Somtum Der, the Bangkok restaurant transplant, is serving New Yorkers in search of proper Thai food with the most flavorsome Isan cuisine in the city. Think of Somtum Der as the fresher, more authentic cousin of Uncle Boons and the slightly more considered and vibrant friend of Zabb Elee. Either way, you know it’s going to be legit if they were successful enough in Bangkok to open a second NYC outpost.

Dinner at Somtum Der is unmistakably of the Northeastern Thai variety. Where, hot spicy papaya salads rule the menu and the food served comes from that fresher, fiery end of Thai cooking that takes some clear cues from the kitchens of Laos. There’s no escaping that exhilarating heat ”“ your mouth is bound to tingle pretty intensely ”“ but at least you’re doing it with the Thai cover of Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” in the background (hot stuff indeed!)

Do it properly and get through the burn of least one papaya salad (we recommend the Tum Thai Kai Kem), order the star of the show ”“ grilled pork skewers marinated in coconut milk (Moo Ping Kati Sod) and the crunchy fried chicken (Sa Poak Kai Tod Der).

http://somtumder.com/home_ny.html

Somtum Der NYC
85 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
(212) 260-8570 | Make a Reservation

Inside Somtum Der NYC

Somtum Der’s Fried Chicken (Sa Poak Kai Tod Der)

Somtum Der’s Grilled Pork Skewers Marinated in Coconut Milk (Moo Ping Kati Sod)

Outside Somtum Der NYC

Jenny is Melting Butter’s Founding Editor. She’s NYC based via Melbourne, London and Amsterdam. Her hotspot recommendations have also appeared in ForbesLife, Belle Magazine, National Geographic Traveler Magazine, Gotham Magazine, JBFTaste, and New York Observer’s Very Short List.Read about Jenny’s favourite hotspots here

(Feature Image: One of Somtum Der’s Many Papaya Salads (Tum Thai Kai Kem) ”“ Photo: Courtesy of Somtum Der NYC)

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