Cuisine Wat Damnak

What to See at Cuisine Wat Damnak

The House

A traditional Cambodian wooden house between Psar Dey Hoy market and Angkor High School, split across an air-conditioned dining room, a fan-cooled upstairs space, and a lit garden — understated and unmarked enough that it still surprises first-time visitors expecting fine dining to look more formal.

The Menu

There’s no à la carte — just a set tasting menu (and a vegetarian alternative) that changes every two weeks to track what’s seasonally available. French-trained chef Joannès Rivière is known for working rare Cambodian produce — feroniella, ambarella and kuy fruits, Mekong and Tonle Sap fish and shellfish — into a format that still reads as recognisably Khmer.

The Reputation

Cuisine Wat Damnak became the first Cambodian restaurant to appear on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, a result of more than a decade of consistency rather than a single breakout moment.

How to Get to Cuisine Wat Damnak

The restaurant is in Wat Damnak village, Sala Kamreuk commune, a short ride from central Siem Reap.

• Tuk-tuk: The standard way to arrive — a short ride from the Old Market area
• Reservations: Required at least 24 hours in advance via the website; call or email for same-day requests

Practical Tips

• Book ahead — tables fill up well in advance, especially in high season (November–March)
• The menu changes fortnightly, so ask what’s currently being served if you have dietary preferences
• Closed Sundays — plan dinner around this if it’s a priority

Nearby Attractions

• Haven Training Restaurant — a short ride away, also in the Wat Damnak/Sala Kamreuk area
• Old Market and Pub Street — Siem Reap’s central dining and nightlife hub, a short tuk-tuk ride away