Bang Rak food guide
Bang Rak is a district that eats in two moods: papaya salad pounded to order at Somtum Der on Sala Daeng Road, and Charoen Krung shophouses drifting toward the river. Come at lunch, between the Silom towers and the water, and save Yaowarat's night crawl for another evening.
Photo: Khaosaming (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Somtum Der sits at 5/5 Sala Daeng Road, Silom, Bang Rak 10500. The room is open daily 11:00 to 23:00, last order 22:15. BTS Sala Daeng Exit 4 and MRT Silom Exit 2 both land you close. Phone 082 294 2363. Order papaya salad, grilled chicken, and sticky rice.
A street som tum is often 40 to 80 THB. This room costs more because you sit down. Charoen Krung, still in Bang Rak, is the shophouse stretch toward the river. For the gold-shop night, leave the district and use Yaowarat.
What to order
- Som tum Thai: the sweet-hot papaya salad. Say pet nit noi.
- Gai yang and sticky rice: the Isan set with the salad.
- Not Yaowarat: Chinatown starts north of this rail stop. Do not stack both at lunch.
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- Is Somtum Der in Thonglor?
- The published Bangkok room is 5/5 Sala Daeng Road in Bang Rak. Use that address.
- How hot?
- Isan hot unless you say pet nit noi before they pound.