Khmer Food to Try in Siem Reap

A beginner friendly guide to Cambodian dishes to try in Siem Reap beyond amok and lok lak.

Start broad

Khmer cuisine includes sour soups, grilled meats and fish, fresh herbs, fermented flavors, curries, noodles and rice dishes.

Share dishes

A table with several plates gives you a better sense of the cuisine than ordering one famous dish each night.

Try different settings

Market food, a family style restaurant and a more modern Cambodian kitchen can show very different sides of the same cuisine.

Ask about regional dishes

Siem Reap restaurants sometimes feature preparations that are less common on generic tourist menus.

My advice

Do not turn the trip into a hunt for a fixed top ten. Order what sounds unfamiliar and ask how it is meant to be eaten.