The Best Lunch in Siem Reap

Lunch in Siem Reap is easy to find at an affordable price. You can opt for a posh restaurant with a riverside view, or try some local street food. There are many cuisines to choose from even if you’re on a budget. After a delicious lunch, you can continue your sightseeing or roam through the souvenir shops. Here are a few pointers:

Choose a Restaurant

Most restaurants in Siem Reap use fresh ingredients and prepare delicious dishes that most tourists love. Some restaurants add a bit of creativity to their meals or combine different cuisines. For lunch, you can try some authentic Khmer red ant fritters, and enjoy a glass of the local Angkor beer.

Khmer cuisine is indeed uniquely flavored and combines interesting textures. If you want something that reminds you of home, plenty of restaurants serve dishes from Western cuisine. French restaurants are particularly common in Siem Reap.

Lunch in Siem Reap can be a high-end experience as well, especially if you eat at a gourmet restaurant. You can enjoy elegantly served meals with local ingredients, and a feast fit for royalty. Choose a marinated beef salad with herbs to sample the best of the local haute cuisine. A more expensive restaurant is likely to have a gorgeous view too, especially if it has a tropical garden. However, make sure to book in advance, especially if you’re with a larger group.

Choose Street Food

Street food is an excellent choice for lunch in Siem Reap. Tourists are generally directed to Pub Street, but if you want to discover the hidden gems of Siem Reap, go to Phsar Leu, also known as the Old Market. You’ll be met by a swarming place buzzing with activity and overcrowded with plastic umbrellas that guard the baskets filled with fresh produce.

Street food is like a huge buffet where you can combine all sorts of fresh ingredients or cooked dishes at a very low price. The stalls create a narrow labyrinth of vegetables, doughnuts, meats, and spices.

If you want a quick lunch on the go, Banh Sung is a perfect choice. This rice noodle salad is decorated with spring rolls, pickles, pork, shrimp, green vegetables and peanuts, so it’s nutritious and healthy. Treat yourself with a banana caramelized in palm sugar, while having a chat with the friendly locals.

Choose a Bakery

Bakeries and pubs are excellent choices if you want some fast-food at an affordable price, but would like to eat your food sitting down. You can find most bakeries around the city center, but some are scattered throughout the city. Pub Street is famous for its bars and pubs where they serve tourists delicious meals at a low cost.

Bakeries are a great choice if you’re traveling with children, as they’re not overcrowded and some have playgrounds for the kids. The best lunch to try in a bakery consists of burgers or Asian delicacies like rice curry. The cakes, pastries and ice creams make for an amazing dessert, plus you have a wide array of soft drinks and fresh juices to accompany your meal.