Review: "Same same but diferent" Apsara Show @ Siem Reap, Cambodia

Is it worth watching? How much does it cost? Is the buffet included with the price? Etc...

Find out based on an amateur traveler's perspective

Traditional Apsara Dance (Taken from Koulen II Restaurant's website)

After backreading from forums and reading various blogs regarding the apsara dance, I haven't yet decided where we should watch it, I mean from what restaurant or theater should we go...

As soon as we arrive at Siem Reap, Cambodia and while driving us to our hotel our taxi driver immediately offered us if we want to watch Apsara Dance for USD 12.00 with buffet inclusive, I first asked the driver if the place is nice, if a lot of tourist go to the said place and his reply to us was "SAME SAME but different" (Huh?!), but we decided to go for it since he mentioned that its held at Koulen Restaurant which I remembered since it was mentioned before at Pinoy Exchange forum by Filipinos that had visited Siem Reap already.

After some rest at the hotel, we where picked by our driver and dropped us at the venue.

The place was chaotic when we arrived since alot of tourist (Americans, Europeans and a few Asians) had already started eating and lining up at the buffet areas but we were ushered to our table by their friendly wait staffs, after ordering our drinks which was not inclusive with the USD 12 payment, we attacked the buffet area like hungry vultures (For short: P.G.)

Here's a shot to prove how hungry we were:

P.G. Mode

We were embarrassed when we took this shot since after hoarding up too much food and not noticing it, we noticed tourists staring at our table.

The food was average for me but considering the amount of what we paid it can be considered as above average since it includes a show already.

• Was the show worth watching as a first timer? Yes

• Reservation needed? Its optional but you can have a good seating position if youll have an advance reservation.

• Are there many variety of foods at the buffet area? Yup, (Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese, Etc.) they also have cooking stations for made to order dishes.

• Are drinks inclusive with the USD 12? Nope, its just for food and the apsara show.

• Are you going to visit the place again for your next visit to Siem Reap? Nope, I'll try to visit other shows then that's the time I'll decide which is better.

• Is there clean restroom with running water in the restaurant? Yes 

• Why don't you have more shots of the resto and the foods? Sorry, when we had the trip I havent started this blog yet and it still haven't crossed my mind to have one.

• Are there many taxi's or tuktuks in the area? Yup, there are tons offering various rates, try to haggle first before riding one.

• Are table napkins provided for free? Yup, I asked for and they happily gave us alot.

• Do you know other places to watch Apsara Dance? There are alot of places where you can watch one (Expensive, Mid-range or Low Class), Just google it.

My personal rating: 3.5 spoons out of 5 being the highest

Koulen II Restaurant
Nº 50, Street Sivatha, Mondul II, Svaydangkum, Siem Reap Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel : (855) 92 630 090
Phone : (855) 12 897 105
Fax / Phone : (855) 63 964 324 

Website:  http://koulen2restaurant.com

If you have been to other Apsara shows please feel free to share them. Thanks.

Cheers!
Josh (Boy.Butet)