A warm, unpretentious local favourite serving honest Khmer and Thai cooking at prices that make ordering one of everything feel entirely reasonable.
Sambo is a family-run restaurant tucked near Wat Damnak, behind the Art Centre Night Market — a little off the beaten track, but that's half the appeal. The hospitality here is the real thing: genuinely warm, unhurried, and the kind that makes you feel less like a tourist and more like a regular. It draws a loyal crowd of Western visitors who keep coming back, and it's not hard to see why.
The menu spans both Khmer and Thai classics, and the kitchen does both well. Standout dishes include fish amok, lok lak, and pineapple fried rice, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options alongside. Portions are generous enough, prices are fair, and the consistency is the kind you come to rely on — every dish lands well, every time. If Chanrey Tree is Siem Reap's special occasion Khmer restaurant, Sambo is where you eat the rest of the week.