23 Best Restaurants in Cambodia

A social enterprise providing disability-inclusive employment, Epic Arts Cafe serves a selection of delicious breakfast and lunch dishes, including many vegan and vegetarian options, as well as desserts, cakes, fresh-fruit smoothies, and coffee brewed from Cambodian beans. There's a shop upstairs selling locally crafted products, sales from which support their programs.

Operated by M'Lop Talang, a non-government organization established to support disadvantaged children and their families, this vocational training restaurant demonstrates just how good the training is—the service is friendly and attentive and the food delicious. The menu ranges from Cambodian specialties such as amok trei, a steamed fish curry, to international dishes such as burgers, pizzas, and fish and chips.

The first proper restaurant to open in the post–Khmer Rouge period remains the city’s best destination for delicious traditional home-style Cambodian cooking in a beautiful wooden building. Owner-chef Kethana Dunnet was the country’s first celebrity chef, introducing some of the world’s best chefs to Cambodian food, including Gordon Ramsay, Rick Stein, and Luke Nguyen. Expect the best iterations of Cambodian cooking—everything on the menu is delicious.

Formerly Vibe, now a branch of the Backyard Cafe chain of plant-driven eateries, this lovely cafe with bamboo furniture and hanging ferns specializes in breakfast bowls, baked goods, big salads, loaded sandwiches, and healthy sweets prepared with organic local produce. There are many options to cater for all sorts of dietary needs and allergies, as well as fantastic cold-pressed juices and smoothies made with Cambodian tropical fruits. It's also a great spot to meet young expats.

Located in the heart of the hip Wat Bo neighborhood, Banlle—which means "vegetables" in Khmer—is Siem Reap’s only urban farm-to-table restaurant. Dine at one of the terrace tables and you’ll be able to see the organic vegetable garden, which wraps around the restaurant's remodeled traditional timber house. The options include Cambodian, pan-Asian, and international fare, all of great value.

Also called Cloud Tea & Coffee, this sleek cafe with colorful furniture opposite the riverside is hugely popular with Cambodians. They have a long menu of coffees, teas, shakes, smoothies, juices, and bubble teas.

At this Australian-run cafe located in a colonial-era building, you are guaranteed to find outstanding artisanal coffee roasted in-house from regionally-sourced beans. The food options include smashed avocado on sourdough with dukkah, mushrooms on toast, and chicken parmigiana.

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.

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.

The focus here is on delicately spiced Khmer-inspired vegan dishes. Try the rich, creamy sweet potato, pumpkin, and coconut curry, or a clean, crisp green mango, carrot, and herb salad with smoked tofu. A limited number of Thai curry-style meat and fish dishes is also available.

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, live music, and workshops.

In the center of sleepy Ban Lung, this breezy restaurant serves an extensive menu of Cambodian, Asian, and Western dishes. Expect everything from Cambodian soups, noodles, and curries to salads, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, and pizza, with vegan and vegetarian options. It's popular with locals, expats, and travelers alike.

The name means "rice bowl" in Khmer and this social enterprise of the Cambodian Children Trust (CCT) is easily Battambang's best restaurant, dishing up outstanding renditions of Cambodian and pan-Asian favorites in a stylish contemporary space. Rotating exhibits by local artists hang from the walls, and it's often packed with a mix of young Cambodian creatives, expats, and foodie travelers in the evenings. Jaan Bai provides skills development and employment for young Cambodians and a share of the profits goes towards CCT's community development work.

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

A cool little coffee shop in the historical center, Kinyei Cafe is managed by knowledgeable and award-winning local baristas who serve outstanding coffee made with beans roasted in Phnom Penh and sourced ethically from Cambodia and other Southeast Asian growers. The lunch options, like the veggie rolls, are perfect for a quick bite. Kinyei Cafe is a social enterprise started by the Feel Good Coffee Company, which formed a partnership with the Cambodian Children Trust (CCT) to also run the nearby restaurant Jaan Bai.

Located on Siem Reap's quiet Kandal Village shopping street, this cool Australian-run cafe provides more than just great coffee: there's a menu of healthy breakfasts and lunches like the tofu scramble or the Tri Grain Bowl, a combination of red rice, chia seeds, and couscous, topped with kale and beetroot hummus. There is a shaded seating area out front and a relaxing light-filled space upstairs.

This pleasant Japanese-style café by the river serves good snacks, small plates, desserts, and drinks. Try a cashew-nut shake—you'll probably want a second. You can also try the sauna upstairs.

This breezy, traditional-style terrace restaurant and bar are located on the second-floor of a colonial-era rice barn. The all-day menu features Cambodian specialties—the richly spiced Saraman beef curry with peanuts is a must—along with international dishes. The ingredients used are seasonal and locally sourced, including the daily fish and seafood bought directly from local fishermen.

Buddhism for Social Development Action runs this hospitality training restaurant for young locals. Even so, the dining experience is better than many professional setups. The hanging lamps and bamboo-lined walls of the dining room lend a warmth to the space in the evening, but by day you have Mekong River views from the outdoor tables. The menu features Western and Khmer dishes. The restaurant is cash only.

Here you can try a shake, house-made yogurt, or a brownie, indulge in a massage, and learn about volunteering opportunities in Sihanoukville. The café has Wi-Fi and a handicrafts shop upstairs. It's not the easiest of places to find—hidden down a dirt road behind the Samudera Market in town—but it's well worth the trek, as it benefits the Starfish Project, which supports individuals in need.

The Mediterranean comes east at this popular three-story bar-restaurant in the heart of artsy Street 240. The menu extends from North African couscous and Spanish tapas, to Asian-fusion bites, served in a warm, jovial atmosphere. The comprehensive wine list includes labels from around the world and the cocktails are well made. Opt to sit on the rooftop for great city views.

Next to Kratie's busy marketplace, this is one of the better places to eat in town. The kitchen provides decent and inexpensive traditional Khmer fare and Western-style comfort foods catering to a mostly tourist clientele.

Possibly the most happening restaurant in Kandal Village, this French-owned and retro-themed bar and international bistro is the go-to place for French cuisine and Khmer staple dishes. Their good selection of wines and cocktails also attracts Siem Reap's drinking elite, especially on Funky Friday, their club night with live DJs. Don't miss the art gallery on the first floor.