The World of Street Food

Somtam, or Papaya Salad by Somtam Nua, Siam Square, Bangkok, Thailand Somtam Nua is a popular restaurant with branches all across Bangkok . As you could probably guess from its name, Somtam Nua specializes in  somtam (Thai papaya salad), though they have an expansive menu with a number of delicious options. Somtam hails from  Issan , the northeastern region of  Thailand , but has become one of the country's most beloved dishes. The papaya salad served at Somtam Nua is pretty traditional, and you can get it made up in all sorts of ways, including with fermented crab and very spicy chili. I opted for a classic, less spicy papaya salad made from shredded young papaya that still had a slight crunch, crispy pork rinds, fresh tomato, green beans, sprouts, rice noodles, and the classic papaya salad dressing made with a balanced mix of lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, garlic, and chili. somtam with Thai pork sausage and crispy pork rind