• Society

Morakot Angkor Restaurant Offers Cultural Dining Experience

• By Teng Yalirozy
• January 24, 2024 2:10 PM

SIEM REAP–A wide selection of world dishes and the best Cambodian cuisine accompanied by Khmer arts performances can be found at the architecturally aesthetic Morakot (Emerald) Angkor Restaurant in Siem Reap City.

Opened seven months ago, the central city restaurant has gained widespread support from national and international tourists for lunches and dinners.

Operations manager Ly Komkom, who is only 27 years old, said over 50 dishes –European and Vietnamese but widely Cambodian – are served daily with shows from 7.30-8.30 pm. 

Amok – a popular steamed fish in a banana leaf – and pumpkin pudding are recommended. Guests with a deep interest in Cambodian culture would go straight to amok while some Western and Asian tourists would go for flamed-grilled steak, Komkom said.

Shaved ice dessert is popular.  This is well known among Cambodians and children, mostly in rural areas. The dessert’s popularity has been fading away but is now being revived by the restaurant. 

Here, shaved-ice dessert is served with beans, nuts, jelly and fruits topped with palm sugar and childhood green, yellow or red syrup.

“These things combined create a unique atmosphere for tourists who are interested in the manifestation of the Cambodian culture in one place,” Komkom said.

During the high season, the occupancy rate is typically 80-90 percent. Low season  is slightly less than 50 percent occupancy with a average of 60-50 percent throughout the year.

Business with risk but clarity 

Ly Komkom was an international business student from Bangkok who was awarded a place on an exchange program in management for one year in France in 2020. He has been involved in the restaurant business since he was in Grade 10. His family owns seven restaurants across Siem Reap.

Asked whether he was concerned about the success of the restaurant as the province is still affected by the aftermath of COVID-19, he said, “Business has risk. Risk without information is just gambling, but the risk with information is strategic.”

He saw the opportunity that in Siem Reap, tourists often struggled to fully appreciate Cambodian culture and architecture, which blends modern and traditional elements. However, the establishment offers a unique experience, including food and culture.

Komkom said the restaurant has gained support due to its quality, strategic operation and marketing as well as sales, despite the challenges of managing lots of staff to serve 500 guests every day.

The company plans to expand its business by opening more restaurants in Siem Reap and beyond and collaborating with foreigners to bring Cambodian culture to people outside the country.

“It’s not about the success. We did not expect too much, but we had confidence when opening the restaurant with the work we had been doing and our teamwork,” he said.