyday! the owner is also super friendly and nice, and he cracks jokes all the time. My coworkers from eBay eat here frequently.
(5)
Di H.

Don't really see what's the fuzz is about. We went there with some coworkers since the reviews are great. It's a "up and coming" neighborhood and doesn't look very good from outside. It was very busy despite being around 1PM. The menu was very simple and the dishes on other people's table didn't look fancy. The server was very energetic and friendly and the food came out fairly quick. He insisted on doing a finger promise that we tell others about the place (I really didn't want to touch him), and I guess this is me fulfilling it. Unfortunately the food was really simple, kinda like a simplified version of chinese food and the portion was just alright. They ran out of the signature dish so I guess we'll have to come back to try it, but probably won't be any time soon.
(3)
Sharanya A.

The place is a hole in the wall, but the food did not disappoint. I went with my office teammates and wanted to have the Amok (the banana leaf fish) which sounded exotic, but they had run out of it and the waiter talked me into getting the fish stew which tasted like a good Panang curry, the portion size was very big - I could have had it for lunch and dinner. My teammates liked what they bought too. I would go again sometime in the future to try the Amok.
(4)
Michael C.

This place has been on my todo list for a long time so I finally had a chance to make it here for lunch. Parking is street parking only in an industrial looking neighborhood. Ordered a bunch of dishes family style including the steamed catfish (Amok). The Amok was spot on phenomenal. All other dishes were good but a bit too sweet for my tastes. The owners/staff were very friendly and greeted all patrons like family so that was really nice. My party had gotten here early for lunch which was a good thing because there was a line around noon.
(5)
M L.

I always failed to try this place out because it gets so crowded after 12PM. My friend and I decided to go early today (around 11:20AM) and were finally able to get a seat. We ordered Chicken skewer, Amok, and Chicken fried rice noodle. All of them were DELICIOUS, especially, their AMOK! We will definitely be back to try their other menus. Can't wait. mmMmMmm
(5)
Paul B.

Foodies are a funny bunch. We are fueled by unique and uncompromised food experiences. We have a mutated hierarchy of needs structure with things such as "comfort" being less important than the "story" behind the food preparation. Why do we surrender ourselves willingly to this madness?!? Because of places like Chez Savon. Creating a successful restaurant is no easy task. Add a shitty location and VERY limited hours into the mix and one would expect failure to be inevitable. Yet, at Chez Savon, these two otherwise limiting factors seem integral to the restaurant's explosive success. With low rent and only 10 hours a week being open to the public, the family @ Chez Savon can focus on what really matters -- The Craft! In truth, one would be hard-pressed to find a more efficient operation. The manager, Brian, runs around the restaurant as a gregarious host and expeditor, business folk and foodies alike are rotated through the fifteen table establishment faster than a fast-food chain and NO ONE is sending food back! The all-star of the menu is "Amok" -- Basa fish fillet mixed with coconut milk, lemongrass and lemon herb wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed to perfection. While it may not look like food porn, it most definitely tastes like it! Despite Amok's truly unique and authentic nature, there is nothing gamey or overly exotic about this dish. It's so good that most finicky children would enjoy it. In addition to ordering the obligatory Amok on my last visit, I also got a Beef Satay -- tender slices of beef marinated with lemongrass, paprika and Sovan's special chili sauce (available for sale) barbecued on skewers. This satay was juicy and uniquely flavorful. While it may be a stretch to label a restaurant "Best Food in San Jose", with total composure, I can say that Chez Savon is the most interesting food related experience in San Jose...Hands down!
(5)
Jo L.

LOVE. THIS. PLACE. It's seriously a treat whenever my family and I go to Chez Sovan bc they are never open on the weekends and when you go on the weekdays, you best get there relatively early or you'll need to wait! We love the guy who runs the place. He's such a character and makes you feel like you're in his house having a meal. "Thanks boss!" The place is a small spot in the cuts of San Jose. Not really the best spot, but it's getting a lot safer and better now that they opened up a bunch of townhouses across the street. Parking may be a bother too during heavy lunch hours. Despite the location, food is phenomenal. If you're like me and you also love fragrant, flavorful, southeast asian delights, you will LOVE this place. One of the best Cambodian restaurants in the Bay Area if you ask me. We always get the Amok and tofu salad. But you honestly really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If you're new to the place, ask the kind, charismatic gentleman for some recommendations and HE WILL HOOK IT UP for ya!
(5)
Ambar D.

Decided to give this place a try as it had many great reviews. The neighborhood is a bit sketchy and there is a parking lot for customers of Chez Sova, located across the street on Madera Avenue (the sign is a little faded and covered by some tree branches). My co-worker called ahead to reserve a table for 11 people during lunch time and the owner didn't hesitate in doing so. The owner is such a lively person who brings the atmosphere to his restaurant :) The menu is rather small but just enough for people to choose from. I don't get why people say there isn't a large enough selection for vegetarians when I saw about 5-6, out of 20 dishes roughly. When ordering, we had the owner help us. We did family style meals and he helped us order just the right amount of dishes with a great variety. We didn't have any left over and yet everyone was satisfied. The most exotic dish I tried would have to been the AMOK. I would classify this as the Cambodian "tamale" and to my surprise, it wasn't very fishy flavored. This was definitely a crowd pleasure. Everybody was pleasantly surprised with the food and would agree on the yelp reviews. A hidden gem for sure. Give it a try :)
(4)
Matt W.

I hadn't eaten Cambodian food many times before coming here. Highly recommend asking a waiter for assistance in ordering! Other than that, the food was great and very spice heavy.
(5)
George T.

One of my favorite lunch spots in the Bay Area. The Amok banana leaf wrapped fish is the best!
(5)
Aki N.

Fantastic food, friendly service and fast for lunch, and we gorged ourselves for $20 each. Loved the easy breezy feel and the awesome people there. Amok was a new kind of dish and I loved it - banana leaf wrapped, steamed fish mousse is the closest I can describe. The fish stew was great, and as we learned, it's to be poured over rice (not eaten as soup from a bowl) And the eggplant and chicken was savory and filling. Great food all around Chez Sovan is a little difficult to find - it's on the corner of Madera Ave
(5)
Linda T.

I love their chicken rice soup is sour but is so good. And I don't even like sour stuff. And their chicken and beef kabob is so well flavor. And did I tell you their amok is amazing. Is fish with well season stuff in banana leaf. The owner and his wives is very nice and especially the guy owner he joke around with everyone. That a great plus. We often laugh to his joke.
(5)
Alejandro R.

Really great, loved it! Shame about their schedule, but what can you do. Probably terrible for vegetarians, too.
(5)
Bryan R.

We don't need no stinking Amok! Actually, this was the ONE dish that we were all looking forward to sampling. One of my buds/coworkers highly recommended this place prior to lunch & based solely on his NON-Yelp review/run-down, we were already sold (though of course I checked Yelp regardless). ;) As soon we were all free, we all crammed into my coworkers Mustang & headed down 101 S. When we finally arrived, we saw this "Seasoned" hole-in-the wall building with every window/crevice/crawlspace/mouse-hole covered with Iron Bars. Though seemingly uninviting, we were not at all deterred as we had one thing & one thing alone on our minds... Amok... Anyhow..., Our lunch hour started a bit late & when we arrived at the door, we found that they were less than 30 minutes to closing up shop. We sat down & immediately placed our orders, starting with... "2 Orders Of Amok please". The server/owner politely interrupted & said, "Sorry we SOLD OUT". FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, NOOOOOOOO! Our mouths had already been depleted of saliva resulting from all the drooling in anticipation for this ONE DISH that our buddy so vividly described to us... The owner calmly said, "Not to worry! There's ALWAYS a back-up dish! I highly suggest the Ginger Fish!" He GUARANTEED that we would not be disappointed... Ehh, ok... sure... that works I guess? He then proceeded to make additional suggestions based on our collaborative tastes, resulting in the following items: * Ginger Fish * Chicken & Beef Satay * Stir Fried Rice Noodles * Curry Chicken * Steamed Rice Dishes arrived one-by-one, beginning with the Satay. 2 chicken & 2 beef (Beef was definitely my fave). Minutes later, one of the other servers (the owner's wife I believe?) came by with TWO MORE beef satay skewers stating, "These are better, the other ones were too well done". Seriously? I actually enjoyed the bbq char on the beef & it was the first one I reached for cuz it looked so damn good. Did I deny the freebie? Hellz No! What kind of funky pro-active service was this? Maybe we've stepped into the Twilight Zone? Dish 2 came shortly thereafter, Stir Fried Rice Noodles, followed by the Ginger Fish & finally the Chicken Curry. As the owner had already mentioned prior, we would NOT be disappointed... Each dish was AMAZING... We were splitting amongst 4 so I had to be polite with the portion distribution, otherwise I would've ate all the damn fish myself. Stir Fried Rice noodles were also tasty & very "Pad Thai-like". Curry chicken was good, resembling a semi-sweet Thai curry, minus the heat (expected however with Cambodian cuisine), though heat would've been nice regardless... Icing on the cake was the owner who could easily moonlight as a stand-up comedian (absolutely hilarious). He said good food & laughter leads to long life & I was eating up (not only the food), but everything he said... He even took the time to make his rounds at the tables & also shook hands with customers (as well as us) as we were walking out the door. Lasting impression from the service, along with the food easily resulted in a 5 Star Review, even without trying the legendary "Amok". Honestly though, Food/Service far exceeded my expectations & anything additional would just be unnecessarily showing off... Based on the unanimous approval/thumbs-up from the entire lunch-crew, we probably would've STILL enjoyed our dishes, picking random menu items blindfolded or with our hands on a planchette (Ouija Style). Best thing about the visit? Ironically, we still haven't sampled the Amok which means we shall be visiting once again in the very...near...future...
(5)
Holly L.

This sh*t is DELICIOUS... d e l i c i o u s! No really though, it really is. One of the BEST things I've ever tasted, to be exact! A hidden gem, a hole-in-the-wall, but it's always what's on the interior that counts! Yes, you may not able to find parking. Yes, you might have to park in a sketchy looking neighbor. Yes, this place gets packed. Yes, this place is loud. But I promise you that it will all be worth it! Worth the trouble looking for parking (so I advise you to park on Oakland Rd if you see any spots before you make the right turn into the restaurant if you're coming from 880/101. It is worth the wait because patience is a virtue and your mind and tummy will be equally happy and satisfied after you have a piece of the Amok! It was pretty loud inside as well but what do you expect from a delicious, crackin', and freakin' amazing restaurant that's only open during lunch hours? SO GOOD that I can even taste my first bite of the Amok from writing this review. It's better than it looks so don't judge it like one would judge the exterior of this restaurant either. I called for take-out since I got off work early today. As soon as I arrived, my order was ready, and the owner here was super nice! He apologized that he couldn't hear me over the phone and suggested that I texted him my order next time. Excellent food and excellent customer service? There's absolutely nothing I love more. I will be a regular here and order many more Amok's because it seriously is so damn good! I also ordered the rice noodles but it's probably better to eat it fresh than an hour later! It was still pretty tasty too. I love this place. It's definitely going on to my SJ Must Eat list! Chez Sovan, you made my meal and you made stomach very happy! :D
(5)
Cathy V.

This hole in the wall restaurant is amazing. Definitely come for the food and not the atmosphere. My friend and I shared the amok, eggplant with pork, and a small rice. It was plenty for the both of us and the total came out to around $23. I've never had any other cambodian food so I don't have anything to compare to. I just know it's super delicious and flavorful. The owner is also super nice and friendly. We told him to open earlier and he said "more money, more problems" so if you want to eat here, you'd have to go during lunch and be a little inconvenienced. Heh.
(5)
Madie N.

Yelp, you have done no wrong. At first, I was shocked how short the hours are at this place and how many positive reviews there were. I stopped by for lunch at 11 before the rush. The guy who owns this place is an absolute character. He has such a welcoming personality and he can keep a conversation going for days. He does the short hours to relieve the stress of regular hour restaurant. Now getting to the amazing food. I had to try the amok because of all the great reviews. It was a pleasant surprise. I knew I was going to taste fish, but it was so much more than that and it was so frickin good. Must try. I also ordered the yellow curry with tofu. (My go-to dish at majority of Asia restaurants). It was very good. It had a nice consistency and it was a bit sweeter than I'm used to. I also ordered the Cambodian sweet tea. (Identical to Thai iced tea). It was a nice touch on a lovely lunch. All in all, I would definitely recommend if you like trying new stuff. Great costumer service, food and experience. 5/5. FYI- The place is a total dive in a scummy part of town, but don't let that fool you. ALSO----Get there before the rush around 11 to have great service and a nice chat with Brian.
(5)
Natasha G.

This is a place I never would have found were it not for the goodness of Yelp! Chez Sovan: whatta gem. The place looks kind of divey on the outside, but it's clearly very popular with the lunch crowd, and it's been around since 1987 so I suppose it's something of an institution now. There were lots of regulars when we popped in for lunch. The proprietor is hilarious, warm, and engaging, and he offers great suggestions to navigate the menu. He steered our party of five toward eating family style, by ordering five small dishes with a big bowl of rice, and this was sound advice. We ordered amok, ginger fish, salad with chicken, noodles with beef, and curry with chicken. Each dish was excellent, carefully but quickly prepared, with complex, delicious flavors. My favorite dishes were the salad and the ginger fish; they had wonderful flavors and textures. Chez Sovan is wonderful and I would highly recommend making the trip out here if you're in San Jose!
(5)
Cindy H.

The best Cambodian food ever! I love this place --- great Amok, ginger fish, chicken satay, soup and curry! You can't go wrong with any dishes. It's a hole in the wall restaurant but a place you have to try! The owner is awesome! He's so funny and make you feel right at home. Every time I come here -- we have a blast and a feast!
(5)
Jesse M.

A co-worker suggested this place and all i could think is (Cambodian what do they eat? what the hell am i going to order?) The answer ended up being DAM GOOD FOOD! with a side of great service. This is a total dive spot and they are only open Monday thru Friday from 11am-1:30 cause thats how good this place is. If you dont know what to order try the Basa Fish Amok and Ginger Fish. This is a must try!
(4)
Glenn L.

I'm no stranger to Cambodian food since my best friend is Cambodian and I've had some really good dishes at her family parties in the past. Cambodian food also has a lot of Thai influence in it so the taste and flavors are all familiar to me. However, dining in a Cambodian restaurant isn't a regular thing for me, so I was excited to find this place near a family friend's auto shop! I ditched my Jetta while it gets serviced and walked to Chez Sovan for lunch with my mother. The restaurant barely opened for lunch service, and we were greeted and sat by the lady who I assumed was the owner! It isn't the nicest place to grab lunch at as my mom quickly turned to me and said "Is that really that place you wanna eat at....?!", but I was hungry for some Southeast Asian cuisine! FOODS -------------------- Chicken Satay - We wanted to start of with chicken as appetizer since I really wanted beef curry for the main dish. Wrong choice that day `cause their chicken satay was so dry.... Amok - The owner recommended this dish and mentioned it is their most popular dish on the menu. I can see why! The fish was delicious and flavorful! Hands down something I'd come back here for. Beef & Tofu Curry - We ordered the small bowl which was about $10, with chicken, beef or tofu option. Being a newbie, I had asked the owner if I can order a beef & tofu combo. To my surprised she said yes! I liked the variety the bowl of curry had and the perfect spice of the soup. Overall, the good food and friendly service won me over. The catfish is my favorite and it is a MUST TRY!
(4)
Suzzie B.

good food minus the flies... but I guess that's what makes it authentic.....
(4)
Mei C.

Great food and great service!! It's a good to go if you haven't try Cambodian food yet. Just make sure you go for lunch only since they are not open at night.
(5)
Sam C.

Absolutely loved this place. They're rarely open which makes the magical lunch hours even sweeter. We snuck in right at the closing bell and they were nice enough to bring us iced tea, chicken curry, and of course the famous Amok. I'd never had the dish before and was blown away. Savory from the fish, sweet from the banana leaf, and aromatic from the lemongrass -- what's not to love? Next time I'll make sure to come earlier so I won't have to rush through such an amazing meal!
(5)
Loan N.

I always wanted to try out this place but never find time since they open only two hours a day. I went here with my boyfriend on our day off. The owner is extremely nice and friendly. We ordered amok, green beans, soup and chicken skewers. The ingredients are very fresh unlike any other Asian restaurants. My boyfriend is Cambodian so he knows about the flavoring and what not. He said the amok supposedly to be stinkier but Chez Sovan adjusted the taste so everyone can enjoy it. I really like the coconut taste in it. Also, the eggplant is more on the sweet side. But it was good as well. The soup is so so, tasted like Thai Tom Yum. Their sweet tea is also Thai like. The restaurant is clean despite the ratchet look on the outside. This place should be Michelin recommended due to service, food and cleanliness.
(4)
Kevin N.

This is my first time having Cambodian food and I'm impressed! A few notes: There is no actual parking for the restaurant so you will have to find a spot on the street or in the neighborhood, no big deal (as long as you don't drive too nice of a car). The place a little bit small. They are only open from 11am to 1:45pm so try to arrive at 1pm at the latest! but Even though this place is packed, the wait should only be 15 minutes max. So after we got to our table, we ordered our food and our food arrived in a matter of minutes. We got the beef stir fried noodles, the chicken curry, and the amok. The beef stir fried noodles tasted delicious with a sweet peanut sauce, kind of like pad thai. The chicken curry was sweet but tasty. The amok is fish and some other stuff wrapped in a banana leaf, and it is as delicious as everyone says it was! When we first ordered, we ordered some of their iced sweet tea (kind of like thai tea). Our waiter totally forgot about it until I pointed it out on the check at the end. He apologized, took it off our check, and served us two teas on the house! Good looks! This place is the real deal!
(5)
Henry D.

Went with a group from work. The place is in an area you wouldn't expect to find great food but you are pleasantly surprised. Parking and seating are tight but try to beat the rush. The staff is very friendly and are sure to make you laugh n smile. We tried the Fried Ginger Fish, Amok, Chicken Curry and beef & chicken Satay. The Amok is the most authentic Cambodia dish and comes out quickly n wrapped in banana leaf. It looks cautious but when you take a Yomp with a bit of rice your mouth pops with flavor and quickly want to grab another Yomp to follow up that trip to flavor town. It has no stinky or fish taste it is very good. The chicken curry was not spicy and had great flavor. It appears they cook it like a stew or something by the presentation. It os not thick but has potatoes, carrots and chicken that is moist and melts in your mouth. I would make it more spicy but did not ask as with a group. But the veggies mushed easily and had great flavor. The fried ginger was okay, it was my least favorite as it was fried but had a great taste and was good to the Yomp. Overall this place is a diamond in the ruff and I would visit again I give it 4 Yomps - great visit to flavor town.
(4)
Joy L.

If it was not for Yelp, I would never have found out about this amazing place. Chez Sovan is a hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurant that serves authentic Cambodian food. The menu is sparse and simple, but all the dishes are fantastic. I came here on a weekday for lunch with coworkers. I'd wanted to try this place for quite some time, but was definitely not expecting the exterior of Chez Sovan to look the way it did. It's an unobtrusive restaurant in an unattractive location. Upon entering, we were greeted warmly by the owner (I'm guessing), and since we had already made a reservation, we didn't have to wait in line. The owner encouraged us to order family style so we could sample all the dishes--I'm glad we listened to him. We ordered the shrimp salad, amok, chicken curry, stir fried tofu, and eggplant beef. I highly recommend all the dishes besides the stir fried tofu, which was nothing special. The shrimp salad was fresh and the perfect complement to the other dishes. The amok, which was highly recommended by everyone, was amazing. The fish is tender and soaks up all the lemongrass and coconut milk flavor. The chicken curry was slightly spicy, but mainly sweet. The eggplant beef was surprisingly not oily at all, and the sauce it came in was absolutely delicious. We also ordered the Cambodian iced tea, which was basically the same thing as a Thai iced tea. Service was quick and efficient. All our dishes came out under 10 minutes despite the fact that the restaurant was cramped. The owner was incredibly friendly and joked with all the customers. I could tell that there are a lot of regulars at this restaurant and for good reason! The restaurant is rather small, so I definitely recommend coming early to avoid the lines. Also, this restaurant only does lunch on the weekdays. The prices are very reasonable, and the portions are generous. I'm so glad I got to finally sample Chez Sovan--I highly recommend this place for a unique and amazing dining experience.
(5)
Michael C.

This was my first Cambodian restaurant, and while I could identify the Southeast Asian flavors of curry and coconut milk, this place made me a fan and I can't wait to return. With recommendation from a coworker, we got there right before noon, parking in the odd lot across the street and fortunately there was still plenty of space. As we sat, the place quickly filled up to the point where there was a double digit line by the time we left. The manager/server is AWESOME. Big smiles, great attitude - he's the kind of guy who could sell sand in the desert. Told us everything was good, even the water (he was right). If you need a suggestion, let him steer, he won't lead you wrong. 4 of the 5 of us ordered a dish, plus the appetizer. The food came out one at a time, and we'll go in order. Amok: Everyone says get this and they are right. Coconut curry catfish steamed in a banana leaf to make a dish full of flavors. Not fishy at all, and they pre-steam them so it came out almost instantly. Everyone went back from seconds. Beef and Eggplant: My second favorite dish. If you're a fan of Mongolian Beef or similar beef dishes, get this. The eggplant is also excellent. Ginger Chicken: The least eaten dish. The ginger, while flavorful, is a bit overpowering. Good, but probably wouldn't get it again. Ginger Crispy Fish: And as I say that, the crispy basa fish was much better (although also much harder to split as the spoon isn't the best cutting device). Ground chicken on top, and lightly drizzled with the ginger sauce. Third favorite. Tofu Curry: Even though I don't like tofu, I tried this and I still don't like tofu. But the curry was fantastic. Easily drinkable its that good. With that, the 5 of us were full, and two of us had leftovers. Score! Tips: Earlier the Better - if you are in a group, get there early. If you are a single or on a date, you will have may be luckier. The staff is fantastic - The boss was fun and considering the food backs up his story, its hard not to love that guy. And the lead lady somehow was able to converse and keep water glasses full. Get the Amok - who cares what it looks like; taste it and you'll like it.
(5)
Linda L.

After reading the reviews, we decided to try this restaurant. There is usually a small line outside the place. No place to sit and wait. Free street parking and a small lot to the side of the restaurant. Here is some important info for newbies! If you ask for any kind of cold tea...here is the deal: Iced Tea is regular 'american' style SWEET TEA is what is known as THAI Tea! I made an incorrect assumption it was like Southern Sweet Tea (or MacDonalds Sweet Tea...) and I was wrong. Wait person will NOT explain to you what this is. We ordered the Amok after reading rave reviews. NEWS FLASH-NOT that great a dish. For newbies: this dish is best described as a type of 'FISH SPAM!' It is unsalted fish bits 'mashed up' into a Spam like cake formed in a Banana Leaf. It was NOT flavorful, and quite bland tasting. Not sure why everyone is raving about it... It did not come with any sauce at all, and was simply 'unusual' but NOT flavorful. We also had the delicious eggplant. This dish is JUST eggplant...cooked in a delicious sweetish gravy with a few other veggies thrown in. The eggplant is cooked until mushy and the sauce is really flavorful and wonderful. This was our favorite dish. Prices are about $10 per dish. Some are more. Menu is small...not a ton of choices, but plenty to choose from. This is a NO FRILLS establishment. Cinder block walls, very old wood building with NO A/C and only fans.
(3)
Jun A.

First time here and first time ever having Cambodian food! Finally tried this place! I frequently drive by Chez Sovan, but I never thought of trying it until I read the spectacularly glowing reviews on Yelp. The main reason why I've taken so long trying it out was it's unattractive location. From the outside it looks like a dive. I never thought I could get the kind of food I got from a place like this. I guess you can't judge a book by its cover. I came in a few minutes after they opened. The place was a small and intimate place with about 15 to 20 tables that seats 4 per table. Each table had menus and 4 plates on them. I thought the place looked clean! The tables were clean as well as the floors. Utensils on my table was also clean! Excellent start so far! I got a small order of the following items: Shrimp Hot and Sour Soup: I liked this soup! It was pipping when hot I got it, just the way I like it! I was expecting something spicy with a sour taste. I didn't detect too much heat nor the sour flavor. Instead it tasted kind of sweet with fresh ingredients! I was pleasantly surprised! Amok: I was really looking forward to this after reading the positive reviews on Yelp. I really didn't know what to expect flavor wise. I was expecting to be blown away. The first thing I taste was ginger. It was the prominent flavor in the dish. There was a hint of curry flavor. The fish was very good! It was cooked beautifully! Nice texture on the fish. Very tender, like butter! Although I liked the dish, I was not blown away. I was expecting a "Hallelujah" moment, but it wasn't there. I guess reading all the positive reviews hyped it up to heights that is impossible to meet. Beef Curry: I like the curry taste. It was good. However, I thought the beef could have been more tender. The beef instead was a bit chewy. It may have been over cooked. I probably should have tried the pork instead. Maybe next time. Beef Satay: This was my favorite during this visit. The flavor was spot on. The beef was tender. I'll have to order more of it next time. I also had a small order of steamed rice. Overall, it was a good experience! I enjoyed the food as well as the service. They have a very friendly staff that is eager to please. I look forward to my next visit to try other dishes.
(4)
Jenn R.

I come here during the weekdays for lunch every so often. This is a hidden gem, and I wish they were located in downtown San Jose. I would eat here all the time!! I move everything here! Especially the amok! And the beef bbq sticks, which are never available on Mondays. So if you want to try that, go any day except Monday. The waiter - love him! He's funny, always in a good mood, & I love seeing him. I always feel great when I leave Chez Sovan!
(5)
Caroline P.

It was so refreshing to sit in a nice restaurant with an uncomplicated menu and to eat flavorful Cambodian food (Amok!) prepared by happy people. I went back the next day with seven other people who also wanted to be refreshed. And so we were. And so you will be also. :)
(5)
Liza L.

Fave dish - the amok... basically coconut curry catfish steamed in banana leaves - its a must try! It tastes fresh and is full of flavor. This spot is a hole in the wall Cambodian restaurant that is only open during lunch. Service is quick and friendly and there is plenty of street parking. Support the local mom and pop shops - come early. Place gets packed by 1145am.
(4)
Giz N.

Is it possible to give 6 stars? My favorite Cambodian restaurant anywhere. Their amok is like no other. I've tried that dish at several other Cambodian restaurants and Chez Sovan just makes it better than anyone. A perfect balance of coconut milk and spices, with a richness and flavor that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I've also tried all their curries and all of them are great! Best part is that the guy serving you is also the owner. Very friendly and welcoming! I just wished they were open during the weekends or dinner!!
(5)
Michael O.

This place is great! Really happy to have been introduced to this place by a co-worker. The neighborhood looks somewhat sketchy with some nearby buildings having bars over the windows and signs of graffiti. But since it's open during lunch only, seems fairly safe during the day to visit. Dishes are reasonably priced and very tasty, and the owner/manager has always been very friendly to our group and gave us great service when we've visited. My favorites include the Chicken Curry, the Amok, the Ginger Fish, and also the skewers, especially the beef skewers. Also have tried the Fish Stew, that was okay but the other dishes were tastier. Will definitely be back again to try more dishes. This place can get crowded, so be prepared to wait. Wish they were open for dinner or weekends!
(5)
Kelly C.

We stumbled upon this place while getting our car detailed nearby. I wasn't sure what to expect but I am so glad we went! The food was fantastic and the service was fabulous! I wish it was open more often. I will have to sneak away from work to try the rest of the stuff on the menu!
(5)
Johnny A.

Coworkers took me here last week...FANTASTIC!!! Eggplant was amazing, the Tofu fish was amazing, the fish stew was AWESOME!!! Only downside is im a diabetic and many of their dishes have alot of sugar in them. Other than that, this place is a must go to!!! only open for lunch during monday to friday so make a point to get here as its always packed!!! The guy who owns this place is a crack up and loves a good laugh !!!
(5)
Manda Bear B.

******************************* 940 ******************************* Chez Sovan is a hole on the wall Cambodian restaurant located in a not-so-nice neighborhood, but it's authentic, good service, and consistent with small menu for lunch. They do exactly what they need to do, good and comfort food for lunch. The menu has changed a lot since the last time I was here and it's less than 20 savory and dessert dishes now. #1 Beef Satay - special house sauce, was quite tasty. #2 Basa Fish Amok dish wrapped in banana leave, is so good and hearty. #5 Chicken Soup - lemongrass, serves with steam rice was pretty awesome too. The Beef and Green Beans dish is also good. Good spot for lunch if you come before Noon, after 12:10 PM, there'll be a wait!
(4)
Geremy L.

This is the best Cambodian food you will find in the Bay Area. I use to have a friend whose family owned a Cambodian restaurant in San Francisco and I have tried a couple places since they closed down, but nothing hit the spot... until Chez Sovan! Simple location, nothing crazy going on with the decor, wait staff will help you figure out the menu to order dishes you'd like if you don't have anything in mind, and the owner is usually around and always joking. Took a couple shots at me but all very playful and it's probably a way to keep snoody crowds out. ;) I hope you already know about Amok, and yes, Chez Sovan serves it up the best! Plan your dining wisely. They can they busy, but if you are early you will get a table and waits are rarely too long either, but just keep it in mind if you are on a short schedule. ::well worth the wait::
(5)
Jeanette S.

Well this review is a little late, but you know what they say....Better than never. I really have to compliment the owners and staff of this small establishment. Foods that I have never known of are simply prepared with care. The food has so much flavor. If you're like me, and you like to take your taste buds on an adventure, well this is the place. You need to try the Amok. It's a white fish with spices that is steamed cooked. Omg. You need to reserve it before you arrive or as soon as you get there. That stuff goes quickly. Glad I was able to reserve one of the last 2 orders. Even though they are only open for a couple of hours during the week, it's so worth going. I do compliment most highly the waiters. So friendly and attentive to the customer and bunch of comedians. But overall this place was a lovely experience. I highly recommend you go when you have a chance. Or skip work just to go! Haha. Well this is it for now. From your friendly Yelper-Jen
(4)
Sam K.

Not the best looking restaurant. Furniture and decor extremely basic. The food is outstanding! Great value for the price.
(5)
Tiffany T.

My review is base on a take out order. Ordered amok since all the fellow yelpers suggested it, it was pretty good and flavorful but not my cup of tea. I also ordered the stir fried noodles with beef. It's really good! Similar to a pad Thai. Next time I'll be sure to try their curry; someone in the restaurant ordered it and it looked/smelled so good! The owner was very nice also!
(4)
Esther S.

Had thier curry and while it was good it was very soupy and barely had any ingredients in it except for potato =( Service is eh Location is a bit sketchy Interior is very informal and dark Maybe I ordered the wrong dish? Not sure if I'll be back since its really not close to anything since its surrounded by industrial businesses.
(3)
Rajiv S.

The food here is outstanding. It's home cooking Cambodian style. My review is strictly for the food and service as the location and decor leave much to be desired. Hole in the wall is an appropriate description but the food more than satisfies. The menu is concise with options ranging from salad to curries to specialty dishes such as the Amok (which shouldn't be missed). Amok is a steamed, almost mousse textured, fish entree that has hints of coconut and is wrapped pleasantly in a moist banana leaf. My eyes rolled back in my head when I tasted my first bite. Other standouts include the chicken curry and shrimp salad which was refreshing and a perfectly light compliment to the other heavily flavored dishes. A special mention goes out to Brian and Maggie who greet you when you first walk in (often with a pleasant joke and a smile) and go out of their way to make you feel at home. After our meal we didn't want to leave because it was so much fun talking with them both. The second time I visited they called me out by name and are genuinely nice people. One side note - Chez Sovan is only open for lunch. Apparently they are that are doing well enough that they don't need to be open for dinner. I can see and taste why. Definitely will be a regular go to lunch spot for me when I'm in the area.
(5)
Andy D.

This was my second time here. I'm expecting a good home type of meal and thats what I got. The waiter as always is super energetic and funny. Food is served pretty quick and is very tasty. I love to come here more but it's not open all the time so makes it difficult. This and the parking situation is the main reason for not being a perfect 5. I don't have to say what to try but try everything. There aren't too many good Cambodian restaurants around and this is the one to go to if you have the chance. Come with a small group so you can order more items to try out :D
(4)
Jackie G.

I went with a group and we shared everything family style. Everything was delicious! It was my first time eating Cambodian food and I'm looking forward to going back. We shared the amok, chicken soup, coconut curry and noodles. It was packed at lunch time since it's the only time they're open. The service was great! Our waiter was really helpful and funny and it seems like the kind of place where the workers are content.
(5)
Ana C.

My Cambodian friend brought me here about a month ago and I must confess that I'm addicted. My favorite dishes here are: Beef satay Amok - I like that it doesn't taste fishy and it's really an explosion of flavor in every bite. Ginger fish with ground chicken on top sounds odd but is absolutely declines. The beef satay is not available on Mondays. Also they are only open for lunch. Owner and his staff are very friendly.
(5)
Tony D.

Love this place and the food is awesome! Ginger fish is my favorite! What makes it awesome is Brian and the others there, the service and personal touch makes you feel welcomed every single time! Brian is a hoot, love the guy!
(5)
Hng Ã‚.

This is a belated review, been to this place many times when I crave Cambodian food. The food is authentic and delicious, kind of expensive for hole in the wall place. The place is also slightly dirty thus the four stars
(4)
Chuck N.

Amok! You may not know what that is, but once you come here you'll definitely walk out a fan. It's their most popular dish made of soft fish, lemongrass, coconut, soft tofu and more goodness. It doesn't look good, not by any means. When you open the banana leaf wrapper it just looks like a pile of mush, but it is tasty. Around $10 and eat it with rice and fresh chili peppers. The Cambodian chicken noodle soup was also tasty. Though simple, it had great hints of lemon and lemongrass, great for a cold day. I think I should have opted for a more unique and powerful dish, maybe a Cambodian curry. I'll save that for next time. The camodian ice tea tastes just like thai ice tea to me. The service is also excellent, ask for Chris. I wish they were open for more than just lunch so I could grab Amok for dinner (like everyone else in the building).
(5)
Jen H.

There aren't that many Cambodian restaurants where I live, so we decided to drop by and visit Chez Sovan. Overall, the food was great, but the dishes were more on the the sweeter side. I prefer my main dishes to be more savory. Their signature dish is definitely Amok--don't leave without order that dish! Ordered: 1) Amok: Catfish with coconut milk--5/5 Very unique and delicious. My favorite dish 2) Chicken Curry: 3/5 --mediocre 3) Beef skewers-3/5--okay too
(3)
Narissa C.

I've been wanting to try this restaurant since I moved in SJ a year ago... today was the day I finally did! And it was an amazing experience. Amazing food and great customer service. My friend and I were greeted by Brian and Chris who were so welcoming. Everything that we tried was delicious and flavorful, especially the Amok. It's a must try. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Amir L.

There is no a single menu item that's not extremely delicious and special. I sometimes find myself day dream on their amazing shish-kabab (beef!) and their super amazing Catfish (Amok). Owner is super nice, service is superb. Pricing is very reasonable.
(5)
Philana C.

Chez Sovan is definitely a hole in the wall type of restaurant. It features authentic Cambodian food. Sadly, they're only open during weekdays for lunch. Street parking is readily available around the block. Restaurant is pretty small and the menu isn't too extensive. So far, I have only been here two times and I can't remember exactly what I had the first time. A must order dish is the Amok. Amok is the basa fish fillet mixed with coconut milk, lemongrass, lemon herb wrapped in banana leaf and steamed to perfection. Make sure you order this first because sometimes by 12, they'll be out of Amok due to its popularity. At first glance, you'll notice that the Amok looks very mushy and not too appetizing from the banana leaf, but don't judge! The Amok has a very interesting taste and does not taste too fishy. The texture is very soft and mushy, but hearty and flavorful. It's quite delicious and tastes perfect with rice! :) Overall, service is very friendly and prices are decent. Make sure you arrive a little before the lunch crowd because it does get packed!
(4)
Kim W.

This place is straight up Cambodian home cooking. Get the amok. You're welcome.
(4)
Catherine L.

What a great restaurant! Definitely a hole in the wall, it would be nice if they turned some lights on but the food, friendly service and authentic dishes really makes it worth the trip! We ordered the catfish appetizer called Amok. The flavor of catfish was hidden by the coconut milk but didn't love the texture but it was still a good experience. The Eggplant w pork was okay. A little too sweet but still good. Beef w bell peppers was a little spicy and really good but tasted more like a Chinese dish to me. Chicken curry was good. A small serving but very filling so worth it. A little watery, used to curries being a more creamy but the flavor was good, just a little too sweet for me too. My favorite were the skewered kebabs. Tender and flavorful. Simple is never a bad thing when it comes to food for me. Would return again and try some other dishes and of course the kebabs!
(4)
Cindy S.

This place is a medium sized hole in the wall (the entrance looks really...shady) but the food is very delicious! I went there for lunch with my fellow colleagues and ordered: -Cambodian Sweet Ice Tea with Cream -The fish wrapped in the leaf -Eggplant with Pork -Noodles with beef -Curry with chicken Needless to say, all of these ordered dishes were delicious. The fish wrapped in the leaf was especially so. The noodles were very similar to the Pad Thai. All in all, we left the restaurant with a bit of leftovers, and our stomachs full. The staff there were super friendly as well, they have a lot of character! They even gave us freshly chopped up chili (it was spicy, but really good with the dishes!) I definitely recommend you to stop by when you have the chance!
(5)
Serena T.

Chez Sovan is a hole-in-wall Cambodian restaurant, and is only open M-F, 11am to 1:45pm. Went here with a coworker not too long ago. Server and owner are very friendly. We got three dishes, amok trey, chicken curry, and ginger fish. Amok trey is my favorite Cambodian dish! It has a very unique taste; it's fishy from the catfish, with a strong curry taste. Chicken curry wasn't spicy as most Thai or Indian curry dishes are, but the taste of coconut milk was there. Ginger fish was something my coworker and I've never had before, it's a very unique dish! Fried fish with ground chicken and fish sauce.
(5)
Holly V.

soooo. never would think this place would have good food. or even people in it. walked in at 1245 and the restaurant is packed. the owner came up to us with his joyful smile and already made a joke with us. the owner and his wife are such a cute happy couple. looks like the love what theyre doing. and yes they do! their food tastes like it was made with joy and love! soo much flavor on everything we ordered! -the banana leaf fish was good and different from anything ive tried -the shrimp salad was perfectly dressed -the green beans with shrimp was exactly how my mom made it when i was little -MUST try the chicken satay! its cooked perfectly and the flavor tastes better than anywhere i have tried it -the noodles, i must say i can pass on that though. other than that, everything was perfect. FOR SURE I WILL BE BACK
(4)
Chai L.

Can't get over this place. A friend reintroduced me to this place about 3 months ago and since then, I go every other week, if not every week. I used to order whatever sounded good at the moment but recently, the favorite is chicken curry, sometimes it's amok. Maybe I should not have shared my favorites bc they may run out next time I go ;P
(5)
Keven W.

Definitely a whole in the wall, but they need more people here for lunch for sure. There was only one guy working there on a Friday. The prices were reasonable. We all shared food which was good. The service was okay as the guy forgot to take my order after he tip the water on the whole entire table. My friend came in late and forgot to come back and take our order. As for the food, it was actually pretty good. We tried the curry and it was great. Then the shrimp salad was good and ate almost the whole plate, the amok and I forgot what else we had, but it was amazing pretty good. It is in a not so nice neighborhood across the street from nice condos however.
(4)
Dian K.

Just as I remember it 15 years ago when I lived in the area! I was back here just for a week and made time to drop by one of the days for the lunch. Came in early before the lunch rush and was able to order quickly. What I distinctly remember from 15 years ago was actually the beef sticks. So I made sure I ordered one, plus the chicken stick for good measure. The sticks are $2.50 each and was as flavorful as I remembered it. We also ordered the Amok, which was delicious - reminded me of a similar Indonesian dish I use to eat as a kid. We also ordered a simpler dish, the chicken stir fry, also good. The only complain I have was the rice. It was pretty hard, I think they need a new rice cooker. The owner/waiter was VERY friendly, like to joke, happy and it rubs off on you. There are tons of regulars as he greeted them cheerily. The area as very sketchy 15 years ago, they only open for lunch, so no need to risk your life at night ;) But it's a lot better now, especially with the new townhouses across the main street. They haven't removed the metal bars on the windows though - as a matter of fact, the place looks almost exactly the same as it was then. I'm happy to re-discovered this place and will come here whenever I visit the area again.
(5)
Jack R.

Best Cambodian food ever! The Amok is outstanding. In fact, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Service is awesome. Everyone from the owner to the servers is awesome!
(5)
Rick S.

amok I've had at other places--in LA at restaurant called Siem Reap, but also in the market in the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia--it's usually a wonderfully delicate fish with the soft coconut flesh and a broth, all inside a coconut. the amok served here is totally different, fish steamed with an eggy coconut milk inside a banana leaf. and it's fantastic! (though I still like the coconut version as well). nice green beans. hope to try eggplant next time. they've got a brilliant operation: prep prep all morning...cook like crazy for 2 hours, clean and go home. and those 2 hours are crazed in here but food is fantastic.
(5)
Cin-Yee S.

If you enjoy having foodie street cred, bring your friends here. If you like decor, visit the Campbell location (for their daily lunch special plates). Have been here several times with my friend The Artist (who is all but in love with the owner Henry) and we order amok, chicken skewers, chicken curry, chicken rice soup, ginger fish, and one of the specials on the back of the menu (never had a bad one yet). It's not Gary Danko, parking can be tricky at lunch, but the flavors and service are excellent. Delicious and affordable Cambodian.
(5)
Kim N.

I used to go here way, way back in the day. When this area was much harsher and your chances of getting jacked were high. Sharing some flavor profiles with Thai, it's the closest comparison I can make, since well, there really aren't many other Cambodian reference food places to be made. Some of the regular items had: -Amok - coconut fish mixture in a banana leaf -Laap - pork with roasted rice, shallots, cilantro, red chili, lime -Deep fried seabass - pineapple sauce -Cha Me Geaw - beef with egg noodles stir-fried with mixed vegetables Everything is incredibly flavorful here. I hate to say it but think of Thai on steroids. The place can get crowded and it maybe slow at times but the food is worth it. if you dont mind trekking to this industrial part of SJ, it's worth seeking out. 4.3 stars
(4)
Sumeet S.

Awesome food and the staff and owner have a great sense of humor. I wish they had brown rice though :). But their food is fabulous. Once in a while, I give my fitness regime a rain check (by not skipping white rice) just because these guys have such an awesome food :).
(5)
Robert F.

This is THE place for lunch. The food is excellent, the hosts are polite and fun and the overall experience is grand - but at a very reasonable price. We had the chicken sticks, amok fish, beef stir fry and chicken soup as well as a bowl of rice. All were super yummy. This was a good amount for three people. Highly highly recommend to anyone. Thank you for such an enjoyable lunch break! Cheerio
(5)
Jimmie L.

I have heard so much about this place, but have never gotten a chance to try it out since the hours of operation is so limited. Was on jury duty on Hedding Street, and was searching Yelp for some good nearby places to eat. Chez Sovan was on the top of my list. Finally got to try their amok, which is catfish mixed in coconut milk, lemongrass, and lemon herb, wrapped in banana leaf. It was moist and delicious, with a hint of lemongrass. I want to go back here again and try out more stuffs, but don't think I will have the opportunity. Would get a higher rating if their business hours are better.
(4)
Jane H.

It is not a fancy restaurant but food are fantastic!! we order amok, chicken/beef skewers, chicken curry and string beans with beef. Honestly, I haven't find the same taste of homey Cambodian food in NYC yet. Sometimes, I do crave the amok and chicken curry. Will definitely go back to try other dishes on the menu.
(5)
Mayalia B.

This would be my fourth visit to this wonderful establishment!! My favorite dish is the Ginger Fish it is by far Thee best dish I have ever tasted my second runner up is the beef satay!! Which tastes like it has been marinated for hours and is perfectly grilled to the point where it melts in your mouth!! The staff are awesome and welcoming this small whole in the wall has a plethora of flavors for the pallet I will forever be a lifetime customer !!
(5)
Sylvia K.

The amok here (fish steamed in a banana leaf) is super delicious. They say that they make a limited amount for lunch, so just order two from the get go. Or you might regret it when you only order one and then decide you need a second helping and they run out. The curry is good and so are their rice noodles. The place is most definitely a hole-in-the-wall in a random part of town. The server with the longer hair is very friendly and hilarious. And we got candy at the end of our meal. I got a twix bar and my friends got those Japanese fruit chews - can't remember what they're called for the life of me and I'm too lazy too google it.
(5)
Elizabeth B.

The food here is so delicious we came here two days in a row. Small hole-in-the-wall-type location on the corner of Oakland and Madera with only street parking available, so if you were just passing by, this place could easily be overlooked. They're only open from 11-1:30 Monday-Friday, so this place is constantly busy. The owner is super friendly, and the first time we went for lunch with coworkers, there was about a 10-minute wait for a table (not a big deal). He apologized and brought out a menu for us to order so that our food would be ready by the time we sat down. Amok is a must-order! It's a coconut curry catfish with a mousse-like texture steamed in a banana leaf. We've tried the green bean dishes, curries, and shrimp salad as well, which were all delicious as well. Would definitely come back again if I'm back in the area.
(4)
Cassandre R.

Everything is delicious. The chefs are beyond kind. The beef salad is my number one dish here. The ginger chicken & Amok is not to be missed. They are busy and for a good reason. Give this place a try you will NOT regret it!
(5)
Thuy H.

I've been taking my coworker out to various different asian restaurants to spice up her Mexican life with a little bit of Asian flavors... She rarely ventures out of american or mexican cuisine, so I decided to take her to a few of my favorite places! I haven't eaten at Chez Sovan for awhile, so last week, I took her to Chez Sovan. The menu is simple for lunch (I couldn't find it online, so I'll upload it next time I make a visit). I decided to order the beef plate and ginger chicken. I coudn't remember the name of the beef plate, but I believe it's the first one on the back menu. It was full of rich flavors! I liked both entrees, but loved the beef plate more. It had a good kick to it and I believe there was tamarind in it...I ordered rice to balance out the flavors and left very happy.
(5)
Michael A.

Outstanding meal every time This is a great place for lunch. Fast, Affordable, and delightful for the taste buds. It is one of those places that always has me feeling good when I leave.
(5)
Sol M.

delicious Cambodian food. similar to Thai food but more ginger. Amok is quite good. Open only for workday lunch!!!
(4)
Austin B.

WOW! A co-worker suggested we order from this place for our office lunch. I had never tried it and since I work in Palo Alto it never worked out to go try it before ordering. Basically my co-worker is the most popular person in the office now because this food was amazing. Catering for a group doesn't always turn out awesome but Chez Sovan came through. Here's what I ate off the menu - in order of deliciousness: Beef Satay - so tender and the sauce on this skewer was amazing. Chicken Curry over rice - I should have ordered more because it was full of a wonderful curry, large potatoes, carrots and chicken. It tasted like it was cooked just moments before I picked up our order. After 20 minutes in the car it was still perfect! Ginger Beef- Lots of beef and ginger stir-fried together in a perfect marriage. I don't love ginger so I couldn't eat all the pieces of it but a few slices with the beef was awesome. We had other food but I didn't get a chance to try it. The best part of all this food was the people at Ches Sovan are so friendly, helpful and funny. I loved the conversation while I was picking up my order and hope to be back again soon. Thanks everyone at Chez Sovan for a memorable company lunch! I wish we could eat Cambodian food every monthly luncheon!
(5)
Mark G.

We were lucky enough to be staying near this fine Cambodian restaurant not long ago when we first relocated to the bay area. We chanced upon this gem purely by accident. Amazing food, amazing value, and terrific service! If we were only closer we'd come all the time for the amok fish. Brilliant!
(5)
Jenny L.

Chicken Yellow Curry Amok Thats all i need with rice. Delish! The waiter always brightens up my day.
(5)
Brian C.

Shrimp salad - flavorful and fresh salad, perfect for warm San Jose days. Satay chicken - tasty and moist Amok - very tasty but the lemon grass was a bit over-the-top. Chicken curry - slightly different from other curries I've had. good, but not great. Service - frequently refilled out water. staff is friendly and personable. one guy kept telling jokes. Overall, this is a good hole-in-the-wall place that offers fresh and delicious cuisine at reasonable prices.
(4)
Judy C.

OMG, hands-down the best food I've had in a very long time. I went with 3 other colleagues, we ordered 5-6 dishes, and can't complain about any one of them! Get the catfish (and I'm not even a catfish fan)! If you've never had Cambodian, I would say it's a cross between Chinese and Indian, kind of. Hard to describe so you'll just have to go try it yourself. It's a real hole-in-the-wall, so not recommended for business lunches unless you hang out with cool homies at work like I do.
(5)
Laurie C.

My first time here, and first time eating Cambodian food. Ordered the ginger beef, the Anuk, and the string beans with Chicken. FANTASTIC. I was really skeptical about the Anuk. It's not very appetizing looking. But the flavor was AMAZING. I will definitely come back, and I hope to try their Campbell location soon. Get there early if you're going for lunch.
(5)
Carmina B.

Mmm-mmmm! Chicken or beef skewers are the bomb! It's the salty/lemongrass marinade that they used. Also both the chicken/tofu curry are amazing. Thai tea is the sweet, refreshing way to wrap the meal. Owner's very friendly and happy too =). Hole in the wall at its best! Only open for lunch - 10:30-2 (maybe 2:30).
(5)
Linda L.

My first time here was with a group of friends for a birthday dinner. Birthday boy wanted Khmer food. It was so good. The flavors were on point. The dishes had sone similarities with Vietnamese and Thai food. But the whole experience was delicious. I enjoyed the food 10x more than I thought I would.
(4)
Roseanne H.

Great service, great food!
(5)
Bruce P.

food was excellent and the servers/owners are friendly, genuine, funny!
(5)
Hari T.

Cambodian food is very unlike Thai food. My guess is it must have had some influence from France. Hell, who knows, and who cares? Their Amok is to die for. Make sure you get it. Just ask them for anything else that they think is special and worth a try. But definitely get the Amok. I just go there for the Amok. Everything else is secondary. And, yes, this is a hole in the wall place. The prices certainly don't reflect that though. If you prefer a more upscale place with the same price, and the same food, visit their campbell location.
(5)
Debbie C.

When the aroma of deliciousness perfumes the air and causes U-turns, there are rarely disappointments. Beautiful soup broth that goddesses must have smiled into... it make one feel that good!
(4)
Jarrod J.

Just had lunch here today. Wow!! Never had Cambodian food before, but now I may have to make it a regular staple in my diet!! I got the amok, which everyone on here suggests. It was really good, tender, and flavorful. I also got two chicken skewers, and they were very tender and flavorful as well. And the waiter was super nice. I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Mark M.

This place is definitely one of those tiny hole in the walls that you never even consider going to. The surrounding area isnt the greatest, and the inside decor is ok at best. Parking can be a bit of a hassle, but it's still worth the visit. The owner is awesome; funny and always ready to take your order. The owner is definitely a character and makes this a fun and welcoming experience. Now about the food; I'm a creature of habit so once I try something I'm usually hooked. I havent tried the entire menu, but what I have tried is great! The amok is great if you're into fish. The chicken and beef kabobs are grilled to perfection! The yellow curry chicken is above average. The shrimp salad is pretty tasty as well. Remember to order the cambodian tea ! (much better than thai tea) This of course is an inside joke with the owner because the cambodia tea is basically thai tea. Give this place a shot if you've never experiencied cambodian food. I would say very similar tastes to that of a thai restaurant.
(4)
Bobby L.

A mazing M arvelous O utstanding K ooool Yes...I'm a huge fan of the AMOK - Catfish or chicken with Kroeung and coconut milk wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. This dish has always been one of my "last meals on earth"....with rice of course! I'm also a fan of their beef salad with noticeable lime and mint flavors, the chicken lemongrass soup, pork shish kabob, and all of their curries with coconut milk and spices. It's difficult for me to dine at this location as much as I'd like to, since they're only open during lunch on weekdays (I usually take late lunches). But when I have eaten at this hole-in-the-wall before 2 pm, I always have a good time. Service is fun friendly and quick. On my clothing or in my burp, the strong aromas from the kitchen stay with me all day!
(4)
Kevin C.

People really have this place at 4 stars? First off, the entire restaurant needs a once-over with some 409 or Simple Green. The chairs and laminated menus are grimy, and the floors could use a good mopping as well. I don't care for the decor, but I won't let that affect the review. For lunch, the two of us ordered two small dishes ($8.50 each; large would have been $10.50 each) plus rice ($1.50). Overpriced if you ask me. (Still overpriced if you don't.) The food was very flavorful (read: salty and sweet); it wouldn't make sense to go without the rice. Portion size was all right. The rice came after the entrees, making us wonder for a bit if it had been forgotten. We had to flag the waiter down and really rush him to get the check. (Weekday lunch hour, we didn't have all day!) Though friendly, service was actually very slow during the lunch rush. food: 3.5 stars value: 2 stars service: 3 stars overall: 2.5 stars... losing points for dirtiness Why? Because I chez so.
(3)
Yakka M.

Great food - love the amok dish. Excellent service.
(5)
Aimee P.

I had my first Cambodian meal experience during a business lunch at Chez Sovan today and I was truly impressed! I tried the following items: Pork satay (My fave! Awesome flavor - lemongrass, garlic, other secret stuff) Beef satay (juicy!) Chicken Satay (delicious - cooked perfectly) Amok (creamy, delicious - not fishy at all!) Ginger Fish (lightly fried and refreshing with the cilantro on top) Chicken Curry (nice balance of spices - not too hot) Green Beans and Chicken (savory sauce!) I was more than pleased with the food and really enjoyed the wonderful (and entertaining) service. The restaurant is on the corner of Madera Ave and Oakland Road (might be missed if driving too fast!). The space is small, so it gets crowded at lunch. I will definitely be back with my family!
(5)
Gzel B.

You can't go wrong! This place is soooo good! Tom Yum soup was chuck full of shrimp, mushrooms and flavorful broth! The Amok was perfect paired with white rice and chicken curry was cooked really well, the chicken was tender and moist! Check this place out, it's a small place in the corner of Oakland road, no frills, but really great food! great service too!
(5)
Jane J.

On a trip to norcal, a friend took me here with her man. The restaurant seemed to be in an awkward location, but whatever works. For the 3 of us, we ordered the amok, eggplant, and I think green beans? It was plenty of food for us. The person who served us, whom I believe is the owner, was very friendly! He always cracking jokes and really chill. I have to agree with everyone and say the amok is absolutely delicious! I have gone back and will continue to go back whenever I visit because of it :P
(4)
Shenshen L.

People there are nice and friendly, and the food is excellent!
(5)
Thu N.

As always. This place never disappoint my hungriness. The wait is long but it's totally worth it. Food price range is average $10 each but I really don't care. That's how good the food is. And the owner is the server too. He's the nicest and funniest guy! Makes me laugh all the time. Dont judge it by its ghetto cover. You will be amazed. LOL! The food is so good I keep wanting to write more review everytime I come home after eating there.
(5)
Kioko O.

Very much a-hole-in-the-wall, but you'll love this place! Don't let the appearance fool you. I was skeptical, too. But it's a good restaurant with good service and good meals. We had beef curry, and sauteed shrimp & green beans, plus white rice for $24 including tips. Not bad at all. But now that I'm reading other Yelp reviews, I have to come back and try the AMOK :-)
(4)
De S.

Pros: - Beef kabob/sticks are tasty - Tom Yum soup is the best I've ever had - Eggplant with meat of your choice has very tasty sauce - Best of all, I don't feel thirsty after the meal, meaning not much MSG in each dish - The host is really cool. Cons: - Amok is overrated by Yelpers. The flavor and texture are nothing special. For $9, spend your $$$ on other dishes there. I will come back. It's good that this place only opens for lunch because it's in a ghetto part of town that you don't want to walk around at night.
(4)
Derek A.

My first time I ever tried Cambodian/Khmer food was here and I'm glad I came. Weird hours and weird location describe this place but don't let it fool you. This place gets packed during lunch time (when it's usually open). It's a hole in the wall but come early because parking can be tough and the wait can get long. In my opinion, Cambodian food most similarly compares to Thai and some Vietnamese foods. I remember ordering a handful of dishes to share with my group but the ones that stood out the most to me were the amok, ginger beef, and pad Thai (which I ordered). The amok is very popular but also very different than what most are used to, but it has that unique taste that you can only get here. It's catfish with coconut milk and curry sauce but it's pretty good. The pad Thai and ginger beef had their own Cambodian style to it as well by keeping its flavors but adding their own twist to it, making it stand apart from Thai or Chinese style. Don't forget to order plenty of rice as they compliment every dish here. All the food was delicious and decent sized portions. Definitely worth a visit if you want to try something new or don't have a Cambodian friend whose house you can eat at. ha!
(4)
christina l.

There's no pretense to this place. Dumpy looking place but the combination of the great food, a funny owner who sure is a character and the reasonable price make this place pretty darn awesome. Only opens for lunch during the weekdays. Food tends to be a lil sweet--maybe sweeter than I like it but i think many others do. I'd definitely check this place out. Parking isn't that great around but it's really worth a lil hassle. Dessert? That's that jar of candy bars on the counter.
(4)
allan a.

Great Cambodian restaurant. The Amok was perfect as well as the satays and curry. Can't wait to come back. Make sure you ask for a side of crushed chili
(4)
Rosanna T.

The food is very flavorful. We had the curry and chicken soup. The curry was good but there was not alot. The chicken soup was light and it had a kick to it. The restaurant was messy/dirty..there were leftover dishes piled on one table.
(4)
K C.

pretty high-priced. Food was a bit too sweet service was slow, can't even get them to take our order, let along getting water
(2)
Jim C.

This place is a definite winner. I live in Orange County, but work in this area at times. For taste and value this is hard to beat. They seem to have a knack for good cooking, as my co-workers and I have found out with different dishes.
(5)
Breezy E.

I really like this place. Hella bomb curries. Also had the skewered meats. Service was great. The owner is a nice guy too. Only thing that sucks is that's it's open for only lunch durin the weekday. The funny thing is I hear Cambodians don't like this place cuz it's white washed. Shit it was still good to me!
(4)
Bertina N.

This was my first Cambodian restaurant, picked by my former manager for a team lunch on a Thursday. When I arrived I was warmly greeted by Brian/Bryan the owner of Chez Sovan. He was really friendly and outgoing. We had reserved a round table for myself and 8 other colleagues. I was early (well, on time but my colleagues were stuck in meetings and behind schedule). He immediately welcomed me to sit down and relax and asked if I wanted a Cambodian iced tea while I wait. I sat down with the tea and talked a little with the owner. He was really down to earth and genuine. I asked about his business hours, they were posted on the front door as only 11am to 1:30pm, daily. He tapped the palm of his hand over his heart a few times and said it's for 'this' (signaling his heart 'happiness'). He said, 'why make more money .. for what?' He then said something along the lines of having more free time to do other things he loves , enjoy life, and be happy, also getting home in time (2pm) to watch his soap operas. :) This was a breath of fresh air. He certainly seemed happy, contagiously happy. And I thought he did a great job jovially inviting each of his patrons into the restaurant and being attentive and humorous with each of them (he jokes often). I felt more like I was a guest in his home than a patron in his restaurant. A lot of people filed into the small restaurant, one group after another (most groups aside from ours were 2-4 people that day). The majority were dressed in corporate attire, likely coming from one of the nearby companies. The look and atmosphere of the restaurant is what you would expect from a small, simple, modest, hole-in-the-wall Asian restaurant. Nothing fancy but still felt airy and clean. I'd recommend reservations for large groups and to come on the early end of lunch if you're planning to walk in (be there by 11:30/11:45am) as it starts getting packed near 12pm. My former manager (a fan and regular of the restaurant) ordered for our table a variety of his favorite chicken entrees, appetizers, noodles, and soup for us to share family style. Everything was well seasoned and flavorful and all the chicken was moist and tender. The chicken in the curry easily fell off the bone. I didn't try the noodles, no particular reason just didn't try it. I will next time. At the end of our lunch, the owner had remembered my name (or at least the first letter of it) because by now he'd given me a nickname and was addressing me by 'B.' :) If you're looking for a small, delicious, inexpensive hole-in-the-wall with quick and friendly service and the feeling almost like you're eating in a good old friend's home and not a restaurant - I'd recommend checking this place out. Remember it's only open for lunch from 11am-1:30pm!
(4)
Lina P.

Favorite spot for Cambodian :) The owner's are hilarious! There is a lot of friendly sarcasm and humor. It makes for an enjoyable experience every time. I love their beef sticks mmmm! I havent tried their papaya salad..i dont think it's even on the menu. I'd have to double-check the next time i go back. We've had almost everything on the menu! I highly recommend and just try it! The tastes are bold and it's as original as it can get.
(5)
Khaled E.

Once of my favorite restaurants in bay area. No nonsense, authentic hole in the wall place...
(5)
Sunil R.

I was looking to find another hole in the wall with great food. Well, I found the hole in the wall but... the food was far from great. 1 out of 2 in this case is not good enough. This one is on the low end of "holes in the wall" places that I have been to and that is saying a lot!! There was no light and it looked more like a garage as opposed to restaurant. All would have been overlooked if the food was amazing which it was not unfortunately. The beef kabob was overcooked and burnt. The chicken curry was so so and so was the beef stir fry both of which the waiter said were signature dishes. Disappointing, especially given that I drove a fair bit to try this place out. On the plus side, the waiter was funny and entertaining. Interestingly enough, this place looks like the a "go-to" spot for many of the locals based on the hugs the waiter was getting. Er...will skip wise crack about what it says about dining options in this area.
(2)
Sin S.

I can be bias due to the fact I'm Cambodian, but you won't regret coming to taste this classic cuisine. You'll leave with a smile and 5 star review.
(5)
Rangarajan K.

Loved the Amok, Chicken Satay, Fish Stew....Yummmmyyyy...would definintely recommend this place for the food and friendly service...
(5)
Kenny J.

I loooove this place! I totally forgot about it until a friend mentioned coming here for another friend's bday. Cheap and delicious, you can't go wrong coming here. Just come early to beat the crowds as it's not very big. For four people we ordered: 2 beef kabobs and 2 chicken kabobs Amok (steamed catfish w/ spices wrapped in a banana leaf) Chicken rice soup Chicken curry with potatoes and carrots Mmm....everything was very good. We also got a couple iced coffees with condense milk that were pretty good. My favorite is the amok, but the curry and kabobs were good as well. The soup is pretty good, but there isn't really any rice inside other than small bits. There is lots of chicken though and it has great flavor from the lemongrass. Just add your own rice if you want something more hearty, that's what I did. The tab came out to about $60 including tax/tip. Not bad! The location is pretty easy to get to as it's not far off 101 and Oakland Road. The guy who is always there (owner?) is also really really nice and friendly. I remember him from years ago the last time I was here.
(5)
Bob W.

Yes, this place is as good as it gets. If you score on the "sketch" factor, knowing that being across the street from a junk yard is an attribute...you are ready for Chez. I had not been there in a while. Each time, I am catching up with the owner, probably trying to be his matchmaker. Low and behold -- he married -- yep, and she was at the counter. So, my days of suggestion are over. I too had my favorite 3 (as I am on a diet, I could not do the favorite 4): Amok, Green Beans and Shrimp, and the Chicken Salad. Had to pass on the curry and the noodles -- wait that is 5. What I remember about this place is how it runs circles around regular 'ol asian cuisine: the flavor palate is distinct, spicy and sweet. I enjoyed the adventure as always.
(5)
Mo R.

Selections are limited but awesome!
(4)
Christi Q.

i LOVE this place. the food is phenomenal. no joke. my favorites are the chicken curry and the tom yum gai (chicken) soup. every time i go, i order a large portion so that i have leftovers to bring home. i've also had the amok (fish steamed in banana leaf), which is yummy, but best to share as an appetizer for the table. the chicken with green beans in tamarind sauce is tasty, but not mind-blowing like the curry. the owner greets customers, serves food, and buses tables. he is warm, friendly, FUNNY, and treats you like family -- even on your first visit. he makes you feel right at home. so why only 4 stars? the location. the location is... not the best. it's in a bit of a sketchy neighborhood. no wonder this place is only open for lunch -- the food is fantastic, but no meal is worth walking around that part of town at night. i wouldn't normally walk around that part of town in broad daylight, but the great food and wonderful service keeps me coming back for more! i highly recommend this place. can't get enough of it.
(4)
John H.

If I could give this place 3.5 stars, I would. Consistently good food here, but this is the quintessential hole-in-the-wall. The decor is about as 3rd world as one can get. They do great business here and it wouldn't hurt them to spend a little of that money to spruce up the place a little bit. The lighting makes their food look worse than it really is. Also not a fan of the gelatnous steamed fish in banana leaf. It looks really good but tasted a bit funky for me.
(3)
Mike F.

Always order the Amok!! Great service but parking can be a little challenging
(5)
Janet O.

Finally went here with co-workers. I was disappointed. Nothing special. Ordered fish wrapped in banana leaves. Green beans with chicken, Beef curry and Beef with string beans. I noticed that almost every meat in the menu was paired with string beans and what we ordered tasted the same. I'm not reviewing it for the location and decor because I knew what to expect going in. This is just for the food.
(3)
Lorrie M.

Well I'll be. After hearing so much about this place I couldn't help but force and coerce my coworkers into going here for lunch today. I have to say the Yelp reviews aren't wrong, but they're slightly skewed in my opinion. They have some fantastic food no less ... and some very unique things that I've never tasted anywhere else. However, I found a majority of the dishes to be VERY overly salty and that was a little too much for my palate. The biggest disappointment was the Tom Yum soup as I have a reasonable expectation of what tom yum soup tastes like and this one was much, much too sweet. I think in general a lot of the dishes were very sweet for the kind of dishes they were because I guess this is the type of food where sugar is used a lot. I mean, I would definitely completely go back but if you don't have a heavy tongue for salt and sugar combined, it may not be as good for you as many of these others may tell.
(4)
Ralfy B.

I came here on a Thursday afternoon with a friend. The place was clearly not fancy but really full of character and comfort. Our server, who was also the cashier, bus boy, and what ever else he was... was super cool. He was friendly, fast, and welcoming. The food we had was full of flavor and absolutely tasty. I recommend this place to all. Great food. Great service. Great experience.
(5)
Cyprus N.

I did some research before I came here. This is the ORIGINAL Chez Sovan restaurant where it used to be located in Campbell before it moved here. You can get the best Amok: catfish in banana leaf. Note: The one in Campbell has been taken over by different Cambodian owner but still has the same name. Flavor is not as good as original but it's very well made.
(5)
Ted D.

Wonderful gem in a dive location - hidden away to allow word of mouth fill the place up for lunch every day. Owner and some family and girlfriend take good car of everyone in a fast paced lunch environment with the best food, sweet, spicy, and delicious. Every sauce is good on either chicken or beef with some catfish dishes in between to die for. Get there early or you will wait for Silicon Valley business people to finish their lunches - but worth the wait. Inexpensive and yummy - a gold mine for the owner who just serves lunch for business people.
(5)
Maria K.

One word: delish! A friend had recommended this place years ago and I never got around to visiting. Much overdue, I finally tried this place. - Amok: delish fish dish/appetizer (though at $9 it seems a bit pricey) - Prawns with green beans: delicious sauce! - Chicken curry: huge portion for the price, and very tasty. Couldn't stop pouring this on my rice. - Eggplants with tofu: though I'm not a big fan of eggplants, this dish was actually good (not soggy) - Noodles (pad thai like): heavy on the sauce, strong flavor. I enjoyed it, though it might seem a bit sweet to some. The place is not hard to find, right off the freeway exit. The location is a little sketchy. The restaurant itself is a hole in the wall, limited seating available. Don't come here expecting ambiance, the main focus is the food. That said, service is great. The guy helping us was quite funny and attentive.
(5)
Ngan H.

Good food and friendly services... I feel like I'm in Asia when sitting inside the restaurant. The condition of the restaurant was very "run-down" but the food was quite good. The service is like Mom's and Pop's place. So don't expect to have nice settings when you come to this place. Just look forward for the food and anticipates for some odd jokes from the owner. Good dishes we tried: Amok, Ginger Beef, Chicken Curry, Tom Yum Soup (slightly different taste than Thai Tom Yum), Eggplant with Pork, and the kabobs.
(4)
Christy H.

I've been looking for something different to eat around the area and found this place on yelp. I've never been to a Cambodian restaurant before, so I thought I give this place a try. The waiter came over (who I am assuming is the manager/boss) and enthusiastically greeted us. He saw that we were new so he recommended us to get the Amok (their catfish specialty dish) and another one to share. The Amok came out wrapped in what I believe is banana leaf and it was quite delicious! Finally, something in the area that is unique and different. Definitely something everyone new to this place should try. Our second dish was the ginger chicken and I have to say that I typically don't like ginger, but this dish infused the ginger so well that I actually enjoyed eating it! New place to introduce to my family and friends!
(4)
Psusennes R.

I love this place! This whole in the wall is such a gem. I can never tire of the Amok and meat skewers. The owner is a hoot. expect to be called sweetheart and honey!
(4)
Inde A.

I stopped here for lunch the other day and had a great meal. The Amok, Catfish in banana leaf, was very good. The owner was very friendly and attentive. Definitely one of the better places I've tried in the south bay. Will be back soon to try some more dishes.
(5)
Veronica B.

The owner/server is super cheerful and has got swagger. He is just tool cool for school with his long pony tail. You'll see what I mean. The Cambodian fare reminded me of Thai with an extra special oomph. For instance, I am not a fan of bottom feeders (catfish) but the Amok (banana leaf steamed catfish tamale purse sorta thing with lemon grass) was the highlight for me. The taste of lemon grass cut beautifully through the sweetness of the catfish and coconut milk. Great for a lunch date with the co-workers. Do it....
(4)
Brendan D.

First time here, ever. Don't know why I resisted coming here for so long after a friend recommended it a few months ago. Just call me stupid because the ginger pork I just had was fantastic! Came here at the end of lunch rush - around 1pm - so the place was clearing out. When I walked in, I could smell the wonderful aromas wafting from the kitchen. Who cares that it's a total hole in the wall?!!! My thought was that if the food tasted as good as the aromas I was smelling, I was in for a treat! They did not disappoint. The owner was the server, and because it wasn't at all busy (my friend had warned me that there's often a line out the door), he stopped by table a few times to chat. That made my dining experience so much more enjoyable on top of the spectacular food. As for the ginger pork, the meat was not super-tender, but I didn't care. The mixture of flavors from the ginger, soy and fish sauces, and other delicate seasonings struck a perfect balance. I will be returning here - a lot - to try out all their dishes! As for portion sizes, I ordered the small. I'm a big guy, and I couldn't even finish half! That was impressive! Now I have a late afternoon snack! :) If you live or work near here, don't be fooled by the hole in the wall appearance of this place. Let your olfactory and gustatory senses guide you!
(5)
Jeff B.

Found this place through Yelp. Thanks to each and every one of you that reviewed it and recommended it! God! I like this place. Had no F'in idea what Amok was - I'm about as white as you can get - it was good. Very good. Can't really describe it. You have to take it all in. How something that looks soooo ugly can smell and taste so $%# @#(%$ good is beyond me. The whole place is full of attitude adjusters like the Amok. It looks like a dive on a dusty little street corner that you would never notice unless you were looking for it. Then, if you have the cojones to walk in there you will find a clean, warm, inviting place that I couldn't help but think that Ernest Hemingway would have loved and hung out there often. The tall guy that works and owns (I think..) the place is an instant friend. He's smart, friendly, kind and makes you feel better no matter what kind of day you are having or where you are from. I like him! It's small inside; clean, well maintained. The food is tasty and comforting. We had the Amok, Fish Stew and Chicken Stir Fry thing. All of it perfectly done, tasting great and making me think that I would stop by on my way home for dinner but alas, its only open for a couple of hours through lunch :-( I'm definitely coming back again and I can't wait to bring my friends and treat them to something that they normally wouldn't try on their own unless a friend recommended it.
(5)
Yeelo N.

I'll be honest, I haven't had a lot of Cambodian food in my lifetime but this is a good start! The place is a true hole-in-the-wall. While the waiter was very friendly and funny, the service is slow so expect to spend over an hour here for lunch. Amok - amazing. Two people an order should be good. I wouldn't want to share with more than one person! Chicken Curry - good portion size but standard. Prawns with Green Beans - how can you go wrong with house special sauce?! Very delish but I do love green beans. Noodles - very similar to pad thai. Nothing to write home about. I'd be back for the amok alone.
(4)
Luan M.

Tried Chez Sovan for lunch. Read the reviews and was resolved to try Amok. It was very good, just as we expected! Looks like regurgitated dinner, but it was actually very flavorful -- reminiscent of native Filipino dishes and ingredients (coconut milk, lemongrass ... think "laing"). We also had eggplant with chicken in Sovan sauce (yum, but I do love eggplants) and chicken and beef kebabs (winner!). The kebabs were very similar to the Filipino barbecue I miss oh so terribly. Don't let the exterior put you off (grills on windows). Go right in and enjoy the food. Service was great, too. Fast, friendly, and very helpful for first-timers. This is a definite must-try, y'all.
(5)
Chris H.

If you like Indian food and Thai food, you will love this place. Uniquely amazing. There isn't a bad dish on the menu but have become a huge fan of the Amok and Chicken Curry. Chez Sovan is only open for lunch, and it gets busy on weekdays. Get here early if you don't want to wait for a table.
(5)
Thad L.

DIVE DIVE DIVE. It does not get any divey'r than this. Restaurant passed down from mother to son Brian and what does he change; NOTHING! If you never had Cambodian it is Asian with a French influence. This has been one of my favorite places to take customers for twenty years. First glance, Bars in the Windows and doors, A bit seedy part of town, Newbies think "where the F*&@ is he taking me". Once inside the food speaks for itself. AMOK AMOK, I what my AMOK.
(5)
S F.

I came back to this place after a 7 year hiatus and am still floored by what they serve here. I used to live and work in the bay area and when I came back for a wedding, I was fixing to come back to this place. This place delivered the flavors as much as the first time I came here with a coworker who knows great food. I must say I'm reviewing the only things I have had here as I can't come here without having them. The Fish Amok has always been and always will be amazing to me here. My husband's first time here, he loved the burst of so many flavors with this dish. A custard/fish dish infused with ginger/galangal/curry flavors! I'm craving this now as I type this review, but I'm hundreds of miles away!!! ARGH! The best thing he loved were the beef sticks...My gosh, we ordered 3 aside from our entrees as these were so good. We ordered 1 chicken skewer, however the beef being nice and fatty and charred was so much better. He got a ginger beef dish which was really good too, but as the dish states, it was heavy on the ginger with slivers of fried ginger within it. Make the trip here as their food is honest to their Cambodian region.
(5)
Wenshian C.

food is quite authentic! I've been to Cambodia before and really missed the food there. Then I found Chez Sovan on Yelp! We ordered curry and the soup - my fav! And all were really good. Although the store looks really old... , the food is awesome, but the price is just as you find in other South East Asian restaurants in Bay Area. No matter what... highly recommended! :d
(4)
Sherman L.

Food is tasty and good. Owners are extremely nice. Made us feel at home and was nice because we are not from the neighborhood. On the saucy side, but probably typical for this region of cuisine.
(4)
Kris H.

A prime example of "don't judge a book by its cover." If you can look beyond the outside of the restaurant (dilapidated buildings and houses, loud traffic, and lack of parking) and the deterioration that is the interior of the place (3rd world-gangster hideout chic), you will definitely be rewarded with delicious Cambodian food and SUPER friendly and FAST service. Actually, there is a tiny parking lot across the street from the restaurant with an even teeny, tinyer sign. And really, I love the old world charm complete with ceiling fan and Angkor Wat decorations. BUT I digress..... It's all about the catfish AMOK, sweet, savory fish, drenched in coconut milk, and lemongrass, and steamed in banana leaves. The flavors will delight your tastebuds. The chicken skewers, well,... are rather dry and flavorless. Number 24, a pseudo- pad thai, was mediocre, verging on sugary sweet. It's pretty much vermicellli noodles and chunks of chicken topped w/ peanuts. Anyways, check out, Chez Sovan, at this locale, it's a much more interesting dining experience, compared to the Bascom shop.
(4)
Food S.

Very nice curries that are quite distinct. Initially I thought it would be similar to Thai cuisine. However the curries seem to have more of a nutty taste. The lemongrass steamed fish in banana leaf was delicious.
(4)
Fenny K.

Service was good. A manager or the owner was hosting me and she's very polite. Few minutes later a waiter came to see if I need more time or ready to give my order. So I decided to get fried calamary (s), noodles with peanuts, and deep fried fish with ground meat and ginger. The food is pretty descent except I don't add sugar and salt to all my daily meals so their food taste lot salty and sugary to me. Perhaps it is ok for others. The calamary was fried a little longer than normal so it came out darker. Overall, it was an ok experience.
(2)
Eric N.

Ok. Now that I'm no longer a resident of the area, I'm willing to share this little gem with everyone. It's a total dive/hole in the wall. Don't let that deter you it's a total find and something you would only know about if someone told you. The food is awesome... the owner is friendly and not a greedy bastard. Like everyone says - try the Amok, it is special. Everything else is remarkable as well... something really can be sweet, spicy, sour and delicious at the same time.
(5)
Jay F.

First time, good food, great service, place looks a bit shady from outside though. was a bit tough to find.
(5)
Jamie L.

Came here for lunch with my ex-colleagues. The place is a hole in the wall type, I thought it was a liquor store at first. The restaurant had very dim lighting in the back, I felt like I was eating in the dark the whole time. We ordered Tom Yum soup, Amok, string beans with pork and eggplant dish. Amok is basically steamed catfish in a banana leaf, it was very flavorful and definitely something different. The other dishes are just similar to what I would get in Thai restaurants, so it didn't really stand out. The waiter totally forgot our Tom Yum soup order, so it was served at the end. Minus star for that.
(2)
Quang H.

I'm sorry but I just don't get it. My wife took me here to show me the true chez Sovan. We went to the one in Campbell about a year ago and she said that it was not as good as the one in San Jose so here we are to see if she was right. I have to say the location in Campbell was more of a restaurant than this one. As one reviewer puts it, it reminds me of a boarded up liquor store. The interior was not much better. But enough, it's a restaurant so I will give my two cents. I really wanted to see what Cambodian food was all about. The amok is unique but nothing to die for. We also ordered the Tom yam soup, samlaw curry, Kuy tiew Cha noodles. Their signature dishes. Again the food was similar to Thai than Vietnamese and for me less flavorful. The Chicken shish kabobs were devoured By the kids, but kids will eat anything grilled. Yes the owner is quite the showman and he seams to really love what he does. Thumbs up for that. So I give this place one star and my wife would give this place five stars which evens out to be three.
(3)
S J.

obviously not as cute as the other location, but just as delicious. the dishes are a little small, but they never disappoint in the taste department. even something as simple as green beans taste better here. and yes, as everyone has already mentioned, the amok is simply fantastic. they actually run out of it 1/2 way through lunch hours! get there early and order it quick!
(4)
Minu M.

Why are they open only on weekdays during lunch?? I had this place bookmarked since like forever, we finally managed to dine there the other day. I was so hooked that I took a bunch of people with me again! Where can I start? The management is just too friendly! It's a pleasure visiting them just for that one sole reason! I am a diehard fan of the Amok, can fish really taste so good! It's not legal!!!!! The rest of the dishes are meh! We were advised not to order the noodles but we got it anyway, didnt turn out to be a good decision. Decided to stick to their advise the next time and ordered the chicken curry instead. Well, for me chicken curry doesn't really go hand in hand with carrots and potatoes. I unfortunately didn't like the dish :( We also got the chicken satay, the chicken was over-cooked and the flavors were not great. To sum it all up looks like I am just hooked to the Amok, I would go there again and again just to get it!
(4)
Bonnie n.

yom yom yom! glad my bf and I were finally able to make it over here on a day they were open. the waiter Brian was super nice and so friendly. they ran out of amok so we didn't get to try it this time. next time though... my one and only negative was that I found steel wool (or whatever it is called they use to scrub pots that is metal) in our curry. :( thought it was a piece of veggie spice at first then I picked it up with my fingers and it was hard. chicken kabobs- were juicy and full of flavor the chicken rice soup- mmm... the first bite was a bit strange, because I really didn't know what to expect of the soup but every subsequent bite was delish! beef with string beans- beans were still crispy and the dish was saucy.. nice to put over rice chicken curry- good, but a bit too spicy for me ( i don't eat spicy at all) the chicken was so moist and juicy hope i get to come back here soon, but since the hours are so wonky it will be hard to. :(
(4)
sonya h.

I couldnt wait to come try this place out due to my friend's constant rave and all the 5 stars review on YELP. Unfortunately, I wasn't as psyched I was expecting to be. The location and the inside of the restaurant isn't very attractive but it does't matter as long as they serve 5 star worthy food. We ordered: Amok--since this is their special dish, it's supposed to be HELLA GOOD and supposed to blow me away. However it was just alright...too sweet for my taste. Chicken curry--I've had better Chicken Curries everywhere else...even the ones I cook would be more flavorful. We did not taste much curry and again it was too sweet. (My friend who normally loves this dish said she was disappointed too because the curry was too watery). I guess we came on one of their "off" days. Beef Kabobs-- Beef was grilled to perfection. However, it was way salty and way too sweet. I ended up downing water and tea afterwards. Pan fried noodles with pork--this plate is similar to pad thai. The pork was over cooked but the rest of the noodle was alright. We also had steamed undercooked rice. The rice was hard and some were still raw. Needless to say--disappointed. I am giving the food 2.5 stars and service 3 stars as the owner was very friendly.
(3)
Andrew T.

I think everything in the menu is good. Their curry is a bit sweet compared to other styles of curry. Dont miss the satay.
(4)
Wanda W.

Best Cambodian restaurant hands down....bar none!! This place is a staple and the food is deeelish! Everything is outstanding on the menu: the amok, curry, kabobs are the best! Can't beat the hospitality of the quirky fun loving owner of the establishment too which provides lunch and a show! Looks like he has a new young buck sidekick that serves as his Robin that runs like a Speedy Gonzalez to get folks in and out during the mad lunch hours!
(5)
Lorrie N.

I used to eat here weekly when I worked in San Jose about five years ago. I AM NOT REVIEWING A PLACE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO IN FIVE YEARS. So bring this story forward to the year 2008 and last week my former coworker (whom I hadn't seen in five years) met me here for lunch. And guess what? The same hot guy working the tables, with nice jeans and the food was even better than we remembered. This is the kind of place where I want leftovers to take home. I love the chicken curry. I also like to order the green beans sometimes too. I want to try one of the curries with tofu (vegetarian style), but the chicken curry is so juicy and not dry whatsoever, it's hard to not get it. I also went back a few days later with my other friend who is a vegetarian. She had the eggplant and I had the chicken curry (again)! We really enjoyed it. Yes, this is a HOLE IN THE WALL, but it's much tastier and rocks compared to the restaurant version in Campbell. Not that the other one isn't good. It's just got a different vibe. Remember, this one is not open on weekends. Only weekdays, for lunch, I believe. There is usually street parking, but you can also park in the lot on the side street, the owners let them use it. The area is kind of sketchy, but I haven't been bum hassled. New condo's nearby. Not that that is a good thing.
(5)
Eye C U.

I agree with other reviewers...the owner is really interactive with people. I ordered the amok and it was very good. However, the pad thai I ordered was drenched in sauce. It was tasty but too saucy.
(3)
Marcos F.

The 2nd best Cambodian food I have eaten in an American Restaurant. The amok with rice was out of this world. The fried noodles were a sweet surprise and nice contrast to the savory dish oh and the beef kabobs were so, so tasty. It is definitely a neighborhood gem. Place reminded me of everything Khmer. Nothing fancy on the outside, they didn't even have the lights on, but my was the food filled with substance. It's a mom and pop type joint and they are only open during the week for lunch from 11-1 so make sure you get there early if you're hungry.
(4)
Norman P.

Hole in the wall. That being said, I really enjoyed my lunch there. The service is really good. Of course it was full when we arrived, but the waiter (manager? owner?) assured us it would only be a 5 min wait (it was 5-10 minutes, but I didnt even notice). He handed us menus and took our order while we were still standing. Despite this, I never felt rushed. Food is really good of course. Amok is highly recommended.
(4)
RandyCP U.

This is a hidden gem in a not-so fantastic area of San Jose. Great food comes out of the hole in the wall (literally). Don't mind the peeling ceiling paint : It hardly ever falls into the food. I always speculate on what this place could be in a different location. Order the Amok (catfish in a coconut milk gel wrapped in a banana leaf (you think that's weird and you call yourself a foodie?). Second best thing if the fish stew, but you need to order it as soon as you come in because it takes so long. Parking is OK, there is a secret lot across the street that looks like something else. Not cheap. Lunch for 2 was $35 with tip.
(4)
Julia P.

After only 1 visit, this place has become one of my favorite places to eat. BF and I got the amok appetizer, curry, and shrimp and green beans. They were all so delicious, even though the stir fry was a little bit too salty. So much flavor! You can tell they don't skimp out on any spices. The shrimp and veggies were perfectly cooked. Dishes are about $7-$10 dollars. They only serve during lunch hours, and they don't have parking lot. But the server/host is one of the friendliest person I've ever met working in a restaurant. He cracks jokes and teases his customers, although it looked like he was the only server there and was getting a bit swamped. I just love his happy, 'i love my life' positive energy. I would definitely come here again. and again. and again and again and again.
(5)
Ling H.

Jerry H. is right. It is a "hole in the wall." We drove past even though we were looking for it! He was also correct about the ugly decor, but it is made up for by the good food and very friendly service. We arrived at the place at 1:25PM on a Tuesday afternoon (well past the rush hour lunch period). NOTE: the server told us they really close or stop serving at 1:30PM, but was nice enough to still accommodate us. I ordered a chicken and green bean dish, which was pretty good. A little salty for my taste. My friend got a pan fried noodle dish, #18, which tasted like really sweet pad thai. My other friend got the yellow curry. Probably THE best dish out of the three. The curry was very flavorful and the chicken was crazy tender! It reminded me of the curry my mom's bf makes and he makes a mean curry! YUM! All in all, a very good lunch. I would definitely come back the next time I have a random weekday off since they are only open M-F. =[
(4)
Chester M.

I always wanted to eat Cambodia food. This restaurant is open only during lunchtime in the weekdays. The restaurant seems to be a Thai restaurant since all the decor looked like from Thailand and the menu items seems to be very similar to it. I tried the ginger beef and chicken yellow curry. They were both delicious. The service was prompt and the friendly. They had one of the best curry dishes I have ever had. I will come back for more.
(4)
JC B.

Amazing food! Great Service by the Boss!
(5)
Ponn Mai K.

TRUE TO KHMER'S FOOD! This place is one of the best place for Khmer food in California! The food taste similar to how it taste in Cambodia. They don't mind making it strong, jam packed savory flavors. If you don't like strong favor food, this place is not for you. During the lunch hours, you'll see a lot of people in business attire enjoying their meal. From time to time, you'll hear something like a food orgasm and complimenting the food. While the person bringing/introducing them there smile. While you're eating, It gives you the "Mom and Pop" kinda feeling. My personal Fav. The Amok! It has to be their best dish! It's boneless catfish wrapped in banana leaves, cooked with coconut milk and other spices. If you don't like coconut milk or sweet food this is not for you. YES! it's sweet catfish! It's a must try! They stay true to the Khmer restaurant setting. It's fairly dark inside with only the sun as your source of light, just like how you would find most Khmer's restaurant in Cambodia. It's really a "Hole in the wall" because you won't ever notice the restaurant is there without being recommend by a friend or randomly walking into it. The location is not the best place since it's next to a small auto junk yard. But it's right off the 101 as well. Great service and great price! Oh yea, they only open for lunch and no dinner! I asked the owner why and he stated, " More money, more trouble, I make enough to be happy" Oh yea, the owner will be your waiter as well ^_^
(5)
Jessica N.

This place is great! It's in kind of a sketch part of town, but the food is great and so is the service. The exterior of the building is a little foreboding, you probably wouldn't look at this restaurant and say "hey, let's eat there" without a little encouragement from your friends at Yelp. Down to the food; we started with the amok, catfish wrapped in banana leaves. Don't get me wrong, I don't eat fish, but this was actually edible for me, so I bet it's amazing for someone who actually likes fish. The real star of my meal was the chicken curry. Perfectly spicy and very flavorful. Don't forget to order the rice. The service was really great and the owner is a very funny guy, very courteous.
(4)
Timothy T.

Me and my friends decided to road trip to Norcal this summer break. After touring the beautiful of gardens we needed to refuel. We have never tried Cambodian cuisine and decided to give it a shot. After parking at a residential, the first sentence we said was "is there even a restaurant here?" upon our arrival we were immediately greeted by a bubbly, handsome, and kind waiter. We ordered the amok, Cambodian iced coffee, Cambodian iced tea, and chicken curry. One of the best decisions of the entire trip! Our entire meal came out in less than five minutes. The amok is absolutely delicious even though it's appearance might be off putting. It is a must order item. The iced coffee is strong yet sweet. The Cambodian iced tea makes thai tea look like trash. It was so good we ordered two more to go. Lastly, that curry hit the spot. It's flavor is indescribable. It was sweet yet spicy and totally delicious. The chicken was so tender it broke when we barely touched it with our fork. Overall, it was a great experience from food to service. This place will become big. Go to this hidden gem before lines form around the block.
(5)
Brandon L.

I always wanted to try this place but the business hours is very hard for us to make it since we have to work on weekday and they don't open in evening or weekend. Let say this place locate in a non attractive neighbourhood and the restaurant is in a old building and not much parking lot except for the two side street. We came right before closing and they are ok to take us in. The restaurant looks chaotic and lots of receipt on the floor. They don't have much lighting on and it's a bit dark. They dont' have that much choices to choose and it was hard for me to find something that our little boy can eat with us. So the owner I think took our order and they sold out the satay chicken stick as well as the Amok fish. We end up ordering chicken curry and fried catfish with ginger and meat. The flavor tasted like Cambodian dishes that we had tried when we were in Cambodia. I don't like the fish dish as much. The yellow curry tasted very similar to Vietnamese Curry with Potatoes and carrots. The flavor is good, but the dirty street outside and the dirty floor inside made me loose some appetite. Overall, good food and friendly service, but not good location or ambiance.
(3)
Abdul M.

This place is great, great service, quick food on the table. The owner remembers everyone's name, which is pretty cool to me. Sucks they are only opened from 11 am to 1:45 pm Monday - Friday but if you can get a seat you're in luck. Prices are very cheap and the food is delicious. I had the AMOK and Beef stir fired. This is the 2nd time I came here and both times the service was great. BTW guys don't take a date here, it's a whole in the wall. so you won't impress her that much with a place like this.
(5)
Wels M.

Love, love, love Chez Sovan. (But only the Oakland/Madera site...I was disappointed with the Bascom location). My staples here are the BBQ sticks (chicken, pork or beef), amok, chicken curry, chicken rice soup, their version of Pad Thai, and fried fish topped with ground pork. But really, you can't go wrong with the items offered here...Also, Brian is a great host. I have turned co-workers on to this place and they've since become repeat customers. As others have said, this is a foodie place...not necessarily one to go to for ambiance.
(5)
Tom H.

The food was excellent along with pleasant service, the waiter was attentive. We've tried probably 10 different dishes - every single one was delicious. I'll definitely come back so I can try the rest of meals from menu. This place is great for sharing entrees. With very reasonable prices. It is located in strange part of San Jose, but with convenient access to highway and plenty of parking space. All in all, a nice lunch restaurant. Too bad is not open on weekends.
(5)
Al C.

Amok here is awesome. You HAVE to get it. Chicken curry is awesome. Too bad it's only open for lunch on weekdays. The other location's Amok is just not as good (or just super inconsistent). Sweet tea is good. (like thai tea, but better.) iced coffee is good too.
(5)
Patrick H.

I was intrigued to see how Cambodian food compared to other SE Asian cuisines like Vietnamese, Thai, and Burmese. It shares similarities with all of them but has its own unique flavors. Overall, the food was tasty but too salty and too sweet. I was quite thirsty afterwards and wondered if that sweetness masks the amount of salt in the dishes. I think a lot of these 5 star ratings are from people who haven't had much SE Asian food or by people who are excited to try a new cuisine but to me, the food was just OK. It is funny to hear people say, "this is the best Cambodian food I've ever had" without qualifying how much Cambodian food you've sampled. Well you know what, this was the best Cambodian food I've ever had too, but also the worst. Because it was my first and only experience eating it. The Amok (steamed fish in banana leaf) was the standout dish for me. The custard surrounding the chunks of fish was light and perfumed with lemongrass. The lemongrass was very pronounced once I put it in my mouth and it gave the dish a nice clean, fresh taste. From there, the food seemed to get a little worse with each dish. Chicken curry is similar to a Thai mussaman curry, but sweeter. The eggplant with thin slice of pork was good, with a slightly spicy and tangy sauce, but again the sauce was on the sweet side. The green beans were cooked perfectly and no complaints there. The last dish we got was a noodle dish with a sauce that tasted like the syrupy jars of sauce you can buy at an Asian grocery store. The waiter, who goes by Ryan, was very friendly and joked around with us. He also made suggestions on what to order, but if I did go back, I'd order the Amok and choose entirely different entrees. Come early, as the place gets filled up around 11:45.
(2)
Michelle P.

A friend called me up and said he'd take me out to lunch. "There's a godo Cambodian place," he said. Now, I've tried food from that region of the world, including Thai food, Malaysian food, Indian food, etc, and I like them all, so I thought "Ok cool! I've never had Cambodian before." So I drive to the restaurant and I think... "Huh? This is the middle of nowhere. And that restaurant building looks jenky. There's bars on the side windows!" But I walk into find large Cambodian paintings hanging from the walls and a few groups already enjoying lunch (it was 11:30am.) "It gets really busy here really fast," my friend says. And I soon realized why. The food is so good. So so so good. We ordered the catfish (you MUST try this... every table in the restaurant had one, and for good reason), curry, and a shrimp dish, served with rice. My friend shared everything and we were both really full and really content. What makes eating here awesome other than the amazing food is the waiter/owner(?) He is so funny, friendly, and laid-back. I think it's a family-run restaurant, which adds to the hole-in-the-wall feel. Oh sigh, South[east] Asia will forever have a place in my heart (and my stomach).
(5)
Arie T.

Very similar to thai food - but not the same. The staff and owners (I suspect they are one and the same) are very freindly and always smiling. Though the place looks run down and dirty - it has a certain charm to it that gets me going back there again and again and even bring friends and guests with me.
(4)
G M.

The chef knows what she is doing; not afraid to use plenty of flavor. The food is fresh, the space is clean, and service is friendly.
(4)
Lily L.

I made a special trip to come here based solely on the raving Yelp reviews. I managed to find street parking about a block away so that wasn't bad. I got to the restaurant at 12:45 on a Friday and the place was full. I got the only remaining seat and that was at the counter. I planned to order the chicken satay, the amok and a Cambodian ice tea. When the server finally got around to take my order, he told me they were out of the amok. They had already sold the 30 orders they had available for the day. I love noodles so I decided to get the fried noodles instead of the amok. My tea arrived first and it was OK. It was a lot like a Thai ice tea but with less tea flavor (more cream and sugar). I was surprised that my noodles came way before my satay. When the noodles arrived, I was immediately disappointed. It was a big blob of noodles with tofu topped with a little bit of peanuts. The color was drab and the whole thing just looked boring. It didn't even have green onion for some color. I was hoping it tasted better than it looked but it really didn't. It was on par with Pad Thai from a mall food court. I finish my noodle dishes 100% of the time unless I'm feeling guilty and intentionally refrain from eating it all (dieting). With this dish, it was easy for me to eat only a 1/3 of it. I took the rest to go and will eat it for lunch tomorrow. It is decent enough to take the leftover but once again, it is like mall food court quality and taste. The chicken satay was nicely grilled. They use thigh meat so it has enough fat content to keep it juicy and tender tasting. The sauce was a lot like Korean BBQ sauce. It was good but not spectacular. Overall, I was disappointed with the food. It was OK but nothing like what was described in all these reviews. Possibly I ordered the wrong stuff but there are only about 15 items on the menu. If Chez Sovan is a one trick pony (only great dish is amok) then they need to have enough to ensure all customers can order it. I will say that the staff was really nice.
(2)
Min T.

I've always wondered about Cambodian food. Would it really be like Thai food or its own unique thing? Well, from what I had at Chez Sovan, I don't think it's like Thai at all. I say this mainly because I'm not a huge Thai food fan and I liked Chez Sovan quite a bit. Since there was three of us, we decided to get three items; the amok appetizer (fish), the beef curry and the pork with green beans. I now wish I had read the reviews before going because apparently the chicken curry is the favorite. The Amok was basically a fish cake wrapped up in leaves and steamed. It had a gingery-sweet taste and was my favorite thing. Our beef curry also came at this time. I would have liked a bit more aromatic rice but then again, the curry had a lot of flavor. It wasn't too thick and was also on the sweeter side. The beef was decently tender and the curry also had bits of carrot and potato. We then waited a while for the pork and green beans to arrive. The green beans didn't seem to be too tender. My cousin thought maybe they were old. Well, they were on the thicker side so they weren't a young, tender bean. The pork was cut in really tiny pieces and not really tender. It was a sweet-soy sweet. Even though I'm not really a fan of sweetness during what I consider a savory meal, I was okay with it. I was eying the food coming out of the kitchen and the satay and the noodles looked great. People say this is a sketchy area but I didn't feel unsafe. There's street parking in the neighborhood. This place is only open at lunch and they do a really busy lunch. Friendly service and reasonable for lunch though I would order large portions of everything next time as it was only about $2 more and the small portion is rather small.
(3)
Joe V.

You can't go wrong at Chez Sovan. Everybody has already said that it's in a bad neighborhood and the decorations are poor. I'm a fan of the picture in the back with what appears to be a dog-man wearing a space helmet (someone please inform me what it really is). The positives far outweigh the negatives. If it's your first time there you have to get both chicken and beef sticks for an appetizer. Then go with a large bowl (trust me) of the chicken curry and maybe some ginger chicken. Everything on the menu is a different blend of flavor, and you'll be happy to experience the differences. I'm not a fan of the fish noodles, but that's personal taste. If you don't like fish sauce, stay away from that one.
(5)
Lily R.

I've driven on this street everyday for the past 5 years and have never stopped in for lunch. (even after reading awesome reviews) I am glad I am able to cross this off my "to try" list. Thanks to Ms. Lily L's awesome memory, we tried Chez for lunch yesterday. The place is kinda scary from the outside. It looks like a run down building and inside you will find a humble arrangement of basic tables and chairs. BUT the food! OMG. I was feeling under the weather and wanted something to perk me up for the elite fashion show. The Rice Chicken Soup had my name written all over it. It was delish! Hearty and flavorful. We also tried green beans with pork- very good, only I like my food SPICY! Another item was the chicken grilled kabobs. You can order these individually for $2.50 a piece. Service is spot on and humorous. The people who run this place define the saying: "Hustle and Bustle". Can't wait to try this place again!
(4)
Tracy L.

Great! But only open for lunch M-F. I don't care though, and I don't care that it's a total hole-in-the-wall! The Amok (catfish) is a must, the satay skewers (both beef and chicken) are awesome, and the chicken curry is always comforting. The pork and green beans are a staple and the egglant is awesomely delicious. Family-owned, and just a fantastic little foodie adventure. :) Want more of me? tastytwosome.com and starryeyedfoodie.com :)
(5)
Linda N.

I love Chez Sovan :) I've been coming here for a few years since it is right by my house. Yes, it's true the place looks janky from the outside but it's what's inside that counts! I always order the chicken curry and i ask for it super spicy... I also liked the steamed fish in leaves they make and their beef shishkabobs. how do they make it so tender and yummy? The owner of the place is also the waiter and the cashier at times haha. I asked him where he got the recipes for the food and he said from his mom. That's super cute! He always makes me laugh and has told me to save up money so that I can buy out the place when he and his wife move. I think meeting him is all part of the dining experience there. I think about this place all the time now that I'm living in San Diego! The downside is that they are only open for lunchtime M-F but I guess they have a good amount of regulars already that it doesn't really matter. Come have a taste of Cambodian food here :) YUM!
(5)
Rainbow B.

Man, this was my first time trying Cambodian food. After a lesson or two from the very entertaining waitor, I realized that I have been missing out on some very delicious items wrapped in banana leaves!! I was impressed with the chicken salad.... the curry definitely had great flavors..... I will definitely come back again. JUST for the mom and pop shop feel and flavorful goods.
(5)
Hanah L.

This restaurant sits near our corporate headquarters in San Jose, and my boss took me here on one of my first days of work with the company. The building is old and run down in a somewhat grimy neighborhood, but when we entered the lunch rush, the dining room was at capacity with suits and ties. I had never dined Cambodian before, I was expecting a cross between Vietnamese and Thai...perfect. We ordered the amok, which is a Cambodian dish of steamed curried fish (Chez uses catfish), with coconut base, perfectly seasoned with garlic, chili's, lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, turmeric, paprika, and finely diced onions, wrapped in a banana leaf. Just like my mom and all great chefs, I'm sure there are some ingredients that they're not telling me. We also ordered a garlic noodle dish, and the pork and green beans were good. The amok was amazing. What a great experience, I was more excited about the food than my new job! just kidding Michael...
(3)
Marcela R.

I've been to this place about 5 times and each time the food gets better and better! The owner is the most relaxed yet fun guy to be around. Always making sure you get your food quickly, that you are happy and that you enjoy it. Very attentive with everyone even when the place is packed. The food is great let me tell ya! The catfish appetizer is to die for and very traditional. The chicken kabob, and chicken curry and ginger beef is so good. Everything i have tried so far is really tasty and although the place is not fancy, and there arent many decorations other than a few old paintings, the place is fun! and a gem! GREAT FOOD! and great prices! Family style is always best and of course you don't break your wallet either. Every time i go for lunch, my meal ends up being between $10-15. So that give this place a few extra points! Great hole in the wall! But too bad they are only open for lunch!
(5)
Michele S.

I had a hard time to find this place after driving pass it 3 times. It's a such hole in the wall place that just never paid attention to, and the food was GOOD~~ They only do lunch during weekday and its' packed during that 2 hours. My friend and I had Amok -- a traditional dish with fish paste; today is the "Happy Fish" or "Sway Fish" ; the fish paste is so fine that it tasted like egg custard, and I really like the lemon grass flavor in it. I have never had anything like this before and it's a Special here. We also had Beef Salad which is very similar to Thai style, but less on the salty side. It's marinated beef tossed with fresh herbs, vegi, chopped peanuts added extra crunchy feel, and the fresh lime juice is so refreshing! The place is small, and feels so very Asian but 20 years ago, and the staffs are friendly slow, so if you are in a rush then come before 12. By the way, the guy is really cool; he said Life Style is more important than money, so running this place two hours a day then hit the gym. :-)
(4)
E M.

I went here for lunch with a friend that's been here before. He said he's only gotten the Amok which is seasoned fish steamed in banana leaves. I ordered it, and it was delicious! The fish was well seasoned, moist, and tender. The waiter recommended their hot sauce which really complimented the dish. The employees were attentive and pleasant. Will definitely come back to try the other dishes. P.S. It gets a little crowded, so expect to wait. Also, opt to carpool if you have the option; parking can be scarce.
(5)
Diane P.

This place was great! There's nothing I can say that other reviews have not touched upon. Gets crowded during lunch for sure, so I'd try to come early. There's a small lot to park in, but you'll probably have to hunt for street parking. My favorite dish was the amok, which was the catfish steamed in banana leaf. The curries and everything else were delicious as well. The creamy iced tea was similar to a Thai iced tea, but I think a little bit better. Service and the owner were awesome too. YUM! Wish they were open on weekends and for dinner!
(5)
Chris W.

This is one of those places that you would never go to unless someone took you there. Chez Sovan is not in the best part of SJ and the decor leaves something to be desired but as soon as you sit down and dig into your food you quickly forget about your surroundings. My favorites would have to be the chicken with lemongrasss soup, the curry (chicken or beef) and the ginger beef (chicken is good too). With small and large dish sizes you can get just enough food to feed your group and if you're unsure your waiter will always steer you in the right direction. Speaking of waiters, the service here is always fast and friendly. I've never had a bad meal here and from the wait that you might endure at the peak of the lunch hour, I would guess that most others would agree with me.
(5)
Jim C.

The first time I ate there must have been a decade ago! Many years and jobs later, this place is still here, has not change one bit, and it is a good thing. How many waiters would tell you when you'd ordered too much? It happens to us all the time, because our eyes are always bigger than our stomachs. The waiter/owner is super friendly, treats us like family, we trust him enough to let him order for us. We went back there last week, the food was excellent as always, it's the only place I can find amok (fish wrapped in banana leaf), big chuck of sweet juicy catfish... the chicken and beef satays are delicious, just give me rice and curry, I'm set. So it's a hole in the wall, and it's in a rough neighborhood with no parking. It keeps the fainthearted away, which translates into more food and less wait for me. : ) They also have a Campbell location, it's on my to do list.
(5)
Chris B.

What a find this place is. Driving by it you'd never think it was a great restaurant. But, inside it's quite nice, if a bit spartan. But, you're not coming here for the decor. The food is absolutely delicious, and a nice break from typical Asian offerings. Cambodian isn't exactly a common cuisine, even in the wonderfully diverse SF Bay area. If you're wondering what it's like, it's somewhere between Thai and Vietnamese. The main server, who I also assume is the owner, is a riot. One of the nicest guys you'll meet, always joking with you. The food is great as well. Ginger pork was one of my favorites, as well as the chicken skewers and uniquely flavored chicken and green beans. I didn't try the curry-based dishes but they really looked good.
(5)
Maurice B.

OK, so here's the deal with this place. Most (but not all) of the dishes are great. If you eat "correctly" you will have a great meal. I've eaten here three times, so we taste new dishes every time. 5 stars: Chicken Curry, shrimp salad. 4 stars: Beef Curry, Soup (I can't remember which one we had). I didn't think the chicken with string bean dish anything but three stars - good but not memorable. The iced coffee was fine. Small portions if you are on a diet is a good idea. Service excellent. Brian the owner is getting married this Saturday (8/15/09) so go in and wish him well. I intend to explore every dish on this menu. Suggestion: order one "superb" dish and then try something different. How else will you discover what you like? Lunch only M-F.
(5)
cindy w.

I remember this place...it was where I became initiated into Cambodian food due to my coworkers inviting me here...I wouldn't have ever found this place on my own, it looks like a junk yard neighborhood...but the food and service inside were pretty sweet and fast. The servers are really helpful, just be prepared for a wait during lunch time, seems alotta professionals come here for the good food. I had their version of thai iced tea (or would it be cambodian?) and that was lip-smacking good.
(4)
David J.

Hole in the wall. Bur outstanding food in colorful section of town.
(4)
Stephen L.

Hole in the wall with great beef skewers that sometimes sold out. Family own restaurant with super friendly services. Not a catfish lover but I hear a lot, I mean a lot of good things about it. I just had it finally today and it is wonderful, no mud/soil taste like how catfish suppose to be and steamed with ginger and I guess is lemon grass. Also love they green bean shimp with that special source. Food will be on the sweet side so don't like they should, and if you don't like sweet it might not be for you. Got to also try their chicken curry, it is really good with the rice :P No doubt I will hit this place as a regular. Just kinda hope that they open for weekend too so I can take some friends there. Price is not bad (portion a bit small for someone eats a lot) for the quality of the food and the type of service. There is also another one I think in Saratoga but I like to go to this one better unless is it for dinner. Oh yeah, I don't think they open for dinner for the San Jose shop. Enjoy.
(4)
Seong P.

It's been a while since I've been but a friend took me and I have trusted her food instincts ever since. It's near the Pruneyard but not in it so it's easy to miss you aren't looking. We'd just done a tour of southeast Asia and were fiending for something familiar. I think I had chicken and vegetable dishes because chicken in Thailand and Malaysia usually meant stomach or gizzard so I spent the summer eating fish and pork. Everything was really good.
(4)
Benson G.

Damn, for a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, this place is really shines (despite the crappy lighting). Located on a shady looking corner, Chez Sovan delivers delicious food. Sure, the portions seem kind of small for the price, but the food is solid good. The owner/waiter who runs the joint really brightens up the place as he chats it up with all his customers and really works his sales magic. You'll find yourself ordering half of the menu without knowing what happened to you. He practically orders everything for you. We took his advice when he said, "You gotta have the Amok. You gotta." And we did, and we don't regret it. YOU GOTTA HAVE THE AMOK! It's probably the best thing on their menu. It's like an egg quiche with a hint of curry stuffed with catfish. It's heavenly fluffiness for sure. We also ordered some ginger pork, chicken curry, and eggplant. And you know what, despite the seemingly small portions, I was pretty full and satisfied to what came out to be roughly $12 a person for 3 people. So when you get there, listen to the guy, take his advice, and I'm sure you'll enjoy your meal.
(5)
StinkyTofu S.

This place is hard to find, a total hole in the wall, and can be easily missed if you drive too fast. I don't know about the authenticity of the food, but was very surprised on how tasty the meal was. The most memorable was the amok and the chow fun looking dish. I would definitely go back when I'm in the neighborhood. It's very busy little place, so be prepared. stinky tofu
(3)
Hamid N.

The cat fish and chicken curry are delicious. But the ambiance is not that nice, so I usually order take out.
(5)
Capriguy C.

I read the raving reviews on Yelp and took my wife and 2 kids to check this place out on a weekday at around 12.30 pm. Firstly, it was hard to find. They don't even have proper signage that's visible from the street. That was ok. We drove around a couple of times and found it. The neighborhood was shady shady shady. There were bail bond offices all around, some broken down buildings etc. This started making us nervous. Finally we parked and we hauled our 2 kids to the place which has all metal bars on the windows and door. I guess the neighborhood is not the safest. The door was being held open by a chair and my wife had a tough time squeezing the stroller thru the door that was half covered by this stupid chair. We walk into a jam packed place that smelled great. The food must be nice but we didn't get to eat. I will get to that. The place was manned by 2 waiters. Obviously they were over worked and one of them said hi and vanished. We waited, tried to find a table that was large enough and could fit a high-chair and a stroller. The only open one was right next to the door right in the middle of the din, noise and the craziness. That was the last straw. We bolted out! My advise to the owners. Stop being so cheap and invest in the interiors and hire more waiters. I guess not much can be done about the location. But San Jose is big and hello you can move.
(2)
Andrew C.

if i could give this place a 4.5 i would, but it's definitely not a 5, sorry to say =/. butttt the man definitely delivered! my friend and i tried this place out trying to seek a "different" asian experience since she was going to singapore in less than a month or so. so i researched and found this place not too far from where she lived. when we walked in, we went at a good time when it was empty. it was definitely a hole in the wall. not exactly the right place for a date.. although the food was superb. the man was very lively and really tried to engage with us, which is something i definitely acknowledged. but one of the problems was that he only had less than half the things available from the menu. i was a bit disappointed. i asked for recommendations from what was left, and just ordered from those. some of the bomb'est east asian food i've ever had. not what i expected either. thank you for delivering :D
(4)
Lovetoeat L.

It is located in a run down building. They are known for their food, not for decor. We ordered amok, beef kabob and shrimp with string beans. They were very tasty. The price was reasonable. The owner was friendly. They only open for lunch M-F.
(5)
Pascal C.

The place is hard to find. The neighborhood is certainly not where you would look for a good Cambodian restaurant to have lunch. If you arrive after 12:00pm you will have to wait in line. The decoration of this place has nothing fancy (Let's face it ... it sucks). After 1pm the place gets smoky. I know I am not drawing a very nice picture here but trust me ... this place is a hidden treasure. First you will meet the waiter. We call him Mr Fast. He is super efficient but always very friendly. I love to see the expressions of my friends when I take them there for the first time. They are all wondering what kind of food can be served in such a place. FOOD : this is where the magic begins. If you don't know what to order try one of these: - Amok (steamed catfish wrapped in a banana leaf) - Chicken and beef kabobs (very tasty) - Chicken curry (absolutely delicious) I don't know anybody who didn't enjoy the food. BTW it is not even expensive.
(5)
c d.

Good service. The waitress was friendly and had good recommendations. Quiet on the weekend, but still good.
(4)
Helen Y.

This Cambodian restaurant is definitely one of the many neighborhood lunch places for Xilinx employees. I've been here with large groups and they always seem to accomodate us. My favorite dish is the lightly breaded fried fish with ginger and ground chicken. Also, check out their daily lunch specials.
(3)
Janny T.

I really like this hole in the wall resturant. If it weren't for the big resturant located in Campbell, I woudn't have known this place existed. The owner is very friendly and humorous. He makes you feel right at home. The food is delicious. It will satisfy every taste bud. I always order the stir fry chicken.
(4)
Thomas T.

Place is amazing! The amok , which is a steamed catfish dish wrapped in banana leaves, is incredibly good. I always have that dish as well as the shrimp hot and sour soup....mmm...mmm...goodness. The kabobs are really good. They come in chicken and beef. The curry chicken was excellent....cooked to perfection and tasty. The waiter, who I think is the owner too is really funny entertaining and very service orientated. If you are into the decor of a restaurant, you might want to skip this place. The inside looks about as appealing as the outside. If you're strictly talking about food, the place is the bomb!!!!!!!
(5)
Jill R.

I absolutely love this place. Every dish is wonderful and the staff is fun and entertaining. All the flavors are awesome. Don't go for the decor, but personally I kind of like the authenticity. It's on the corner of Madera and Oakland (N. 13th St) It's really close to 101.
(5)
Jennifer F.

4.5 stars - I hate to write this review because I might have to wait longer at lunch! My suggestion is to take a group of people and try everything family style. Don't know what to order? Let the guy take care of you - it works every time. I love their catfish wrapped in a leaf, and a friend said she could drink the curry through a straw. I loved all of it - everything was spot on. My only complaint is the room can get really loud at lunch time, but it's still totally worth it... just go already!
(4)
Hong C.

A great lunch place (actually they are only open during lunch hours on week days). They also have a location in Campbell, which operates a better hours. Someone from work took me here several years ago. We've been coming here since regularly. I didn't quite know what to expect from a Cambodian place. It turns out it is somewhat close to Thai. It makes sense considering the geographical location. I like their curries and tom yum soups. But my favorite is fish "Amok". It is fish chunks and other ingredients steamed wrapped in some leaves (banana?). Yes, the location looks very shady. But it seems like there are new developments going on, so it may get better.
(4)
Michael J.

Really, really good. The catfish amok, curry chicken, beef with green beans ... are all delicious. This is my favorite lunch place in the Bay Area, and that's saying something. Be aware that it's a complete hole in the wall, in a slightly sketchy neighborhood, so not the place to impress a client, unless you're sure they care only about one thing: delicious food. Then they'll be blown away. And yes, the service is friendly, and the prices are super low.
(5)
jaime c.

can't get enough of this place! The chicken curry and the amok are a must. I have dreams about this place when I know I'll be going there soon. I'm salivating for my next fix as I write this review, so glad I'll be there tomorrow.
(5)
Heather K.

Ahh, Chez Sovan, my newest object of affection. I never would have known you existed were it not for my man's geeky coworkers introducing him to your low-key deliciousness. Despite your odd location (next to the aquarium manufacturer?) and rough exterior, you won me over with your well-balanced sweet and savory catfish steamed in banana leaves (#2) and spicy yet heartburn-free chicken curry with carrots and potato (#8), which arrived at our table a mere 2 minutes after placing our order. Just when I had started to believe that San Jose existed in a mysterious vortex, causing all the restaurants to serve chicken with the taste and texture of a kitchen sponge, you delivered tender poultry that practically fell apart with just a few tentative stabs of my fork. In one fell swoop, you became the newest restaurant in our regular rotation, and renewed my interest in the other white meat.
(5)
M G.

Great food from curries to skewers to seafood. Must try the beef skewers with lemon grass... As others have said, this is not exactly the best part of the city and bars on the doors and windows probably scare many would-be patrons but this place should not be missed. It is worth risking getting mugged or the wheels stolen from your car for this food....OK I may be embelishing a little ;-)
(5)
Uyen D.

AMAZING. I came with low expectations for the decor and surroundings and high expectations for service and taste. The results exceeded all expectations! The amok was just as delicious as everyone made it out to be. I expected a whole section of the fish in the wrapper, but was pleasantly surprised that it was small chunks of fish. It was SO GOOD. Yes, the outside is a bit sketchy, but inside, it was really not bad at all. It was your typical average bare and plain southeast asian dine in. Mr. Fast was just as friendly and efficient as his reputation holds. We ordered a noodle dish thinking it would come meatless because it didn't say on the menu, it came with chicken and he happily took it back and replaced it for us. And fast too! The food comes so quickly, it's amazing. I wish it was open on weekends and for dinner so I was able to eat here more often. YUM...
(4)
Steve P.

I've been going to Chez Sovan for years and consider it among my favorite places to eat. Now that I don't work nearby, I find myself missing my weekly visit to this place. This is food that is made and served with integrity. Now if only Brian would open up another location closer to my home or work.
(5)
Leann A.

This food is amazing. The catfish amok is my favourite, I even scoop up the juices. I could eat a boatload of chicken screwers. Lemon grass soup and chicken stews are always on my list. Everone I take here loves it. Yes, camodian food is sweet, and its savory too! The service is always great and they remember us by name. The currys are so wonderful, you want to put the stews over the rice to get every last drop. This is a must go to lunch spot as it is only open for lunch.
(5)
Scott K.

My first time here, I was suspicious of catfish next to the aquarium manufacturer, but the Amok is a must-have. Interesting paintings, interesting food, and good, friendly service. Beef skewers are yummy. Food is spicy, but just like I like it. The guy that hosts here ("Happy Monday!") is a rare personality among San Jose wait-staff.
(5)
Arnold B.

This place is packed considering how limited the space is inside. Unfortunately, this place is only open during lunch time. The area is kind of suspect I understand why. I ordered chicken curry which is different and unique quite good. Their curry is filled with carrots and potatoes. What makes this food good is the sauce itself. Chicken sewers are good too. I would probably order the beef skewers next time. Warning, you need to order more than one dish if your hungry which can be tough on your wallet.
(4)
Jen R.

Its a little sketchy from the outside and really easy to miss, but the service was excellent and the food was even better. Id never had Cambodian before and was not disappointed. There were 9 of us and we got a ton of food and a sweet tea a piece, and stil only paid $12 with tax and a good tip.
(5)
K C.

Literally a hole in the wall. You hardly even notice this place when you drive through the block. The neighborhood is not the best either. But omg, the food really makes up for it. Two thumbs up for the curry chicken. Service is good too. The owner is really friendly too. But he could talk a little too much :)
(4)
James H.

It was very good and very busy (which did slow down the service) but I'll forgive them for the food. It was similar to other SE Asian cuisine (think Thai) but had a little twist. Will have to go back again because I fell in love with the Amok. Unfortunately they forgot the bring the curry so I can't review that, but had more than enough food otherwise.
(5)
Anita L.

The food is definitely good! If you do not know much about Cambodian food, ask the server to suggest traditional items. It never fails to please! The curries are not very spicy so you don't have to worry. They DO have spicier items too so if you like heat, ask and they will suggest those to you. Generally, it is mild enough so a child can even eat it.
(3)
Harry M.

I've been fortunate to have worked in this neighborhood twice; once from '90-'91 and again, '99-'01. This place just doesn't change (and, unfortunately, neither did the neighborhood). Excellent, excellent, excellent. Service is great, and the food is even better. The chicken satay is a must have, and you can order it by the skewer... a wonderful appetizer. And then there's the chicken curry. I know I should try everything on the menu, and the Amok was wonderful, but the chicken curry keeps me coming back, time and time again. Tender chicken, large, very tender potatoes, and a curry sauce that's beyond expectations.
(5)
Marina N.

Very friendly and fast. Some of the dishes are mediocre but you just have to find the ones you love and you will be hooked. The Amok is a winner. It's best to go in small groups so you can try many different dishes.
(4)
Julie L.

I don't even understand what the hype is all about. This place isn't all that great. I mean, the food is tasty but way too sweet. We ordered the tom yum gong, curry beef and the fried catfish. The curry beef has wayyy too much sugar in it. The tom yum is a little too watery and the fried catfish isn't very juicy nor fresh. Maybe I am just a spoiled Chinese. I have had much better food and cheap prices while in my vacations in Hong Kong.
(2)
Wing C.

If you drive by this restaurant, you would not even notice it. There is a little more decor inside, but this place is not about ambiance. The service is very attentive. The food is awesome. My favorite is the banana-leaf wrapped catfish. The BBQ appetizers, curry beef or chicken, the string bean dished and the eggplant are all great. I've never had a bad meal there. We use this place as our company lunch gathering spot every few months. The San Jose location is open for lunch only. The Campbell location is open for dinner, but San Jose has better food for some reason.
(5)
Esther A.

came here with some ex-coworkers for lunch today. $2.50 for a TEENY cup of iced coffee (wasn't even good). we had the beef satay, fish stew, chicken curry and ginger pork. everything was SUPER sweet and kinda expensive ($10.50 for a large size entree, which wasn't THAT big). rice was $2 (first one is free, i think)... the owner is really nice, but i'd rather just go to a thai restaurant on castro to eat the same type of food....
(3)
e c.

I don't want to repeat everything the other reviewers have written, but this is one of your cliche hole in the wall places that's really good. The good: very flavorful food that's served really fast at a good price. The Amok is fantastic, and all of their soups are good. The curry chicken is also a good dish. The bad: the place is small and kinda dark, parking can be difficult and the neighborhood is sketchy. But since you'll only be going for lunch during the workweek, those are really minor issues. The best praise of all came from a Cambodian acquaintance who said it reminds him of his mother's cooking.
(4)
Aaron I.

i'm not really sure what good cambodian food is, but the amok, banana leaf wrapped catfish is too die for, mmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!! Haven't had anything else that really stands out for me here. i suggest family style to try many of the dishes. sorry but back to the amok, mmmmmmm!!!!!!!!! and catfish is by far not my favorite fish to order. Service is pretty good, family run. amok, mmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!! lots of seating and parking. lastly, amok mmm!!!!!!!
(4)
Alexandra S.

The food here is fantastic! The ingredients tasted fresh and high quality. We had the Amok and the chicken curry (got the small size which was still plenty for two people). The chicken curry was like a chicken stew, but it was delicious. The amok came wrapped in a banana leaf and cooked to perfection. The price is also very reasonable. The decor is very basic, nothing fancy. You go there for the food basically and not the ambiance. The guy who works there was very friendly and even stayed open longer for us as we came right at the end of lunch (we didn't know what time they closed for lunch). But, no problem. He said customers come first and asked us to sit down. There is no alcohol, so don't expect wine, beer, etc with your meal. The building doesn't look much from the outside, but worth the visit for some great food. TIP: They do accept american express credit cards, but they appreciate visa or mastercard.
(5)
vivian y.

went here w/ friends whom were visiting from la. have heard of this place before but didn't get to try it since it was closed on a sunday when we were in the area. the location is definitely a little sketch - ok a lot sketch but the food was wonderful. we came for lunch - definitely packed and ordered the tom yum soup, eggplant, and steamed fish something. all were fantastic. it is definitely a no frills place but i plan on coming back often. the server (im sure he is part owner as well) was very friendly and we enjoyed our experience. price was great too - inexpensive.
(4)
Ed B.

Great for lunch. Expect friendly service and good tasting food. Decor is mediocre and the neghborhood is for crap.
(4)
Nathan B.

large area. sparky server. rundown paint from ceiling. previous industrial wasteland.
(5)
Yee Jiun S.

Good food, good service. I found the food a little sweet for my liking, but besides that, I enjoyed my meal.
(4)
Peter S.

favorite south east asian food. enough said.
(5)
Nicolle W.

a friend took me here, and i really enjoyed it! it's a hole in the wall cambodian restaurant in a bad neighborhood. but it's really popular. and tasty! i can't remember the exact dishes we ordered unfortunately, but they were all good.
(4)
Meena B.

Excellent food at very reasonable prices. The Amok, Curry Chicken and Ginger Beef are excellent. The service is very fast and the owner is very friendly. You will surely become a regular customer when you discover this place!
(5)
Rohit D.

I've been going to this restaurant for about 9 years now. The food has been consistently good. They raised prices a few years ago, so the food has gone from great value to just good value.
(4)
Jessica Y.

It looks like a hole in a wall, but it is a great place for Cambodian cuisine. You have to try their chicken kababs!! Chicken samlaw curry is good too!! Unfortunately, they only open for lunch. :(
(3)
Michael Z.

This place is always great! Try everything because it is all good. Get there early because this place has a loyal following. Excellent, authentic and unique Cambodian food. Great service and great attitude from all staff including the sexy owners!
(5)
Kelly G.

The food here is awesome! The staff is super friendly! The only bad thing? They're only open from 11-1:30
(4)
John S.

I'm not an expert on Cambodian food, but I thought Chez Sovan was excellent. The amok and chicken curry were very tasty. I also had the stir fried rice noodles with beef, but was not special.
(5)
Joel F.

This place is exceptional. From the world class personalities serving you, to the world class fare, this is the kind of thing dreams are made of... at least as far as dreams go for hole in the walls. Their curry is unique and delicious and their fish dishes are truly in a class of their own. This has definitely become one of my staples. Now if they'd only serve dinner.....
(5)
Lien T.

Their food is amazing!! Everything on their menu is SOOO delicious. BUT My Favs: the Beef satay, Amok (of course), and the ginger fish. Service is always on point and they are super friendly and quick. The parking lot across the street is bitch but there is plenty of street parking.
(5)
Fenny W.

We tried this place for the first time this past week. Ordered their Basa Fish Amok, hot and sour soup and bbq satays. Totally recommend the first two. Their hot and sour soup tastes a lot like tom yum, and it reminds me of the tom yum that I tasted in Thailand years ago. Their customer service is first class! I have to say again their Amok is super delicious!
(5)
Satoshi E.

Just wow. In a delicious sense, of course. I was in San Jose for a little over a month due to work and stumbled upon this place on Yelp. With so many good reviews, I decided to give this place a try during lunch with a few of my co-workers. And it was GOOD. First, the food. Where do I begin? The AMOK is amazing as other reviewers have stated, and you really don't know how good it is until you try. The fish, coconut and tofu seems to all work together to create the most aromatic taste in the world. For $9 a pop, it might seem a bit on the high end but definitely worth it. Their curries and stews are also good, and goes well with the overall theme of the restaurant. Now the service. Seems like the boss is also the server (the congenial man who greets you, seats you, and jokes with you), and he is a great guy! Attentive and always made sure if we needed something, although sometimes he jokes a bit too much :P Overall, lunch comes to about $10 a person which isn't bad at all. If you are in the San Jose area, DEFINITELY swing by! Oh, and the decor is definitely very southeast Asian.. and that's a good thing.
(5)
Nguyen L.

Second time back and I don't know why it took me so long too. Didn't write a review the first time so here goes nothing. First of all you can understand why this place is only open during lunch time because it's not in the best areas for a night crowd but in the daytime it's just fine. If you come here and don't try the Amok then miss out on one of their best dishes. It's nicely steamed a banana leaf, i think. It's looks mushy but trust me its really good. On this occasion I had the the chicken curry as well. If you've never had it before this curry is less think than a Thai curry would be. Has chunks of carrots and potato. I don't order Curry every time i go out but this one is worth it. We wanted to order the fried rice as well but the owner said it was enough food. He's a really friendly guy so come in and have a good lunch. Next time I'll just have to order more food so I can take some to go.
(4)
justin g.

Free water Fridays are the best the food is amazing hands down the steamed fish is killer
(5)
Umair K.

A long time family favorite. Catfish amok (#1 dish on menu), beef or chicken shish ang (satay), beef kroeng, chicken curry, iced coffee and finally banana fritters with coconut ice cream. Stray too much from this menu and you may be disappointed. Staff and owners are exceptionally friendly.
(4)
Kevin H.

What is Cambodian food??? I didn't know either, but this is one on my all time favorite dives for the past 15+ years! Great food and service with some sarcasm, it doesn't get better - try the amok, you won't be disappointed and don't let the bars on the windows discourage you, thanks Brian!
(5)
Albert W.

Ordered the steam fish with banana leaf 3.5* - banana leaf has strong aroma which is a good thing Curry chicken 2* - watery and not much taste Beef skewer 3* Eggplant with tofu 3* - some tofu is a bit sour
(3)
Victoria N.

I've never had Cambodian food before and stumbled upon this restaurant while on YELP. I was amazed by the high ratings they received and had to try it. I was very pleased with my experience at Chez Sovan. This restaurant is a hole in the wall and looks shady from the outside with bars on the doors and windows. Don't be turned off or afraid to enter, there's a ton of business people eating here for lunch. The guy who took our order is super nice, funny and talkative. He talks really fast and it was funny because sometimes my boyfriend and I looked at each other because we had no idea what he said to us. I think he's the owner because he was the only person on the floor doing everything from bussing tables to taking orders. He recommended both our dishes. The Amok, which is catfish in coconut curry sauce wrapped in banana leaf. It was amazing!! It sounds strange, but it's flavorful and delicious. He also recommended a beef and green beans dish which was also very good but was very sweet and saucy. The only downside I can say is that the portions are small for the price. The Amok was $9 for not a lot of it. The beef dish we ordered was also small and not quite filling. We shared 2 dishes with rice between the two of us. It's also only opened during lunch times M-F so it's hard to get to unless you work nearby. But the service is pretty fast. I found that they have another location in Campbell that is open more regularly.
(4)
Rick M.

Amok! Chez Sovan is why Yelp is so great. To wit: unless a friend of yours took you to this place (which, ironically, is how I found it) you would NEVER, EVER find this place! If you like SE Asia food, you gotta try Chez. Be sure to get there early (please don't take my table, OK?) because it fills up and gets a line at the door most days. Parking can also be a bit dodgy, but if you are early, there's street parking just outside. OK, there are really only two reasons to go to Chez: the food (duh) and the owner. This dude is THE most happy, enthusiastic, fun-loving restauranteur you'll find. He makes great food, he enjoys his customers, and he knows why you came: the Amok. What's Amok? Heh heh heh... When I lived in Singapore, there were several Indonesian and Thai fish dishes that I fell in love with (gado gado, otak, etc.) How I managed to never have Amok, I don't konw, but thank goodness I found it. You're basically dealing with a big hunk of catfish coconut mush that's been steam cooked in a banana leaf. Open up the leaf, and this heady aroma dazzles you. Chop up the fish mush, put it on your rice, and you are in foodie heaven. Yeah, the other dishes are good, but I've never been to Chez without ordering at least 1 Amok per person. It's just that darned good. The other dishes are also very, very tasty, so do try them out. As others will note, the decor is divey downscale. If you get flustered with a dirty chair or less than shiny cutlery, you'd better stay home. But you'll be missing out on some of the best food I've ever found in San Jose!
(5)
Sonnia K.

It was my first time going here and I have to admit that I couldn't truly say that my review is final. I was suffering from severe cold and cough which impeded my taste buds to actually familiarize myself with the distinctive exotic taste of the dishes. However, the Chicken Curry somehow made it through my plug. Perhaps it was the spiciness. Although, I have to say that it was too ordinary for me. Served in a small ceramic bowl with its cost, I didn't think it was fair. I could've cooked at home and it might have been better with more veggies. So, I find it pricey. The place didn't help either since it was too crowded and too hot. Maybe because I was sick in the first place, but for me it was hard to breathe. It's a sign of good business then since there were a lot of people eating in one small hole-in-the-wall place. But I have to remind myself not to eat there when not feeling well. I did try the Amok but I could only describe the texture and not the taste. This means I have to go back when my taste buds are awake in order for me to really know why everybody's running amok over the Amok. Unfortunately, I couldn't go back soon enough since I still have my cold. (Four days with no taste buds suck!) This is why I'm giving it three stars for now. It's all okay. Service was okay, with extra humor. We ate at the bar since there's no available table for me and my co-worker, so it's okay too. At least we got a glimpse of the working chefs inside behind the bar. They were busy! I'm looking forward to my next visit. Will definitely try other dishes.
(3)
Chau L.

Got lucky and parked right in front of the restaurant! Got the amok and green beans with beef + jasmine rice. The amok wasn't as fishy as I had envisioned. I think it needed a little more spice! Or I will just ask for a side of hot chili next time. It was very crowded at 12:30 pm so we opted to sit at the bar. Who cares, right? I think they need to hire one more person to bring water etc... the main guy was so busy!
(3)
Penny R.

Excellent! Service went above and beyond! Our server was very entertaining. Had us laughing the whole time! Food was deeelish! Gotta get the Amok! Hot and sour soup was very good. Will most definitely be back!
(5)
Jennifer T.

I don't really know why this restaurant is so highly rated. The food is okay. Not a big deal. The flavoring is a bit too sweet for my taste and frankly, the amok smells a little weird. I've been to this restaurant twice, do not think I'll be coming back. I'm just befuddled that this restaurant is so highly rated.
(2)
Tony V.

My work used to get catered by this place. I Would have never known it existed. The Beef and Chicken Kababs are amazing, full of flavor and nicely marinated! I wish they would open a location near Mountain View!
(5)
Tiffany C.

This places is a little hole in the wall, mother cooks and son waits, and it is a little gem. A coworker of mine has been coming here for years and took another coworker and myself there for lunch. It's crazy--this place is only open for three hours a day, and they do great. We got the chicken curry, which was good, a green bean dish, also good. The unique thing we had though was a dish which darn it, I forget the name. It was fish with some kind of pasty thing that came steamed in a banana leaf (it's one of the specialties there and its on the top of the menu). It was very unique. The initial appearance turned me off, but upon biting into it I was sold. It's a bit rich, so you definitely want to have it with rice. Definitely something worth trying! We also got kabobs. I got a chicken one and it was delicious. The chicken was juicy and tender, so good. Price wise it's decent. For our three dishes and kebobs the total was $38. The food got to us quickly, and the son was quick and efficient but friendly at the same time. I can see why this place has been around for so long, and I can see it being around for a long time to come. It was a great authentic Cambodian food experience, for sure.
(4)
Ronald C.

This is my first time arriving here and I was definitely excited after seeing such high reviews. Upon arriving, it was a bit intimidating since the windows had bars covering it. It's not really too welcoming if you ask me. Once we arrived inside, it was a completely new atmosphere. We were instantly greeted by the friendly guy behind the counter. He helped us with ordering and told us what to eat & avoid. Waiters usually tell people everything tastes fantastic. Not him though! Two thumbs up for that. We ended up ordering amok catfish, beef kebabs, chicken curry, and green beans with shrimp. I really enjoyed the kebabs and the catfish. The other two were okay but nothing to brag about. Would I go back? HECK YEAH! I love me some of those kebabs and catfish. Those two items should be good enough reason to pay them a visit. What are you waiting for? GOOOOOO now!
(5)
Dianna D.

Outstanding service was what appealed to me the most at this place. The person who I believed to be the owner was very hospitable, and when we were given the wrong order, he gave it to us on the house and tried to get the correct dish to us in minimal time. Dishes ordered family style. This was my first Cambodian restaurant, and I was surprised by the spices because they were more Malaysian than Thai, which I expected. My favorite dish was the amok because I love fish and coconut, and the curry flavors they added into it worked really well on my palate. I also liked the eggplant dish that's stir fried with chicken, pork, or beef. Great stuff. Would definitely come back for the food and great service.
(4)
Tweet S.

OK so I got the amok like everyone recommended. It was definitely the most interesting item on the menu. no picture does it justice, since it looks it's best unwrapped, and the experience requires you to take that initial whiff of the aroma, and then take that first bite. it's pretty good for catfish. if i had a magic wand, i'd like to see them cook lobster meat or crab meat in the same amok fashion. also, be prepared to have a good amount of time for lunch because it gets crowded
(4)
Shannon T.

Amok was delicious and the fish was fresh. The beef satay was Okay, nothing special about the flavors, but still quite tender. The chicken curry however, was too sweet for my taste. The chickens were tender but some were Quite dry. I think that the rice really balances the sweet curry taste.
(4)
Nancy N.

5 stars for a hole in the wall? YUP! This is my go-to place to take out of town-ers and co-workers for a really good lunch -- as long as they don't get turned off by the restaurant's exterior first! I've eaten here many times, and I once brought my team here for lunch. Their first thought was, "Where have you led us to, Nancy?!" My coworkers started to walk slower and slower as they realized the place we're eating at for lunch is the dark looking hole in the wall with bars over their doors and windows and no lighting inside. Then after being seated, I can't help but notice my coworkers looking around and examining the ceiling, floors, walls, table top, utensils, EVERYTHING! Let me tell you, this place isn't all that glamorous, but the food speaks for itself! Only open for lunch Monday through Friday only, most dishes under $10, and always packed with all types of people. Call for a reservation if you're coming with a big a group (per advice from the owner). Some of my favorites: - amok: MUST TRY! My friends say it's very delicious and unlike other amoks they've tried in Cambodia. - skewers: the chicken is moist and tender! The beef is tough though :-/ - beef with green beans: on the salty side, but man does it go good over rice! - fried catfish with ground chicken: I love this dish! So flavorful....but my friends pointed out that the catfish is too thin and, after being fried, a bit on the chewy side. I can see that. - chicken yellow curry: light yet flavorful. Not as thick and strong as Indian or Thai yellow curry. If you can get over the sketchy looking neighborhood and restaurant, you'll enjoy some really good Cambodian food here. P.S. The owner is really nice with a funny sense of humor, but he won't let you do split checks here especially for big groups :P
(5)
Hoai C.

I finally made it to Chez Sovang today after hearing about it for ages from my husband and friends. I am glad to confirm that they were all correct. The food and service at Chez Sovang were excellent. We only ordered two dishes - amok and eggplant with tofu. Both were absolutely delicious. I will definitely come back to try other items on the menu. The owner was very friendly and funny as well as attentive. He made us feel special and spent time talking to everyone of his customer. It is true that the restaurant is not located in the best neighborhood but they do have a parking lot that you can use across the street so that makes it easier.
(5)
Alvina N.

The food is absolutely delicious and the service is not only entertaining but it feels like home. It's not a fancy place but the food and service makes up for it.
(5)
Eric B.

This place is more than a little rough around the edges; a hole in the wall dive in a gritty part of town, but the food is stellar and the service is friendly. Crowd is silicon valley corporate. Must-haves are the beef salad and the catfish. I've reluctantly dinged them one star for no beer/wine.
(4)
Winnie T.

First time at a Cambodian restaurant and had a great experience. The food was tasty and the service provided by the tall gentleman was energetic, loved his enthusiasm and friendliness! Based on past experiences, hole-in-the-wall and mom&pop restaurants have the best and most authentic foods! This was one of them! Highly recommend, I enjoyed it!
(5)
AnhThu D.

This place is so yummy. They do chicken right! My boyfriend is the pickiest eater ever. Most of the time he's hot dogs and pizza (american) all the way. . . yet Chez Sovan is the ONLY ethnic food place he craves and requests for. There's a good reason. The food is inexpensive, large portions, and flavorful. Definitely worth it.
(5)
Christine L.

I love this place! I'm lucky that it's so close to work. It's not perfect in terms of food, but the friendly staff, affordable prices, and stand out dishes make it 5 stars. Amok- amazingly tender and light, almost like a souffle, my favorite Ginger/lemongrass catfish- also pretty much perfect with not your typical flavor Chicken curry- tender and flavorful Rice Noodles- "al dente" I would just avoid the beef and pork as they seem to run lean and a bit tough.
(5)
Hillary H.

This place has 4.5 stars out of 216 reviews......That is why I continue to come back again and AGAIN........ My good friend and I came today for their amazing food. I dont know why I didnt write a Yelp sooner because they are simply delectable. When ordering here, you MUST get the Amok Catfish. (That is my personal favorite) Everything is so appetizing here I just can't name one thing. The looks of this place may fool you, but the Mom and Pop feel will come as soon as you walk into the door. MUST TRY!!! :))
(5)
Dexter D.

Got here at opening time, grabbed a table for two and ordered one skewer each of chicken and beef, amok, yellow curry chicken and eggplant with pork. There is nothing that we've had here that is not good. Some items are better than others. I could probably eat the chicken curry with rice every day for a month and not get tired of it. My main mission today was to try the amok because they ran out last time and it was delish! A bit different from the amok that i had once in a Thai restaurant but the presentation was nice and so was the flavor. Even the iced coffee was better this time.
(5)
mark i.

My restaurant discovery of the month! Not fancy surroundings-one step above a hole in the wall-but once you dive into the delicious dishes you'll never notice. Our Amok-a tender catfish souffle like dish-was my wife's favorite, yum. The yellow curry was near perfect-midly spicy, delicious. Likewise with the stir fry (green beans and beef, very tender). Great service, affordable prices. We'll be back..
(4)
David K.

Finally got to try this place a few weeks ago during lunch. Thank goodness it wasnt as busy as most of my friends tell me. This place must be very successful since it is only open during lunch time on weekdays. My friend has been here before so he ordered all the dishes, the catfish amok and curry were excellent. The only thing that I had an issue with was the timing of this fish filet dish we ordered which came out super late from the rest of the dishes. The service was friendly though and the decor is pretty hole in the wall. Good stuff for sure!
(4)
Margo G.

What can I say that hasn't been said already. Just go and see for yourself. Yes the place and surrounding areas isn't posh but once you step inside, you won't care. And once you try the food you will wonder why you didn't come in before. I ordered the amok, the beef curry, fried noodles and rice. Every dish I named to the server he responded with "Yummy!" I thought that was really funny for some reason. But he was right. Everything was indeed yummy and even tasted better the next day. I am already planning my return visit and hope to try other dishes. But I will get the amok every time. It's just that good. Especially with rice and a little bit of hot sauce. Yummy!
(5)
Hasan Y.

Great Service, Great Food, Great everything I love the Chicken Curry. I never had Cambodian food before, but now I am hooked to it. It is a family run place with great humor and smile.
(5)
Monique F.

Amazing!!! Wish we could have ordered even more dishes, Hot and Sour Soup was great, Chicken Curry had amazing flavor, garlic chicken, chicken skewers, and of course the amazing Thai Iced Teas. Next time definitely trying the Amok and Curry Catfish, I went with someone who didn't love Seafood so on the list for next time!!
(5)
Joyce H.

DELISH! Get the beef sticks, the amok (catfish), and the chicken curry. My bf took me here once on one of his lunch breaks and I think it was the best lunch break lunch I've ever had. Great hole in the wall place!
(4)
Janet D.

I'm back here again. Thanks to my friend Dawn for sharing this hidden treasure with me. We ordered the crispy fish with the ground chicken and ginger, the amok (DUH), and the pad thai-like noodle dish they had on the back page of their menu. Super friendly service as usual. It's nice to come to a place where every customer gets treated the exactly same, like you are family. I took my mom here for lunch, and the owner called her my sister. bahah. made her absolute day! My mom said all three dishes were 5 stars in her book, equally good for all different reasons and flavors. Looks like i will be taking my mom here quite often, but I'm not complaining. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)
Flor D.

*********SUPPORT THE LOCAL MOM & POP JOINTS********************* Here's what you need to know: His name is BRIAN, and yes he does it all except the cooking. This place is only open for lunch during the weekdays. The sketchy outside should not deter you from the inside, including the bars on windows! The candy in the bowl is free. The food is good, seriously. Be adventurous. The Zumbastic and lovely DD brought me here on a lazy Monday afternoon. I was a little nervous, thus taking the wheel and ordering us some awesome dishes. We had some kinda coconut milk catfish stew, some chicken and eggplant, and a salad. I also enjoyed the nice sweet tea. The service was great, and it the joint was busy. I had an awesome time, and surely will be back. For my first go a round at Cambodian, Chez Sovan did this Latin girl good!
(4)
Cindy T.

My co-worker took me out to lunch today and said he knew of an awesome Cambodian place. While pulling up, he told me not to judge the place by the way it looked outside. I didn't. Upon walking in, the place is quite dark, fairly small - very industrial-like. We got there at noon and were immediately seated. Score! I'm assuming my co-worker comes in often since the waiter came by, and asked, "The usual?" We got the ginger beef with rice, beef salad and chicken satay - all were deliciously tasty. Food came out in the quickness, too! After 12:15 PM, the place was packed. There were people lining out the door. So if you wanna eat, come early! *Only open during lunch time from 11am - 2pm!
(4)
Vicky C.

I LOOOVE Chez Sovan. Yes, it's major janksville. Yes, everything--the menus, the tables, the chairs--is kinda sticky and grimy. But, godddd, the food is LEGIT. I came with five other co-workers last Friday around 12:30 and due to sheer luck, we were seated right away. The six of us decided to each pick one item from the menu: - Amok - Fried catfish - Chicken (yellow) curry - Eggplant with pork - Ginger beef (except, they ran out of beef, so we subbed with chicken) - Fried noodles The last three items were just okay, but the amok (OMG, the amok *drool*), fried catfish, and curry were really great. And HOW AWESOME is the guy who runs this place? He hectically waits on all the tables and stays on top of it all, but always has a smile and some jokes to spare. We ordered the 'large' version of the all the main dishes and the total came out to $72. Street parking wasn't bad, and the small lot across from the restaurant IS for Chez Sovan customers, so go ahead and park there. So the moral of my review is: don't judge a book by its cover, no matter how dirty it looks & feels! The pages inside taste damn good, so eat them.
(4)
Julie T.

Ummmm Chez Sovan!!! I AM A HUGE FAN!! Wish they were open for dinner cause I would be there every night!! Everything that I have eaten there is so yum! The owner and his wife is such a cute pair. They always make you feel welcomed like you are eating in their own home. My fav dishes! Shrimp salad, Amok, curry, chicken and beef skewer, and the fried fish. Man I'm making my mouth water again and I just had lunch here!!
(5)
Robert L.

This place is the definition of a "hole in the wall" restaurant. The outside sign is so small, you can easily drive past the restaurant. When you walk inside, the place looks old and dark. The lights are often turned off, not sure if it's for saving money on electricity. Don't let all these things fool you though. The food here is awesome. The owner, who is also the main waiter, is extremely friendly, always happy, and jokes around with you. The Amok catfish appetizer (wrapped in leaves) is delicious. I love their beef and chicken kabobs for appetizer, which are very meaty and has great grilled flavors. The chicken curry is great too with the right amount of spices. I don't think there are any bad dishes. The dishes are meant for family style sharing. The Camodian flavors are a little similar to Thai food. If you like Thai food, definitely give Cambodian food a try.
(5)
Rhapsody I.

Lunch time is very crowded but table turn-over is fast. Ordered 2 dishes -- Amok and Chicken Curry (their signature dishes). Amok was good. Fish was fresh but too sweet. It's similar to Thai-version Hor-Mok but Cambodian-version here is much sweeter. Chicken Curry is also very sweet! Similar to Thai-version Massaman Curry, rather than regular Thai Green/Red Curry. Rice is very dry but steamy hot. Price is a little high (around $9-$10 per dish). Service is very good. Their Cambodian dishes can be found in any regular Thai restaurants (sans the sweetness in their dishes). Probably not go there again. I make much better Hor-Mok and Thai Chicken Curry.
(3)
Nancy N.

I had the "Barry special": catfish amok, chicken curry, and #23: fried fish topped with a whole lot of ground chicken and ginger goodness. Everything hit the spot. What a sweet hole in the wall surprise.
(4)
Kurt L.

If you start judging a restaurant by its exterior as you decide whether you want to try it, like me, then you would never even remotely want to eat here. But, don't be scared by the bars on the windows or the looks of the neighborhood. Once you taste the first dish, you'll be glad you made the adventure. We ordered the kabob, amok, stir fried beef, ginger chicken, and green bean beef. Every dish was tasty and delicious. I have to say the amok is pretty unique and appetizing. The owner (who is also the waiter) is very friendly and kind of funny. I ordered a to-go box, and he said "you look like a bachelor, let me give you more rice". He gave me extra rice to go with the leftover dishes :D
(5)
Brian C.

I had lunch with some coworkers. It's family style dining so I got to try a little bit of everything. Pros: All the food is delicious. Sauce is just right - not too salty or spicy. The beef tastes really good and better than the chicken. The food comes out quickly. Great service. Owner is talkative and funny. Cons: Limited street parking. Interior is ugly. Portions aren't big so order 1.5x dishes per person.
(5)
Wen C.

The location is in the middle of no where, I drive on Old Oakland all the time and never noticed the place, probably because it looks run down and dirty. I guess all the fans of the establishment definitely don't judge a book by the cover, you do not expect the inside to look the way it does. Heard the rave reviews on Yelp, but was a little bit disappointed, maybe I just have different taste of food? Is it safe to conclude that Cambodian food is just real sweet unspicy thai food? We were greeted by this way enthusiast server, I just remember his true religions, the restaurant must be doing well if he can afford $200 jeans. He recommended the Amok (catfish wrapped in banana leaves). So we order that and the chicken curry and some noodle dish. I do not get why everyone on here loves the catfish...it was way to sweet for my taste, it tasted like it should be on the dessert menu. The curry was good but would of been better if they made it spicy. The noodle dish I do not even remember the name was nothing memorable...hence the forgotten name. The service was good though. Probably won't come back, I like Thai food better.
(2)
Terri L.

Five stars, nothing less. This place is incredible! The food is delicious and absolutely mouth watering. The service is fast and the guy that works there is nice, funny, and great to talk to. Also, it's affordable. What more could you ask for? The food reminds me of my grandma's cooking and that's a good thing. It's nice to find a nice Cambodian restaurant that's so close by and keeps up with the traditions. I'm sure this will become one of my favorite places to eat and bring my friends and family.
(5)
Kat D.

Eh, so this place is a little dive, no biggie. It was my first time eating Cambodian food so I just let my co-workers order for the table. Good thing I wasn't ordering because although our server was super nice, he spoke super fast and I found myself confused after the first item. We had the amok, beef skewers, chicken curry, eggplant with chicken, and green beans with beef. All dishes were very tastey...a little too tastey. I ended up having to eating a lot of rice to help offset all the flavor in the food.
(4)
Shaman D.

Wow - almost like having lunch in Cambodia!!! This is a fantastic place to take visiting friends and family for an amazing culinary treat or just go because you are craving an authentic, savory, well-seasoned meal... and it's reasonably priced! There must be about 8-10 tables in this place and it's ALWAYS packed for lunch. The decor/appearance aren't anything to brag about - but seriously - you don't come to this restaurant for the look - IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FOOD!!! It's family style dining - so great for groups!!! I HIGHLY recommend ordering the amok, chicken & beef kebabs, chicken curry, fish curry, beef & beans - I am not kidding, this food is unbelievably addicting and flavorful.. I could seriously eat this all day long. Parking can be a little challenging and there might be a line at the door, but it's definitely worth the wait. I recommend getting there around 11:30ish... I've always had excellent service - owner often takes care of the customers and is fast, attentive, and friendly. Overall - this is one of my favorite places of all time.
(5)
R P.

I've been coming to this place for years. Another one of San Jose's hidden jems! My fav Cambodian place - actually the only Cambodian place I know of! The location is kind of dodgy & the building & interior is a bit run down, I always get a kick out of the look on peoples faces the first time I bring them here. With that being said, the food is REAL good. I always get the chicken curry with potatoes & carrots in a red curry stew. This place has very limited hours that they are open and if you come at noon the line is out the door. I prefer to come after 1pm when the lunch crowd has died down some.
(3)
Kim P.

Just went there like 1 hour ago with my frends to eat for lunch. First time there since Im Cambodian myself. Yah i know.hehe :D...But it was delicious. Same food my mama makes at home! My first time ever going to a Khmer Cuisine. But Loved it! Recommended!
(4)
My N.

Love, love, love this place! Actually I think I love their amok dish! It's a hole in the wall type of place but the food is really good. Who cares about the decor when the food is superb! The only sad thing is they only open 11-2pm. So you can only have it for lunch!
(5)
SP Y.

All thumbs up(Yep, more than two!)! Been a customer for more than 7yrs now, quality is still as high as before. Don't expect any ambient or fancy services, and it isn't in the best of locations(you won't even consider walking in if you don't know the restaurant already). However, the owner is friendly and you can expect execellent food. Some of my favorites: Amok(must try), Beef Satay(must try), Chicken curry, cat fish, egg plant, and more... P.S. This location only open at lunch. The Campbell location, to me, is not as good. Don't know why...
(5)
anurag p.

This place really sucks. The food does not compare to good Thai food. I'm sure there is better cambodian to be had in San Francisco- this is very over hyped and really not up to snuff. The much lauded Amok is actually quite terrible. Everything beyond that is steadily downhill from there. To top it all the ingredients don't look authentic nor is the taste authentic.
(2)
Eric E.

The food here is really good and very consistant! I love the Amok, Chicken Curry and String Beans with Pork. The prices are not bad. The only bad thing is you need to beat the crowds that come at 12:00 or you may not get a seat.
(4)
Stephanie B.

Amok, catfish in a banana leaf, is amazing. A great hole in the wall that's always packed with a lunch crowd.
(4)
Ray C.

First tried this place a couple of years ago- and everytime I'm in the Bay Area I make it a point to get lunch at this place! Drove down from SF just to have lunch here today! There really isn't much atmosphere to speak of, but the food at this hole in the wall place is absolutely fantastic! The "Amok" is a must try dish! The owner is always there with a smile and is super-friendly! Check it out.
(4)
Rico N.

The food here is great!!! I want to take my friends here, but they are only open for 3 hours mon-fri. I wish they would either extend their hours or be open on a saturday. It's too bad because it's the only cambodian restaurant I know of, the food is great, but they aren't open when I want them to be. Oh well. Guess I have to keep going there on Friday's when I work from home (3 blocks away).
(4)
Seila K.

I haven't been here in a while, and I guess I haven't had the craving for it. Being a Cambodian without much in the ways of Cambodian food in the area and my parents/family living up in Seattle, this is one of the only options. While the food isn't bad, I have found most of the dishes just way too sweet. Please everyone, Cambodian food is simply not this sweet. It's still a pretty solid place, the waiter is a cool guy, and I'm sure there are less sweet items on the menu. I'm just hoping the owners will notice that many yelpers are saying that the food is too sweet and tone down the sugar in many of the items such as the amok, sour soup with pineapples, etc. I will return one day soon, I just won't be going out of my way to get here.
(3)
John-Michael C.

Yes......I would never have thought to go to this diamond in the rough if it weren't for some local knowledge. The first time I walked in I was kind of afraid that I'd never leave again...but you know what......now I go there all the time. Yeah, the area looks shady but I've never had any problems there. Speaking of which, I got help locally last time my car broke down there. Once you get past the dated decor and the like, the food will keep you coming back. The food kind of reminds me of other south east asian food...but sweeter. . There's this steamed fish folded up in a banana leaf...amok...omg. The deep fried fish is fantastic. Can't go wrong with the curry. And eggplant.... . *drooooolllllll And the service is great. The guy with the long hair...I can't remember his name for the life of me....I think it's tony or something....either way he's a great guy who won't do you wrong. Everything he has suggested has been great. I'm getting that food coma feeling just thinking about the last time I ate there. NOTE!!! Remember the place is only open for lunch...and the local cubicle dwellers know this and rush there. If you go there solo or a small party then you have a better chance of not waiting....however if you get there late, I can't be held responsible for you starving. Consider yourself warned!!! ;D
(5)
Tom H.

If you like hole in the wall restaurants, this is the place for you. Nothing to see, just great food to eat. I describe the food served here as a cross between Chinese & Thai, but there is a sweetness. I have no idea what authentic Cambodean food is like. But I love this stuff. First ate here ~10 years ago. Have been a regular since then. Now that I work in the neighborhood, once every 2 weeks is normal. I like the ginger dishes, stir fry and the chicken curry. My friends who really like fish swear by the dish "amok". Fish wrapped and cooked in a banana leaf. (I am not a fish guy, but take their word for it. They eat it once a week) Loud, crowded and a wait to get seated is typical. Worth it if you want to try something new.
(4)
Nick B.

K-I-L-L-E-R FOOD!!!! Great Prices. Iced Coffee is insane. I would never go there at night, restaurant is fine, but neighborhood seems a little sketchy. Definitely hitting this place again, for lunch.
(5)
Ryan C.

Used to be a real gem in the hole, with regulated usage of sugar and spices, but now it's all about sugar and how sweet it is to measure up to normal average American taste and appetite, no consideration towards their authentic flavors. - Amok + all other dishes: got too sweet, maybe using 1/2 will enhance the flavor as it used to be. - Satais: too charred. - Interior: could use some new paint job.
(3)
Aldouse H.

from the first glance of walking in, you're reminded of a typical common asian kitchen. it felt like home to me. we were seated immediately and it felt like i was visiting a relatives house where your aunt or uncle told you to sit and made you eat food. (except in this case, you have to pay for it). their food is delish. The Amok and the Ginger Beef is a terrific dish. great place to have a lunch break as service is fast and food comes out quick. will definitely return here for more food!
(4)
Gene A.

I've passed this place a million times and mistakenly, as i found out, dismissed it as some crappy hole in the wall that no one goes to. After reading the reviews, I decided to hit it up with the lady. We walk in and were immediately greeted and were told we could sit anywhere in the back. We order the Amok, catfish in coconut milk sauce wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf, and the pork with green beans. The Amok was amazing and the pork and green beans were pretty good, too. The service is great. Adding to my Default list...
(5)
Letty M.

Brian I love you! Ok, I love your food too. This place is the best! Very Friendly environment as well as excellent food. Anyone looking for some good Cambodian food then come here! I recommend the following: Shimp salad, chicken kabobs, shrimp & green beens, spaghetti and rice....if you order it just like that he will know what you want!
(5)
Zaydian A.

Looking in from the outside, this place doesn't look all that great, boy was I wrong. This place is really busy come lunch time, so i suggest coming before 12, or call in to make a reservation. The owner was very friendly & accomidating. The food itself was really good & affordable. The best dish by far was the appetizer. I believe it was catfish mixed with lemon and some other seasonings, it was wrapped inside a banana leaf, so it was rich with flavors. Will certainly come back to this spot.
(4)
Shannon B.

We are VERY lucky; this wonderful restaurant is only a block from Grandma's house. The two not-to-be-missed items on the menu are the catfish amok and the chicken watercress salad. We have never had anything we did not like, but those are the stars. My one-year old son just loves this place and will eat as much of the amok as we let him have. For some reason, the Yelp reviewers seem to think this is a mainly lunch place, but it is just as nice for dinner. Super staff, nice atmosphere. The one problem is the bar next door can steal a lot of the parking.
(5)
Beverly F.

I have never had Cambodian food and my coworker took me on a Friday. There was a line outside the restaurant and it's was packed in side. We decided to wait the 20 minutes. I'm sure glad we did b/c the food was delicious. We had the Fried Rice Noodles which reminded me of Pad Thai, it was yummy. We also had the Ginger Chicken which was so-so. Our 3rd dish was the Chicken Curry. It had the perfect spices and hotness. My other coworker who also came along with us was a quarter Cambodian and she said it was really good and the food tasted similar to her Auntie's food which meant was pretty authentic. I would totally go again. Thanks Perla!!!
(4)
Dave C.

This is one of my favorite lunch places. Food is excellent, service is fast and the prices are pretty good. The amok is simply awesome. You MUST try it. It may look like a hole in the wall but this place is a hidden gem!
(5)
Jaime F.

A work lunchtime favorite for over 10 years, Cambodian at it's best, and very inexpensive, the decor matches the prices though. Make sure to hit the catfish wrapped and steamed in banana leaves, my other favorite is the green beans and pork. Definitely the satay chicken or beef sticks as well.
(5)
Michael Y.

The first time i ate here was when they opened on the weekend for my friend's newborn. From then on, i was a loyal customer. I even brought coworkers and friends here and not one has disapproved. You get the gourmet home cooked feeling when you eat here. Like everyone else says...their chicken curry is a must have and if you have room, their catfish in banana leaf is killer too! definitely approved and recommended by me. 5 stars for the food but 2.5 stars for the decor and ambiance. The food trumps all other factors!
(5)
Ryan V.

Best. Lunch. Ever.
(5)
Jessie J.

oh my lord "hole in the wall" is an understatement here. my first apartment was on 10th and santa clara, maybe a mile from chez sovan's location and when my dad helped move me in, seeing the place for the first time he actually started crying for fear i might be the next victim of the "san jose night stalker". to his credit i did watch someone get knifed in the 7-11 parking lot from my second story window, this was right before deciding i should probably move to willow glen... so yes, there is a reason this place is only open for lunch and has 3 inch thick iron bars on every window. it's also dark, dingy and has what i'm sure are 25 year old cobwebs just above the front entrance. upon entering i was convinced i had accidently stumbled upon a secret cambodian triad den and would have to win at a hand of poker and smoke an entire pack of unfiltered cigarettes to earn back my freedom. but alas, no such luck. i was greeted by the most adorable server, he was cheerful and friendly immediately putting all my "white flight" fears at ease. the food is out of this world delicious. the famed, delicate and amazing catfish "amok" that comes wrapped in banana leaves is better then anything i've ever eaten at "the slanted door" or any high end southeast asian restaurant for that matter. do not miss that! everything else was very good, but i know i will be talking about that catfish for weeks now... the only reason it doesn't get five stars is that it REALLY needs the most basic upon basic of interior overhauls. I'm not saying it needs pendant lighting, modern art and concrete countertops, but a serious deep cleaning of the place is definitely in order.
(4)
Angela M.

The first time i ate here was when a friend from work asked me if I minded going to hole in the wall spots with amazing food. Of course, I said of course not. After that I have taken several co-workers, friends and even clients. I just wanted to note, that someone go lost because they thought it was a laundry mat and another person asked me if I'm sure it's a safe neighborhood to park his expensive car, lol! I personally think the neighborhood is safe but just wanted to warn you not to expect the decor, ambience, location to be the best. You get the gourmet home cooked feeling when you eat here. Like everyone else says...all of their soups are fabulou, their chicken curry is a must have and so is their amok (catfish in banana leaf)! The food is truly 5 stars!
(5)
John G.

Ate here with a friend for lunch in January and it is amazing. The amok and yellow curry are both 5 star dishes, and I can't wait to go back. I really wish they were open for dinner!
(5)
Jason L.

Very flavorful food! We had the skewers, curry, some fried fish, some other fish wrapped in banana leaves, shrimp+brean beans. Very friendly staff. The only thing I didnt like was that the area wasn't particularly nice... bars on windows etc... and there were a few flies flying around our table... So, great food, but the environment could use a bit of revamping. No - I'm not trying to be snotty but flies around while I'm eating does bother me. haha
(4)
Diana C.

This is my all time favorite restaurant in San Jose. The place looks a little shady. I love taking people here for the first time...they freak out cause of the neighborhood ;) Once they are done with their meal they have forgotten where they are and are in love with the food. I love everything here except for maybe the noodles. I like the lemongrass soup....my favorites are the Amok, ginger chicken or pork, eggplant and tofu (I have made non-tofu believers love tofu), chicken curry, sticks of meat, cambodian iced team, the salads are good. I just LOVE this place. We usually go with a huge group from my work and it allows us to get pretty much everything. Brian, the owner is the nicest guy and he moves fast. Go to Chez Sovan...you will love it. If it was open at night I would risk going there, but NO, they are only open for lunch :(
(5)
isaw W.

I was introduced to Chez Sovan by a friend of mine who promised me it would be a great hole in the wall. It is is open only Mon-Fri 11A to 2P. The food there is excellent and it is quite cheap as well. You can't go wrong with anything you order from their menu though I'd recommend the chicken curry and the catfish wrapped in a banana leaf.
(4)
Prabu D.

The amok (Fish wrapped in banana leaves and steamed?) was fantastic. But I also liked the beans/shrimp and especially the chicken curry. Its not a great location but safe enough for lunch. The waiter has a cheery attitude and slips in a few zingers ... all in all, a thoroughly enjoyable break from work!
(5)
Samuel H.

A friend of mine spoke very highly of this place so i decided to go check it out. I had never had Cambodian food but I heard it is very similar to Thai food. The Restaurant itself was nice. Not big but not small and I heard it never is too crowded. We ordered a variety of food here most of which I can't remember the name. The curry here is very good. I definitely recommend the curry chicken with some steamed rice. A dish that consisted of steam catfish in a leaf was pretty good as well and is supposed to be a specialty. The service there was nice and pleasant. The place seems to be family run and owned. Location is convenient and plenty of parking. I would recommend this place and will go back again.
(4)
Leddee H.

I've never been here before, but I'm already hooked. This place is soooo good. My three friends and I had our Yelp lunch here today. Since we were all unfamiliar with Cambodian cuisine, the somewhat funny yet very helpful waiter said that he'll take care of us. Since I didn't even open the menu and Chez Sovan doesn't have a website, I'm going to try to describe the delicious food we had. We got the steamed monkfish (I don't understand why everyone has been calling it catfish on yelp but the waiter said it was monkfish) (yum), shrimp and green beans in a spicy red sauce (yum yum), spicy and tender chicken stew (yum yum yum), Cambodian chicken salad (yum yum yum yum), and beef skewers (yum yum yum yum yum) marinated and grilled to perfection. The beef skewer was probably my favorite dish. Eating with 3 hungry men, the food disappeared quickly so we ordered another dish. The energetic waiter suggested spaghetti aka Cambodian pad thai (yum). That dish was also devoured rather quickly. Overall I will give Chez Sovan 5 stars. Yes, the neighborhood is a bit shady but parking was ample. We ate within 10 minutes of ordering, so they are quick. The waiter was quite helpful. The bill was $18/person for 4 people including tip, so that's not bad. The place was packed by 12:00 too. Did I mention that the food was good too? So check it out...you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Irene S.

Yo. After my review of Autohouse ( yelp.com/biz/NXUefBxt0utâ€¦ ), this crack neighborhood is the last place I thought I'd return for lunch, especially a la French food. And I was right. This place ain't French. It's Cambodian. A block down from MEXICALI CLUB (where la vida doesn't appear to be so loca), the pace of service at Sovan is like rapid fire. One look at the twisted iron bars bolted over all the doors and windows, I can imagine why this joint is lunch only because one might actually *be* in the line of fire after dusk. Sketch? No worries. Crowded during the few hours it *is* open, you should be safe rolling up with whatever posse, be it with saggy pants/wife beaters or pocket protectors (that's for you I.Q! ;) ). The waiter is Mr. Nice and Happy Guy and he'll have your food out in a jiffy. I've never had Cambodian food - so take this review for what it is - but found it to be similar to Malaysian, just a whole LOT sweeter -- really bad for the borderline diabetic. Do order rice with: *chicken curry -amok (steamed catfish pintucked in banana leaves) -hot and sour soup (thicker than the thai version, but stil tasty) -ginger beef (eh...) *pork and green beans -chicken and beef kabobs -eggplant with pork
(3)
Art L.

Food is uniquely prepared even if you've had Southeast Asian cuisines before. If you are looking for as little as mediocre decor, run! A hole in the wall is the correct description. I find the satay chicken or pork very well prepared with the right amount of BBQ time and the sauce that comes with it is almost perfect. All the dishes I had seem to be presented with a home cooked meal style rather than restaurant style. Do try the tamale fish dish; it is very tasty, even when fish is not my favorite. I have not been to this restaurant recently, but had been there many times. Food is impressive every time.
(4)
Wendy N.

love love this place. its a small whole in the wall type resturant...but the food is worth the wait. i would recommend the ginger pork and the beef with green beans...the owner is so friendly and nice...they only open on the weekdays....closed weekends...i wish they would open on the weekends...you have to at least try this place once...
(5)
Annie W.

Definitely get the amok and chicken curry and prepare to eat with lots of rice. They are out of this world. Amok is wonderfully steamed in banana leaf with this sweet and savory coconut and lemongrass (perhaps some curry?) concoction. Very juicy, quite unique. I could've killed the whole thing but had to be nice and share. Chicken curry definitely had a spicy kick to it. Meat was super tender. Super yummy. The beef salad was tasty as well but the flavors are more familiar along the lines of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Portions are big, three big eaters ordered three dishes and still had leftovers. I like the vibe of the place and the owner (I'm assuming it's him, the guy with the pony tail) is awesome. He jokes around with you, is very chill and laidback. Reading from other reviews I thought this would REALLY be a dingy hole in the wall (read: sitting on plastic knee-high stools with cockroaches crawling around) but it's really not that bad. So the building's a bit dilapidated and not in the most attractive neighborhood but the restaurant is pretty spacious inside and there's a small parking lot off 13th St. It has character but calling it a hole in the wall is kind of a stretch.
(5)
Lance C.

Too great, but sweet of food. I don't know how many yelpers have mentioned this, but I don't know the restaurant will ever change their cooking for this. Overall, it's a great lunch place. The master is very firendly and funny. Takes good care of people. If it's just about the food. I would give a 3 star. Though the Amok is very good.
(4)
Voodoo P.

Love this place......great food and delicious dishes ...I took my worker here for the first time and she loves it. It is a hole in the wall but it was pack with business people. The server / owner was really awesome.
(5)
Tezhan N.

Catfish tamale - Amok, delicious. Everything is flavorful. The only problem is the crowdedness and being only open for weekday lunches.
(4)
jerry h.

Five words: "A hole in the wall" Good food, ugly decor, attentive & friendly service. Crowded for the lunch rush with street side parking. The cook does sure have a heavy hand with the sugar. But the food still taste great. The waiter short-changed me $20 dollars after giving me change for a $100. I caught his attention 2 minutes later and he gave me my correct change without a question.
(4)
Margaret C.

This place is a little sketchy looking, bars on the window, kind of in the middle of nowhere, but fear not! It's really a hole in the wall kind of place. You have to try their catfish or known as the "amok." My friends and I also ordered the curry over rice, green beans with beef, and thai tea. The food is delicious and all the dishes have the perfect amount of flavor. Brian the owner/waiter is a really amiable guy. Service is quick and great. Will be back.
(5)
David C.

First time at this place last week. I thought the food was incredible. Loved the Amok. Can't wait to return! The grilled beef on a skewer was very tasty.
(5)
Lily L.

I'm so happy to cross this place off my list. I've been eyeing this place even before I had found the yelp reviews on how great it is! It looks pretty run down on the outside (not that it would stop me from coming here anyway!) but the inside was pretty decent. It was simple not all grimey as I expected it to be. The second you walk in, the aroma knocks you off your feet. Just how I like it. We shared a dish of green beans and pork, chicken satay, and a bowl of chicken rice soup. The green beans and pork was ok. The sauce was excellent but I think the green beans could be better on other days or atleast I hope so! The chicken satay was excellent. It's great because you can order as many skewers as you want. And the chicken rice soup...mmMMMmmm! It was sort of like Vietnamese porridge but with less rice and lots of lemon. I think next time I'm going to get the ice tea with cream. It looks like a thai ice tea but I guess here it would be a Cambodian ice tea? I especially loved how the waiter suggested a small soup for the two of us even though we wanted a large. Being it was our first time here, we weren't sure how small the soup would be and we both wanted a lot of soup. It was nice of him to make the appropriate suggestion. I'll be sure to come back next time to try the fried noodles!
(4)
Jimmy T.

Very tasty foods. Curry Chicken with some super hot chili: excellent. Eggplant dish and fried rice noodles: great. Chicken rice soup with some red hot chili pepper: oh mine...you gotta try it. Too bad they ran out of Amok which is the house specialty...The owner is friendly and courteous. The place is a little old and well...quite run down, but the foods are what we're talking about here. No wonder the place was packed...Good foods make people happy and so they did for me today at Chez Sovan.
(4)
Chanmao S.

Chez Sovan Props for name! heehee Props for the food! Definitely a hole in the wall, but hey you know what you'll get, really GOOD food! Well I get a kiss on the cheeks from Brian the owner too! You gotta try it and will heart it!
(5)
N A.

Why are they only open for lunch, Monday to Friday? That's the only complaint I have because food is very flavorful here. They're so good that it makes you forget that you just had a rough time parking your car, waited in line and find the place dark and well, really outdated. The food will be more than enough to make you try this place. To add to that, the owners are very nice and service is wonderful! Best dishes tried by friends include the chicken curry, amok (catfish) and chicken kabob. As a vegetarian myself, I've tried all 3 dishes - yellow curry (with potatoes and carrots), stir-fried noodles and the eggplant dish. All have made my stomach very happy!!!
(5)
Megan S.

Quick and easy place for lunch with great food. The curry chicken, kabobs and ginger pork are all delicous. The service is great. Highly recommended.
(5)
Richi T.

i absolutely love this restaurant! i come and visit them every week for lunch and this routine will not stop with the food they serve. yes, looking in from the outside, it definitely looks like a hole in the wall, but the food will absolutely bring you back. I highly recommend ordering their amok.
(5)
Chris H.

I love this place. I've been a regular for 20 years and when the economy was booming I'd be here at least once a week. Brain, the owner who seems to know everybody's name, is very friendly and accommodating. Chez Sovan is named after his mother, who recently opened a Chez Sovan in Hawaii. The Chez Sovan in Campbell used to be family owned but was sold to friends some years back. I hear the food is good but I have yet to go to this location. My favorites are the chicken curry, ginger pork and the beef shish kabob. I haven't found a curry anywhere else that compares to Brain's. If you're in a hurry while eating in or need good take out the chicken curry is the dish to order. When I'm feeling like a change, I'll go for the salad with beef or chicken, the noodles with chicken or especially during the winter, the lemongrass soup.
(5)
Alexis A.

Definately a must stop for lunch, had the curry chicken and sweet tea and took home my leftovers which I will definitely enjoy later. My boyfriend has been coming here for quite some time and has told me about this place before. The owner and his wife were Super Nice and made the Place that much more comfortable and inviting. I will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Tajinder S.

hole in the wall in a sketchy neighborhood with nice/unique food...how often do you come across Cambodian food in the bay area?! 3 stars because rice served (for a group) is never enough. I am not a rice person but if I noticed it then I'm sure others have a problem too.
(3)
Jingsong W.

4.5 stars? OV-ER-RAT-ED. We ordered the fried catfish, chicken curry and shrimp soup. The amok was sold out. Biggest problem was the sweetness. Felt like they dumped a tablespoon of sugar into every dish. The portions were tiny for the small plates (which all ran $8.50 per). I left a hole-in-the-wall Cambodian place still hungry after spending $17 (and I didn't even buy a drink). That's just not right. Although I haven't had a real Cambodian meal, I have had other Southeast Asian cuisines in Thailand and they were amazing. This just didn't compare. The waiter was kinda cool though so that's the +1 star.
(3)
H. L. L.

4.5 Stars. I ordered over the phone and then stopped in to pick it up. I ordered: Amok - Catfish in Banana leaf - $9.50 Chicken Curry (Large) - $10.50 Both dishes were really good. The amok had less coconut milk than I remembered. It wasn't as creamy as before and slightly on the overcooked side (probably why it's not as creamy) but it was still really good. I did come at the end of lunch hour so maybe next time I'll come get some at beginning of lunch hour. The chicken curry was a pleasant surprise. I didn't know what to compare it to since I've only had Vietnamese, Indian and Thai Chicken Curries, not Cambodian. But, it was very flavorful, slightly different from the Thai curry. It was very very good! I'm stuffed! Two dishes between 3 of us was still too much! We definitely had a lot of curry leftovers and it was only $21.80! What a steal! I love this place and I love the people that works here/owns it. They are very personable and love their customers. They always come out to greet the customers and take care of them. That's why I love mom and pop hole-in-the-walls! What a gem! I'd come back again!!
(4)
Somala A.

I finally had a chance to come the famous Chez Sovan. Everybody keeps telling me about this place! Don't be afraid of the location and the appearance of the building. When you get there, you will be greeted by the most friendliest host I've ever met. Yes, the place is small so you must arrive early to avoid the wait. We had the Catfish Amok, the chicken skewers, and the pad thai. The Amok was excellent as usual. The chicekn skewers were a-ok. The pad thai was a little too sweet and saucy for my taste.
(5)
Joanna R.

My coworkers took me here for lunch and can I say... IT WAS AMAZING! I haven't had Cambodian food before so I cant really compare it to anything, BUT I do have highly qualified taste buds and the flavors of the dishes were fabulous. The fish curry wrapped in banana leaf was my favorite. I need to go back to try everything else on the menu.
(5)
dawn b.

I came here a few years ago and it was yummy. A few weeks back I was at this tailoring place when I looked next door, lo and behold it was the Cambodian Resturant I came to many years ago. I go in with my family and my taste buds fell in love again. I HIGHLY recommend!! Since then I've been here three more times, each time getting something differnt. Each dish I've had was absolutely good. Go here to try something new. Location off of 101 is shady..haha it's much closer to my house but I'd prefer to go to the Campbell location. Prices are typical but maybe more on the cheaper side. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it again.
(5)
Larry K.

Every few months I start to exhibit strange, erratic behavior. I get these yearnings, and I feel that I might die if I don't get back to Chez Sovan. It's AMOK TIME! No... it's not related to some Vulcan mating ritual with Spock, T'Pring, and T'Pau [geeks of the world unite! ;]; Amok is a great Cambodian dish. Chez Sovan's Amok is a dish of spiced catfish and egg, all wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. It's wonderful! Even if you don't normally like catfish, the flaky fish flavored with a coconut curry intermixed with egg and steamed in the banana leaf (pinned with a toothpick) will definitely win you over. It's a little pricey as an appetizer at $9, but well worth it. Or it's an entree in itself for that matter. As for the rest of the menu, the food here is good. The Ginger Pork (or Ginger Chicken or Ginger Beef) is worth a try. The Chicken Curry is wonderful and slightly spicy with large pieces of potatoes. And if it's cold outside, then one of their spicy Cambodian soups will warm you right up [the soups are packed with chicken and vegetables in a coconut/ginger enhanced chicken broth]. The restaurant is hidden away in "not-the-best" neighborhood and street parking can sometimes be a hassle, but that doesn't keep the lines from stretching out the door most lunch hours. Chez Sovan also has a second location in Cambell, but it's a little more upscale, and the friendly wait staff at the San Jose location keep me coming back. Note that the restaurant is ONLY opened Monday thru Friday, and ONLY for Lunch [11AM-2PM]. If you haven't tried Cambodian cuisine, then grab a friend and head to Chez Sovan for lunch; order several dishes to share the interesting flavors. And while you're at it: Live long and prosper!
(4)
Mindy D.

How randomly situated is this restaurant? I drove past it for years without noticing it. When my sister and I read about it on Yelp, we checked it out. To our astonishment, the food was quite delicious! I guess I really need to come to terms with 'don't judge a book by its cover.' It may be in a sketchy neighborhood and not the fanciest restaurant out there, but the dishes were quite tasty. I'm not too familiar with Cambodian food, but I've had plenty of other Asian cuisines. Can't remember everything we ordered, but I distinctly remember the amok, one for its taste, and two for the cool name! It was pretty crowded, and considering it's ONLY open during lunchtime, you don't have much of a choice of when to eat there. Street parking is available once you turn into the neighborhood. In my opinion, it's kind of expensive for the amount of food you get. It's worth a try though if you want a Cambodian fix.
(3)
john d.

If you want watered-down, Americanized Cambodian food, then this is the place for you. I grew-up in stockton and Long beach, which are both home to huge Cambodian populations. I've tried all the food at the various street vendors and new years celebrations in those areas, and Chez Savon tastes nothing like the unique flavors of the real Cambodian food that I'm accustomed too. It's definately more for the bland palettes of East Asians/American Whites and not for South East Asians or those with more adventurous tastes in food.
(3)
B R.

This is a very tasty restaurant recommended to anyone looking to have a good time at Cambodian restaurant the services right attentive and people always listened great tasting and yeah
(5)
Jenny L.

I just went to lunch here today. I had an undying craving for Cambodian food this morning. Ok, I was hungry and I was in the mood for it as well. lol. I'm Cambodian, so I know what I want when I crave it. Unfortunately they didn't have the dishes I was craving for. Definitely not my mom's cooking. But it hit the spot on a day like this. I've been to the Campbell location and thought that it was ok. I just find it a great idea to be able to have Cambodian food without asking my mom to cook it or drive all the way out to Stockton or Oakland for it. :) I took the advice of everyone here and went early. As I always do with lunch because rush hour is always at noon. I was very suprised to see how busy it got within 10 mins of arriving there. To top it off, everyone was dressed up and of different ethinicities, including some Cambodian people. That's a good sign as far as how authentic the food is(the cambodian people, not the dressed up peeps. lol). I decided to go with ginger chicken, beef salad, chicken curry and white rice. All were good. I ordered the sweet tea and I asked the waiter/owner if it was like thai tea. He said "Yes, but better!" LOL He was right, it was better! He was very energetic and friendly. I would go back just because he was so welcoming. :) The prices were a bit higher than I would like for the portions. But, I see it as just since it's the only Cambodian restaurant around and they are only open at lunch. :) Try it out, you might be surprised. Oh and everyone ordered the amok. I didn't but maybe I should've!
(4)
Gene H.

One of my favorite places to go for lunch. It's a hole in the wall, but with fast and friendly service. I always order the amok, curry chicken, and eggplant. Those 3 dishes over steamed rice makes a perfect meal for 2 or 3 people.
(5)
Vy P.

LOVE LOVE their AMOK! Now that I work in Palo Alto, I don't get to enjoy their food as often as before..BOO..Always start with the thai tea and beef salad. Then go with the Amok, chicken curry and eggplant. You can't go wrong with excellent service and superb cuisine. I can't wait until my next day off so I can head back here again.
(5)
ET W.

Ate there for the first time last night and it was a great experience. Food was very well flavored and reasonably priced. Service was friendly and warm Ambience was cheerful, clean and inviting. Ordered a beef curry, pork with string beans and the catfish wraopped in leaves. The curry was very good (on the sweet side which I like). Pork had an interesting slightly sweet/sour flavor which was also good. I enjoyed the catfish but my husband did not - it was like a mousse with a gingerly flavor. Had enough leftovers to feed our teenage daughter the next day and she loved the food too. All in all, really liked this restaurant and would definitely return.
(4)
roland l.

Before there was yelp, this restaurant has been on many a silicon valley engineer's best of dive list. The jail bars on the door and windows and limited opening hours make this a classic dive restaurant. (a few years back they tried to open for dinner, but due to its location they gave that up due to patrons not willing to jeapordize their lives to eat there when its dark) chicken curry is the best thing on the menu. spicy with big chunks of chicken and tomatoes.
(5)
my r.

Very warm friendly service for this hole in the wall neighborhood joint. Don't let the outside scare you. Food is great. I'm sad it's only open during lunch as I'd definitely love to stop by more often. Everything is as authentic as it gets and love the variety in menu.
(5)
Linh N.

I don't get what the big fuss about this place is all about. I had to go take out today of shrimp soup, chicken soup, eggplant with pork, and green beans. The small portion on the menu is $8.50 and the large portion is $10.50. The four items were small portions. We ordered 2 large rice at $2 each. The food is so little. Little as in it's a very small size entree that would not satisfy your hungry if you only had one item. I should get more than that for $8.50. The size of the food looks like it's only worth about $3.00. Oh my, the food is so sweet. Was I eating a meal or dessert? I couldn't tell. There was some sort of after taste from the meal. It was like the taste of msg lingering in my mouth. "The best food is sometimes at the hole in a wall kind of place," does not fall true for this place.
(1)
G L.

Not an expert on Cambodian food, but this was one of the best places I ever ate! The amok was a delicious appetizer! Must try if you love catfish! Open for lunch and weekday only. It's that good they don't need to open later to make their money! Waiter there is fun and friendly! Go try it!
(4)
Tristan H.

Chez Sovan is probably my favorite restaurant in San Jose. Go here once and you'll want to come back for lunch at least once a month, if not once a week. Pardon the cliche, but this truly is one of those classic hole-in-the-wall restaurants where everything on the menu is good and the prices aren't going to make your eyes pop out of their sockets. The steamed Amok is fantastic and will titillate your tastebuds with its unique blend of lemongrass, coconut and egg flavors, and their curry offers an experience that is both sweet and spicy yet not too much of both. Try the fish with ginger, ground beef and salted beans -- the description sounds a bit weird at first, but I tried it once and have ordered it every time since. My only gripe with this place is that it's only open for lunch during the week, so unless you're lucky enough to live or work in the San Jose area, it's hard to get into without taking the day off or, ahem, "calling in sick." Not that I've done that myself, or anything... ;) It's also worth pointing out that there's another restaurant with the same name down in Campbell, but in my opinion, the food and atmosphere are not nearly as good as the smaller, more intimate location on Oakland road. Despite the dark interior and the shady neighborhood, there's this weird charm to the uptown location that you learn to appreciate after a while. Kinda like going home for lunch. At someone's weird, old house. To whom you're not related. But you love their food.
(5)
Clif C.

The best in Campbell.
(5)
Tomomi S.

What an appetizing, mouthwatering, luscious experience it was to eat at Chez Sovan today! I used to go to the one in Campbell, but never knew that there is another Chez Sovan in San Jo in the middle of the hood. I mean if I was driving here by myself I would have either missed this place or just kept driving since I am afraid of parking my car even though it is in the daylight - I am not kidding you. Place is small, sort of dark but yeah very popular. We got there around 12:15ish and already all the table and counter seats were full. Since the "super friendly and full of energy guy" (I guess everyone knows him, huh?) took our order as we wait for a table, we were able to get our food fairly quick after being seated. We had fish Amok, which was a joyful experience once you put that sweet and fluffy piece of fish in your month. Ohhhh just LOVED it! Chicken curry was good too- a bit sweet side but I loved the chunks of carrots, potatoes and chicken. Just be careful not to spill on your shirt ...this curry spots won't come off your cloth that easy. Green bean with shrimp was okay but too saucy for me. I needed to shake the sweet sauce off my green beans :) Coffee with condensed milk will knock your "weak starbucks coffee" drinker's butt!! Woowoo, delish!! You gotta try it for sure.
(4)
R A.

I cant believe I didnt write a review yet for this place! My favorite fish wrapped in banana leaves...that ALONE is enough to bring me back here every time! I wish they open one closer to SF...
(5)
Irene L.

This place is the definition of "hole in the wall". It was the first time I have had Cambodian food and it is similiar to Thai. The soup was just like tom yum soup so that was pretty good. I think a signature dish is the Amok, the catfish rolled in banana leaves with egg and ginger flavor. There was another fried fish dish, that the flavor was pretty good which is unlike a taste I have ever had. We also got the curry which seemed like a popular dish since many other people had ordered it. I heard this place only opened for lunch on weekdays which is amazing that it seems to only cater to the working group of people. My favorite dish was the bbq beef and chicken on skewers. I thought the food was a bit heavy for a lunch, although tasty, made my stomach churn a bit because of all the heavy flavors. Add that to the sweet tea, which is their version of thai tea. The owner Brian, is very personable and seems to know many people on a first name basis which gives it a nice mom and pop feel.
(2)
Angela M.

Dont judge a book by it's cover.... this place is not on the best corner but the food and service are good. They are ONLY open m-f at lunchtime so I dont go often since I work closer to the other location in Campbell. Let me start off by saying that I like the Campbell location better. There is A LOT more to choose from on the menu and its less of an ordeal to go...but I like both. Service is fast and friendly. Get there before noon if you dont have time to wait around. Beef curry was good and the small portion serviced two of us with no leftovers ( i think you get more at the campbell location too). We had the rice noodles which I liked but a lil greasy and husband didnt find it to be his favorite. We also got the beef salad which I love, great and fresh with mint, basil, cabbage, beef etc. Again could have used more meat. They were out of pork that day so we didnt get the green beans and pork that we were hoping for. We will go back but I still think I will be found in Campbell more often. They have a great Mussaman Curry with peanuts, lots of beef and baguettes for the great sauce. THey also have a lot of great soups there too.
(3)
Jay K.

Unexpected find, very surprised to find the first and probably the only cambodian place. Forget the location, goto santana row if you want candles in your table. But if you want food, especially amok( that catfish wrapped in leaves ) this is the place. it is very good. I would have liked my satay a little cooked inside too. But I think they do a good job when it comes to food. Very good owner. You will love this guy no matter what. Calls people by their name. I am fine with them open only for Lunch. because that creates a sense of craving for that food.
(4)
Gloria C.

The food and service is amazing here! We came in 15 minutes before their closing time for lunch, and they were still as nice as ever! The owner took our order and he was very friendly and funny. He's also very honest in that he told us not to order any more because we had enough food. All the food came out within 10 minutes of ordering! My personal favorites are the shrimp salad, amok, and chicken curry. Although a bit on the ghetto side, I think the quality and taste of the food at this location is slightly better than the one in Campbell.
(4)
Dwayne B.

This review is for Chez Sovan which serves Cambodian food - but please note there are 2 locations: the smaller easy-to-miss spot near downtown San Jose on 13th Street / Oakland Rd, and the larger location in Campbell. If you've been to the location in Campbell and weren't thrilled with the food, before you pass judgment, you NEED to try the food at the 13th St /Oakland Rd San Jose location. I know I know - the 13th St spot is only open from 11am - 1:30pm M-F. So if you can't make you can't make it. But if you can fit it into your schedule you'll be glad you did. I actually live in the neighborhood about 4 blocks away and although this area looks a little industrial and run down, don't let that stop you. I have lived here for 4 yrs now and it is not sketchy at all. I understand 10 yrs ago it used to be, but there are a lot of nice people in this area now and crime is not an issue. One of my buddies from work in Sunnyvale actually brought me here the first time for lunch even though it was right in my backyard. We go often now. In fact, once you get inside, it's actually a lot nicer than you think and there's a lot of suit and tie business people that eat here. Brian, the owner, is a super nice guy and will take care of you. He's got a very relaxed personality and the food they serve here is awesome! He owns both locations and you may have different results with different chefs. The 13th St./Oakland Rd location is the one! Recommended food to try: Order a chicken Kabob. The spices are awesome. I also like the stir fried chicken with special house sauce. It doesn't tast like items of the same name that you would order in a chinese restaurant and the spices are completely different from Vietnamese and Thai food. The Catfish Amok, as most have said, tastes amazing. I eat every little morsel of the coconut spice banana leaf infused yumminess that is wrapped inside this dish. If you don't like fish, you especially won't like catfish because it's a little fishy, but the way they cook this with catfish tames down the fishiness a bit and I love coconut flavor so this dish is a score for me. To Kathleen M (who's review for the Cambell location was the featured review of the day today even though she posted it back in July, '09??) what were you thinking by ordering the Chicken version of Amok??? That was your mistake! You can't steam chicken in a banana leaf and have it turn out right, not unless you steam it for hours on end. I've also tried many other dishes steamed in banana leaf at other restaurants and friends houses and I guess she just has had bad luck with peope who don't know what they're doing. The Catfish really lends itself to this dish and you can't go wrong with it. I've visited the 13th St./Oakland Rd location at least 20 times. The food is always great, the place has a very homie relaxed feel, and the owner always goes out of his way to make sure we're happy. GO HERE NOW! Only minus 1 star because that spot is only open M-F 11am - 1:30pm
(4)
Samantha D.

This is a warm-friendly hole in the wall that serves family styled portions. Did not really know what to expect with Cambodian cuisine but I asked for whatever was popular. 3 popular dishes included: -Fish amok -Chicken and beef kabobs -Stir fry beef Verdict? Every dish was flavored well and seemed similar to Thai food. The server was great and checked up on us every so often. Decor seems outdated and location is of the ordinary but don't let this place fool you of a good meal. Definitely worth a try.
(4)
Christine V.

WOWOWOWOW. If you go to the Campbell one, stop!! This one is way more fun! Food is phenomenal, even after 3 days in the fridge. Love the owner/waiter. He makes the experience even better! Coming back soon and with more friends.
(5)

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Address : 923 Oakland Rd
San Jose, CA, 95112
Phone (408) 287-7619
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey, Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Chez Sovan

923 Oakland Rd, San Jose, CA, 95112

Chez Sovan Menu

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