Welcome to Chef Nak’s Culinary World—Where Tradition Meets Innovation
Chef Nak (Ros Rotanak) is Cambodia’s most prominent culinary voice, an award-winning chef, author, and cultural ambassador dedicated to preserving, developing, and celebrating authentic Cambodian cuisine. Recognized internationally as a leader of the new cambodian culinary movement, she founded Chef Nak, a cultural enterprise offering exclusive home dining experiences, immersive cooking classes, and heritage homestays in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Her acclaimed cookbooks, NHUM: Recipes from a Cambodian Kitchen and SAOY: Royal Cambodian Home Cuisine (winner of the Gourmand “Best of the Best” Cookbook in the World), have reintroduced Cambodia’s royal and home recipes to the global stage. Through her work, Chef Nak has become the nation’s foremost culinary ambassador, inspiring a new generation to rediscover Cambodia’s soul through its food, warm hospitality, and living heritage.
Meet Chef Nak: The Guardian of Cambodian Culinary Heritage
For Chef Ros Rotanak (Chef Nak), food is a lifelong passion. From standing on tiptoes in her family’s kitchen at the age of four to becoming Cambodia’s leading culinary ambassador, her journey is rooted in a deep respect for tradition.
"I'm inspired to rediscover Cambodia’s hidden delicacies through the memories of our elders. Their knowledge holds a vast reservoir of culinary heritage waiting to be shared with the world." – Chef Nak
The Khmer Rouge era led to the loss of millions of lives and irreplaceable cultural traditions, including Cambodian cuisine. As time passes, the elders who hold these food traditions in their memories are growing fewer.
That is why Chef Nak has dedicated her life’s work to preserving, documenting, and reviving Cambodia’s culinary legacy—ensuring it thrives for future generations.
Why It Matters
Preserve Traditional Recipes – Through cookbooks, digital storytelling, classes, and workshops.
Innovate Cambodian Cuisine – Fusing ancestral flavors with modern culinary techniques.
Educate & Inspire – Hosting cooking classes, home dining experiences, homestays, culinary events, and engaging content.
Bring Cambodia to the World – Through global partnerships and authentic dining experiences.
Our Mission: Keeping Cambodian Cuisine Alive
Beyond her personal journey, Chef Nak is a culinary bridge between Cambodia and the world. Her work includes:
Award-winning cookbooks that document rare Khmer recipes.
Exclusive dining experiences blending tradition with modern flair.
Educational collaborations with global institutions (UNICEF, FAO, World Bank).
A vibrant social media presence that showcases the beauty of Khmer food.
A Global Voice for Cambodian Cuisine
Be part of our journey to celebrating, preserving, and sharing Cambodian cuisine with the world.
Explore our award-winning cookbooks:
Book a unique Cambodian dining experience:
Discover our recipes & food culture:
Follow Chef Nak’s culinary journey on:
Instagram | YouTube | Facebook
Contact us: info@chefnak.com
Phone: +855 (0) 17 528 041
Join the Culinary Movement
TRANCEDENT EXPERIENCE SIMPLY THE BEST!!!!!!!!!.
“A Chef Nak experience is unlike any cooking experience I have experienced in my life. She is a charismatic, passionate advocate for Cambodian cooking and a force of nature in the very best sense of the term. She is not just knowledgeable about the Cambodian kitchen she is like a history book that respects the past and honors all that it teaches you about Food as medicine and Food as love.” Read More
- Funky, January 2025
Tripadvisor
WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
BEAUTIFUL COLLECTIBLE BOOK WITH RARE ANCIENT RECIPES *****
“Celebrity Chef Nak is one of Cambodia’s treasures. This beautifully made book collects ancient, lost recipes that have been recovered and presented in a tasteful way. This is a must-have for any chef or lover of exotic cuisine." Read More
- Mike A, 21 June 2024
Amazon
FANTASTIC DINING AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
“Wife and husband team Nak and Sarin have created an oasis a short ferry ride away from the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh, where one can retreat to the peace and quiet of the countryside to experience a traditional, and sometimes royal, dining experience…” Read More
- FamSiam, January 2023
Tripadvisor
“What an absolutely incredible experience. Chef Nak and her team are passionate and provide a memorable experience. A must for anyone visiting Cambodia." Read More
- Stanley Levy, Nov 2024
MEDIA REVIEW
The return of Cambodia's food lost during the Khmer Rouge regime
“Travelers learn about Cambodia’s traditional dishes at a chef's home — and help save them from extinction." Read More
-BBC, 21 March 2024
How a Chef’s Homestay Near Phnom Penh Is Preserving Cambodia’s Culinary Heritage
“Travelers learn about Cambodia’s traditional dishes at a chef's home — and help save them from extinction." Read More
-Travel + Leisure, August 2, 2024
A Chef's Quest to Preserve Cambodia's Lost Flavors
Part historical record, part how-to for cooks, “Nhum,” a cookbook from the chef Rotanak Ros and Nataly Lee, pieces together recipes from a time before the country’s genocide." Read More
-The New York Times, April 12, 2021
“Condé Nast Traveler, Chef & Rare, Robb Report, Financial Times, The Times, Atlas Obscura, Taste of Home, The Epoch Times, Nikkei Asia,..." And More