Somtum Der

I’ve been a huge fan of Somtum Der for years and it’s past time for a review! It’s one of my favorite restaurants in NY/NJ and especially when we want delicious Thai. The quality of flavors is rarely matched in most other Thai restaurants we visit around the area. For example in their pad krapow / basil rice you can smell the aromatic basil throughout the dish! We usually order their duck larb, whose contrast of sharp, acidic, and hot hot flavors are so good. We’ve tried this dish in many other restaurants but the depth of flavor has been almost unmatched. This is all to say I love this place and enjoy every visit. It’s a good thing for my wallet that I don’t live closer.

One of the most authentic Thai restaurants in NYC! 🇹🇭 Every dish I tried was packed with flavor and transported me straight to Thailand. Their mango sticky rice is hands down the best I’ve had in the city, so fresh, juicy, and perfectly sweet, even when other spots are out of seasonal mangoes. I’m also obsessed with their prawn sashimi, crispy fried chicken, and pad thai. Each one beautifully seasoned, balanced, and comforting in the best way. If you’re a real Thai food lover, this place is a must-try. I’m already planning my next visit!

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!❤️

The food is good. The waiters were attentive and quick. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is nice. We enjoyed our meal. We arrived shortly after they opened and had the dining room to ourselves.

Pad Thai was excellent. Yum Crispy Fish salad was also a standout. I'd recommend sharing this among 2-4 people due to its strong lime/salt flavor profile. Chef went too hard on the soy sauce for the drunken noodles, as the dish was a bit salty for me. Also, FYI they make it with ground pork. The sausage (Sai Krok Isan) was okay. It reminded me of Chinese sausage, but more dry and gamey. We wouldn't order it again. Service was nice and friendly, although pretty slow to take orders, even when it wasn't that busy. It also wasn't clear who our server was, so I didn't know who to wave down when we needed chopsticks, to place an order, or the check. I appreciated one of the servers for consistently topping off my water though. Lastly, the food was authentic, and the decor, music, and menu helped tie everything together.