6. Somtum Der – Bangkok’s Best Som Tam (Papaya Salad)
Somtum Der is a small cozy restaurant serving delicious northeast Isaan Thai food! The restaurant has a great outside area where you can sit and eat and drink their tasty martinis of vodka and lemongrass or Rosella.
Their specialty is the Som Tam (Papaya Salad), of which they have eight versions of the menu.
Som Tam/ Papaya Salad with shrimps.
The easiest for beginners is the Tum Thai, the base papaya salad made with papaya, limes, tomato, chilies, peanuts and palm sugar. The Tum Thai Kai Kem with salted boiled egg and the Tum Kor Moo Yang with savory grilled pork neck are also delicious!
All of the Som Tams are however quite spicy, even the one-chili versions are hot, but you can ask for a non-spicy version (as I do 🙂 ). I am not that good at eating spicy food, but I try. Espen has no problem eating spicy food, but he sweats a lot! 🙂 Whatever Som Tam you try, order the black or regular sticky rice and dip it into the leftover sauce. Yummy!
The real star on the Somtum Der`s menu is the Moo Ping Kati Sod, thin-sliced pork (or beef) skewers marinated in coconut milk, and then grilled until the marinade caramelizes. Served with nests of coconut-scented rice noodle. So tasty! Also, the house special grilled marinated Pork is delicious!
Somtum Der also has desserts on the menu, like the Thai-styled Ice Kajang, a dish that looks intimidating and impressive but is mostly air. Harder to get past is its flavor. Let’s just say that if you’re a real fan of white bread and pink bubble gum; this is probably the desert for you!
Cozy outside sitting area at Somtum Der.
Somtum Der is an affordable, friendly place with delicious and authentic north Isaan Thai food. The atmosphere is great! They also have a restaurant in New York with the same name.
- Address: 5/5 Sala Daeng Road, Silom
- How to get there: Take the sky train to Silom station, and walk from there (very short).
- Opening hours: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
7. Sawang Noodle- Bangkok’s best Noodle Soup
The famous and legendary noodle cafe that used to be called Bamee Sawang Noodle, moved and switched its name to just Sawang Noodle in 2016. It was originally located in the Hua Lam Phong are, next to Bangkok train station, but has moved to 982 Phetchaburi Road close to Central World at Siam.
Sawang still serves one of Bangkok’s best noodle soups!
The egg noodles are hand-made, the barbecued pork is delicious and honey sweet, and the crab is salty and tasty!
Noodle Soup at Sawang Noodle
But is it as special as it once was? No, the old wood fire ovens have been replaced by gas and the new location lacks the old world charm and history of the previous place.
There is the feeling that a new generation has taken over the restaurant. But the noodle soup is still tasty and worth a visit if you find yourself in its new neighborhood. The noodle soup is still cooked outside the restaurant on the street, but you have to sit inside and eat.
The noodle soup is prepared outside at Sawang
- Address: 982 Phetchaburi Road
- The Sawang noodle cafe has moved from the original Hua Lam Phong location (near Bangkok train station Hua Lamphong) and is now at 982 Phetchaburi Road. The sign is on the glass door rather than on the main sign above so you have to look for it and it says Sawang Noodle.
- How to get there: Take the Skytrain to Siam or Chit Lom station, and walk from there.
- Opening hours: 9:30 – 23:00
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