This is an east village establishment that has just recently entered my radar. I came and ordered 2 dishes: pad Thai and pad see eiw, both seafood based. I've always loved Thai cuisine for its flavorful aspect, but this restaurant takes it up a notch with its Thai themes and decorations. As I had ordered to go, I had to wait roughly 15 minutes for my order(which was reasonable). The workers there were really accommodating and asked about my allergies and preferences. The decorations made the restaurant feel warm and inviting. The food itself was delicious and not too salty. read more

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I had a delivery order from this Northeastern Thailand (Isan) restaurant. I ordered Tum Suo Der, Tum Thai, Gaeng Om Kai, Pad Kee Mao with Chicken and Pad See Eiw with Shrimp. The Tum Sou Der (papaya salad) was noticeably different with more fish sauce and a stronger flavor...very good for a more authentic and unusual dish. The Goeng Om Kai was delicious with a strong flavor as well. The Tum Thai, Pad Kee Mao and Pad See Eiw were all good but not unique. Midtown and Hell's Kitchen have many wonderful Thai restaurants. This one is good, as well. Snug packaging and fast service. Highly recommended. read more

Came here because a local recommended it and because it's Michelin-recognized, so I had very high expectations. We ordered the longan drink, mango som tum with crispy salmon, Isaan ribs, sticky rice, and pineapple fried rice. Unfortunately, this place was beyond disappointing. The food was underwhelming, but what really ruined the experience was finding HAIRRRRRRRR INSIDE the mango som tum. I didn't want to make a scene or blast them publicly, so I chose to give grace and didn't take photos. I assumed at the very least they'd comp the dish. Instead, we were charged full price, given a half-hearted apology, and that was it. What made it worse: I'm Thai. I understood what was being said in Thai when they took the dish back, and there was laughing involved. That alone erased any benefit of the doubt I was trying to give. For a place with Michelin recognition, this was shocking. Poor food, poor handling of a serious issue, and zero accountability. Don't come here. read more

Somtum Der - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is a very authentic Thai spot, definitely one of the most flavorful pad Thai I ever had. Majority of the items on the menu are spicy. The raw shrimp appetizer and the pork skewers were so goo. The raw shrimp had a butter texture that paired well with the sauce. The pork skewers was tender and flavorful, there was a hit of sweetness added on top which I believe is condensed milk. Definitely a spot I would be returning. Workers were really nice and the place had a nice ambiance. read more

Somtum Der - Signature Pad Thai, Moo Ping Kati Sod - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here craving Thai food and Somtum Der hit the spot. I got the tum thai kai kem ($16) and the chicken khao pad kra prao ($18) -- both were so flavorful and tasted super authentic. The restaurant itself is surprisingly spacious for the East Village -- lots of seating and not cramped at all. Only downside is the portions are on the smaller side for the price compared to other thai restaurants i've been to. But honestly, everything was delicious, so I'd still come back when I'm in the mood for solid Thai food that feels close to the real deal. read more

Somtum Der - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

Somtum Der in NYC is the real deal. If you love authentic Thai/Isan food this place hits different. Flavors are bold, spicy, not watered down at all like other spots. They got a Michelin star in 2016 and you can see why, food taste so fresh and full of flavor. I had the papaya salad w grilled pork neck, super tangy + spicy. The summer roll was light and crunchy, pork w coconut sticky rice was crazy good. Also tried the duck larb and basil fried rice, both packed with heat + flavor. Def a must if you love real Thai food in the city. read more

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Food is 5 stars. Somtum Thai: perfectly balanced salty, sour, sweet and creamy from the crushed peanuts Khao Jee: coconut milk seasoned sticky rice dipped in egg wash and fried/grilled had a slightly sweet flavor complimenting the pork satay. Fresh Coconut milk Pork Satay: succulent served with rice noodle and sauce. I do not think the sauce goes well with the satay. Pad Thai shrimp: this one is a superb dish. Noodle was al dente, sauce was not overly sweet like other Thai restaurants. The sauce tasted like it had ground dried shrimp/ crab and tamarind giving this dish an authentic flavor. I can eat this dish all day. We went to the restaurant a couple hours after lunch hours. There were only a few tables occupied so we got seated right away. The server was very nice and friendly. The menu was large with various dishes. The food came out fast after we ordered. We will definitely come back to try other dishes when we are in town. The restaurant is open, nice and clean. read more

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Here's an update from 10 years ago. Everything was super flavorful. Every dish is good but can improves. The beef nam tok is good a bit on the saltier side. Pork papaya salad a lot of flavor but the pork can be a bit dry. The chicken was dry because it's chicken breast I would get a different protein. The best was the tom saab, refreshing salty tangy soup and not spicy, the pork bone was nice and tender. read more

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Somtum Der was recommended to me by a friend and this was without a doubt, my favorite restaurant during my stay in NYC. I ordered so many items and each dish has its own flavor and aroma that contributes to the depth and complexity of Thai cuisine. Salted Egg Papaya Salad and Crispy Salmon Mango Salad Crispy was out of this world good. I'd order Thai Prawn in House Chili Sauce over and over again. Pad See Eiw, a classic stir fried flat noodle dish with a smoky Wok Hei flavor. Tamarind Wings, Grilled Marinated Pork, Deep Fried Der Chicken Thighs was excellent to share. Dinner ended with desserts, Black Jelly Fresh Milk and Taro in Coconut Milk. Somtum Der has amazing food with emphasis on hospitality to make for the perfect place for a family style dinner. I couldn't have asked for a better recommendation and the best people to share this meal with. read more

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Came here with a friend on a weeknight! Service was decent! Food was not bad. The larb and the satay were delicious! Would come back in the future! read more

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This is my sister's current favorite restaurant. Went there early on a Saturday before a show and absolutely loved everything that we got. First up: papaya salad. My sister loves it spicy but I can't handle it, so we asked for it to be mild. It was the best papaya salad I've ever had. It was still on the spicy side for me, but the cooling effect of the crushed cherry tomatoes was so tasty. I kinda want to immediately go back. Thankfully the servers kept our water glasses full! We also had coconut beef skewers. I think it was flank steak, based on the appearance, skewered, marinated in coconut and drizzled with coconut too. It came with little nests of noodle and a sauce that I thought was going to be a sweet chili sauce. It was not. It was pungent and very salty. We loved the beef, ignored the sauce. For my entree I got what I always get: Pad See Ew with shrimp. The flaveor was great. The veggies and shrimp were perfect. It was a little heavy on the egg. My sister got pad thai that looked fantastic. The ambiant is great. The dining room was a little crowded. Service was excellent. I highly recommend it. read more

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Have been coming here for many years and this is my favorite neighborhood Thai place in the city. It's never too long of a wait and you can rely on everything being good here. The papaya salad and the pork skewers are elite - would drop in just for these, but everything I've had at Somtum is good, you can't go wrong. Service is solid and they serve you quickly. Fwiw I always ask for medium spice and always get different levels, although always enjoyable. Would recommend and will be back. read more

this was a 2016 michelin star place so I wanted to try it. we asked our server for recommendations, and got the: - moo rong hai ($19): I quite like the marinated grilled pork bc it was also fried and crispy outside but tender inside. the sticky rice skewers were also pretty good - larb duck ($26): wasn't a huge fan of this, it had a nice spice but I feel like the duck being minced took away the flavor of the duck (it tasted like pork) - crab pad thai ($32): this was not bad, it was kind of small though read more

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Delicious Thai food at LES We went weeks night and it was packed Love all the dishes we got. My fav was tom yum soup and papaya salad read more

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Somtum Der offers authentic Thai food that is comparable to what I have eaten in Thailand. It's better than any place in the West Coast of the US. The staff were very friendly and helpful with recommendations. The ambiance and decor is truly unique and made me felt like I was actually eating in Thailand. It took us a while to get seated because we're a large party. They do not take reservations and parking can be challenging. Highly recommended if you're visiting NYC! read more

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Holy Crab! The Crab Pad Thai is so good! I love how each dish is thoughtfully plated to elevate your dining experience right from the get go. Then you'd find out that each dish is full of bold flavors. Somtum Der is exceptionally good (as agreed by their Michelin) because they bring to us authentic Northeastern Thai food, specifically Isan cuisines. They don't try to change the flavor profiles to best suit Western tastes, instead, they keep their original bold flavors. That is why they are exceptionally tasty! read more

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Did you know Somtum Der catered? I didn't but I was very happy to order a great lunch for my office. We ordered sun dried beef (Nur Dad Diew) Pork skewers (Moo Ping Kati Sod + Vermicelli), spicy pork rice (Pork Khao Pad Kraprao), Shrimp Pad Thai, Papaya Salad (Tum Thai Salad), and Mushroom Fried Rice (which is the only vegan option on the menu). Everything was delivered well packed and my office really appreciated the high quality lunch. The pork skewers looked and smelled so good, even I wanted one and I don't eat pork. read more

Somtum Der - Moo Ping Kati Sod - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

Being seated was a mess here, there is an outside room before entry into main restaurant but there were people waiting as well as a computer there as if a host would be there. Although I had a reservation, I waited and people went inside and got seated before me. It was not organized at all. They ran out of some appetizers at 7p which was strange but the food was pretty good for some of them. Really enjoyed the spicy pork spring rolls but the mayo dip was too much-so recommend only small dips. The khan kratiem prik thai with pork was a good option but the pad ki mao was pretty spicy. Drinks were not particularly that great, especially Thai tea Tini. Low rating really on the lack of organization between staff and seating. read more

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From the warm decor and splash of Thai flair, stepping in feels like a little trip to Thailand. The specials -- tender ribs and pork satay -- join their iconic crispy fried chicken and grilled marinated beef to bring bold Isan flavors straight from Thailand. This place is definitely must-visit! Follow me @foodie.elite on IG and Tiktok for more! read more

Came here at 6pm on a Sunday evening and got seated right away. It had a nice friendly ambiance with long tables in the middle and small tables on the sides. The waiters were friendly, and the food arrived quickly ~5 mins after ordering. They also came to refill our water a few times. Ordered the Spicy Shrimp Salad and Tamarind Chicken Wings. They were $20 and $16 respectively, coming to $2/shrimp and nearly $3 per wing. Although the food tasted good, these portions were very small for the expensive price. read more

Somtum Der - Tamarind Chicken Wings - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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Superb selection of dishes available to satiate the most demanding Thai cuisine epicurean. Our group appreciates the high quality of service and visually stunning wall murals. Very crowded but somehow everything is moving pleasingly forward. The finely diced, chopped and minced mixture of authentic fish sauce, onions, vinegar, Thai sweet basil as well as shallots flavored every item intensely. A truly positive dining experience to conclude an autumn Friday evening. read more

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LOVEEEEEE. Ugh that papaya salad is SOOO GOOD. I still think about it . We need one of these in Long Island: those congestion tolls are a killer . I enjoyed all my food tbh. 10/10! Can't wait to go back read more

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The store is super simple and clean. Mirror in the back makes it look very spacious which is nice. The staff are quite responsive. The food seems like it was spiced to the American palette unfortunately. The food is not particularly spicy or overly flavored which was quite disappointing read more

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I came here at the suggestion of reviews since I was curious in trying a new Thai spot. Many of the diners mentioned that the flavors here are unique and different from your typical Thai cuisine and that couldn't be more accurate! *AMBIANCE* While they do take reservations, we came without one and had to wait about 30 minutes. The tables are quite snug to each other but the ambiance felt warm. *FOOD* They have a large ample selection on their menu from rice dishes, noodles, to salads. I was able to try their: -Tamarind chicken wings (monthly special) -Shrimp Pad Thai The chicken wings were so yummy, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Almost if you thought about marinating a Korean fried chicken wing with Thai seasoning. I would absolutely order this again. The pad thai was tasty too and had a sweet sauce to it. Texture wise, they had these tiny red flakes in them which was different and sometimes made it hard to eat. I think would've preferred for there to be less of them. *SERVICE* Service was very good and attentive. Water glasses were constantly filled and we got our dishes in a reasonable amount of time. Overall, recommend trying if you want something different from your usual Thai spot! read more

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Came on a Thursday night to enjoy a cute dinner with friends! We got this recommendation from Thai friends who said this spot comes close to authentic thai food so we knew we needed to check it out the service was really good! we ordered a bunch of things and it came out pretty quick. plus they were very on it when it came to refilling our water - everyone was kind, helpful, and very happy! we made sure to leave a generous tip the food: the skewers, fried chicken, spicy pork were so bomb. loved that things were actually spicy. my favorite is def the beef skewers it was so juicy and tender. lots of authentic thai flavor in these dishes. i was very disappointed in the pad thai - it seriously lacked flavor. it was so bland i used sauces from other dishes to make it taste better. the spicy papaya salad was supposed to have crab but it only had the shell - definitely not worth it and was annoying to pick out. overall had a pleasant experience and would recommend! read more

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My husband's favorite cuisine is Thai and my sister raves about this place, so I brought him here for our anniversary. We were seated right away at kind of an off time (3 pm) in their tightly packed dining room. Speaking of the dining room, it's bright and airy but the seating is a little odd and not quite comfy. I ended up trading spots with my husband. We shared the vegetarian papaya salad. It was spicier than I would normally have liked, but I am a wimp when it comes to heat and I loved this. We ordered ribs from a specials menu. They were well done and super flavorful, with an intense sweetness. There were more of them than I anticipated in the serving. My husband got Pad Thai and I had Drunken Noodles with shrimp because those are our two go-to dishes and we enjoyed them greatly. Service was a little hit or miss. We were greeted quickly but then it took a little bit of time to be able to order and receive our food. It was getting quite busy by the time we left so we didn't think the service delays were an issue. Overall, we loved it. I definitely want to go back. I am so envious of the people for whom this is their local joint. read more

This is solid thai food - I ordered a clear spicy fish soup, but I wish I went for the creamy Tom Yum. I am impatient and did not want to have to separate the fish meat from the bones, but if you are committed, it's a good soup. The fried chicken thigh was good as well, not life changing but hey, if you're looking for a solid chicken thigh, this will hit the spot. read more

I love love love this place!! I strongly recommend everyone to try this place out. The flavors of all the food - especially the vegetarian papaya salad and the pad kee mao and fried rice. The service was extremely quick too. I love the dimmed lighting, it seems like a cool spot t catch up with friends . The Thai lemon tea was delicious as well read more

Somtum Der - Vegetarian papaya salad - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

I would like to give five stars for the service and five stars for the decoration, but 3 stars on food. read more

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After a show, my friend and I stumbled upon Somtum Der while scavenging the area for the nearest food. I opted for their Pad Thai, which was solid and authentic. To my surprise, I later discovered this restaurant is featured in the Michelin Guide. Despite this accolade, the restaurant was relatively empty, allowing us to be seated immediately. The ambiance is quite charming, making it an ideal spot for a romantic date. The food, while undoubtedly authentic, didn't stand out and felt a bit overpriced for what it was. It seemed that we were paying more for the upscale environment rather than a truly elevated dining experience. Pad Thai in Thailand is like the peanut butter and jelly sandwich of street food. Locals can perfect it in their sleep, and it's typically dished out by street vendors, not fancy restaurants. So, paying a premium for this everyday dish felt a bit like buying a designer-label PB&J (as ridiculous as that sounds lol.) Despite the Michelin nod and the pleasant surroundings, the experience left me wondering if the premium was justified solely for the ambiance. For those seeking genuine flavors, you might find better value and authenticity elsewhere (perhaps at a mom-and-pop shop that doesn't charge you an arm and a leg). But for those that are on a date and want authentic Thai food with an elevated ambiance - this spot is for you. read more

This Thai restaurant is kind unique in that it features Thai food from northeastern region of Thailand. Flavors seem to be more on the sour, tangy side, which is very different from the southern region of Thailand. Beware some of the dishes are quite spicy, notably the sashimi shrimp and duck salad. I was dying after those two dishes, and kept having to chug water (my spice tolerance is normally pretty high). 1. Fave dish would be the sashimi shrimp before I got killed by the chili peppers shrimp tasted fresh, and was refreshing 2. Second fave dish would be the papaya salad- flavors were on point ‍ 3. Third fave was the beef skewers- coconut milk was an interesting touch 4. Fried chicken- was not expecting it to have bones? But generally pretty flavorful 5. Pork neck- this was quite fatty, not sure if I'm a huge fan 6. Duck salad- we got the medium spicy, but for some reason it was still very spicy?? Must be the chili peppers Overall verdict: very interesting flavors and unique dishes! Different from your typical basic Thai items. Would recommend! read more

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Somtum Der was once awarded a Michelin star, now it is just Michelin recommend. I wonder why that happened... The food was delicious. The noodle dishes we ordered had so much flavor. The ambiance is very casual and relaxed. The service was just okay, but overall we enjoyed our visit Our highlights: - Isan fried rice noodles - Pad Thai psa: the side sauce that comes with the pork skewers was horrible . The skewers were amazing, but that sauce it's a no for me love, @partyxtwo read more

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My friend and I stopped by for a weeknight dinner. We had reservations for 7pm but when we got there there were plenty of seats available. We started with the Larb Moo, which was rather disappointing. At first glance, you can see that the dish we got looked like a very sad version of the thing in the menu. It didn't have any of the colourful herbs and spices like pepper and basil. The meat was fine-ish? Not much flavour that you could really tell underneath the overpowering sourness of the lemongrass. (To be clear I am familiar with how Thai food is often supposed to be sour. This was just overwhelmingly so; I think the flavours here were just really imbalanced.) I also didn't think this dish was spicy at all, despite the server's warning. Wouldn't recommend this dish. We also had the pad see ew and the tom saab kradook on. Pad see ew was... fine? at best? But very bland. The noodles didn't have much flavour at all. It didn't feel like any of the sauce/flavour in general had been absorbed; when you took a bite, it was clear that the noodle was still really pale and bland on the inside. Not sure if the dish was lacking in seasoning, soy sauce, or a good wok (!) Otherwise it was fine but really nothing special. The tom saab kradook on was generally not bad. The soup was Very sour as advertised and a little too heavy for our taste (more so than most other Thai soups I've had at other places). The strong lemongrass flavour also dominated the overall profile as well, especially since we didn't really feel like it was spicy. The chicken was generally tasty and well-cooked, definitely the high point of the meal. Sigh I'm not sure if we just ordered the wrong things or what, but I came away from this meal with a distinct sense of disappointment, especially with such high expectations from its Bib Gourmand rating. And - it wasn't cheap either (and I def don't think the price point was commensurate). I think I could be convinced to come again if I got some better recommendations for what to order lol... but for the time being I do not think I will be back :( read more

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Delicious food, great service. Spice level unmatched! Highly recommend the crab pad Thai. If you get the prawn sashimi, it's such a nice big portion definitely try! read more

The food was delicious. I should honestly come here everyday for lunch. I forget, but pls remind me :)

the basil fried rice was excellent. but I ordered the Duck Larb, medium spice level & my mouth was on fire, it was also a tiny portion. very nice service. read more

Solid but nothing spectacular. We tried their signature fried chicken which had a new taste and texture but nothing overly flavored. Their signature noodles were delicious- would recommend you getting! And then the fried pork was also unique and would recommend. Made a reservation so there was no wait. read more

Somtum Der - Thai Near Me - New York, New York

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The food at Somtum Der was really good. My favorite dish was the Larb Moo salad, which was flavorful and paired nicely with a side of white rice. I also had the Sa Poak Kai Tod Der, which was also good. I thought the chicken could have had more flavor on its own but it was great paired with the sauce it came with. Their menu has a really good lunch special deal that I think would definitely be worth coming back to try. Our server was great and very attentive. We sat in the booths in the back which were a bit snug but the overall ambiance was nice. read more

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The staff made sure my visit was smooth and enjoyable. Every dish demonstrates kitchen skill. Their dishes consistently impress. Employees deliver solid service standards. I'll be back to try their other specialties. read more

I had heard stellar reviews about this place so I was reallly looking forward. The menu looked amazing and it was hard to pick what to order! We started with the Somtum, very spicy I told them. I loved it, my sister thought it was too spicy. We also got the sticky rice skewers and beef- beef was too chewy in my opinion. The Somtum I felt too salty. We then also had the Tom Yum soup, nice and warm with veggies, but too much shrimp. We then also got the duck larb, which by that time we both couldn't finish because it was a lot of food. The vibe was nice and it started getting super packed by the time we finished eating. Overall the food was OK, I wasn't super impressed, and am not sure if we just ordered wrong. read more

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