'Indian Food' by K.J.S.Chatrath

Those who have not tried various varieties of Indian food, have absolutely no idea of what good food is! Food of no other country comes any where close to it. Sounds jingoistic? Maybe, but this is the truth.

‘Indian restaurants in Siem Reap, Cambodia’ by K.J.S.Chatrath

I few months back I made a short trip to Siem Reap in Cambodia. This was my first visit to the Far East after 1978. I remembered that during the last visit to Thailand and Phillipines, I had found it difficult to get used to the food as every item seemed to be smelling of sea-food. Since Siem Reap is not on the normal itineraries of the Indian tourists, I was quite apprehensive about getting a full meal during the trip.

Happily I was proved wrong. Indian food, which I personally consider to be the best in the world, has managed to reach this interior part of Cambodia. On the second day of my stay I went to an Indian restaurant called quite simply ‘The Indian’. I met the owner Mr.Sajeesh. He told me that he comes from Trichur in Kerala and has been running his restaurant since the last 9 years. This restaurant proudly claims, “Own (sic!) by Indian, Run by Indian, Chef from from India’.

The food at ‘The Indian’ (above) was good. I may add that the ‘naan’ that I had there was perhaps the best that I have ever had.

This ‘thali’ at ‘Currywala was also good, though the ‘naan’ was very thin and the curd a bit sour.

I also had food at the ‘Taste of India’ where the ‘thali’ served was identical in menu and taste to the one that I had earlier had at the Currywala.

Indian chutneys at ‘the Taste of India’

Here is a list of the Indian restaurants in Siem Reap. Please take note that it is not a comprehensive list and the restaurants have been arranged alphabetically.

Ababa Curry House: Road to Angkor Night Market, Steung Thmey Village, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap City, Siem Reap. Email: (ababacam@yahoo.com).

Chusska Indian Vegetarian Restaurant: St. 7, next to Pub (St.), Old Market Area, Siem Reap City, Siem Reap.

Curry Walla Indian Cuisine: No. B05, Sivatha (St.), Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap. Dakshin’s Restaurant: No. 99, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap.

India Gate Restaurant: No. 342, St. 9, Old Market, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap.

Kerala Indian Restaurant: Near Phsar Chas, Pub Street, Siem Reap.

Little India Restaurant: No. 363, Group 6, Mondul 1 Village, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, opposite Blue Pumpkin, Siem Reap. (Email: mahendra7124@yahoo.com).

Maharajah Restaurant: Sivatha (St.), front of Terrasse Des Elephants, Old Market Area, Siem Reap. (Email: maharajahcuisine@yahoo.com).

New Delhi Indian Foods Restaurant: No. 070, in front of Siem Reap Hospital, Mondul 1 Village, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap

Taj Mahal Restaurant: No. 11, Mondul 1 Village, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap. (Email: tajmahalcuisine@yahoo.com)

Taste of India Restaurant: No. 109, Sivatha (St.), Mondul 1 Village, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap

The Indian Restaurant: E161 Bar (St.), Old Market, Siem Reap. (Email: tcsajeesh@yahoo.com)

I saw the advertisement of another, rather unusual sounding Indian restaurant: Slumdog Curry: Ochheuteal Beach, Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia. But I did not have the heart to try out the ‘slumdog curries’!

And no town can have Indian restaurants and not have a ‘Taj Mahal Restaurant’. Pnom Penh has not one but two Shere Punjab restaurants - Shere Punjab-I and Shere Punjab-II! Oyay Balle…Balle.. ji!

(I was a full paying customer at the three restaurants mentioned above)

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Photos, text and copyright: K.J.S.Chatrath

This photo article was earlier put up on my website http://www.traveltalk.co.in