Ros’niyom WINNER!
The place: Owned by Iberry of ice cream fame, this Thai “street food” and noodle specialist can be found at 15 malls across Bangkok.
The taste: With a strong smell, a deep color and a whole load of chilis, this one looks promising—and it delivers. It balances sour and spicy elements with a sweetness that’s not overpowering, along with thick, crunchy shreds of papaya and addictively chewy dried shrimp.
Verdict: Hot stuff.
Price: B79
Various locations. Try G/F, Siam Paragon, 991 Rama I Rd., 0-2610-7616
Bangkok Bold Kitchen RUNNER UP!
The place: What started in 2015 as a reservations-only Old Town shop-house run by a trio of Bangkok chefs now has three branches in malls across the city.
The taste: Lacking vibrancy and looking a little mushy, we didn’t have high hopes for this contender. However, its addictively zingy, spicy and not-too-sweet taste won us over. The high-quality shell-less shrimp are an added bonus.
Verdict: Bold move.
Price: B120
Various locations. Try Central Embassy, 1031 Phloen Chit Rd., 091-424-4292
Zaap Classic
The place: With a handful of locations scattered across Bangkok, this Isaan specialist focuses on the tastes of Khon Kaen.
The taste: This is an inoffensive, typical som tam Thai. The papaya is thick and crunchy, the shrimp are large and chewy and the tomatoes are thankfully not pounded into pulp. The taste; however, is a little too sweet and flat.
Verdict: Average Joe.
Price: B65
Various locations. Try B/F, EmQuartier, 695 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-261-0239
Zaab Eli
The place: This vibrant Isaan specialist offers an extensive menu that takes the occasional foray into fusion food.
The taste: This one offers nice crunchy shreds but a lack of depth. Though it smells limey, it’s far too sweet with only a slight hint of sourness and hardly any spicy kick—perhaps making it a good intro for the uninitiated.
Verdict: Gimme more fyah.
Price: B75
Silom Complex, 191 Silom, 02-231-3173
Som Tam Nua
The place: Siam Square’s som tam specialist often welcomes long queues and was even hailed “Bangkok’s best som tam restaurant” by CNN Travel way back in 2010.
The taste: It looks like a peachy mess with its diluted, pale color. It smells incredibly limey and tastes like artificial lime juice. The papaya lacks crunch, the taste is too sweet and lacks saltiness.
Verdict: Not so peachy.
Price: B75
392/14 Siam Square Soi 5, 02-251-4880
Tummour YIKES!
The place: With over 100 branches and counting across Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, this Isaan chain has been at it since 1989.
The taste: Though the deep color appears just right, the way-too-thin shreds of papaya send alarm bells ringing. The taste, too, is disappointing—much too salty, very sweet and completely lacking a sour kick.
Verdict: Thin chance.
Price: B60
2/F, The Seasons Phahonyothin Soi 1, 02-111-2048
BK’s Taste Tests are conducted blind by a panel and are intended as entertainment, not rigorous scientific analysis.
