Tor Um Tum

The latest trendy Isaan joint is Tor Um Tum, which is actually sat in the same place and run by the same chef as the old Tum Mour. The new look draws in a younger crowd to hang out and taste authentic Northeastern dishes like somtam Thai (papaya salad, B40), laab ped (spicy minced duck salad, B90) and yam nuea yang (spicy grilled beef salad, B90), while downing plenty of local and imported booze like Beerlao and Sapporo.

Sukhumvit Soi 61, 02-714-3798, BTS Ekkamai. Open daily 11:30am-10pm

Kai Yang Sua Yai by Mangmoom

Just in time for the summer heat, here comes another indoor somtam restaurant with the opening of Kai Yang Sua Yai in Piman 49. This colorful shophouse transports the dishes of the legendary grilled chicken joint of the same name on Ratchapisek into a proper dining setting. Tuck into a whole chicken (B220), along with namprik pla ra (chili paste with fermented fish, B195) and somtam poo (papaya salad with freshwater crab, B95). Wash it down with Singha (B110), fruit juice (starts from B85) or wine by the glass (B220). They offer about 15 vegetarian dishes, too.

Piman 49, Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-662-6428. Open daily 11am-10pm

Z Cafe

Situated on the happening Sukhumvit Soi 33, Z Cafe draws customers into its industrial interior featuring water pipes and lots of bricks. Isaan dishes include jim joom (hot pot, B190-B210) with an option of a buffet that seems to be a good deal at B319-B399. Other choices include spaghetti pla duk foo (deep-fried catfish, B120) and guay tiew nuea (beef noodles, B60).

Sukhumvit Soi 33, 082-576-7767. Open Mon-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 6-10pm