Sample original Thai food at Somtam Nua, Bangkok near Siam Square – Bangkok’s best papaya salad?

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Eat fabulous Bangkok street food at Soi 36 (near BTS Thong Lo) and Victory Monument



In my quest to try a lot of original Thai food, I ventured to Somtam Nua near Siam Square in Bangkok for lunch during my week in the countryin March 2015.

This little eatery specializes in northern Thai dishes (Isaan). As the post titlesuggests, Somtam Nua specializes in papaya salad and it is indeed delicious. The ingredients are as fresh as they can get and the sauce balances sweet and sour. You can order the salad in any spiciness you like. Papaya salad is often the most spicy item you can eat in Bangkok (so I usually order it a bit milder).

The atmosphere here is low-key and the place is clean and well-organized. It's well-cooled inside, which is very welcoming (a big negativefor mewhen enjoyingBangkok street foodduring lunch hours was the temperature - a sweltering 100+ degrees in the shade).

The menu features pictures, so the food itemswon't be toolostin translation. I ordered just off the Foursquare pictures myself - my favorite way to order in a new restaurant.

It is also rather cheap here, at just about $3-$4 per item.

I went for the papaya salad (of course!) as well as the grilled fish and fried noodles.








You can find Somtam Nua at:

989 Siam Center, 4th Floor, Rama 1 Road, Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

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