Somtum Der Awards

Somtum Der Restaurant Review:

The cuisine of Isan, a region in northeastern Thailand, has emerged as a favorite regional food of New York City. At least if the number of Isan establishments is any indication. One of the best is this restaurant in the East Village; with an outpost in Bangkok, it already has a strong culinary pedigree. The usual suspects are on the menu: the namesake somtum (fresh green papaya salad) --- request it prepared spicier than usual. Larb, particularly the duck variety, suffers from too much citrus but is satisfying nonetheless. Fried chicken breast, tender and crispy, is essential for first-time visitors. Wash it all down with a Singha beer and save some room for the better-than-it-sounds taro in condensed coconut milk for dessert.