So me and the misses decide to go into bkk to get some dinner. Fancied some dumpling soup, and had been to this place a couple of months ago, and decided to go back. (I have a photo but no idea how to insert photos from my mobile phone). The restaurant is on st 63, next door to a Hong Kong restaurant.
We sit down and the waitress approaches my partner who is filipino but looks Chinese (a bit) and speaks to her in Chinese. She doesn't understand so she asks another customer to translate.

'' I'm sorry but we only allow Chinese in this restaurant''.

Why?

'' this restaurant only for Chinese people''

It wasn't covid related, no one was wearing masks. I wasn't drunk, I look respectable. They also had their menu with English translations so ordering wasn't a problem previously. When I questioned them, the man just translated' 'sorry'

My feeling of annoyance was more from the fact that its not their country rather than being told I can't eat there.

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this in Phnom penh at all?

that's crazy. Please post a photo or the address of the place.

What do you mean it's not thier country they own it

atst wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:14 am What do you mean it's not thier country they own it

I guess you are right. So much so that I can't eat in their company.

This is our future ! If we let the Chinese keep controling the world !
I wish that this stops but it depends on us all !

" It wasn't covid related, no one was wearing masks. I wasn't drunk, I look respectable "

These aren't the reason that they didn't want you there. The fact that you are not Chinese was the reason

I would just spend my money elsewhere

I started experiencing this kind of thing in Sihanoukville, back in Jan 2015, when told my hotel booking, made througn booking.com wouldn't be honoured for same reason

They haven't changed in the 30 years I've known you go to any Chinese restaurant there's one menu for them and one for us different foods and prices
Hey we aren't racist

These people should be named and shamed...it really will be a tragedy if Phnom Penh goes the same way as Sihanoukville.

I wonder if they would let Khmers eat there.

sousadeyy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 7:50 pm '' I'm sorry but we only allow Chinese in this restaurant''.

Why?

'' this restaurant only for Chinese people''

It wasn't covid related, no one was wearing masks. I wasn't drunk, I look respectable. They also had their menu with English translations so ordering wasn't a problem previously. When I questioned them, the man just translated' 'sorry'

My feeling of annoyance was more from the fact that its not their country rather than being told I can't eat there.

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this in Phnom penh at all?

It's that of a sorry situation, with only two likely situations in the coming, growing development to this country involving investment of Chinese and that of their new establishments and more so of their public services.
Will they serve too western paying customers or not? It’s a good question.
There would be many times leaving Phnom Penh later in the day, we would stop off for the evening at Chbar Mon town. Kampong Speu province. We called at a Chinese restaurant late one evening on one of our road trips, leaving quicker then we arrived! The waitresses backed off on our arrival, them calling on the management, but it seemed with their hesitance we would be served, I thought it was possible that it was because we entered from the pouring rain outside, although I was with a Khmer, and the restaurant had two larger parties of Khmer dinning, but I looked at the menu, more so, that of the price, starters at $20 and mains $30-40 I was not willing to pay.
In Phnom Penh we had browsed a menu at the entrance of a restaurant, like many Khmer I was looking at pictures due to the menu print being of only of their country’s language, not in Khmer or English, it made no difference has staff would ignore our presence anyhow.
A long-time friend was telling me of his visit back to Sihanoukville where like many, he once lived and had a business with his Khmer partner, he was refused entrance into some hotels and casinos because security standing in his path said “Chinese only”.
BKK1 and the surrounding areas are growing weekly with Chinese owned and run businesses. Hotels, restaurants and supermarkets that are placed down Monivong into Bkk1 and to the opposite side being that of Tuol Tumpoung.
The Chinese investors seem to have timed this to their advantage, that of people moving out of the area, due mainly to the lack of employment, and unfortunate the failed businesses, that relied on tourism, or got caught up in government closer, properties available or vacant, with many rents now too being discounted by landlords, mostly the situation of that being caused by the pandemic of covid19.
Sihanoukville seemed to be the start, and that of the largest, now referred to the invasion, at that time it would disperse all manner of nationalities and that too of local residents, also that of their businesses and livelihood for so many, this move alone would change the face of the seaside town forever, and however, you may look upon this change, it was welcomed by the authorities of the country, along with many of its people who would gain from that of its new investors. We read and see that of new major construction plans of Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kampong Speu Province, Koh Kong Province, Bavet, Poi Pet, just to name a few on the map, places where the Chinese and Khmer are heavily investing into the countries existing and that of also new infrastructure development, alongside of various projects, of trade and small business, are construction of power sources and health investments, resulting in overall improvement of peoples lifestyles.
I could go on about change, what I (we) have personally experienced or seen over the time spent here. New building and land allocations, ban on online gambling, government policies, additional laws, change in visa and permits. Crime, drug trafficking and users, westerners in the news has the norm, deaths by heart failure, road traffic accidents, the list goes on, but overall, not too much ware and tear on the humble expat.
“Chinese only” that may make the difference too how the outside world and visitors see the “new Cambodia”. It does not mean no Khmer, so how will (or if) the authorities tackle this one? To the westerner it could only be categorised being something of sexism or racist, not something that is welcomed in todays world.

If you had been served you would have likely been treated rudely.I avoid restaurants that do not want to cater to my race.I do not want to eat food that someone has spit in or put something disgusting into it.Be thankful that they refused to serve you.It's posibble that you may have ended up with a severe case of the runs if you had eaten there.