Siem Reap ; feast on traditional Cambodian food

Cambodia has got the whole world craving for its salty, sour, sweet and bitter dishes. The tantalizing cuisine which is a unique variety of flavours has been influenced by Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Chinese and even French culinary trends. Fine amounts of fish sauce and zesty herbs and spices such as galangal, Kaffir lime, garlic, turmeric, lemon grass, ginger and tamarind would combine to bring about an unforgettable culinary experience. It is the dining venues of Siem Reap that one can indulge and enjoy a true experience of Khmer food.

It is in the evening that Siem Reap will come to life. Colourful motos or tuk-tuks will line up waiting to take you to a food stall of your choice. Scattered along the town are a haven of food joints, restaurants and food outlets representing Khmer food and Italian, German, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Thai and French. Cambodia's long commercial relationship with these countries has rooted down to the common interests they share when it comes to gastronomy. The food joints down the Old Market area and around the Pub Street specialize in Khmer food. The eaters will also be treated to the live ‘Apsara’ dance performance. There are also night venues scattered over the area which are open till the break of dawn. Bars, clubs and pubs which are less crowded can be also found at Wat Bo and along the Sivatha Blvd lines alongside the river. Filipino bands perform in resorts and restaurants for those who prefer live music, while there are clubs and discos for those who prefer a DJ to take control. It won’t be a task to find a restaurant to suit your taste and budget in Siem Reap.

A dish of decent fried rice or fried noodles will be brought to your table within minutes of ordering. A range of traditional Cambodian meals can be chosen from with the amount of chilly toned down for the foreign palate. One can enjoy cocktails in a tropical garden while munching on banana spring rolls. A number of pizzerias are to be found too with a selection western upscale comfort food cooked on a wood fire. Many of the restaurants will have extensive menus of traditional Khmer food for reasonable prices. ‘Trei bung gancheyt’ with added peanut sauce and green veggies is a favourite among many after which a pumpkin pudding would be the ideal to nimble for desert. The eastern riverbank a short hop down from Route 6 will have many vegetarian-friendly restaurants with plenty of grilled sandwiches and fresh salads to choose from. For those who want to try something extreme, the dried snake salad and grilled frog should spur some curiosity. Also closer by are some attractions such as Angkor National Museum, Landmine Museum and silk worm farms which are worth a visit.

Find a convenient hotel accommodation that will let you experience the best of Siem Reap and the many pleasured within it. One of the best known Siem Reap Villas is the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, experience personalized service when you choose to stay at this exceptional hotel. This five star hotel in Cambodia is situated at the Khum Svay Dang Kum in Siem Reap and has a variety of different cuisines to choose from.