Siem Reap: Khmer Cooking Class with Market Tour & Pickup

Siem reap food class with market walk and chef-led cooking

You’ll join a small group in Siem Reap for a Khmer cooking class that starts with a lively market tour led by a local guide. You’ll pick fresh ingredients, then head to a garden pavilion where a chef shows you step-by-step how to make classic Cambodian dishes. Expect hands-on moments (and sticky fingers), stories from locals, and lunch in the shade—plus hotel pickup so you don’t have to worry about getting there.

Step-by-step itinerary

Khmer cooking class experience

• Meet guide at accommodation
• Visit local market with guide
• Explore Cambodian ingredients
• Go to garden pavilion
• Learn to cook three Khmer dishes
• Enjoy the prepared meal

The Experience

We were already sweating a bit by the time our guide, Sopheak, handed us chilled lemongrass water outside the Siem Reap market. I’d never seen so many herbs piled together—tiny limes, something that looked like ginger but wasn’t, and fish stacked on ice. Sopheak laughed when I tried to pronounce “prahok” (I’m still not sure I got it right). The air was thick with spice and chatter; vendors waved at him like old friends. I liked how he explained what each thing was for—like why you need noni leaves for Fish Amok. Didn’t expect to learn that before noon.

The tuk-tuk ride to the cooking pavilion was breezy, all dust and flashes of green fields. Our chef, Dara, greeted us with a grin and set us up under a roof of woven palm leaves. He showed me how to roll spring rolls without tearing the rice paper—mine looked lumpy but tasted better than they looked (Dara said “rustic style” is fine). The coconut milk for dessert smelled sweet and warm as it bubbled. My hands were sticky most of the time, which somehow made it more fun.

Sitting down together in the garden to eat what we’d cooked—Fish Amok steaming in its banana leaf bowl, spring rolls crisp on the outside—felt oddly satisfying. There was a soft clatter from someone chopping herbs nearby, birds calling somewhere out past the fence. We talked about Cambodian food traditions and Dara told us how his grandmother used to make palm sugar candy. I still think about that taste—banana with coconut cream—when I smell palm sugar now.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation with hotel pickup in Siem Reap, all entry fees and taxes covered, chilled lemongrass water or regular water on arrival, every ingredient and piece of equipment needed for your hands-on Khmer cooking class led by a local chef—and finally sitting down together for lunch in their peaceful garden pavilion before heading back into town.

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Angkor Wat Shared Tours

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Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Siem Reap cooking class?

Yes, pickup from your accommodation in Siem Reap is included.

What dishes do we cook during the Khmer cooking class?

You’ll choose three dishes such as Fish Amok with rice, spring rolls (vegetable or meat), and banana with coconut cream and palm sugar.

Does this day trip include a visit to a local market?

Yes, you start with a guided market tour in Siem Reap to select ingredients.

Is this cooking class suitable for kids or beginners?

Yes, it’s child-friendly and no experience is necessary.

How long does the whole activity take?

The experience typically lasts half a day including pickup, market tour, cooking session, and lunch.

Are vegetarian options available in this Khmer cooking class?

Yes, you can choose vegetable spring rolls or request vegetarian options when booking.

Where do we eat after cooking?

You’ll enjoy your meal in a shaded garden pavilion at the cooking school after preparing your dishes.