Siem Reap: Khmer Cooking Class at Local Home with Market Tour

Summary

Siem Reap food stories market colors home-cooked Khmer flavors

You’ll shop for fresh ingredients at a lively Siem Reap market, cook classic Khmer dishes in a local home kitchen, and share stories over a four-course lunch. Expect laughter, sticky fingers, and new flavors — plus visits to a mushroom patch and even a crocodile farm if you’re curious enough.

What’s the experience like?

“Don’t worry, you can use your hands here,” our host Chenda grinned, sliding a basket of green mangoes toward me. I’d barely wiped the morning dust off my shoes when we ducked into the Siem Reap market — all chatter and clatter, with that sharp scent of lemongrass everywhere. Chenda pointed out tiny herbs I’d never seen before, laughing when I tried to pronounce ‘prahok’ (I still can’t say it right). There was this moment when an old woman handed me a wrinkled chili and winked — no idea why, but it made me feel like I belonged for a second.

The ride back to Chenda’s house in her cousin’s tuktuk was bumpy, sun sneaking through the palm leaves. Her kitchen was open-air, chickens pecking nearby, and the air felt sticky-sweet from simmering coconut milk. We chopped and pounded and tasted as we went — my fish amok looked nothing like hers but tasted…well, not bad actually. She showed us how to fold banana leaves for steaming (my corners kept popping open), and her nephew kept sneaking bites of salad when he thought nobody saw. It felt less like a class and more like hanging out with someone’s family.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much over Tom Yum soup or get so invested in whether my curry was too salty. There were these quiet bits too — just listening to the birds while stirring sweet potato with palm sugar over the fire. After lunch we wandered out to see their tiny mushroom patch (surprisingly cool inside) and even peeked at the neighbor’s crocodile farm, which honestly freaked me out a bit but hey, you don’t see that every day in Siem Reap.

I still think about how full I felt leaving — not just from food, but from all those small moments that didn’t fit neatly into photos. If you’re looking for a Khmer cooking class in Siem Reap that feels real, this is it. Just don’t ask me to make fish amok solo yet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Khmer cooking class and market visit

• Walk around local market
• Find fresh ingredients
• Go to local's house
• Join private cooking class
• Learn to cook 4 Khmer dishes
• Try Fish Amok and Tom Yum
• Prepare starter and main dishes
• Make dessert with banana or sweet potato

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Khmer cooking class?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off by tuktuk are included in Siem Reap.

How many dishes do we cook during the class?

You’ll prepare four authentic Khmer dishes as part of the cooking class experience.

Can vegetarians join this Siem Reap cooking class?

Yes, vegetarian options are available; just let your host know about any dietary needs or allergies in advance.

Does the tour include visiting local markets?

Yes, you’ll walk around a local market in Siem Reap to pick fresh ingredients before cooking.

Is lunch provided after the cooking session?

Yes, you’ll enjoy a four-course meal featuring the dishes you’ve prepared yourself.

Are children allowed on this Khmer cooking class?

Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult during the activity.

What extra activities are included besides cooking?

The experience includes visits to a local mushroom farm and crocodile farm with your guide.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off by tuktuk in Siem Reap, all ingredients for your chosen Khmer dishes, hands-on guidance from your host Chenda or another local expert, visits to both a mushroom farm and crocodile farm nearby, plus a full four-course lunch made by you — all wrapped up before heading back to your hotel.