#1★ 4.9
Gaggan Anand
Bangkok · $$$$
🍽️
Best Cambodian Restaurants & Asian Dining 2026
50 hand-picked restaurants — Khmer traditional, fine dining, street food & cafés in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, plus Bangkok, Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City. The Cambodia dining guide built by people who live here.
🏆 Top 10 Picks
#2★ 4.8
Cuisine Wat Damnak
Siem Reap · $$$
#3★ 4.8
Nahm
Bangkok · $$$$
#4★ 4.8
Sushi Masato
Bangkok · $$$$
#5★ 4.8
Sorn
Bangkok · $$$$
#6★ 4.7
Topaz
Phnom Penh · $$$$
#7★ 4.7
Pou Kitchen
Siem Reap · $$
#8★ 4.7
Kravanh
Phnom Penh · $$$
#9★ 4.7
Madame Lam
Ho Chi Minh City · $$$
#10★ 4.7
Jay Fai
Bangkok · $$
🍲Khmer Traditional(9)
Khmer Kitchen
★ 4.5Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$ · Khmer
Old town standby near Pub Street. Consistently good, traveler-friendly Khmer menu.
Must order: Pumpkin custard, Khmer curry
Romdeng
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Khmer
Part of Friends International's training program. Modern Khmer with traditional roots.
Must order: Fried tarantula, Fish Amok
Sugar Palm
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Traditional Khmer
Heritage house turned restaurant. Chef Kethana's home-style Khmer.
Must order: Beef saraman, fish amok
Pou Kitchen
★ 4.7Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$ · Khmer
Family-run gem. Intimate and authentic.
Must order: Khmer curries with homemade kroeung
Ratree
★ 4.5Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$ · Khmer
Quiet courtyard restaurant in old market area.
Must order: Grilled pork ribs with tamarind
La Table Khmère
★ 4.4Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$ · Khmer
French-run Khmer. Careful presentations.
Must order: Kampot pepper beef
Coconut House
★ 4.4Kampot, Cambodia · $$ · Khmer
Family-run near the riverside. Kampot pepper showcased heavily.
Must order: Fried fish with Kampot pepper sauce
Kyaw Soe Moe
★ 4.3Battambang, Cambodia · $ · Khmer
Local fixture known for traditional soups.
Must order: Num banh chok
Corner 33
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Khmer Bistro
Street-facing bistro with a well-curated Khmer menu.
Must order: Fried rice with crab
🍷Cambodia Fine Dining(12)
Malis
★ 4.6Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$$ · Modern Khmer
Chef Luu Meng's flagship. Elegant Khmer dishes in a garden setting — the benchmark for fine-dining Cambodian cuisine.
Must order: Fish Amok, Beef Lok Lak with Kampot pepper
Cuisine Wat Damnak
★ 4.8Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$$ · Khmer Contemporary
Asia's 50 Best. Chef Joannès Rivière's 5-course seasonal menu featuring Cambodian ingredients.
Must order: Seasonal tasting menu
Friends the Restaurant
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Asian Fusion
Non-profit training restaurant for at-risk youth. Great tapas and creative cocktails.
Must order: Asian tapas sharing menu
Topaz
★ 4.7Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$$$ · French Fine Dining
Long-running French in Phnom Penh. Wine cellar among SEA's best.
Must order: Wine cellar tasting, French classics
Mahob Khmer
★ 4.6Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$$ · Khmer
Chef Sothea's thoughtful modern Khmer. Private garden setting.
Must order: Nom Banh Chok soup, beef carpaccio
Sombai
★ 4.4Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$ · Infused rice wine bar
Cambodia's first artisanal rice-wine producer. Stylish pairing menus.
Must order: Ginger & red chili infused rice wine
Kravanh
★ 4.7Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$$ · Fine Khmer
Chef Nak's minimalist interpretation of Khmer. Pop-up turned permanent.
Must order: Banana-flower salad, amok trey
Pot & Pan
★ 4.4Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Asian Fusion
Shared plates in a sleek space. Cambodian meets modern Asian.
Must order: Crispy fish ribs
Eleven One Kitchen
★ 4.6Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$$ · Modern Asian
Creative tasting menus. Known for local sourcing.
Must order: Seasonal chef's menu
Meric at Hotel de la Paix
★ 4.6Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$$ · Khmer French
Hotel restaurant that rose above its category. Refined Khmer with French touches.
Must order: Curry amok tasting
Jardín del Mar
★ 4.4Sihanoukville, Cambodia · $$$ · Seafood
Beachfront seafood with Portuguese touches.
Must order: Grilled snapper with tamarind
Rikitikitavi
★ 4.6Kampot, Cambodia · $$$ · Asian Fusion
Kampot riverside rooftop with ambitious menu.
Must order: Lok lak
🥢Cambodia Street Food(2)
Phnom Penh Night Market
★ 4.3Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $ · Street Food
Riverside hawker center. Grilled meats, noodles, fruit shakes after sunset.
Must order: Grilled chicken with kroeung, prahok
Russian Market (Toul Tom Poung)
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $ · Street Food
Legendary food court inside Russian Market. Backpacker staple.
Must order: Bai Sach Chrouk (pork and rice breakfast)
🍜Vietnam(4)
Pho 24
★ 4.3Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam · $ · Vietnamese
Ubiquitous pho chain. Reliable bowl anywhere in Vietnam.
Must order: Pho bo tai (rare beef pho)
Pho 2000
★ 4.2Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam · $ · Vietnamese
Bill Clinton ate here in 2000. Authentic pho institution.
Must order: Pho ga (chicken pho)
Madame Lam
★ 4.7Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam · $$$ · Vietnamese Fine
Heritage Vietnamese in a French villa.
Must order: Clay-pot caramelized fish
Bún Chả Hương Liên
★ 4.5Hanoi, Vietnam · $ · Vietnamese
The Obama & Bourdain bún chả spot. Still worth the hype.
Must order: Bún chả with nem
🌶️Thailand(5)
Nahm
★ 4.8Bangkok, Thailand · $$$$ · Thai
David Thompson's Thai masterclass. Michelin-starred.
Must order: Rice-cracker with pork and peanuts
Jay Fai
★ 4.7Bangkok, Thailand · $$ · Street Food
Only Michelin-star street food. The goggled grandmother legend.
Must order: Crab omelette
Gaggan Anand
★ 4.9Bangkok, Thailand · $$$$ · Progressive Indian
Chef Gaggan's 25-course emoji tasting menu. One of Asia's most memorable.
Must order: Yogurt spherification "explosion"
Sorn
★ 4.8Bangkok, Thailand · $$$$ · Southern Thai
Southern Thai tasting menu. 2-Michelin-star.
Must order: Khua kling
Raan Jay Fai (Thai Kitchen)
★ 4.6Bangkok, Thailand · $$ · Thai
Street food landmark. Queue starts at 2pm for 5pm open.
Must order: Drunken noodles, crab omelette
🍣Japan in SEA(4)
Sushi Masato
★ 4.8Bangkok, Thailand · $$$$ · Japanese
Edomae sushi omakase in Bangkok. Michelin-starred.
Must order: Tuna flight
Sushi Mori
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$$ · Japanese
Best sushi in Cambodia. Omakase in BKK1.
Must order: Omakase sushi
Tokyo Dining
★ 4.3Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Japanese
Budget-friendly Japanese. Popular lunch set.
Must order: Tonkatsu set
Ramen Noj
★ 4.6Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Ramen
Tonkotsu ramen. Japanese-trained owner.
Must order: Pork tonkotsu ramen
🌍International(8)
Apron Restaurant
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$$ · European
Chef Vellema runs this Raffles-linked European fine-dining room.
Must order: Sea bass with saffron
Le Grand Café
★ 4.5Kampot, Cambodia · $$$ · French
French brasserie in colonial building.
Must order: Duck confit
Pomme
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$$ · French
Tiny French bistro with a dedicated local following.
Must order: Steak frites
Ada
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Turkish
Authentic Turkish with proper kebabs and pides.
Must order: Iskender kebab
El Mundo
★ 4.4Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Spanish / Tapas
Tapas bar with wine list. Friendly bartenders.
Must order: Patatas bravas, Iberico ham
Roma Pizza & Mondo Gelato
★ 4.4Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Italian
Wood-fired pizzas and Italian-trained gelato chef.
Must order: Margherita, pistachio gelato
Moroccan Kitchen
★ 4.3Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Moroccan
Tagines and couscous in Phnom Penh.
Must order: Lamb tagine
Tepui
★ 4.6Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$$ · Latin American
Andean / Latin-fusion with Venezuelan chef.
Must order: Arepas, ceviche
☕Cafés(6)
Brown Coffee
★ 4.4Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Café
Cambodia's homegrown coffee chain. 100+ branches nationwide.
Must order: Cambodian espresso, coconut pastries
Amazon Café
★ 4.2Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Café
Thai-origin café. Reliable AC and wifi.
Must order: Cappuccino, croissants
Sister Srey Café
★ 4.6Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$ · Café
Social enterprise café by the river. Big breakfasts.
Must order: Smashed avocado, Big Aussie Breakfast
The Little Red Fox Espresso
★ 4.7Siem Reap, Cambodia · $$ · Café
Locally-roasted coffee in Kandal Village. Breakfast crowd favorite.
Must order: Flat white, vegan brunch bowl
Ray-Ban Coffee (Café Anise)
★ 4.2Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Café
Cozy corner café popular with students.
Must order: Iced coconut coffee
The Shop
★ 4.5Phnom Penh, Cambodia · $$ · Bakery / Café
French-influenced bakery cafe with multiple locations.
Must order: Pain au chocolat
About these restaurant picks
Focus is on Cambodia (where we live), with coverage of Bangkok, HCMC, Hanoi, and other key SEA food cities. Every pick has been vetted for consistency — one great meal doesn't earn a recommendation.
Prices: $ under $10, $$ $10–25, $$$ $25–60, $$$$ $60+ per person. Ratings on a 5-point scale.
Cambodian Cuisine Guide — What to Order
New to Khmer food? These are the dishes every visitor should try at least once.
Fish Amok (អាម៉ុក)
Cambodia's national dish. Freshwater fish steamed in a spiced coconut-milk custard with lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime. Served in a banana-leaf cup. Mild, aromatic, fragrant — nothing like a Thai curry.
Where to try: Best at: Cuisine Wat Damnak, Malis, Sugar Palm
Lok Lak (លុកឡាក់)
Stir-fried beef cubes marinated in oyster sauce and soy, served on a bed of lettuce with rice and a raw egg. Squeeze lime over the egg — that's the signature Cambodian dipping sauce (lime + black pepper).
Where to try: Best at: Rikitikitavi (Kampot), Corner 33
Num Banh Chok (នំបញ្ចុក)
Cambodia's breakfast noodle. Rice-flour noodles topped with a fish-based green curry sauce and fresh herbs (banana flower, bean sprouts, cucumber). Eaten early — gone by 10am at street stalls.
Where to try: Best at: Kyaw Soe Moe (Battambang), local morning markets
Bai Sach Chrouk (បាយសាច់ជ្រូក)
Grilled pork slices over rice with a light clear broth. The definitive Cambodian breakfast. Pork is marinated in coconut milk and sugar, grilled over charcoal.
Where to try: Best at: Russian Market food court, Phnom Penh
Saraman Curry (ស្ទឹងស្ករ)
A rich, slow-cooked curry with beef, potatoes, and peanuts in a sauce influenced by Malay and Indian traders. Sweeter and milder than Thai massaman, with a distinct palm-sugar note.
Where to try: Best at: Sugar Palm, Romdeng
Kampot Pepper Dishes
Kampot pepper (Kampot province) is considered among the world's finest. It appears in crab dishes, beef stir-fries, and even desserts. Black, red, and white varieties — each distinct.
Where to try: Best at: Coconut House (Kampot), La Table Khmère
Frequently Asked Questions — Cambodian Restaurants
What is the best Cambodian restaurant in Phnom Penh?▼
For fine dining: Malis (Chef Luu Meng, garden setting, most consistent) and Kravanh (Chef Nak, minimalist Khmer, worth the reservation). For affordable traditional: Sugar Palm (heritage house, home-style), Romdeng (charity-linked, great fried tarantula if adventurous). For first-timers: Malis is the benchmark.
What is the best restaurant in Siem Reap?▼
Cuisine Wat Damnak tops the list — it made Asia's 50 Best Restaurants and runs a 5-course seasonal tasting menu using Cambodian ingredients. Chef Joannès Rivière is the defining voice of modern Khmer cuisine. For budget-friendly authentic, Khmer Kitchen near Pub Street has stayed consistent for years.
Is Cambodian food similar to Thai food?▼
Related but distinct. Cambodian (Khmer) food is generally milder, less spicy, and sweeter than Thai. Both use lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime. Key Khmer-specific elements: prahok (fermented fish paste), kroeung (fresh herb paste), and Kampot pepper. Where Thai food tends to bold heat, Khmer food tends to aromatic subtlety.
What Cambodian dishes are must-tries for first-time visitors?▼
Fish Amok (national dish — coconut fish custard), Lok Lak (stir-fried beef with lime-pepper sauce), Num Banh Chok (breakfast rice noodles with fish curry), Bai Sach Chrouk (grilled pork rice — eaten at breakfast), Saraman curry (peanut-coconut beef curry). Start with Fish Amok at any quality restaurant.
Are restaurants in Cambodia safe for tourists with food allergies?▼
Peanuts are common (saraman curry, salads). Shellfish and fish paste (prahok) appear in many dishes even when not listed. Gluten-free is easier than in the West as most Khmer food is rice-based. Always communicate directly with the restaurant — large tourist-friendly places like Malis and Cuisine Wat Damnak handle allergens well.
What are the best areas for restaurants in Phnom Penh?▼
BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) has the densest concentration of quality restaurants — from Malis to Japanese omakase. Riverside (Tonle Sap promenade) has tourist-friendly Khmer and international spots. Russian Market area (Toul Tom Poung) is best for street food and local lunch spots. For nightlife and food together: Street 308 corridor.
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