43 Best Restaurants in Cambodia

Cuisine Wat Damnak offers a unique journey for the taste buds with its five- or six-course set menus (changing every fortnight). Beyond the sophisticated indoor sala and romantic garden, the concept here is Cambodian food remodeled into creative modern dishes by French chef Joannes Riviere, whose knowledge of the area allows him to source rare ingredients such as shellfish unique to the Mekong and Tonle Sap lake, fresh lotus seeds, wild lily stems, and edible flowers.

If you're interested in learning more about Riviere's culinary philosophy and techniques, you can buy a copy of his cookbook here.

There's a sophisticated yet casual vibe at this airy, white and brick restaurant that, along with its sister branch in Phnom Penh, serves probably the best Greek food in the country. You'll find all the classics here, including tzatziki, hummus, gyros, calamari, and moussaka; it's all just great.

This popular nonprofit eatery just a short walk from the National Museum serves a huge range of tapas, fruit juices, salads, and international dishes. You can admire the colorful artwork, then visit the Friends Futures Factory (F3) next door, an open-air creative space with regular markets, exhibitions, and concerts.

The name translates as "food," and if you're after a Cambodian menu that appeals to the Western palate but is not without an adventurous element, this is an excellent choice. Try deep-fried frogs' legs coated with crispy rice flakes, or wok-fried local beef with tree red ants served with rice. If that's too much of a challenge, there's the duo amok soufflé of lemongrass and coconut paste with chicken and river fish, or the fun option of cooking fish or meat exactly to your liking on hot stones.

This top-notch open-air garden restaurant, out-of-the-way from the noisier part of the city, reflects the forward-thinking new generation of postdisaster Cambodia, represented here by the visionary young owner, Siv Pola. Everything is prepared with sensitivity, creativity, and great skill: try the Tonle Sap Fish, a carpaccio of snakehead fish fillet, marinated in fresh picked herbs, with a tempura poached egg.

A great way to combine seaside eating and fun, especially for families, the Knai Bang Chatt hotel's Sailing Club welcomes all for seafood barbecues, a popular Sunday brunch, and light meals as well as beach volleyball, sailing, Hobie Cat rentals, and kayaking. Linger on until the evening to sip a cocktail and take in the stunning sunset views from this beautifully restored wooden fisherman's cottage. After dinner, the wine and cocktail bar The Lounge, just a few short steps away, is a good spot to while away the night in style.

Operated by the Tree Alliance charity, this is a vocational training restaurant that demonstrates just how good the training is—the service is attentive and the food exceptional. New and inventive Cambodian dishes are constantly being added, the specials change regularly, and the cocktails are pretty decent, too.

ST 63 Bassak is run by a young Cambodian couple who aim to make international cuisine accessible and affordable for a local crowd, and at the same time showcase the best of Cambodian cuisine for foreign crowds. The result is a mix of local favorites like beef loc lac (stir-fried beef with fried egg and lime pepper sauce), alongside French-inspired dishes such as slow-cooked oxtail with a red wine jus.

Built in 1903, Chinese House (home to Tepui) is among the few colonial houses in Phnom Penh that remains in its original state. An impressive painting of a Chinese girl with ruby-red lips is the centerpiece in this sophisticated restaurant serving South American and Asian-fusion dishes, with specialties such as corn empanadas filled with beef picadillo and goat cheese cream, or red tuna tartare with wasabi emulsion. There is a lively bar on the ground floor.

Even superstar chef Gordon Ramsay swears by this Siem Reap institution, whose new location, set in a beautiful and breezy wooden sala, doesn't betray owner Khetana's colorful enthusiasm for the traditional Khmer cuisine she learned from her mother and grandmother. You can order à la carte or opt for one of the sampler platters ($15), which offer house signature specialties like crispy shrimp cakes with black-pepper sauce or pomelo salad with chicken.

Ideal for a romantic garden dinner, Abacus offers an eclectic choice of French-international fusion cuisine. The restaurant also has a pleasant bar that welcomes guests for an aperitif or an after-dinner digestif.

You can fish your own dinner right out of the Gulf of Siam on a trip arranged by this restaurant, then take a class to learn how to prepare it—or just choose whether to have it grilled or made into a tartare, sushi, nigiri, or tempura. By far the most authentic Japanese food in Sihanoukville, the menu is heavily reliant on the Japanese owner's whim and the fish caught that day. Bento boxes, okonomiyaki, and other delights are also on offer.

This roadside open-air restaurant serves large helpings of excellent local dishes at bargain prices.

Dine on the edge of Victory Beach, next to the crashing waves, at this lovely indoor-outdoor Cambodian restaurant. All manner of fresh fish and seafood, from stir-fries to clay pots to barbecues and curries, is available. Locals eat at this little offbeat gem—which is always a good sign. As it is usually only frequented by locals, English is not really spoken, so go with the flow.

This small restaurant serves big portions of Indian favorites at a great price, from paneer biryani rice to chicken masala and onion bhajis. You can accompany your meal with a mango lassi or a local beer, if you must.

Despite its small size, Kampot has some of the best restaurants in the kingdom and this tiny French-run deli-café is one of the standouts. The fare is relatively simple—salads, sandwiches, and homemade pastries and pies, but it's all top quality and made using natural, locally sourced ingredients.

If it's meat you're after, this restaurant, coffee shop, butcher shop, and deli—all rolled into one—is the place for you. The locally sourced animal products are all certified (a rarity in Cambodia) and the gourmet sausages and cold cuts are prepared, cured, and smoked on the premises. 

Focusing on a mostly Western menu packed with organic, locally sourced ingredients, this restaurant does what the name says, featuring fresh, seasonal produce from farmers across Cambodia. There is indoor seating, but the best place to be is in the lovely leafy garden, which also hosts regular farmers' markets.

You don't have to be a foreign correspondent to join the lively international crowd that gathers every day at this atmospheric French-colonial building. The beer is always cold, the cocktails icy, and you can grab a reliable burger or wood-fired pizza and enjoy the open river views if you're in need of a change from Khmer fare (having said that, the beef Lok Lak is one of the best in town).

Hidden away down a small alleyway, this small, welcoming trattoria turns out delicious thin-crust pizza and calzone from a wood-fire oven, as well as wonderful homemade pasta, all using locally-sourced ingredients. The filling portions and menu of Italian wines makes this spot especially appealing after a long day's sightseeing.

The name means "rice bowl" in Khmer and this social enterprise restaurant curated by the Cambodian Children Trust dishes up tasty Khmer and Thai mains in a cozy and artsy atmosphere—rotating exhibits of local artworks hang from the wall, and it's often packed with young creatives in the evenings. Jaan Bai provides skills development and employment for disadvantaged Cambodians, and a share of the profits goes towards community development work.

This small restaurant is a popular with the chic weekenders from Phnom Penh and it's the perfect spot to stop in before catching a boat to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island). The handwritten chalk menu features quesadillas, burgers, and grilled sandwiches, served in large, tasty portions. 

There are two branches of Khéma in the city, but this one, with its French colonial stylings, heritage building, and location in the heart of the old quarter, is the one to go to. Expect modern French cuisine served at all times of the day, but weekend brunch is probably the most popular meal.

The Phnom Penh elite frequent this upscale, traditional Khmer restaurant in a peaceful garden, as its chef Luu Meng is a Cambodian celebrity who has worked on TV with the likes of Gordon Ramsay. The long menu features a variety of fresh fish and seafood, soups, curries, and grilled meats. The prices are a little high by Cambodian standards, but it makes for an enjoyable change if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, and you certainly get what you pay for.

Though it doesn't have the sea views, the simple and unpretentious Manoha serves excellent French-Khmer cuisine with a sophisticated air, prepared by a Cambodian chef who utilizes the best of fresh local ingredients and the fresh fish. Delicate dishes like fish carpaccio and tartare are recommended, as is the bai cha Manoha (prawns in a spicy sauce, with rice served in a pineapple).

In the elegant setting of the beautifully restored 1880s Indochina Bank Building, next to the historical main post office, you can dine on exquisite French cuisine. The roof terrace above the restaurant has a swanky cocktail bar-lounge.

This trendy downtown restaurant serves a blend of Khmer and Chinese dishes---which makes sense given Sihanoukville's demographics---so expect choices like roast pork and rice, chicken curry, whole salted fish, and even durian pizza. The large two-level space has plenty of seating choices.

This cheery second-floor terrace restaurant above a guesthouse serves European and American favorites such as burgers, bruschetta, and salads, as well as Khmer dishes: try the creamy Saraman beef curry with peanuts, local herbs, and spices. Many ingredients are seasonal and locally sourced, though there aren't a lot of vegetarian options.

Some of the country's tastiest provincial Khmer dishes are served at this gorgeously redesigned house in a residential area. Romdeng (which means "galangal" in Khmer) offers plenty of piquant soups, curries, salads, and meat dishes. The adventurous can try the three flavors of prahok, Cambodia's signature fermented fish paste, or, if you're even braver, the fried spiders.

Follow the aroma of pungent spices into this restaurant and prepare for a hearty curry and all the essential sides at one of the capital's best Indian restaurants. The accommodating staff and exotically spiced fare more than compensate for the modest appearance. Complimentary poppadoms, dips, and chutney satiate the hunger pangs as you mull over the menu, including vegetarian options that are packed full of flavor.