Hey, why isn't Cambodia in this battle? Just kiddin' of course. Cambodian food isn't exactly internationally famous. When I ask Cambodians why they dislike Vietnamese and Thai cuisine, I generally get the same answer. Cambodians say that Thais and Vietnamese like to put all the flavors (sour, salty, sweet, spicy, savory) all in one dish, whereas a Cambodian family would rather 5 simple small dishes, one sweet, one savory, one spicy, etc.
I think the war had a lot to do with the tastebuds changing. Many Cambodians were hiding in the forest and foraging for years and years, so the food became a bit bland, and I think ultimately never recovered. They did however become master foragers and are more aware of wild edibles than Vietnamese or Thais.
Thanks for sharing this with us.