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In addition to being renowned for its historical landmarks and impressive temples, Siem Reap is also the culinary capital of Cambodia, offering dishes that can make your stomach rumble just by sight.
Join Mytour as we explore the unmissable dishes you must try when visiting Siem Reap.
Amok Fish
One of the finest and most exquisite dishes in the land of temples, Amok Fish combines the delicate sweetness of palm sugar, the rich creaminess of coconut milk, and the distinct aroma of fermented fish paste, all wrapped in the signature banana leaves.
Amok Fish is carefully placed within charming banana leaves - Photo: Internet
This dish is meticulously prepared with various ingredients such as fillets of snakehead fish, duck eggs, coconut milk, palm sugar, and the essential fermented fish paste. When served, diners peel off the banana leaves, cut a piece, and savor it without needing any extra dipping sauce. If you’re visiting budget-friendly Siem Reap and trying this dish on a cool, breezy evening, it’s a perfect experience.
Fried Ants with Beef
At first, many visitors might feel hesitant as this dish is made primarily with ants. However, once you try it, you'll surely want more. It's a truly unique and delicious dish.
Ants of various sizes are stir-fried with lemongrass, ginger, garlic, chives, and thinly sliced beef. The dish has a distinctive sourness from the ants' secretions that infuses the beef. You can enjoy it on its own or with rice.
Nom Banh Chok Curry Fish with Rice Noodles
Nom Banh Chok Curry Fish with rice noodles is a popular breakfast dish loved by both locals and tourists in Cambodia. It consists of ingredients like fish meat, mint leaves, lemongrass, noodles, and is topped with banana blossoms, cucumbers, and other fresh herbs. You can find this dish in Siem Reap’s eateries, but it’s most delicious when served from street food vendors.
Nom Banh Chok curry noodles is a specialty of Siem Reap - Image source
Thot Not Sugar Cake
When traveling abroad to Siem Reap, you must try this amazing local treat. The key ingredients that make this famous cake unique are ripe Thot Not fruit and Thot Not sugar. Thanks to these two ingredients, the cake has a beautiful golden color, a sweet, delicate taste, and an irresistible aroma. Being a local dish, you’ll easily spot vendors selling these cakes on nearly every street in Siem Reap.
Thot Not Sugar Cake is served with coconut milk and sesame salt - Image source
Spicy Fried Crickets
Insect-based dishes are perhaps the most memorable experience for tourists when traveling to Cambodia on a budget. Insects like ants, spiders, scorpions, and crickets inspire the locals and chefs alike. Among them, the most striking dish is the spicy fried crickets. At first, it may seem intimidating, but once you try it, you'll be surprised by the rich, fragrant, and savory taste that lingers on your palate.
Tomyam Papaya Salad
This dish is similar to the papaya salad found in Thailand and Laos, though with a slight variation in flavor. The typical ingredients for Tomyam include dried shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers, long beans, garlic, and chili. It can be enjoyed on its own or served with rice.
Tomyam Salad is a refreshing dish that attracts tourists with its mild sourness and subtle sweetness - Image sourced
Bamboo Sticky Rice
Bamboo sticky rice is a special dish often prepared during significant events such as festivals and holidays in Cambodia. The cooking process is meticulous and precise. First, the cook selects the finest sticky rice, which is then placed in a fresh bamboo tube. Afterward, the tube is placed over glowing charcoal until the fragrant aroma signals that it's ready. Bamboo sticky rice can be eaten on its own, paired with sesame salt, or served alongside grilled chicken or fish.
