Siem Reap Food Guide 2026
What is the best food in Siem Reap and is street food safe?
Fish Amok, steamed fish in coconut curry served in a banana leaf, is the quintessential dish to try. Beyond the tourist traps of Pub Street, Siem Reap offers everything from $1 noodle soups at the Old Market to world-class modern Khmer cuisine at Cuisine Wat Damnak. Street food is generally safe if you choose busy stalls with high turnover, eat freshly cooked food, and drink only bottled water.
- Kuy teav (noodle soup) at Old Market is a classic breakfast choice
- Cuisine Wat Damnak offers a creative tasting menu reinventing Khmer classics with a French twist
- The Night Market (5 PM-midnight) has BBQ skewers and fried insects for the adventurous
- Sugar Palm on Street 27 is known for its legendary Kampot pepper crab
Eating in Siem Reap
Siem Reap's food scene punches far above its weight. Beyond the tourist traps of Pub Street lies an extraordinary culinary landscape: from $1 noodle soups at the Old Market to world-class modern Khmer cuisine at Cuisine Wat Damnak. The city offers some of the best-value dining in Southeast Asia, with authentic Cambodian flavors, French-influenced bistros, and innovative fusion restaurants.
Must-Try Dishes in Siem Reap
- Fish Amok – Cambodia's national dish. Best at Mahob Khmer or Sugar Palm ($4–8)
- Kuy Teav – Breakfast noodle soup. Best at Old Market stalls ($1–2)
- Lok Lak – Stir-fried beef with lime-pepper sauce. Available everywhere ($3–6)
- Khmer BBQ – Tabletop grilling with meat, seafood, and vegetables ($5–10)
- Bai Sach Chrouk – Grilled pork with rice, the perfect breakfast ($1.50–2.50)
- Nom Banh Chok – Khmer noodles with green curry sauce, a morning market staple ($1–2)
Street Food & Markets
Old Market (Phsar Chas)
6 AM – 6 PM
Kuy teav, grilled meats, fresh fruit
Night Market
5 PM – midnight
BBQ skewers, fried insects, smoothies
Made in Cambodia Market
12 PM – 10 PM
Local crafts + food stalls, organic coffee
Street 60 Night Food Stalls
5 PM – 11 PM
Local BBQ, noodle soups, grilled seafood
Pro Tip
Top Restaurants
Haven
Khmer & International • Svay Dangkum
Social enterprise training hospitality students. Excellent Khmer fusion.
Cuisine Wat Damnak
Modern Khmer • Wat Damnak area
Chef Joannès Rivière reinvents Khmer classics with a French twist. Tasting menu.
Mahob Khmer
Traditional Khmer • Old Market area
Authentic Cambodian flavors in a beautiful traditional setting.
Genevieve's
Khmer & Western • Street 26
Popular with expats, excellent amok and daily specials.
Sugar Palm
Traditional Khmer • Street 27
Run by a Cambodian chef. Kampot pepper crab is legendary.
Sister Srey Café
Café & Brunch • Old Market
Social enterprise with great coffee and healthy brunch options.
Fine Dining
Siem Reap has a surprisingly sophisticated fine dining scene, driven by international chefs drawn to Cambodia's incredible ingredients:
- Cuisine Wat Damnak – 6-course Khmer tasting menu ($27). Regularly ranked among Asia's best restaurants
- Embassy – Upscale Angkor-inspired cuisine in a colonial villa ($20–40)
- Malis – Celebrity chef Luu Meng's contemporary Khmer restaurant ($15–30)
Even fine dining in Siem Reap is remarkably affordable by international standards—a world-class tasting menu costs what a mid-range dinner would in Bangkok or Singapore.
Pub Street Dining
Pub Street is Siem Reap's most famous food and nightlife strip. While atmospheric, the restaurants here are tourist-focused with marked-up prices:
- Prices: 30–50% higher than surrounding streets
- Quality: Average. Many serve generic "Asian fusion" rather than authentic Khmer
- Best for: Atmosphere, cheap draft beer ($0.50), people-watching
- Avoid: The identical-looking restaurants with aggressive touts
Better Alternative
Cooking Classes
Siem Reap has the most cooking class options in Cambodia:
- Lily's Secret Garden ($20–25) – Market tour + 4 dishes. Most popular option
- Le Tigre de Papier ($15–20) – Pub Street location, beginner-friendly
- Sojourn Boutique Villas ($35) – Farm-to-table experience with garden ingredients
- Airbnb Experiences ($15–30) – Various local hosts with home cooking experiences
Most classes run 3–4 hours, include a market tour, and you eat everything you cook. Full cooking class guide →
Food Prices
| Type | Price Range | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Street food | $1–3 | Old Market, Night Market |
| Local restaurant | $3–7 | Side streets, local areas |
| Tourist restaurant | $5–12 | Pub Street, Old Market area |
| Fine dining | $15–40 | Wat Damnak, Sivatha Blvd |
| Draft beer | $0.50–1 | Pub Street (happy hour) |
| Iced coffee | $1–2.50 | Cafés throughout |
Siem Reap Food FAQ
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