Fermented Fish Som Tum in Khon Kaen ส้มตำปลาร้า
Fermented-fish som tum is a green papaya mortar with fermented fish sauce and salted crab, and it is not on the printed board. Praprai on Airport Road serves it from 10:30 to 22:00 and is closed Monday.
Photo: Charles Haynes (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Thaiส้มตำปลาร้า · som tum pla ra
PriceTypical plate 50 to 90 THB
RoomPraprai, Airport Road
Clock10:30 to 22:00; closed Monday
What it tastes like
- Papaya, fermented fish, and salted crab. Funkier and hotter than a Bangkok som tum.
How to order it
- Thai name: som tum pla ra (ส้มตำปลาร้า).
- Say: Khor som tum pla ra, khrap/kha.
- 10:30 to 22:00, closed Monday. Ask for som tum with fermented fish sauce and salted crab. A typical plate is 50 to 90 THB.
Typical price
- 2026 cash: Typical plate 50 to 90 THB.
Where to try it
- Praprai, 345/1-2 Airport Road, Ban Pet, Khon Kaen 40000. 10:30 to 22:00; closed Monday. Typical plate 50 to 90 THB. Skip this, go here: The printed board does not show this mortar, so an order that stays on the board will miss it. The fried plate on the menu is fried sour fish, a typical 120 to 250 THB.
Spice level and diet
- Heat: Hot. Say pet nit noi.
- Diet: Fish sauce and crab. Not a vegetarian mortar unless they build one without pla ra.
Next plates
- Back to the Khon Kaen food hub for the neighbourhood rows.
- Use the Isan food page if you want the walk, not a second dish.
- Baan Heng Sandwich is the nearby order if this plate is done.
- Sausage Baked Rice is the nearby order if this plate is done.
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Read Saigon Food Guide →Common questions
- Is this on the printed menu?
- It is not on the printed board. Ask for som tum with fermented fish sauce and salted crab.
- Which day is the room closed?
- It is closed on Monday. Other days run from 10:30 to 22:00.