Som Tam Nua, Bangkok

My love affair with Bangkok started way back in 1992 when I was still in my teens. Alike any other typical first timers, we visited the temples, snake farms, jewellery factories, etc and had our fair share of badly cooked tom yam, pineapple rice, etc which did not do justice at all to the actual yummy Thai cuisine.

Back here in December 2010 for the Xth time, Bangkok remains my all time favourite cities with its affordable and delicious food, shopping haven, abundance of massage parlours available, cheap booze and the list goes on and on and on..

We discovered Som Tam Nua (literally translated as Papaya Salad Restaurant) on our way to the massage centre. What piqued our curiosity was the long queue of both tourists and locals alike waiting patiently for a place to sit in the small shop.

After 40 minutes or so of waiting, we finally got our table. Pretty easy to while your time away here as there are plenty of shops and stalls to keep you occupied. The famed Siam Paragon; an upmarket shopping centre is located just across the road.

Here are some of the dishes which we had :



Som Tam or Papaya Salad

 What better way to start the meal than with their famed papaya salad. It has just the right amount of fish sauce, spicy-ness and young, crunchy papaya.

Tom Sap Moo or Spicy Pork Soup

This is one mean and spicy soup. Had me breaking out in sweat. But we finished the entire bowl coz it was too addictive.



Meat floss & pork salad

Sweet and crunchy light-weight salad. Suitable for those who can't take spicy food. 


Fried chicken

Very very well marinated and delicious fried chicken. A must have. It was on everyone's table.  


Barbeque pork dish

Nothing special. 


Deep fried fish with sweet & spicy sauce and condiments

Crunchy fish with goes well with white rice or glutinous rice.



Thai fragrant rice

 I just love Thai fragrant rice and can eat a whole bowl just on its own.


Singha beer

Down your spicy and hot dinner with a glass of cold Singha beer or coconut. Burrpp!! Time to hit the shops again.

A meal for four costs around RM 60-80 (less than USD 25). Som Tam Nua offers affordable, fuss-free and quick meals.

The shop is located at Siam Square, Soi 5. You won't miss it if you are in the Siam Square vicinity. It is near the BTS sky train station opposite Siam Paragon.