Restaurants & Where to Eat in Siem Reap

Khmer Cuisine — Dishes to Know

Cambodian cuisine is less internationally known than Thai or Vietnamese, but it is comparable in complexity and finesse. It relies on fresh herbs (galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves), on prahok (fermented fish paste that adds depth to almost all sauces), and on a balance between salty, sweet, sour, and bitter.

Here are the dishes we recommend you try before you leave:

• Amok trey (fish amok): the national dish. River fish in coconut milk curry with galangal, steamed in a banana leaf. Delicate, slightly sweet, melting. This is the first thing to order.
• Lok lak: stir-fried beef with black pepper, served on a bed of salad with tomatoes, a fried egg, and white rice. Accompanied by a lime-pepper sauce. Simple, effective, very good.
• Bai sach chrouk: grilled pork over charcoal, thinly sliced, served over a bowl of white rice with a light broth and pickles. The Cambodian breakfast, at 1-2 USD at the market.
• Num banhchok: fresh rice vermicelli topped with green fish curry, with fresh herbs, banana flowers, and bean sprouts. The ideal lunch before a temple visit.
• Samlor korko: thick soup of vegetables and pork or fish, flavored with prahok and herbs. Rustic, comforting — the Cambodian village soup.
• Trey aing: whole river fish grilled over coals, served with fresh herbs and a sauce made from lime and chili. Simple and exceptional with good fresh fish.

Street Food & Markets

The best way to eat Cambodian food cheaply and authentically is still at the market or a neighborhood restaurant. Here are some references:

• Psar Leu: the large local market, far from tourist areas. In the morning, stalls of bai sach chrouk and num banhchok line up from 6 AM to 10 AM. A complete meal for 1.5-2 USD. The most authentic experience in the city.
• Street 60 Food Market: a nighttime street food market, mostly frequented by locals. Skewers of meat, grilled seafood, soups, tropical fruits. Starting at 6 PM. 2-5 USD per meal.
• Angkor Night Market: more touristy but convenient for a first evening, with good local food stalls mixed with craft stalls. Expect to pay 4-8 USD for a meal.

Wat Bo Neighborhood — Where to Eat

Wat Bo Street and its surroundings concentrate the best contemporary Khmer cuisine restaurants in the city, in a quiet and pleasant area to walk through in the evening. This is our go-to area for a quality dinner at reasonable prices.

• Sugar Palm: traditional Khmer cuisine in a wooden stilt house, run by a Cambodian chef trained in France. Amok, samlor korko, lok lak — the classics in their best versions. Expect to pay 12-18 USD per person.
• Malis: fine Khmer cuisine restaurant, in a shaded garden. Extensive menu, attentive service, elegant setting. A good choice for a group dinner or a special occasion. 15-25 USD per person.
• Pou Restaurant: a more confidential address, Cambodian market cuisine, with a menu that changes according to arrivals. Frequented by expatriate residents. 10-15 USD.

Gastronomic Cuisine

Siem Reap has produced one of the most recognized chefs in Southeast Asia: Joannès Rivière, a French chef who has been in Cambodia for many years, founder of Cuisine Wat Damnak — the first Cambodian restaurant to feature in the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants ranking.

Cuisine Wat Damnak offers a five-course tasting menu, exclusively based on seasonal Cambodian products (river fish, wild herbs, market vegetables), in an old Khmer pavilion in the Wat Damnak neighborhood. The menu changes weekly. Dinner service only. Reservations are mandatory several days in advance during high season. Expect to pay 45-60 USD per person.

Socially Responsible Restaurants

Two addresses in Siem Reap deserve special mention, not only for the quality of their cuisine but for what they represent:

• Marum: a training restaurant run by the Tree Alliance association, which trains young Cambodians from disadvantaged backgrounds in restaurant professions. Khmer fusion cuisine, in a garden, with a young and enthusiastic team. Profits directly fund the training. 10-18 USD.
• Haven: same principle — an integration restaurant training vulnerable youth. Cambodian and international cuisine, in a quiet house. Attentive service, warm atmosphere. 8-15 USD.

These two addresses are popular among travelers who want their money to have a direct impact on the local community. Reserve the day before during high season.

Cambodian Breakfast

Cambodian breakfast is worth getting up early for to find it in its freshest version, between 6 AM and 9 AM:

• Bai sach chrouk at the market: grilled pork over charcoal, white rice, broth. The morning classic for 1.5-2 USD at Psar Leu or in neighborhood stalls.
• Num banhchok: vermicelli with green curry. Served in most markets in the morning, often sold out before 10 AM.
• Kuy teav: rice noodle soup with beef or pork (similar to Vietnamese pho but different). 2-3 USD per bowl.
• Iced Cambodian coffee: strong coffee brewed by percolation, sweetened with condensed milk, served over ice. 1-2 USD. Essential before a day of temple visits.

Practical Tips

• Avoid Pub Street restaurants for real meals: menus in four languages with laminated photos are rarely the best cuisine. Prefer the parallel streets (Wat Bo, Street 9, Alley West) where prices are similar and quality is much higher.
• Vegetarian and vegan diet: Siem Reap is one of the easiest Cambodian cities for vegetarian dining. Almost all restaurants offer vegetarian options. Specify "min dak saach" (without meat) or "khnyom min si saach" (I do not eat meat) if you order in a local restaurant.
• Water: do not drink tap water. Bottled water is available everywhere for 0.5-1 USD. Decent restaurants serve filtered or bottled water.
• Tip: not mandatory in local restaurants, appreciated in more formal addresses. 5-10% is generous. Socially responsible restaurants (Marum, Haven) sometimes include a service charge.

On nous pose souvent ces questions

Questions fréquentes

Is Cambodian cuisine spicy?

Less so than Thai cuisine. Khmer cuisine prefers aromatic complexity (galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves) over the heat of chili. Most dishes are accessible to sensitive palates. Chili is often served separately as a condiment, allowing everyone to adjust to their liking. Khmer curries are milder than Thai curries.

Can you eat halal in Siem Reap?

There are a few halal restaurants in the city, mainly in neighborhoods frequented by the Cambodian Muslim community (Cham). Major international hotels can generally accommodate halal diets upon prior request. Traditional Khmer cuisine uses a lot of pork and prahok — always inquire about ingredients.

What is prahok and should I try it?

Prahok is a fermented fish paste, a fundamental element of Khmer cuisine — the Cambodian equivalent of Thai fish sauce, but with much more character and depth. It is generally not consumed alone; it is part of many sauces and soups. If you are adventurous, ask for prahok ktiss — the raw version with vegetables, a traditional Cambodian appetizer. It's powerful, but it's authentic.