Pou Restaurant
Pou Restaurant has operated on Sok San Road long enough to qualify as an anchor venue for the strip. It occupies a corner position with a terrace that extends toward the sidewalk, catching whatever breeze comes through in the late afternoon. The kitchen covers Khmer, Thai, and some Asian fusion dishes with competence, and the menu is broad enough that groups with different preferences can all find something. The bar component is the reason to include it in a nightlife context: the cocktail list is substantial, happy hour runs until 8 PM with genuine discounts, and the terrace fills up with a predictable early-evening crowd of hotel guests and repeat visitors. Mango salad and fish amok are the standout dishes. The outdoor seating works best from 17:00 to 20:00, before the road traffic thickens and the insects come out in force. After dinner, the restaurant transitions toward a bar crowd without forcing anyone to move. Staff manage the transition smoothly and the music stays at a level that doesn't interrupt conversation.
Where to stay near Pou Restaurant
Hotels close to Sok San Road, Siem Reap.
What to Expect
A busy corner terrace followed by a quieter interior. Street-facing seating is lively; indoor seating is calmer. Menus are bilingual. Service is efficient during dinner rush and slower after 21:00 when the kitchen slimdown begins.
Busy and friendly during peak hours, calmer later in the evening. Social without being loud.
Background pop and Cambodian contemporary. Volume increases slightly after 21:00.
Casual. No requirements beyond basic decency.
Groups with mixed preferences, happy hour drinkers, anyone wanting a terrace position on Sok San Road
USD cash strongly preferred, some card facilities available but not reliable
Price Range
Mains $5-10, cocktails $3.50-6, beer $1.50-2.50, happy hour cocktails $2.50-3
Mains ~4.50-9 EUR, cocktails ~3.15-5.40 EUR, beer ~1.35-2.25 EUR
Hours
10:00-23:00 daily
Insider Tip
Happy hour cocktails until 20:00 offer the best price-to-quality ratio on Sok San Road. The corner terrace seats fill first; arrive by 17:30 to claim one for a sunset drink. The mango salad with grilled chicken is the best of the hybrid Khmer-Thai options.
Full Review
Pou has the corner position advantage that most restaurants on Sok San Road don't, and it uses it well. The terrace extends around two sides of the building, giving it more outdoor capacity than any comparable venue on the strip. On any evening between 17:00 and 20:00, it's one of the fuller places you'll see on the road.
The kitchen produces reliable Khmer food. Nothing on the menu is experimental, and the descriptions are accurate to what arrives. The mango salad has a proper balance of sweet, sour, and heat. The amok uses a consistent recipe. The lok lak comes correctly seared. For travelers who want a benchmark Khmer meal without the uncertainty of choosing somewhere untested, Pou is a safe option.
Happy hour is the real draw for drinks-focused visitors. Cocktails at $2.50-3 during the two-hour happy hour window are among the better value options on Sok San Road. The house cocktail list includes a Cambodian rum sour that's worth trying and a few blended fruit options that are less interesting but consistent.
The indoor section is air-conditioned and quieter. It fills with families and couples who prefer not to deal with the road noise. The terrace is where the more social crowd gravitates, and where you're more likely to end up in conversation with neighboring tables.
Service slows noticeably after 21:00 when the kitchen starts winding down. If you're arriving late for dinner, tell them early. If you're just there for drinks, the later service pace doesn't matter.
The Neighborhood
Corner position on Sok San Road places Pou within easy walking distance of the main Sok San Road hotel cluster. Junglebox and The Hub are within a few blocks. Pub Street is a 10-minute walk east.
Getting There
Standard Sok San Road approach from Pub Street: tuk-tuk heading west then north, 5-7 minutes, $1-2. The corner position makes it easy to spot from the road junction.
Address
Sok San Road, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Other Venues in Sok San Road
Junglebox Wine Bar
Wine-focused bar on Sok San Road with a relaxed indoor-outdoor setup, an international wine list, cocktails, and a small food menu. Draws expats and longer-stay travelers who've graduated from Pub Street's bucket cocktails.
The Hub
Open-air community bar with a pool table, dart boards, and a cross-section of expats, NGO workers, and backpackers in transit. Cheap beer, no-frills atmosphere, and conversation that's actually possible at normal volume.
Mahob Khmer Restaurant
Khmer restaurant with a full bar that extends into the evenings. Wood-interior setting with local dishes and cocktails. Good for dinner that segues into drinks without changing venues.
Father's House Restaurant
Garden bar and restaurant set slightly back from the road with outdoor seating under trees. Attracts hotel guests and families in the early evening, transitions to a quieter bar crowd later on.
FCC Angkor Bar
The bar component of the Foreign Correspondents' Club Angkor boutique hotel, a short walk south of the main Sok San strip. Colonial architecture, proper cocktails, a curated wine list, and a dress code one notch above the backpacker norm.