Lifestyle
Updated 2026-08-02 5 min
In short
- ●Cuisine Wat Damnak is the first Cambodian restaurant to reach Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, and holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
- ●Strengths: a tasting menu that changes every two weeks, near-total local sourcing, French technique applied to Khmer produce.
- ●Good to know: it is a set menu in a wooden house — book ahead, and come for the format rather than an à la carte evening.
- ●Verdict: the one table in Siem Reap that a serious diner should plan a trip around.
4.8/5
Google rating
1,000+
Google reviews
Michelin Bib Gourmand
Distinction
Every two weeks
Menu changes
At a Glance
- Type: Khmer fine dining, tasting menus only.
- Chef: Joannès Rivière, French, in Cambodia for over fifteen years and fluent in Khmer.
- Setting: A traditional wooden house behind Wat Damnak.
- Distinctions: Michelin Bib Gourmand; first Cambodian restaurant on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.
- Google rating: 4.8/5 across more than 1,000 reviews.
Strengths
- A menu that never repeats. Two tasting menus, rewritten every two weeks around what the season gives. Coming twice in a month means eating two different meals.
- Sourcing that justifies the price. Almost everything comes from farms and villages around Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, seafood from Koh Kong, European vegetables from the Mondulkiri highlands, freshwater fish from the Tonle Sap and the Mekong.
- French technique, Khmer ingredients. Sour pork sausage salad with guava, lotus stems, cashews and crispy belly — the dish that explains the whole restaurant in one line.
- Recognition that means something. A Bib Gourmand is Michelin's mark for excellent cooking at a fair price, not for luxury. That is precisely what this kitchen does.
- Dietary requirements handled properly. Reviewers consistently note the kitchen adapts the menu rather than removing a course.
Good to Know Before You Go
- Book ahead. A small dining room and a national reputation — this is not a walk-in.
- Set menu only. If your table wants to order à la carte, this is the wrong evening.
- The most expensive bill in this series. Still modest by international fine-dining standards, and the Bib Gourmand exists to say so.
Who It's For
This is the destination meal of a Siem Reap trip.
- Serious diners: the only kitchen in the province with international recognition.
- Repeat visitors: a menu on a two-week cycle rewards coming back.
- Special occasions: a wooden house, a set menu, no noise.
- Anyone curious about Khmer produce: nowhere else presents it with this level of technique.
Practical Info
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area | Behind Wat Damnak, Sala Kamreuk |
| Format | Two tasting menus, changed every two weeks |
| Google rating | 4.8/5 — 1,000+ reviews |
| Price range | $$$ |
| Distinctions | Michelin Bib Gourmand, Asia's 50 Best Restaurants |
| Booking | Essential |
Verdict
Every city has a table that carries its reputation abroad. In Siem Reap it is this one, and it has held the position for years without turning into a museum piece — the menu is rewritten twice a month.
Book it early in your stay. You will spend the rest of the week comparing everything to it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book at Cuisine Wat Damnak?
Yes. The dining room is small and the restaurant carries a national reputation — walk-ins are unlikely to get a table.
Can I order à la carte?
No. The restaurant serves two tasting menus, rewritten every two weeks around seasonal produce.
What is a Michelin Bib Gourmand?
It is Michelin's distinction for excellent cooking at a reasonable price — a value award rather than a luxury one.
Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Yes — reviewers consistently report the kitchen adapts dishes rather than simply dropping a course.
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Siem Reap Hub
The community guide for expats and travelers in Siem Reap, Cambodia