On a small quiet street in Sala Kamreuk area of Siem Reap a tiny new restaurant has recently appeared. Discreet and unassuming, it’s the place for authentic Thai, Lao and Khmer food that will have your taste buds singing and zinging.

It might look like any other small restaurant, however this small gem offers much more than meets the eye. Staff are sweet and friendly and will welcome you with a smile and join you for a laugh.

The kitchen is open, so you can see all of the action going on while your meal is being made fresh to order, flaming woks and lively discussion all on display.

Open daily from 10am until 10pm, you can stop in for Thai iced tea, coffee, lunch, dinner or in between. They have great coffee, too!

With dishes from around the region that you’ll expect such as papaya salad – popular in Thailand and Cambodia, larb from Laos and pad thai from Thailand, plus some unique treats like pad prik kang curry that will make your mouth water.

All meals have a vegetarian option and they plan to open a backyard bar for drinks and Thai bar snacks.

Head chef and co-owner, Kiu, is Cambodian and grew up in Southern Laos. In his teens, he moved to Thailand and became assistant chef at a restaurant in Chonburi. Later he moved to Siem Reap where he met Jake, an Australian who admits he has no flair in the kitchen but plenty of experience in setting up businesses!

It was during Khmer New Year that Kiu catered for the staff party of Grasshopper Adventures — where Jake is manager — that the seed for Thai Kitchen was planted. Everyone raved so much about the food and they just knew that Kiu’s food should be shared with more people. Just a few months later, with some help from a kindly neighbor, a suitable space, and Jake’s business sense, the Thai Kitchen was born.

Patrons have left rave reviews. We think this is going to be a hot spot as more people find out about this charming new restaurant.