Siem Reap Restaurants

Feb 2014

Fish Filet on Chili Ginger Sauce
Morning Glory Soup
We were 7 nights in Siem Reap and can give you tips on which restaurants to go and which not.   Our most favourite was Haven Training Restaurant.  At time it was ranked as the number 1 restaurant at TripAdvisor. The owner is a Swiss couple.  The husband managed all guests at the restaurant entrance.  If you were very lucky you could get a table without reservation.  But most of the time, you will be unlucky.

Fish Filet with Green Mango
Haven is running for a good cause. It provides a 1-year training programme to orphans or underprivileged young people from very poor rural areas. They were equipped with work, life skills, English and computer skills. The owner will assist them finding permanent position after the programme.

We passed by there on our first night, 11 Feb.  The earliest we could get a table for 2 would be 15 Feb. We had high expectation.  Food was fantastic, especially the seafood dishes. The deep fried calamari and fish dishes were super good on both nights, 15th and 17th Feb.  Cooking style is mostly Khmer but some dishes as fusion between Asian and European cooking.  The desserts we tried were European.  We preferred the Khmer dishes.

Sok San Street, Siem Reap, 20m past the X-Bar, on the right.
Phone: +855 78 34 24 04          Mail: eat@havencambodia.com



Genevieve's Restaurant is near to Haven Training Restaurant.  The owner, Phil, is an ex-colleague of Genevieve.  She was Australian and teacher in Siem Reap. She helped a lot of students to transform their lives but died from cancer in 2009. The restaurant is also running on a good cause.  30% of their profit goes to their staff, 4 local NGOs  and a community garden. 


All dishes, from appetizers to dessert were excellent.  Atmosphere was cosy and casual. Waiter and waitresses were very attentive and delightful.  Our fish cakes and vegetarian rice paper rolls were delicious and fresh.


Sovy was our waiter, the singing waiter praised at TripAdvisor. He had a beautiful voice and sang 2-3 times every night.  Songs include Khmer, Thai and English. Click here or The Voice to sample his singing.  Believe me, you should listen to his singing on spot in the restaurant.  Feel his passion, emotion and expressions in his songs.

 

Sok San St | Next to Chenda Pharmacy
+855 81 410 783         philrrrr@gmail.com


Another restaurant I would recommend is New Leaf Book Cafe. It is a restaurant, book shop and event venue in one space. Profit generated is invested in educational programmes in the Siem Reap province.



It was not easy to find the restaurant.  This book cafe was not brightly lit in the light.  The dim light created a romantic atmosphere.  Food price was a bit higher than the other two restaurants.  Quality was good.  Dishes we tried were both Khmer and international. My appetizer was minced pork white cabbage salad. Fresh, full of fibre and good.  My partner was a bit scare of raw food.  He opt for a warm soup.  It tasted good.
 

My fish Amok was a huge portion.  I loved the Khmer fragrance and it was as good as in Geneviene's Restaurant.  The other main course was spare rib, very western.  We both loved our dessert, warm chocolate tart.  Intensive chocolate with a dash of ice cream.  Energy to walk back to our hotel.

 

No. 306, Group 10 Phum Mondul 1 Svay Dungkum Siem Reap.
Tel : +855 (0) 63 766 016          Email : gm@newleafbookcafe.com

If you are German or Austrian, you may wish to have Wienerschnitzel at Haus Bremen.  It's away from Pub Street.  Street 26, Siem Reap #567G12.  It is a bit remote but still accessible on foot.  Setting is an open garden.  Good food and the story of a German leading a very different life in
Cambodia.

We also tried Old House Restaurant at the Pub Street area.  This one, you can forget it.   A Korean guy recommended its country cuisine in a big street.  The spicy tofu soup was delicious.  The rest was so so.

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