Below is a list of restaurants we have tried in Siem Reap, including an ice cream shop right next to Pub Street. I’ve also included other restaurants that we haven´t tried, but that have a very good reputation. Bon appétit!
Restaurant Haven
Haven Restaurant not only serves excellent food at affordable prices but also serves as a catering training school and social project. Haven aims to empower young adults from poor and disadvantaged areas by providing them with free training, accommodation, as well as support om starting their careers outside Haven.
For more details about this incredible project, see the link here.
I recommend trying the Khmer Curry, it was divine.
Restaurant Chanrey Tree
This was the restaurant where we had planned to have dinner, but as it was under renovations, we ended up dining at its sister restaurant, ‘Sokkhak River’, which is right next door and also has a hotel with the same name. As I understand it, the kitchen is shared between the restaurants in the group.
Because I had seen the ‘Chanrey Tree’ website before, I had idealised a more casual dinner with the option to eating outdoors. Unfortunately, ‘Sokkhak River’ only had an indoor dining room, so I was a little disappointed. We had local dishes which were very good, although it’s not a very cheap restaurant, with higher prices expected for a hotel restaurant.
To find out more about this restaurant click here.
Mamma Shop Italian Restaurant
After several days of eating Asian food, I have to confess that a pizza was a good idea, and since this restaurant had good reviews, we decided to give it a try.
The pizzas were really delicious and reasonable priced, I highly suggest trying it out.
When ordering, consider ordering less pizzas than the number of people, and if you’re still hungry, you can always order more. Unfortunately, we ordered too much food and left there stuffed, as Hélio says, “better stuffed than let it go to waste.”
In addition to pizzas, the restaurant has many other Italian dishes, such as homemade pasta, risotto, and much more. Check out their Facebook page for more info.
Restaurant BAO Kandal
Surprisingly, here in Singapore, I don’t find many sandwich-type Bao (Gua Bao) options. The closed type of Bao, typical of Chinese cuisine, is much more common in Singapore. So when we found a sandwich-style Bao restaurant, typical of Taiwan, we didn’t hesitate to give it a go.
The BAO Kandal did not disappoint, and the baos were absolutely delicious, but be aware that they are massive, and one per person should be enough. The bao dough is homemade, as are the noodles that Maria Rita ordered, which were also very good.
Find out more about this restaurant here.
Both Mamma Shop Italian Restaurant and BAO Kandal are located in Kandal Village, also mentioned in the post Shopping in Siem Reap. For Kandal Village location click here.
Viroth’s Hotel
We ended up having lunch a couple of times at the restaurant in the hotel where we were staying in Siem Reap, as it was very convenient to go straight after our morning tours. The food wasn’t extraordinary, but it was quite good, and the decor of the bar/restaurant terrace was really cool. There’s also an air-conditioned room for those who prefer a cooler setting. Have a look here.
Gelato Lab
Just off Pub Street is this very popular ice cream shop with very reasonable prices. We went there after dinner, and when we arrived, there were no more cones or some basic flavours like chocolate. After Maria Rita recovered from her disappointment, we picked other flavours, and I particularly remember the passion fruit sorbet, which was delicious.
If possible, it is best to visit in the afternoon to avoid being caught off guard by limited selections. Check out its exact location in here.
In addition to the places mentioned above that we tried out, here are some other restaurant suggestions that were recommended, although we didn’t have the opportunity to visit them:
Restaurant JOMNO – Modern Khmer Cuisine
A traditional Khmer cuisine restaurant, more information here.
Restaurant Malis Siem Reap
This restaurant is considered more high-end, and also boasts excellent reviews. More information here.
Restaurant Kroya by Chef Chanrith
This fine dining restaurant came highly recommended by a friend who was absolutely loved it. He lives in Norway, so it’s not surprising that he found it a bargain, given the excellent quality of the restaurant. Kroya is known for putting a modern twist on traditional Khmer cuisine, offering a unique experience with the classic flavours of Cambodia.
If you’re looking for a restaurant for a special occasion, this is definitely worth a look here.
You can choose from 4 or 6 course tasting menus priced at $40 or $50 USD per person.
Restaurant Mahob
Another traditional Khmer cuisine restaurant, where they also offer cooking classes. See more here.
Don’t forget to check out great tours suggested in the post Things to do in Siem Reap and also accommodation suggestions in the post Hotel in Siem Reap.
