‘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)

…

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

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