07/19/2026
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Phnom Penh Noodle House (Phnom Penh Noodle House) represents a three-generation culinary legacy that began in the early 1940s with a mobile food operation on the streets of Battambang, Cambodia. Founder Sam Ung (born Seng Kok Ung, February 28, 1955) grew up in his parents Chan Kao and Meng Vouch’s bustling noodle shop, where he began working in the kitchen at age 14 and became the backup cook by age 16.
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge regime’s rise dramatically altered Ung’s life. He survived the killing fields and escaped to America, arriving in Seattle as a refugee in 1980 with his wife Kim. After years of working multiple jobs, Ung established Phnom Penh Noodle House in 1987 — recognized as Seattle’s first and, for many years, only Cambodian restaurant in the Chinatown-International District.
For 26 years, Sam served as owner and head chef before retiring in 2013, when his three daughters Dawn, Darlene, and Diane assumed day-to-day operations, with Darlene’s husband Peng Liu taking over as chef.
In 2017, Dawn’s son suffered a traumatic brain injury, prompting the family to close the restaurant in 2018 to focus on his care. The community responded with significant support, including a crowd-funding campaign and a Tenant Improvement Award from Seattle’s Office of Economic Development.
Phnom Penh reopened in March 2020, just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic. The resilient family adapted successfully and continues serving signature dishes including honey-black pepper chicken wings, prawn and fish cake noodle soup, and mee katang.
Sam Ung passed away from a heart attack in March 2025 at age 70. Today, the restaurant is operated by sisters Dawn Ung, Diane Le, and Darlene Ung as an Asian and woman-owned business at 913 S. Jackson Street, Suite A, Seattle.
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