Sam grew up in Cambodia and later moved to New Zealand as a student. He eventually settled in Christchurch, where a twist of fate brought him and Som together. His family owned the well loved Khmer Satay Noodle House in Papanui, and Som would often lend a hand between her work as cabin crew. Friendship turned into love, and they married in 2005.

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Food became the heart of their shared journey. Together, they took over the family restaurant and in 2016 opened Khmer Cambodian Cuisine on Langdon’s Road. With four children in tow and a community behind them, they created a place known for warmth, generosity, and the satay sauce customers could not stop talking about.

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For years people asked the same question. "Can I buy the sauce to take home?" After hearing it hundreds of times, Sam and Som decided it was finally time. In 2025 they began bottling their signature sauces, carefully made by hand just as they have always done in the restaurant.

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Today their dream lives on in every pottle. A blend of family, tradition, and genuine Cambodian flavour made with love in Christchurch. Their hope is simple. To share the taste of home that has been part of their story, and now becomes part of yours too.