Discover authentic Cambodian cuisine, local village life, and genuine Khmer hospitality through immersive food experiences with Chef Sophos in rural Siem Reap.
Chef Sophos welcomes guests from around the world into his family home in Siem Reap to experience authentic Cambodian cooking, local culture, and genuine Khmer hospitality. Friendly, relaxed, and passionate about sharing his culture, Sophos creates experiences that feel personal from the moment guests arrive.After training at the Shinta Mani Institute of Hospitality and spending more than 13 years working in professional kitchens and international hotels, including Park Hyatt Siem Reap, he chose to leave the hotel industry and build something more meaningful with his family.Today, his cooking classes and local experiences take place in and around his home village, giving visitors the chance to cook traditional Khmer dishes, connect with local life, and enjoy Cambodia in a warm and authentic setting beyond the typical tourist experience.
“Not only did we learn to cook great Cambodian food, we had an authentic local experience and saw the real Siem Reap at Sophos’ house!”
More than just a cooking lesson, Sophos Cooking Class is an authentic cultural experience hosted at Chef Sophos’ family home in Siem Reap. Guests are welcomed like friends and guided through the preparation of traditional Khmer dishes using fresh local ingredients, while learning about Cambodian food, family traditions, and everyday village life.
With his professional culinary background and warm, personal approach, Chef Sophos creates a relaxed and memorable experience that combines authentic Cambodian cuisine with genuine local hospitality.
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The experience starts at a local countryside market, where participants explore stalls filled with just-picked herbs, seasonal vegetables, fresh fish, and fragrant spices. You might see ingredients essential to dishes like Green mango salad or Fish Amok—green mangoes, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and freshly caught fish. Vendors share stories, and you learn how to choose the best produce by smell, color, and texture.
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The journey continues to a nearby village farm. Here, you connect directly with the source of your ingredients—picking herbs from the garden, harvesting bananas, or observing how coconut and palm sugar are traditionally prepared. This “farm-to-table” approach gives a deeper appreciation for the freshness and care behind every dish.
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Back in the home kitchen in an authentic Cambodian village, the class becomes hands-on. Guided step by step, you prepare each dish using traditional techniques—pounding spices into curry paste, wrapping ingredients in banana leaves, and balancing the four key flavors: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. There’s no rush; it’s about understanding the process and enjoying it.
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Finally, everyone gathers to share the meal they’ve created – from appetizer to dessert, perhaps ending with something like Caramelized banana. Sitting together, often on woven mats or around a simple table, completes the experience: fresh ingredients, traditional cooking, and the warmth of Cambodian hospitality all in one place.
“Highly recommended. Very authentic experience with a nice family. Choose them for a cooking class when in Siem Reap, it is a great way to support the local community!”
Chef Sophos grew up in a small village in Siem Reap province, where food was always at the heart of family life. Like many Cambodians, his journey was not easy. At 18, he left school due to financial difficulties and moved to Siem Reap in search of opportunity.
That decision changed everything.
He was accepted into the Shinta Mani Institute of Hospitality, where he trained in professional cooking. From there, he built his career step by step, working in some of Siem Reap’s most respected kitchens, including La Résidence d’Angkor and later Park Hyatt Siem Reap, where he worked as a Sous Chef in fine dining.
After more than 13 years in the hotel industry, Sophos made a different choice.
Instead of continuing in luxury hotels, he returned to his roots to create something more personal — a cooking experience based in his own home, together with his family.
Today, Sophos Cooking Class is not just about learning recipes. It is about sharing real Cambodian life. Guests are welcomed into his home village, introduced to local ingredients, and guided through traditional Khmer dishes in a relaxed, family setting.
Every class reflects his journey — from village life, to professional kitchens, and back again — combining skill, authenticity, and genuine Khmer hospitality.
Looking ahead, Sophos hopes to open a free culinary school for local children, giving others the same opportunity that changed his life.
