Restaurant Cuisine Wat Damnak - Siem Reap

Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Siem Reap, Cambodia

"A restaurant led by French chef Joannès Rivière, combining French techniques with traditional Khmer cuisine."

48 Hours in Siem Reap, Cambodia

"A restaurant offering tasting menus that blend local Cambodian flavors with French cooking techniques, set in a traditional wooden Khmer house."

"To many gastronomes, the subtle flavors and spicing of Khmer cuisine makes it one of Southeast Asia’s great food secrets. That’s certainly the view of French chef Joannes Riviera, who has taken inspiration from Cambodia’s unsung culinary traditions to create one of the region’s biggest restaurant success stories. Cuisine Wat Damnak has received numerous accolades since opening for business in 2011. Using only the freshest local produce (think juicy tropical fruit, bamboo shoots, and fish from nearby Tonle Sap), Riviera devises regularly changing tasting menus that burst with creativity. Recent hits include a fish sour soup with green banana and rice paddy herb, and a duck confit curry with fresh rice noodles. Dinner is a steal at just $27 for five courses or $31 for six."

"To many gastronomes, the subtle flavors and spicing of Khmer cuisine makes it one of Southeast Asia’s great food secrets. That’s certainly the view of French chef Joannes Riviera, who has taken inspiration from Cambodia’s unsung culinary traditions to create one of the region’s biggest restaurant success stories. Cuisine Wat Damnak has received numerous accolades since opening for business in 2011. Using only the freshest local produce (think juicy tropical fruit, bamboo shoots, and fish from nearby Tonle Sap), Riviera devises regularly changing tasting menus that burst with creativity. Recent hits include a fish sour soup with green banana and rice paddy herb, and a duck confit curry with fresh rice noodles. Dinner is a steal at just $27 for five courses or $31 for six."

5 Questions with Joannès Rivière on New Cambodian Cuisine

"Helmed by Rivière and his wife, Carole Salmon, Cuisine Wat Damnak was born, showcasing innovative menus inspired by the food traditions of Cambodia’s golden age, when each day’s fare was made up of herbs and vegetables from the family garden, and fish and game from the surrounding fields. Cuisine Wat Damnak’s ingredients are almost entirely sourced from nearby farms and foraged from around Siem Reap Province." - Rachel Tan