Why Siem Reap is more vegan friendly than ever
Siem Reap was our home for more than 8 years, during which time the demand for plant based and vegan food around the world continued to increase. When we arrived in town, our options were few and far between but slowly that’s changed. We worked with and supported anyone who wished to expand their vegan and plant based offering as much as possible, offering advice, menu consultancy and staff training. The worldwide shutdown slowed things down a little, but trust us when we say that the post-covid Siem Reap is more vegan friendly than ever. We are spoiled for choice with luxury hotels and resorts, simple eateries and local street food, social enterprises and hospitality schools, and experiential fine dining restaurants to choose from. Even the leading wine supplier now has an extensive list of vegan friendly wines to choose from. Below are just a few of people we’ve worked with, and some of our favourite vegan friendly options that you should most certainly consider when you’re planning your trip to Siem Reap.
Jaya House River Park
We worked with the excellent team at Jaya House River Park to create their vegan breakfast options which have now become the most popular dishes on their breakfast menu. This unique riverside hotel is a true oasis where guests can enjoy relaxing next to one of the two pools after a busy day at the temples. It also offers one of the coolest sunset spots in town with rooftop vibes, creative cocktails and treetop views over the river. In addition to the vegan breakfast, the delightful pools and the glorious sunset views, Jaya House River Park have yet again received the ‘Number 1 hotel in Cambodia’ accolade from Tripadvisor. This is one of our favourite vegan friendly hotels for a reason and we know you’re going to love it!
Shinta Mani Angkor
Guests on the Cambodia Vegan Tour with award winning Vegan Travel Asia end their Cambodian adventure at Shinta Mani Angkor. There’s good reason that this boutique property created by hotel architect extraordinaire, Bill Bensley was selected. With plenty of vegan options available for breakfast, vegan guests will certainly not go hungry at this vegan friendly luxury hotel. Executive Chef Chanrith also offers vegan cooking classes which offer the chance to learn from one of the most talented chefs in Siem Reap. No stay at Shinta Mani Angkor would be complete without enjoying the exquisite multi-course plant based dining experience at their signature restaurant, Kroya by Chef Chanrith. Delicious and creative Khmer fusion cuisine served in a refined setting and certainly not to be missed.
Treeline Urban Resort
The excellent Treeline Urban Resort have an incredibly strong plant based breakfast game and an extensive selection of plant based dishes that deliver on every level in their signature restaurant Romiet. Chef Chantrea and his team have worked tirelessly over the years to ensure that vegan food is the norm at this design-led, independent resort. So when you can drag yourself away from the divine rooftop pool or from your beautifully appointed room, you will be spoiled for choice with creative plant based food that will make you smile. Did someone say ‘vegan bangers and hash’ for breakfast and ‘vegan gyoza’ for dinner?
As the leading wine supplier in Cambodia, the team at Celliers d’Asie have embraced the demand for vegan wines. Since our first meeting back in 2016 they have developed an expansive selection of vegan wines. We love that we’ve been part of that journey with them and love how they now drive vegan wines sales throughout their whole customer base wherever they can.
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Siem Reap also has a huge selection of vegan friendly restaurants and whether you want to enjoy an amazing pizza from the vegan menu at Fellini, a vegan version of Cambodia’s famous nom banh chok from the excellent training restaurant, Haven, or a delicious vegan Khmer curry with OmniMeat balls from the socially responsible, New Leaf Eatery; Siem Reap has definitely got you covered.
There is also our favourite veggie restaurant, Banlle and our favourite vegan restaurant, Hey Bong! They both go above and beyond to continue exceeding expectations by creating and serving some of the best plant based food in the region. It’s impossible to choose a favourite dish at either of these fantastic restaurants as there are so many that we love. From veganised versions of Khmer classics to vegan fish and chips; healthy salads to vegan burgers; these two restaurants come highly recommended. Banlle and Hey Bong! are certainly leading the way when it comes to vegan food in Siem Reap and long may that continue.
This articles features just a few of our must-visit favourites in Siem Reap but this relatively little town is an absolute ‘vegan heaven’ and plant based food lovers will easily find many more options. You’re going to love the vegan food that’s waiting for you as much as you’ll love the Cambodian people you meet and their wonderful country. It’s all waiting for you to explore.
Paul Eyers is Founder of Vegan Food Quest. Vegan Food Quest have become luxury vegan travel specialists as they continue to find, eat and write about the best vegan food in the world.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
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As always with these posts the colourful presentation of the food looks so appetising. Vegan food leads the way on great presentation.
thank you for your comment Chris, so much of the food does indeed look very inviting!
Siem Reap is way ahead of so many places when it comes to vegan options. It must make travel quite worry free for vegans.
thank you for your comment Ellen. Siem Reap is so vegan friendly and we’ve loved being part of this change over the years. It certainly makes vegan travel to Siem Reap a very tempting option!
While you know I’m not a vegan, I do enjoy many of the vegan dishes that are presented in restaurants, and reading through this post I must admit that I look forward to visit Siem Reap in the (hopefully) near future!
Thank you for your comment Kristof. I would love to welcome you to my adopted hometown, so let’s hope that when it happens it coincides with me being back here…
Thank you for the fantastic efforts made over the past 8 years with regards to the culinary development here in Siem Reap!
You have put #Vegan food onto the map and the world is grateful indeed as are many of my guests who indeed DO comment how much further Cambodia is with regards to Vegan food compared to our neighbors.
Keep it up and safe travels from all of us here at Jaya House
Thank you so much for the kind words. We’ve loved being part of the journey and we are excited to see where it goes next. The wonderful team at Jaya House have always made us feel very welcome, we are going to miss having you in our ‘hood, that’s for sure! All the very best for the future, we will be sure to visit whenever we can!
Definitely the most vegan friendly city in Cambodia. Slam Dunk at Baby Elephant Hotel is real definition of hidden gem. Food there is just way too good! Another one is Hey Bong, must go if you enjoy ‘healthy clean’ type of vegan food.
yes the burgers at Slam Dunk are great and we love the food at Hey Bong! Siem Reap is more vegan friendly than ever….