What To Eat← Back to home
Lok Lak
Cambodian Cuisine ↗

Lok Lak

★★★★4.5· 326 ratings
·Serves 2
About this Dish

Stir-fried marinated beef cubes served over lettuce with a lime-pepper dipping sauce.

History & Origin

Lok lak reflects French colonial influence on Cambodian cuisine, the beef stir-fry paired with a distinctly Khmer condiment of lime juice, salt, and cracked pepper.

IngredientsServes 2
🥩Beef sirloin or tenderloin, 500g cut into 2cm cubes
🧄Garlic, 4 cloves minced
🫙Oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons
🫙Soy sauce, 2 tablespoons
🍋Lime juice, 3 tablespoons (about 2-3 limes)
🧂Freshly ground black pepper, 1.5 teaspoons (plus extra for dipping sauce)
🍬Sugar, 1 teaspoon
🥬Butter lettuce or romaine leaves, 1 head washed and separated
🧅White onion, half thinly sliced into rings
🫒Vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons
Method
1
In a bowl, combine the beef cubes with minced garlic, oyster sauce, soy sauce, half a teaspoon of black pepper, and sugar. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 2 hours in the fridge.
2
Make the dipping sauce by mixing the lime juice with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl. Stir until the salt dissolves and set aside — this simple sauce is the heart of the dish.
3
Arrange the washed lettuce leaves on a large serving plate and scatter the sliced onion rings on top. This is your bed for the beef, so make it look generous and inviting.
4
Heat a wok or large heavy-bottomed pan over the highest heat possible until it is smoking hot. Add the vegetable oil and let it heat for 30 seconds.
5
Add the marinated beef cubes in a single layer — do this in two batches if needed to avoid overcrowding. Stir-fry on high heat for 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently, until the beef is caramelised on the outside but still slightly pink inside.
6
Spoon the hot beef directly over the lettuce and onions on your serving plate. Serve immediately with the lime-pepper dipping sauce on the side, letting everyone dip the beef and lettuce into the sauce as they eat.
User Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first!
Sign in to leave a review
Members can create lists, save favourites and get recommendations.
Find the Best Lok Lak Near Me
AI-powered — Google, TripAdvisor and food blogs
🌍 Food Vlogs
Food vloggers eating and cooking it at the source
🌍
No videos yet
What To Eat
The World's Food Guide

© 2025 What To Eat · hello@whattoeat.world