Looking for some authentic Cambodian cuisine? Head on down to Battambang (crazy sounding name, but it's real), bring your $10, and choose from about 100 different entrees. They have everything from salmon in lemongrass sauce to vegetarian "Kuy Teav Char" (rice noodles), to beef shish-kabobs and duck curry.
I'd always seen Battambang from the street as I drive to work and was curious to see how Cambodian food tasted. It turns out that it's a nice sort of Thai and Vietnamese combination. The decor, as with many Asian restaurants in the Oakland Chinatown area, is casual and rather plain. Servers were friendly and attentive. Feeling adventurous, I tried out the Kari Dong Kchei, a chicken curry dish with coconut pieces. I have never liked coconut, but thought that I'd give it a second chance; perhaps I'd like it if it were prepared differently from the cruchy shreddings on candybars and cakes. And yes, I liked it! Cooked coconut is rather slimy, actually, but didn't have any of that stringiness that I dislike. The chicken was nice and tender and my plain white rice balanced the spices. I'm definitely planning to go back to try another dish!