Mealea Watbo — Restaurant in Siem Reap

This place is awesome!! I found that in general higher end dining was tough in Siem Reap as a lot of these restaurants serve watered down versions of Khmer food geared towards tourists (and still receive good Google Maps ratings…) But this is NOT one of those restaurants!

I went here twice, on a Wednesday and Friday. When I went on Friday it was packed with Khmer families enjoying nice family style dinners! And there were a couple of groups of foreign tourists as well.

I tried a fried fish dish, it was cooked perfectly, soft but crispy on the outside. It came with some very delicious sauces which I think had some fermented ingredients - at least they were very flavorful in that way. The second time I went I had a pork belly and quail egg dish - tbh it was kind of rich to eat as a solo diner but it would be great as part of a family style meal. If you come here by yourself the staff could help you find a suitable dish for 1 person. They are really nice and happy to chat with you about the food.

On this same trip I also had the Khmer set menu at the Park Hyatt (only went bc i wanted to see the Apsara show).. all I’ll say is Mealea was less than a quarter of the price and way more interesting, better quality food in a similarly upscale garden setting.

P.S. my other favorite thing about this restaurant - they play classy old school Cambodian music from the 50s/60s rather than the cheesy Western music (Hozier etc) played at the...

The people at Michelin need to use their money to buy themselves some taste. So many bad restaurants with Michelin stars now days.

The restaurant, the food, atmosphere all look beautiful but it is all superficial. Only good for IG photos and not good for actually eating.

First of you, you’re basically the Lord of the Flies. The open air set up is beautiful but offers zero insect protection. When the food arrives the flies swarm. That’s okay though because it is probably better that you don’t actually eat the food.

Here is an example. Ordered this very basic Chinese pork dish. (See picture). This dish is basically fatty pork simmers low heat for 4 hours. The slow cooking time breaks down the fibers in both the lean and fat. It is supposed ti melt in your mouth. This is a very very basic Chinese dish that my mom made for me since I was a child. They don’t even know how to cook it. The meat is tough like dried leather and the fat is chewy to the point where you either have to swallow the entire piece whole or spit it out. (Gag)

They also have whiskey. Their mark up is very high. The funny things is that they don’t have rocks. Just crushed ice for Whisky on the rocks…

Expensive but execution is back at 3rd world county level. Get yourself some taste Michelin. Stop taking bribes and giving out fake stars that’s obviously...

I visited this place two days ago and I must say it left a very good impression on me. The first thing that caught my attention was the decoration. Everything is designed with great detail and style, from the furniture to the lighting. It feels modern yet cozy at the same time, making it a perfect place to relax, take photos, or simply enjoy the surroundings. The atmosphere is very welcoming, calm, and enjoyable whether you come with friends, family, or even alone.

The staff here are also very polite and friendly. From the moment I arrived, I felt well taken care of. They were attentive without being too pushy, and always served with a smile. That kind of service makes a big difference because it adds warmth to the whole dining experience.

As for the food, I was really impressed. Every dish I tried was delicious and well prepared😋. The flavors were balanced, fresh, and clearly made with quality ingredients. I could tell that the kitchen really pays attention to presentation as well. It’s not just tasty, but also beautiful to look at.

Overall, I truly enjoyed my time here. The combination of the beautiful decoration, the amazing staff, the delicious food, and the pleasant atmosphere makes this place worth visiting. I will definitely come back again and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good...