Som Tam Nua – Bangkok’s Best Som Tam?

tom saap kraduk moo on (ต้มแซบกระดูกหมูอ่อน)
Having received plenty of praise, including a “best som tam” in Bangkok award from CNNGo.com, Som Tam Nua is a very famous Thai Isaan restaurant in Siam, Bangkok.
I had never eaten there until a few weeks ago, I was on assignment to make a video about some of the top things to do in Siam, and wanted to includ Som Tam Nua in that video.
Som Tam Nua is a restaurant where people line up outside, waiting their turn for seats. Luckily the day we went, we waited just five minutes before entering.
First up (pictured above) was a bowl of tom saap kraduk moo on (ต้มแซบกระดูกหมูอ่อน), sour Isaan soup filled with meaty pork bones. It was nice and sour as it should be, quite spicy, and the bones had plenty of tender pork still on them. Very good tom saap!
Price – 90 THB

som tam Thai (ส้มตำไทย)
For our first dish of som tam, we ordered their normal som tam Thai (ส้มตำไทย).
So does Som Tam Nua have the best in Bangkok?
It was mildly spicy, nicely sour, but a little too sweet. It was alright, but not the best som tam I’ve had. The latter dish, som tam muah, which you’ll see below, was excellent. The ingredients in the som tam though, were very fresh and the papaya was crisp.

larb pla tod (ลาบปลาทอด)
Seeing larb pla tod (ลาบปลาทอด) on the menu, I couldn’t resist.
It was a little tilapia deep fried to a crisp and topped with a good selection of larb ingredients like red onions, herbs, chilies, and mint leaves. The dressing included lime juice and fish sauce, chili flakes and toasted rice.
It was pretty good, nicely sour from lime juice, but perhaps a bit too salty. Good, but not compared to the nam tok pla tod at Som Tam Boo Maa.
Price – 95 THB

larb moo (ลาบหมู)
I also sampled their normal larb moo (ลาบหมู).
It was a nice mixture including some lovely chunks of liver and nice chunks of red onions. I also love the whole dry chilies.
Price – 89 THB

tam muah (ตำมั่ว)
Last, but not least was tam muah (ตำมั่ว), a mix salad including a bit of everything. This was the winning dish for me, the dish I would come back to again for!
Kanom jeen noodles, green papaya, tomatoes, eggplant, and fried pork skins were the main ingredients. The dressing included fish sauce, lime juice, and a perfect amount of fermented fish sauce (pla raa). It was quite spicy and had some wonderful flavor to it.
Price – 69 THB

Waiting outside Som Tam Nua
The Bottom Line
Well, I’ve definitely had better normal som tam at other restaurants, but overall the food at Som Tam Nua (ส้มตำนัว สยามสแควร์) was very decent.
I’ve read about a few others that said the flavors were toned down to cater to foreigner tastes, but that was not the case for our meal. Everything, apart from the som tam Thai, was very sour and quite spicy – on the spicier and more sour side of average Thai. I was very pleased.
By far my favorite dish was tam muah (ตำมั่ว), the mixed salad (but only order this if you enjoy fermented fish).
If you’re in Siam and looking for good Isaan food, Som Tam Nua is a good choice. It’s always packed full of Thais. Also, if I went back, I’d order their fried chicken, it looks amazing!
Som Tam Nua (ส้มตำนัว สยามสแควร์)
Address: 392/14 Siam Square Soi 5
Phone: 08-1257-5384 , 02-2514880
Open hours: 10:45 am – 9:30 am
ที่อยู่ : 392/14 ซอยสยามสแควร์ 5 ถนนพระราม 1 แขวงปทุมวัน เขตปทุมวัน กรุงเทพฯ
โทร. 08-1257-5384 , 02-2514880
เปิดทุกวัน เวลา 10.45 – 21.30 น
How To Get There
Som Tam Nua (ส้มตำนัว สยามสแควร์) is on Siam Square Soi 5. Across the street from Siam Paragon, find Siam Square Soi 5, walk down (there might be some construction taking place), and you’ll see the yellow and brown sign with a crowd normally standing outside.
View Bangkok Eating Thai Food Map in a larger map
Robin R
6 years ago
hey Mark! first i have to say that i really love your videos and recepies! iam going to bangkok in a couple of months and iam absolutly loves som tam. so i wanna ask witch is your favorite som tam in bangkok and where can i find it? :)
Carmen
6 years ago
Mark, where can i have the best som tam in bangkok then ?
Kapunka!
Jay Dee
8 years ago
Thanks for the rec, went tonight and enjoyed it.
Mark Wiens
8 years ago
Hey Jay, glad you enjoyed it!
Jasmine
10 years ago
Hi Mark, chanced upon your website. Thanks for sharing. Would love to agree with you on the food but sadly, my family and I found a finished cigarette in our tomyam soup at this outlet. Would never return to this place again.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Jasmine, wow that’s pretty terrible, sorry about that experience. Did you let the management know?
Dennis
10 years ago
Hey Mark,
Thank you so much for your reviews. We will be in Bangkok next week (finally after three long years of abstinence :) ) and I’ve spent more time with reading your blog and watching your videos, than with any other travel page or guide book.
Definately will try Som Tam Nua and we’re also looking very much forward to visiting P’Aor and some other locations you recommend.
Greetings from Germany
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Dennis, great to hear from you and thank you for following. Have a fun time in Bangkok and enjoy the food!
Scott
10 years ago
Hi Mark,
Oddly,
The best Som Tam I have had was at the Australian Pub on Soi 11, which is the place I least expected it.
It was a large meal sized serving with fleshy grilled prawns through it, and while I asked for it “pet nid noi” it was pretty spicy. I am sure it would have been hotter if I hadn’t asked.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Haha, good to hear that Scott!
Mark Graves-Morris
10 years ago
Closeby on Siam there is a lively and bright cafe-eatery place called Inter. I go alone , with friends or with my kids who eat like horses. Extensive menu, cold beer, quick service from attentive girlies who seem amused at my lack of Thai. Preferable to Ban Kuhn Mae which is more upmarket and pricey. Usually pretty full but no wait for a table. Try it out Mark if u havent already.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Great, thanks for the suggestion Mark. I’ve never been there, but will if I’m in the area next time!
Frans
10 years ago
For a place that’s supposed to be specialized in som tam I find it a bit disappointing, but that’s what almost always happens when you step into a restaurant with over 10 items on the menu. DO try their fried chicken wings..they ARE really good indeed. All in all I think their food is very decent, but it’s not a place where you go back to because they “make the best …. “
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thanks for sharing Frans, that’s exactly what I thought.. but I was disappointed that I didn’t order any other their fried chicken!
Larry
10 years ago
I LOVE when they put liver and other bits of offal in larb. Americans don’t know what they’re missing when they throw that stuff away in any dish.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
I agree Larry, so good!
Finlaco
10 years ago
thanks for the honest reviews – much appreciated
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
You’re welcome Finiaco, thanks for checking it out!