Sala Bai Restaurant School

Sala Bai Restaurant School sits in Wat Svay, Siem Reap and draws a steady crowd of locals, expats and visitors. It is not chasing trends, and that is part of the appeal: you get a proper meal, a fair bill and staff who know the menu.

The food and the setting

The kitchen leans into international, european and asian. Prices are reasonable for the area. It handles both a quick weekday lunch and a longer dinner, and the kitchen keeps up even when the room is full.

What people think

It holds a 4.8 rating across more than 554 reviews, which is a solid sign for somewhere that is not trying to be fancy. It is worth reading a handful of the recent reviews before you go, since they will tell you which dishes people order twice and which to skip.

The neighbourhood

Wat Svay is one of the parts of Siem Reap visitors actually walk around, and Sala Bai Restaurant School fits the pace of it. Siem Reap runs on the temples by day, so most kitchens fill up in the evening once people are back from Angkor.

How to get there

A tuk-tuk or a Grab / PassApp ride is the simplest way in. Save the map pin from the top of this page, since street numbering is loose and the name plus the neighbourhood usually gets you there faster. A short walk is fine in the cooler part of the day, but pavements are uneven and often blocked, so most people ride the last stretch even when it is close.

Good to know

It is open every day. If you are building a day around it, aim for slightly off-peak: the room is calmer and the kitchen has more time for your table. Worth pencilling in if you find yourself in Wat Svay.