Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the entrance to Angkor Wat, the Khmer Empire’s millennium-old temple ruins. Located along the Siem Reap River, this modest provincial capital offers hundreds of tourist options, including well-preserved colonial structures, museums, traditional markets, and cultural events.
Siem Reap Experience
Food and Dining
Cambodian food is influenced by nearby Thailand and Vietnam, with a strong focus on fish due to its location at the Mekong River delta.
Key ingredients like Cambodian pepper, cardamoms, curry pastes (kroeung), lemongrass, chili, kaffir lime leaves, Asian basil, and galangal add rich flavors to stir-fries, stews, and soups. Prahok, a seasoning made from fermented fish, is a distinctive and beloved flavor in Cambodian dishes.
Rice, whether sticky or fragrant jasmine, is the basis of most Khmer meals. Vietnamese influence appears in noodle soups like kuy teav, while the French legacy is seen in the popularity of coffee and nom pang (baguette sandwiches with pork) as snacks.
Specialties:
- Balut: Fertilized duck eggs served as a snack, sometimes with a whole chick inside.
- Prahok: Fermented fish paste, commonly used in stir-fries but rarely in soups.
- Fried Tarantula: Considered a delicacy in North Cambodia and a bold treat for adventurous eaters.
- Amok Trey: Fish cooked in a thick coconut curry sauce, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed.
- Babor: Rice porridge with chicken broth, often with an omelette or dried small fry.
- Kuy Teav: Rice noodle soup with pork stock, believed to originate from China, commonly eaten for breakfast.
- Bai Chha: Khmer fried rice with sausage, pork, garlic, and herbs.
- Kralan: Sticky rice flavored with sugar, beans, and grated coconut, steamed inside a bamboo pole.
- Lok Lak: Stir-fried beef in a lime, salt, and pepper sauce, usually with fried potatoes and an egg.
- Mee Katang: Cantonese-style wide rice noodles cooked with meat and vegetables in oyster sauce.
- Nom Banh Chok: Curry-style noodles often served with shredded fish, turmeric root, lemongrass, citrus, mint, and chili.
- Pleah Sach Ko: Beef ceviche with peanuts and garlic, dressed in a lime and palm sugar dressing.
Beverages:
- Fresh Coconut Juice: A popular and refreshing drink.
- Green Tea: Reflecting China’s culinary influence.
- Rice Wine: Often infused with spices as sombai.
- Beer: Look for local lagers like Angkor and Anchor.
- Golden Muscle Wine: Made from herbs and deer antlers.
Restaurants
Local cuisine restaurant:
- The Sugar Palm: Street 27, Siem Reap
- Chan Reash 10 Makara: Sivatha Road, Siem Reap
- Khmer Kitchen: Mondulkiri Village, Street 09, Krong Siem Reap
- Khmer Grill Restaurant: Rambutan Lane, Wat Damnak Road, Wat Damnak Village, Siem Reap
- Chamkar Vegetarian Restaurant: Street Alley W, Krong Siem Reap
- Touich Restaurant: C220, behind Wat Enkosei, Siem Reap
Western cuisine restaurant:
- La Cabane, La Cuisine des Filles: Street 27, Wat Bo
- Somaha: Psaa Chas, 2 Thnou St
- Fellini: Bamboo Street, Wat Damnak
- Fumizen: 9 Tep Vong Street, Siem Reap
Shopping
When shopping in Cambodia, you can explore different regions, each offering unique items and experiences.
Top Places to shop in Siem Reap :
- Old Market (Phsar Chas): Traditional Khmer spices and herbs, Handwoven baskets and bags, Local artwork and crafts, Cambodian silk scarves
- Angkor Night Market: Handmade jewelry and accessories, Wood and stone carvings, Traditional musical instruments, Street food and snacks
- Made in Cambodia Market: Locally produced clothing and fashion, Eco-friendly and sustainable products, Handcrafted home decor, Organic food and beverages
Explore Siem Reap Trip
- Angkor Wat
- Angkor Thom
- Siem Reap
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