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Smokin' Pot
Review
About
*WE NOW HAVE A NEW LISTING FOR OUR COOKING SCHOOL* Please search Smokin' Pot Cooking School to book and review classes. Smokin' Pot Cooking school and restaurant of Khmer and Thai food has been operating since 2000. Why not join the locals in the mood for good-value Khmer food and come find the newly located Smokin' Pot food stall on the riverside night market in Battambang. With a range of authentic Khmer cuisines to try, with vegetarian and vegan options available too, there's something for everyone. We also offer a variety of fresh fruit shakes for you to enjoy on these hot evenings. So whether you are passing by or checking out the local Night Market, come and try our authentic Khmer dishes for yourself!
Features
CUISINES
Asian, Cambodian
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Outdoor Seating
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Wheelchair Accessible
Does this restaurant serve alcohol?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 12:00 AM
Sunday
14:00 - 0:00
Monday
14:00 - 0:00
Tuesday
14:00 - 0:00
Wednesday
14:00 - 0:00
Thursday
14:00 - 0:00
Friday
14:00 - 0:00
Saturday
14:00 - 0:00
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4.4
792 reviews
Excellent
533
Very good
130
Average
64
Poor
31
Terrible
34
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
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Monique E
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • friends
A family run restaurant serving delicious Cambodian food for really cheap prices with vegan and veggie options!! I went three times during my time in Battambang and ordered the Khmer curry for $3.50, Chicken Amok for $3.50 and Chha Khney Ginger, all their dishes come with rice included in the price!
They also offer a cooking class in their countryside family home which is an amazing way to delve deeper into the culture, you go to the local market prior to collect your ingredients and then head to their home where you prepare and cook everything from scratch (even the coconut milk!). Vannak speaks Amazing English and explains all the ingredients/flavors and recipe steps perfectly. Couldn’t recommend their restaurant & cooking class enough if you’re in Battambang! 5/5 stars ⭐️
Written 16 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anja R
5 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
The real Cambodia experience with a passionate original with very good English skills allows you to immerse yourself in the real Cambodia. Pick up from the hotel in Battambang on time and reliably, then it's off to a local farmer's market (far from the tourist hotspots) where all sorts of things can be explained and tasted, here the ingredients for the dishes (which you can choose beforehand) are freshly bought. Then it's off to Van's private accommodation, where he gives you a step-by-step hands-on introduction to Cambodian cooking. You can conjure up a 3-course meal yourself on the charcoal wok, which also tastes excellent. Our best Cambodia experience in the whole three weeks in the country!!
We were so excited that we booked a tour with him for the next day and this too kept everything that was promised, he adapts to your individual wishes and you get not just superficial information but profound impressions of Cambodian rural life. Anyone who really wants to get to know the country and its people will gain interesting insights in dialogue with Van. Both the cooking class and the tour are highly recommended!!
Written 9 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael G
25 contributions
Apr 2023 • couples
We had dinner at a Vannak’s restaurant Smokin Pot (road nr 5 next to Ganesha Guest House) good value fantastic delicious and authentic Khmer food, 100% recommend seeking this little gem out. We also booked a cookery class with Vannak and it was awesome, fun, informative and very delicious. We learnt so much about the local foods. Vannak speaks excellent English, he is a fountain of local knowledge and also offers local tours 😃😃😃
Written 6 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KJBarry67
London10 contributions
Aug 2024 • family
We attended the cooking classes run by Vannak and then followed up with a family meal at this restaurant. I would definitely recommended both the class and the food at the restaurant as both authentic, tasty and great value for money. Vannak and family are lovely as well
Written 26 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lu
Hanoi13 contributions
May 2024 • friends
Myself and a friend went to Vannak’s cooking class after he’d very politely approached us one afternoon. I could not recommend this experience enough!! After being picked up outside our hostel, he took us to the local market where we tried and select fresh produce. He then took us to his family home and we proceeded to make 4 amazing Khmer dishes. Vannak was brilliant, so lovely and attentive with so much knowledge of the history and culture. A very wholesome experience and one that I definitely would not miss out on, when visiting Battambang.
Written 26 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clive S
53 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
Don't miss the Smokin' Pot. So you come to Battambang and where do you eat? Obviously everyone tells you Jaan Bai. And why not? The food is great, the service attentive, the ambience relaxed and friendly. But then the next night? Just one hundred metres from Jaan Bai, down the somewhat ramshackle Street 1.5 is the Smokin' Pot. Here you can taste some truly delicious and authentic Khmer cuisine, and the bill at the end won't hurt. The chef-patron here is Vannak, a man who is passionate about preserving the art of Khmer cooking, and his passion sings in every dish.
So don't be put off by the street or the fact that the Smokin' Pot maybe closed when you walk down 1.5 during the day, this is a not to miss restaurant and a jewell (or at least the rought diamond) in Battambang's culinary crown.
Cooking school.
So once you've eaten, you'll want to take Vannak's wonderful morning cooking school. Take a trip out of town to a village market to buy fresh meat, fish, vegetables and herbs. Then spend a couple of hours with Van as he teaches you to create a Khmer paste which you can then combine with other ingredients to create authentic fish amok, chaa mrah prow or chaa khnei sach ko.
As a European who has been cooking With East Asian food for 30+ years, I found Vannak's lessons invaluable in getting to the heart of some Khmer techniques. So whether a novice or seasoned cook, Vannak's cooking school is worth every one of the $12 several times over.
Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dani
3 contributions
Aug 2022 • couples
A MUST in Battambang. This cooking class was ran by the amazing Vannak at his family home. We were picked up from our hostel, taken to a local market, taught all about the different fruits, vegetables and spices and how Cambodian dishes use them. A lot of the ingredients were grown at Vannak’s home, so were picked fresh from the garden. We made fish and chicken amok, beef lok lak and chicken curry (the best curry I’ve had after two months in SE Asia) There’s lots of other dishes you can choose to cook. We were shown the authentic, traditional way to cook these dishes. We felt that this cooking class wasn’t just about the food, but the passion this family has for educating people on traditional Khmer cooking and about their country. This experience has made our time in Cambodia; it’s amazing value for money as well as what we learnt and I would recommend this to anyone! Thank you/ Arkun!
Written 21 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reviewro
57 contributions
Feb 2025 • friends
Great food, if a tiny bit blander than I was expecting. I got the tofu amok and was expecting to be hit with those fragrant kaffir lime leaf and lemongrass flavours, but they were very subtle. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed my food and would definitely visit again to try other dishes. My sister's food looked delicious and she absolutely loved it. The rice was perfectly cooked, the staff were lovely, and it was a quiet location. Would recommend! Especially to vegans as it's not always easy finding decent vegan food here.
Written 6 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • couples
If you’re keen to witness the true Cambodian lifestyle and culture, while avoiding the tourists traps, this cooking class is the experience for you!
The teacher, Vannak, took us into the local market to gather ingredients for our three course meal. Once we arrived in his home kitchen, Vannak showed us the method and skills to cook authentic and traditional Khmer food. The outcome was delicious and it all came at an incredibly cheap price.
Vannak had great insight and wisdom into the traditional cooking methods of Khmer food and provided us with lots of history and cultural information about Battambang and Cambodia! We cannot recommend this enough for anyone wanting a true cultural experience and a memory to cherish.
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ruthy
8 contributions
Jan 2023 • solo
Stunning traditional Cambodian cooking class in the countryside with Vannak. He pick you up with the motorbike and visit a small market where you buy all the ingredients and show you typical products and then go to a cosy house in a beautiful countryside near by. Amazing old style cooking with fire!! Vannak is very friendly and explain you everything with a smile. I enjoyed a lot cooking and spending time with him. Best experience at Battabang!!!!
Written 26 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren G
6 contributions
Jan 2023 • solo
I had a wonderful time cooking with Vannak.
I was picked up promptly at 9am then taken to a local market to buy produce grown in the nearby village, before heading back to the kitchen with Vannak to start cooking our 3 authentic and traditional dishes.
Vannak was very accommodating to my vegan diet and we made 3 delicious vegan dishes which I cannot wait to try and make at home.
Could not recomment this class more for those looking to understand more about khmer cuisine or interested in doing something a bit more hands on for half a day!
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skyla W
2 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
100% recommend!! The guy who served us was so insanely lovely and so funny! The food was so good and I like how you can customise the meal for your preferences and spice levels! I got a big plate of noodles for $2 dollars so it is a very good find! You can also do cooking classes for Khmer food which I think would be an amazing experience. Overall 100% recommend !
Written 2 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate H
Mumbles1 contribution
Jul 2023 • couples
We went to Vannak’s cooking class today, and it’s safe to say that it made our trip to Battambang worthwhile! The day started off being picked up by Vannak and his family on their way to the local market (which was an amazing experience in itself) we made 3 dishes - each was amazing and a true taste of Khmer flavours. Vannak himself was a brilliant host with so much knowledge of the history and culture, and his family were such nice people. All in all it was a 10/10, wholesome experience and would recommend to anyone who decides to visit Battambang!
Written 27 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorena K
2 contributions
Dec 2022 • friends
We had an excellent time with Vannak and his cooking class. The driver picked us up at the hostel, we met Vannak, shortly discussed what we‘ll cook (vegetarian/vegan options!), went to a local market where we got all the delicious groceries we needed for the 3 dishes. Vannak answered all the questions we had, we could try things on the market and then went to his home. With patience and love to Details we made our own curry paste and 3 dishes - all on/in a traditional pot.
Can definitely recommend, we had an awesome time with Vannak, who also really enjoyed the talks we had in between the cooking. 5 stars!! 😍
Written 12 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea
Palazzolo sull'Oglio88 contributions
Jul 2024 • family
Dinner in the central market area. It's a bit of a hidden route but worth it. It offers Khmer cuisine: lak lok, amok, curry, sautéed rice, spring rolls, sautéed noodles and more.
Very kind family management and hyper contained prices.
Automatically translated
Written 29 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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