I am a foodie – not the kind who eats to live, but lives to eat. But I’m picky and being picky is not a crime – you should be mindful about what you put into your stomach. I believe in the quote “Good food means good health”, and I’ve been hunting for food in Siem Reap since the time I landed. Starved and famished I looked up for some local dishes to try, because that’s the most authentic way to explore a country. Be a local, eat like a local and experience it the local way.

So, I didn’t want to keep all the good stuff to myself so I penned this down for you and I’m sure it will come in handy during your visit to Cambodia. The best food in Siem Reap is not just about the food being yummy, it’s also about how much you enjoy it, and my list isn’t only about tantalizing your taste buds, it’s also about pleasing your soul. So, pull up a chair, let’s dig in!

Up first is Cambodia’s National dish, Amok Trey, a spicy coconut curry made with fish and steamed in a banana leaf. Although the main ingredient could be substituted by cooking with snails, chicken or tofu as a source of protein, the fish clearly stands out. The taste of the dish is slightly similar to that of a Thai red curry. Soaked in heavily flavoured curried paste, this dish is prepared in steamer cups made of banana leaves to uplift the flavour. This dish is also one of the best street food in Siem Reap and a staple served in coconut shells and is served mainly in Cambodia’s Water Festival commemorating the Tonle Sap River’s change of flow, thanking the Mekong River’s contribution to Cambodia’s fertility and bringing in abundance of fish.

Another sizzling dish that is widely loved by the locals in Cambodia, Samlar Machu, literally translates to “sour soup”, in Khmer. This traditional soup is mainly made from meat or can also be prepared with seafood like fish or anything else, and vegetables – cooked in a broth that’s sour. The soup contains seasonal vegetables and local herbs like shallots, scallions, spinach, kaffir lime leaves, tomatoes, cilantro, lemon grass, Slek Kantrop, galangal and many more. Apart from vegetables this dish requires heavy seasoning, so they use a fermented and minced fish sauce called Prahok and a type of Cambodian curry named Kroeung. The top notes include other souring agents like Krasang fruit’s seeds, kaffir lime juice and my favourite, tamarind! This is a great choice if you’re looking for halal food in Siem Reap.

Beef lovers out there, good luck with Lok Lak, one of the best Khmer food in Siem Reap! Another dish that will not fail to serve your taste buds. This stir-fry dish’s main ingredient is beef although shrimps or chicken can be used to substitute it, but can it get better than beef? – no sir! The beef dish features veggies like lettuce which is bedded and is generally topped with tomatoes, fresh onions and the juicy stir-fried beef. So traditionally you pull up a lettuce leaf from bottom, then add the raw ingredients in the middle, wrap it up nicely and then savor it. This traditionally goes with rice, and I like it without the rice too. I learnt from locals that this dish was introduced by the French people from Vietnam.

Another best Cambodian food in Siem Reap, a dish of the nation, Samlor Kako similarly known as Samlor Korko that’s prepared with fish as the main ingredient and lots of veggies. Samlor translates to “soup” in Khmer and Korko means “stir or mix”, so basically a wide range of vegetables go into this soup based on your preferences. The usual veggies are long beans, papaya, pumpkin, green banana, eggplant but there are more added into the soup based on availability and preferences. Legend has it that it used to be the king’s favourite dish, and it had over a hundred vegetables and fruits cooked in for him.

I had some Khmer noodles, which is usually served for breakfast or as an afternoon snack for foodies like me and it is a must try food in Siem Reap. These aren’t typical noodles, they have been fermented and are traditionally hand-made with love, in wooden or stone mills. Once prepared, it’s further seasoned using fish gravy and topped with vegetables like cucumber, banana flower, water lily stems and other fresh herbs like basil and mint. This noodle meal has new variations, and some people prepare it the way they like it, and I think a food is best eaten that way, just the way one likes it. Khmer noodles are well savored during warm weather. Some believe that the Chinese got the idea from Cambodia, through an individual named Thun Chey who was exiled during the Khmer empire to China.

Craving for something sour and sweet or some good food in Siem Reap? Ta-da! Chruok Svay’s got you covered. This dish is derived from the original Asian papaya salad by swapping the main ingredient for green mango. The crunchy raw mango strips are nicely coated and seasoned with Makrut lime juice, palm sugar and fish sauce which simply hits the spot right! It also features other ingredients like dried shrimp or seafood, roasted peanuts or cashews, veggies like – green onions, shallots, carrots, cabbage and herbs like – mint or basil. Unlike other Asian versions of this salad, Chruok Svay isn’t necessarily marked as a spicy salad, but it certainly does have some hearty flavour that kicks in from the first bite.

This Cambodian Beef ceviche was too good for a first timer like me to try. They cut the beef into thin pieces and marinate it in a mixture of lime juice and then add hot boiling broth, fish sauce and sugar. Vegetables and herbs are then chopped finely and are added – extra slices of beef stripes and minced Prohok are optional. Cambodians love veggies like shallots, green onion, garlic, radish, jalapeño or bell peppers, eggplants, and herbs like – basil, lemongrass, cilantro or saw leaf with their Pleah Sach Ko. I liked it better with some roasted ground rice to match the sour and spicy flavor after a waiter recommended it. He said it also tastes great with ground peanuts served either warm or chilled and I promised I’ll try it the next time for it is one of the best Cambodian food in Siem Reap.

At first it sounded like some ordinary plain rice cooked in bamboo, I mean what can you expect more because rice tastes like rice anyway. I was quickly humbled when I tried the first bite, I was completely silent after the next. I tell you, it’s outlandish and one of the best food in Siem Reap for you to try. The locals collect bamboo stalks to prepare this dish; they believe the flavor is influenced by bamboo. They then carefully cut the bamboo, wash and thoroughly clean it and chop them nicely into 30cm pieces each. Then they mix the sticky rice and black eyed peas with a pinch of salt to taste. Then the sticky rice mixture is stuffed into the bamboo stalks and is tightly packed before being cooked on a grill with burning coals. The key to not burning the rice is to constantly rotate the bamboo which allows the rice to be cooked evenly. The result is heavenly, and I recommend it for anyone looking for vegan food in Siem Reap.

For folks who like something less spicy, then I’d recommend Khmer Red curry. Worry not about the name or the colour, for they do not use chilli in this dish so for the ones who’d like some curry without all that spicy breath, then this has got to be your sigh of relief – phew! The dish gets its color from a curry paste named Kroeung, made from galangal, lime zest, lemongrass, and turmeric. This paste is then mixed with coconut milk and other yummy stuff that gives it its vibrant curry colour. This is often served with rice, baguette, beef slices, beans, potatoes and eggplant. The flavour? Subtle flavor that dances on the tongue – minus the nose dripping chaos!

A healthy food in Siem Reap that you’ve got to try. These yummy cakes are prepared with mung beans as the main ingredient, taro, and topped with sweet-dried fruits, which is where it gets its sweetness from. Loved by locals and visitors alike, this food maintains a healthy balance and is not overly sweet. The cakes are slightly crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, with the dried fruits adding sweetness to the heavenly consistency that melts as you munch, making it a perfect dessert for people who want something moderately sweet. Warning – it’s addictive!

Is that bug bothering you? Let’s fry it then! Not for the ones who don’t find it appetizing but definitely something interesting for adventure eaters who are looking for exciting food in Siem Reap. Try the famous chili fried insects of Cambodia. You’ll find these in the street stalls, and you can try some on the go. It’s dirt cheap and is widely found across Cambodia as it is densely packed with nutrition. You’ll be able to find all sorts of insects like wasps, silkworms, crickets and yes, spiders too – arachnophobia alert! Here’s a tip, you get to choose your seasoning for these insects from sweet, salty and herby. Choose chili and you won’t realise that you’re eating a bug, it’s going to be too well-seasoned and crispy for you to pay attention to that.

I can never really grow out of the habit of having snacks with my evening tea. So, when I looked for food in Siem Reap to try, a local suggested spring roll. It sounded homely so I definitely wanted to give it a try. The spring rolls here are the same as the ones I found in Vietnam, prepared with glutinous rice, wrapped with vermicelli and veggies like onions, bean sprouts, and seafood like squid or shrimp. Some dip it in fish or sour sauces to enhance the flavour. It tastes great, best of all, it felt right for team time.

Vegan food Siem Reap – Vegetarian fried rice or noodles, Vegetable Khmer curry and Vegetarian Amork

Sweet food Siem Reap – Cha Houy Teuk (sweet jelly), Num Ansom Chek (rolled banana cake) and Chet Chien(fried banana dipped in a sweet batter) 

Adventurous food Siem Reap – Fish Amok, Lok Lak, Twa Ko and Pra hok 

Halal food Siem Reap – Most of the Cambodian dishes can be tasted in halal option at specific restaurants like Sabaidee Halal Restaurant(near the main mosque)

That was all from me, but I’m certain that Cambodia has so much regionally to make your tongue dance to its diverse flavours. I didn’t just fill up my stomach with everything I could have tried, instead I focused on health and joy. What you eat should make you happy, not just your tongue or tummy. So, eat right, eat healthy and enjoy life and let me know which one from my list caught your attention.