A Taste of Siem Reap, Cambodia

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Siem Reap is not exactly a food destination. While neighbors Thailand and Vietnam have already gained worldwide popularity for their delectable cuisines, Cambodia is not as well-known for its food as it is for its temples and historical sites. Well, at least here in the Philippines. Thus, I did not have much expectations of my tastebuds bathing in utmost delight during my stay in Siem Reap. Still, this Cambodian city did not disappoint. Many dishes that I tried were cooked simply, prepared fast, and cost cheap! For someone who isn’t really an adventurous eater anyway and whose budget is very limited, sometimes they are enough.

Actually, during my stay, I found a new appreciation for Khmer cooking. Its simplicity is its greatest strength. Other Southeast Asian cuisines rely heavily on spices and herbs but Khmer cuisine uses them in moderation, not as vital ingredients but as mere flavor-enhancers that they can do without. For example, chili pepper isn’t as popular here unlike in nearby Thailand and Laos. I’m not a big fan of spicy food so I really had a good time dining in Siem Reap.

ratana sidewalk restaurant — A restaurant at the Old Market in Siem Reap

amok shrimps cambodian food — Amok Shrimp. Shrimps in a coconut-based sauce, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed. I wanted to try a freshwater fish but it was not available at the time. I had to settle for shrimps which was fine.

pork spareribs with egg cambodia food — Pork spareribs with egg. It reminded me so much of Korean beef stew except that this is pork. Sadly, this bowl did not have much meat in it. I liked the soup, though.

noodles with chicken vegetables — Fried noodles with chicken and vegetables. Typical but tasted good.

fried beef cambodian beef — Fried beef. It’s their version of tapa.

eggplant with spices cambodia food — I forgot the name of this dish but this is eggplant and it’s fantastico!

chicken barbeque cambodia — Chicken barbeque sold at street sidewalk!

chicken and potatoes — Chicken curry. But it tasted like chicken pastel.

vietnamese noodles — This one’s actually a Vietnamese dish but I tried it nonetheless. It was the only noodle dish with soup served at a hawker stall I frequented.

tom yum cambodia — Tom Yum. Cambodian-style.

fruit shakes cambodia mango rambutan — Mango shake and Rambutan shake. Yep, RAMBUTAN shake. Tried it for the first time and I fell in love with it!

If there’s anything that I did not enjoy very much, it is the limited options available. Most of the eateries I tried served only fried rice, fried noodles, some fried meat dishes, and a little bit of amok and freshwater fish. But that was about it. Since more often than not I ate at kerbside restaurants during this Southeast Asian backpacking trip, I could not help comparing the quality of the dishes that I got from each city. Definitely, the streets of Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Hanoi gave me the most delightful time with their scrumptious dishes at a much lower price. However, Siem Reap isn’t bad at all. But then again, I’m not that hard to please.

Posted: 2012 • 12 • 3