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The best Som Tam in Bangkok

Also spelt Som Tum, Somtam, Green Papaya Salad and Som Tam Thai. A curated shortlist, shaped by your votes.

Editorial picks

Selected from published food guides and local reporting. How the list works

  1. Number 1.Som Tam Jay So

    Silom, Soi Phiphat 2 Silom & Sathorn

    Open
    Mon to Sat 10.30am until sold out, about 5.30pm
    Where
    Soi Phiphat 2, off Convent Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

    Order som tam pu pla ra and half a grilled chicken. The tick sheet is Thai only, so point at the next table's plate. Posted hours vary and the food goes by mid afternoon.

    What to orderSom tam pu pla ra with half a grilled chicken and sticky rice

    0 votes

  2. Number 2.Somtum Der (Sala Daeng)

    Sala Daeng Silom & Sathorn

    Open
    11am to 11pm daily
    Where
    5/5 Sala Daeng Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

    Khon Kaen cooking in a bright two-storey room, with the pounding bar downstairs. Ask for the tam sua Sakon Nakhon. Prices sit above street level, and evenings fill with an after-work crowd.

    What to orderSomtum sua Sakon Nakhon, heaped with kratin beans

    0 votes

  3. Number 3.Lay Lao (Ari)

    Ari Ari, Phaya Thai & Victory Monument

    Open
    10.30am to 10pm daily, last order 9.30pm
    Where
    65 Soi Phahon Yothin 7 (Soi Ari), Sam Sen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400

    Isaan salads built on Hua Hin shellfish, which is the reason to come. Take the tam with raw black crab and roe, plus grilled pork shoulder. The room is small and fills by noon.

    What to orderSom tam with raw black crab and roe

    0 votes

  4. Phed Phed (Ari)

    Ari, Soi Sailom Ari, Phaya Thai & Victory Monument

    Open
    11.30am to 10pm daily, book ahead
    Where
    Phahonyothin Soi 8 (Soi Sailom), Sam Sen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400

    The name means spicy spicy and eight chillies is the house default, so say less if you mean it. Order the som tam Isaan. Walking in without a booking usually fails.

    What to orderSom tam Isaan, pounded with nam pla ra

    0 votes

  5. Baan E-sarn Muangyos

    Sukhumvit 31 (Soi Sawatdi) Lower Sukhumvit (Nana, Asok & Phrom Phong)

    Open
    5pm until about 3am, nightly
    Where
    Soi Sukhumvit 31, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

    Where Sukhumvit's own cooks eat once service ends, which explains the hours. Papaya is chopped rough and the pla ra is heavy. Nothing happens before five, so do not arrive hungry at lunch.

    What to orderSom tam pla ra, roughly shredded Isaan style

    0 votes

  6. Somtam Nua (Siam Square)

    Siam Square Soi 5 Siam, Pathumwan & Banthat Thong

    Open
    11am to 9.30pm daily
    Where
    392/14 Siam Square Soi 5, Rama I Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

    Bangkok style rather than Isaan, so sweeter and gentler on the pla ra. Time Out sends people here for the tum sading. The pavement queue is part of the deal and moves slowly.

    What to orderTum sading with khanom jeen, plus the fried chicken wings

    0 votes

  7. Zao Ekkamai

    Ekkamai, Soi Pridi Banomyong 25 Thonglor & Ekkamai

    Open
    Opens 11.30am daily, booking advised
    Where
    155 Soi Pridi Banomyong 25, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

    Eve Palasak's Ubon kitchen, with produce from Warin Chamrap market twice a week and three grades of pla ra. Ask for the tam pa. Bills run several times a street stall's.

    What to orderTam pa, with hoy cherry and hairy eggplant

    0 votes

  8. Hai Som Tam Convent

    Soi Convent, Silom Silom & Sathorn

    Open
    Mon to Sat 11am to 9pm, closed Sunday
    Where
    2, 4-5 Convent Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

    A shophouse canteen for Silom office workers, open to the street with plastic stools. The tam khai khem, with salted duck egg, is the one. Closed Sundays, and the lunch hour is a crush.

    What to orderTam khai khem with the caramelised gai yang

    0 votes

  9. Sood Jai Gai Yang Som Tum (Or Tor Kor)

    Or Tor Kor market, Chatuchak Chatuchak & Lat Phrao

    Open
    Tue to Sun 8am to 6.30pm, closed Monday
    Where
    Or Tor Kor Market, 101 Kamphaeng Phet Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

    Soodjai Rodcheewa won a national som tam contest and the stall still works to that recipe. Pair the pla ra tam with her grilled chicken. Shut on Mondays, and the market empties by early evening.

    What to orderBold pla ra som tam with the grilled chicken

    0 votes

  10. Baan Somtum (Sathon)

    Silom, Soi Pramuan Silom & Sathorn

    Open
    11am to 10pm daily
    Where
    9/1 Soi Pramuan, Si Wiang Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

    Twenty nine papaya salads on the card, which is where most people stall. Take the salted duck egg version with a plate of grilled pork. Weekend evenings queue, so aim for before seven.

    What to orderSom tam khai khem, the salted duck egg version

    0 votes

  11. Jae Koy (Phetchaburi 12)

    Ratchathewi, off Phetchaburi Road Siam, Pathumwan & Banthat Thong

    Open
    10am to 4am daily
    Where
    362/2-3 Soi Phetchaburi 12, Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400

    Late night Isaan on a Ratchathewi side street, running to four in the morning. Go for the somtum sua pu pla ra with grilled pork jowl. Service is brisk rather than warm.

    What to orderSomtum sua pu pla ra with grilled pork jowl

    0 votes

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