Our reserved table for the Khmer Dance Dinner Show
Diving into Cambodian culture doesn’t get much more traditional than this — a dinner show featuring traditional Khmer dances. And yes, I got video. It’s on my YouTube channel, and I’ll link that toward the end of today’s article. As for this particular show, it’s a weekly event held at the Golden Temple Residence’s restaurant, which I gave you a glimpse of on Monday. While the everyday menu is very good, this dinner show offers something a bit more upscale on the cuisine level. Here’s our menu for this evening (5 November 2025):
Special Khmer Set Menu
As the restaurant is situated directly across from the pool and the poolside seating area, that seating area becomes the stage for this show:
Poolside seating area becomes a stage
The dinner is presented at the same time as the show, which features traditional Khmer dances. Those dances are described in the accompanying list available at each table:
Traditional Khmer Dance list
Traditional Khmer Dance list
As one would expect, the dances are performed in traditional costumes and, when appropriate, masks:
Khmer Moni Mekhala Dance
These next two photo galleries/slide shows show our dinner and the dances presented to us this evening:
Next week I’ll start showing you around Siem Reap via a tuk-tuk tour. This week’s Fun Photo Friday will feature Golden Temple Residence and Khmer Dance favorites. But until then, I promised you a video of our Khmer Dance Show:
Time to begin another long series on yet another lengthy trip. Over the coming months I’ll be showing you our forty-day Southeast Asia adventure, which began in Siem Reap, Cambodia via Singapore on 1 November 2025. From there we ventured on to Bangkok, Thailand, then returned to Singapore for a two-night stay before embarking on a 14-night cruise. That cruise took us to Penang and Phuket, Thailand; Hambantota and Colombo, Sri Lanka; Cochin and Goa, India; finishing up in Mumbai, India. After disembarking in Mumbai, we began an extensive 17-day exploration of India. That tour took us to Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra, Chennai, and finally to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) before heading back to Singapore for two nights. So, as you can see, we have quite a lot to cover here on the blog over the next several months.
Golden Temple Residence, Siem Reap, Cambodia
But before I get to the fascinating antiquities in and around Siem Reap, Cambodia (such as Angkor Wat), I’m going to do something I seldom even consider. I’m going to show our incredible accommodations here and, on Wednesday, I’ll show you the traditional Khmer dances we enjoyed at this resort’s restaurant during their weekly dinner show. Yes, we were that impressed with this five-star resort — the Golden Temple Residence on Angkor Night Market Street near Sok San Road and almost directly across from the Golden Temple Boutique, which is another five-star resort falling under the same ownership. Not only were the accommodations superb and the restaurant wonderful, but the location was also perfect. We found ourselves less that ten minutes’ walk from Siem Reap’s Art Center Night Market and other major shopping areas.
Golden Temple Residence pool
When you arrive to the Golden Temple Residence and pass through the nondescript outer wall, you’ll stroll past the pool (above) and into the entrance leading to the main lobby:
Golden Temple Residence entrance
Before we take a look at our room, let’s focus once more on that pool:
Poolside seating area
Golden Temple Residence pool
We’ll head to the restaurant in a moment, but for now it’s time to show you our fantastic room:
After visiting the room, Ursula and I headed back toward the lobby and stepped into the adjoining restaurant:
Golden Temple Residence restaurant (reception area visible through the opening on the left)
Here you’ll find a restaurant that caters to local cuisine, which you can see at this menu link. If that’s not to your liking, however, restaurants featuring more western-style foods are nearby. But when in Cambodia….
Wednesday’s article returns us to the same restaurant, but this time for a dinner show featuring traditional Khmer dances.
Be careful where you eat in Cairo. That’s no joke. When we took our children there in 1984, three out of the four of us got a severe case of Imhotep’s Revenge. From a salad bar, of all things. Making matters worse, there is only one toilet in a hotel room. First come, first served, and knocking on the door gets you nowhere. When you gotta go, you gotta runs, so to speak. By the way, did you know that diarrhea is hereditary? It runs in the jeans.
Imhotep — resistance was just as futile in 1984 as it was in 1932
But is that warning still valid in 2025? I don’t know, but I was unwilling to test the premise. Also, as you’ll find out my upcoming 6 August article, you’re taking your life into your own hands if you even think of crossing the street in Cairo. So, heading out to dinner on foot is a real adventure. Fortunately, we found a very acceptable restaurant on-site at our hotel, Mar Charbel. As for the hotel, it was very well appointed, quite comfortable, and relatively quiet save for the street noise, which you get everywhere in Cairo. Our only quibble was during check-in, as the desk staff could not find our reservations. But the wait just gave Ursula time to set up a tour, which you’ve seen already.
The view from our Mar Charbel room
The view from our Mar Charbel room
Fortunately, dining in your hotel means you needn’t brave crossing the street, and in a reputable hotel you won’t be subjected to The Wrath of Colon (William Shatner, Ricardoo Montalbuns, Paramound Sphincters, 1982). So, with those enticements in mind, up we traveled to the Mar Charbel Hotel Restaurant.
Mar Charbel Hotel Restaurant
Being a rooftop restaurant offers up some nice views of Cairo, especially as the Sun sets:
Cairo sunset view from the Mar Charbel rooftop restaurant
In the mood for Egyptian cuisine? You’ll find it here. Not all that adventurous? You see French, Italian, and even Mexican dishes on the menu. Looking for something really basic? Yes, even sandwiches, burgers & fries, pastas, and pizzas await you. But, when in Cairo…
The lentil soup was so good we kept coming back for more
Is spicy your thing? Got you covered:
Heinz Hot Sauce
The tables are nicely appointed here:
Mar Charbel Hotel Restaurant
Worried about eating raw vegetables? That’s what got us back in 1984, as the veggies were “washed” in the local tap water. If you’re worried (we had no problems here this trip), then just make sure you forego the salad, tell the waiter to leave off the parsley, and order your veggies cooked:
Breaded cutlet, fries, and mixed vegetables
Don’t forget dessert. You’ll even find milkshakes on the menu. But the dessert we kept coming back to was the lava cake:
Rich, decadent lava cake
Next week draws to a close our Cairo adventure, after which it’s time to head south for a Nile cruise.
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