14 Best Places to Eat in Siem Reap Cambodia on a Budget
In Siem Reap, Cambodia, you will find great restaurants serving all types of culinary tastes, in addition to wonderful traditional Khmer cuisine. And while there are plenty of high-end dining experiences, there are also a lot of great places to eat at reasonable prices.
We have compiled a list of the best places to eat in Siem Reap, Cambodia on a budget. Siem Reap sees as many as 5,000 tourists a day during its high season and the town has restaurants, bars, cafes, food stalls, and street vendors to accommodate them all. And because people come from all over the world, you will also find just about every kind of cuisine you could want.
We spent a month in Cambodia with our kids when they were 6 and 8. Siem Reap was our last stop in Cambodia, and my personal favorite. If I could have figured out a way to stay, I would have.
We first visited Siem Reap as part of our honeymoon, and only spent a few days, mostly to explore the famous temples of Angkor Wat. This time around, we stayed longer, and found that there is so much more to do in Siem Reap, from dance performances to landmine clearing rats.
With so many great places to eat, you don’t run out of options. Siem Reap highlights the best of Khmer food, while also bringing in flavors from all over the world and making them its own.
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What Food is Siem Reap Known For?
Known for its Khmer culture and food, Siem Reap is a great place to learn all about its rich heritage. Traditionally more meat-heavy than either of its more famous neighbors (Thailand and Vietnam), Cambodian Khmer food still focuses on fresh ingredients, noodles and rice, and a lot of lemongrass, as well as fresh juice. The dishes tend to milder than neighboring cuisine, with fewer chilies. They often have sauces on the side you can add to give the dish more heat.
Some of the most well-known Khmer dishes are Amok, a curry stew traditionally served in a bowl made of banana leaves, and Beef Loc Lac, a dish prepared with sauteed marinated beef, served with rice and salad, and a lime and pepper sauce. Khmer Amok is traditionally prepared with fish, but you can also find it with chicken or beef, as well as many vegetarian versions.
You can try lots of things without worrying if they are too spicy, and in Siem Reap, you will also find lots of vegetarian and even vegan options.
Take a Siem Reap Food Tour
A food tour is a great way to learn about Khmer food and is a fun way to taste more dishes than you would on your own (including maybe some crunchy insects). We have a whole post on the best food tours in Siem Reap and break down their differences and why we think you will love them.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
4 Hour Small Group Tour including
Local Homes and Villages
If you are headed to Phnom Penh, we’ve also got a list of the best food tours there! We found Phnom Penh to be a surprising city with lot of different activities.
Where to Eat in Siem Reap
Siem Reap has so many great places to eat, that you will not be able to enjoy all of them while you are there. In addition to all the great Khmer food, you will find Cambodian restaurants with influences from all over the world. Cambodia also has a big coffee culture. We wrote a whole post on our favorite cafes and coffee shops.
Below you will find some of our favorite places we have enjoyed as a family, as well as a few we did not get to, but have heard really good things about and hope to try next time.
1. Street Stalls by the River
In the afternoon and evening, once the hottest part of the day has passed, you will find great street food along the river near the old Market.
Before heading into the market to explore or, after a night on the town, this is a great place to grab a snack or a meal, and enjoy a stroll along the river.
Pokambor Ave, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
2. Banlle Vegetarian
Across the river from downtown and only a 5-minute walk from the old market, on Street 26, you will find a number of great places to eat and drink. For lunch and dinner, our favorite is Banlle Vegetarian. We went on a rainy evening, so the downstairs enclosed dining room with large glass windows was the perfect respite from the storm.
Should you prefer, the second floor has fully covered, open-air seating with views of the surrounding gardens below. On clear nights you can enjoy tables in the garden for a more romantic evening.
Banlle Vegetarian serves a delicious mix of authentic Cambodian cuisine and European fusion, with fresh ingredients from the on-site herb and vegetable garden and other local vendors. The menu is creative and fun, and changes with the season.
Street 26, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
www.facebook.com/banlle.vegetarian.restaurant
3. Miss Wong Cocktail Bar
Also worth checking out on while on Street 26 is Miss Wong Cocktail Bar. We visited for drinks and dessert and would have come back for the food if we had had more time. Our kids loved the decor and the non-alcoholic mock-tails. We loved the atmosphere, the wonderful attentive staff, and the well-made drinks!
Street 26, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
https://misswong.net/
4. Footprint Cafe
We did not get the chance to eat here, but it gets great reviews and is a very popular brunch spot in the same vicinity.
Street 26, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
https://footprintcafes.org
5. The Village Bakery and Cafe
We came for coffee and a snack and had to come back! The girls loved the fresh pretzels, bagels, and cinnamon rolls. We loved all the fresh bread and their Bahn Mi, which you can get with pork belly or vegan with mushrooms and tofu.
They also serve very good coffee!
575 Hap Guan St, Krong Siem Reap 17252, Cambodia
www.instagram.com/thevillagebakerysr
6. Bao Kandal
This was one of our favorite meals in Siem Reap. Across the street from the Village Bakery, we noticed this place before it was open and made a point to return for dinner. What a treat this was! The buns are perfect and the flavors are incredible. We tried three different Baos and the Shanghai Noodles and all were delicious.
Make sure you save room for dessert, the chocolate bao with carmelized bananas and peanuts is not to be missed!!
626, Hup, 628 Hap Guan St, Krong Siem Reap 171202, Cambodia
www.facebook.com/bao.cambodia
7. Paper Tiger
Located in the center of Siem Reap on Street 8, commonly called Pub Street, you will find Paper Tiger, a staple here since 1999. With so many bars, clubs, and restaurants surrounding it, it can be overwhelming to pick a place. But the relaxed atmosphere, friendly servers, cheap beer, and great food at an affordable price make Paper Tiger an easy pick. Come for a drink and a snack after a day of exploring temples, or enjoy a full meal with family and friends.
Paper Tiger serves a mix of traditional Khmer, western, and comfort food. You are sure to find something for everyone. They even have cooking classes!
Mondulkiri Village, Street 08, Krong Siem Reap 17252, Cambodia
www.facebook.com/papertigersiemreap
8. The Source Cafe
This was one of our kid’s favorite places for brunch! A ten-minute walk from the Old Market or a quick ride in a Tuk-tuk, the Source Cafe stays cool in the heat of the day with its enclosed and air-conditioned dining room.
On the more expensive side, it has lots of Western-style dishes and large portions. We loved the poached eggs on avocado toast and the smoothie bowls. Our girls loved the pancakes and the french toast, each with fresh fruit and real maple syrup that are served all day.
You can find lots of salads and sandwiches, as well as good coffee, and lots of fruit drinks and smoothies for something lighter or to cool you off in the afternoon.
Taphul Street, Krong Siem Reap 17252, Cambodia
www.facebook.com/Anytimeiscoffeetime
9. The Little Red Fox Espresso Cafe
We first found this gem looking for a coffee shop and had to come back to try out some of the items on their food menu. We enjoyed their breakfast bagel sandwich, the smashed avocado on sourdough, and the tropical fruit salad with yogurt and granola. Our girls loved the peanut butter pancakes with caramelized bananas and crushed cashews.
And do not forget about the coffee! This was my favorite coffee place in Siem Reap. We wrote a whole post on all our favorite coffee places in Siem Reap. My favorite is their flat white or long macchiato, but they will not disappoint. They also have a wide selection of fresh juices and smoothies.
593 Hup Guan Street Mondul 1 Village Siem Reap, 17252, Cambodia
https://thelittleredfoxespresso.com
10. Crane
This was another place we passed a number of times and each time, we were more intrigued and finally came back for a snack and coffee, and then stayed for dinner.
Is it a store, a bar, a cafe, or a restaurant? Yes, Cranes is all this and more. It is a small place, but the vibe is relaxed and you will want to kick back and never leave. The menu is varied and eclectic and changes regularly. We tried the chicken quesadillas, and the ginger tofu with brown rice, and the girls loved the Tom Yum soup.
Our espressos with dessert were so good, that this cafe made it onto our list of best coffee places in Siem Reap.
Central Market Street, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
https://www.instagram.com/cranesiemreap
11. Gelato Lab
Having eaten our fill of gelato throughout Italy, we can honestly say that Gelato Lab makes some pretty good gelato! It also benefits from all the fresh local fruits and nuts that go into making it daily.
Spent a long hot day exploring the Angkor Wat Temples? This is a great place to treat yourself and cool down.
It is slightly hidden, just off Pub Street on Alley W, between Streets 10 and 11. Open daily from 9:30 am to 11:30 pm, you will find the best gelato in Siem Reap and beyond. Take it to go or enjoy sitting upstairs.
House # 11, Mondol 1 Village Siem Reap, 17252, Cambodia
www.facebook.com/gelatolabsiemreap
Other Recommended Cafes:
Full disclosure: By the time we got to Siem Reap, we had already been in Cambodia for almost a month and were coming out of the Jungle and eating a lot of traditional Cambodian food. (Side note: we highly recommend an ethical elephant experience). So we were very excited to try some of the more international cuisines and did not get to the top traditional Khmer options.
Here are a few more places that get great reviews that we did not make it to on this trip.
12. Khmer Grill
Ask anyone in Siem Reap where to try authentic Khmer food and Khmer Grill will be at the top of their their shortlist. It is just over the river from the Old Market and is an easy walk or quick tuk-tuk ride if you are not staying in the downtown area.
Watdamnak Road, Wat Damnak Village Sangkat Salakamrouk Siem Reap Town, 17254, Cambodia
https://khmergrill.com/
13. Khmer Taste
In the heart of Siem Reap, Khmer Taste is another traditional Cambodian restaurant that gets lots of good reviews. It has an extensive menu.
Sok San Rd, Krong Siem Reap 17252, Cambodia
https://www.facebook.com/
14. Long’s Bar
Pub Street can be a scene in the high season. This very popular bar is just off the busy strip between Street 7 and Street 8. It’s very famous, and is even included on some food tours in town. Worth a stop to check it out.
Doung Hem St, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
https://www.facebook.com/longsbarsiemreap
FAQ: Eating in Siem Reap
Cambodian food is generally less spicy than what you’ll find in Thailand or Vietnam. They use a lot of fresh herbs, and have chiles you can add to your own taste level
Yes, insects are a common snack in Cambodia, and you’ll see pots of fried critters at food stalls. You can also order dishes where insects are mixed with a meat like beef, where they adda crunch to the dish. A food tour is a great way to safely try just a taste!
Some restaurants take credit cards, but always be prepared with cash, as many do not. Street stalls only accept cash. While the US Dollar is not the official currency of Cambodia, it is widely accepted. Make sure all bills are clean and unripped, or they will not be accepted. US coins are not used, so change may be give in Riel (Cambodian currency).
Yes, there is a large coffee culture in Siem Reap, and across Cambodia. We wrote an entire post on the best coffee in Siem Reap.
There You Have It
There are so many great places to eat in Siem Reap, and you don’t have to spend a lot to have a great meal. This list of our favorites should get you started, but we hope you will have time to find a few treasures of your own! From street food, a snack at a cafe, family brunch, or a romantic dinner, to drinks with friends, Siem Reap has a lot to offer.
Don’t miss our full list of things to do in Siem Reap, as well as our guide to exploring the famous temples of Angkor Wat.
