Returning for a quick trip to NYC after five years, there was only one restaurant I missed. I almost hesitated because its rating had dipped to 4.1, but I'm thrilled I didn't let that stop me! Ordered all of my favorites and the food remains as exceptional as I remembered, and even more unbelievably, the familiar, friendly waitresses were still there. Despite trying other highly-rated Thai spots in town, like Fish Cheeks, nothing comes close to the flavors at Somtum Der. I packed as much as I could to take back to the San Francisco Bay Area. You should have seen the faces of those TSA and flight attendants!! Somtum Der, please consider opening a location in Northern California so more people can savor your incredible Isan cuisine! And please give your fantastic staff some extra vacation days--they seemed a bit burnt out. :)

It's rare to find a place where every dish stands out, but Somtum Der nailed it! We got there for lunch without a reservation and it was great. I would have to say Thai food is my FAVORITE cuisine!! **What we had:** - Gai Yang: The grilled chicken was succulent and well-seasoned, perfect with the tangy dipping sauce. - Sticky Rice: A must-have side that was perfectly sticky and complemented every dish - Pad Thai - Pad See Ew Each dish was a hit, making it hard to choose a favorite. But, if I had to choose, it wouldn't definitely be the Pad Thai! The flavors were authentic, vibrant, and the spiciness was just right--present but not overwhelming. The service matched the quality of the food--efficient, friendly, and helpful, making sure we had everything we needed without being intrusive. In conclusion, Somtum Der is a gem for anyone looking to explore Thai cuisine!!

Popped into this spot for a quick lunch on a Friday! The restaurant was clean, with a wonderful ambiance and I was seated quickly. I ordered the pad kee mao lunch special and was blown away. As someone originally from Thailand, I crave the authentic flavors of Thai food and this hit the spot. The portion was perfect and the flavors were layered, decadent but light. The lunch special came with a drink and I had iced tea (YUM!). This was one of my favorite solo lunch dates in NYC ever :) I would recommend this spot to anyone looking for an affordable, delicious and satisfying meal. Great spot to venture to alone or with friends.

The food was delicious and flavorful. I got mild for the somtum and it still had a kick to it. I love the variety of somtums and other dishes. There's not many entrees such as curries or rice dishes but I still like the variety of starters. The staff was amazing. I would come back

The food at Somtum Der was really good. My favorite dish was the Larb Moo salad, which was flavorful and paired nicely with a side of white rice. I also had the Sa Poak Kai Tod Der, which was also good. I thought the chicken could have had more flavor on its own but it was great paired with the sauce it came with. Their menu has a really good lunch special deal that I think would definitely be worth coming back to try. Our server was great and very attentive. We sat in the booths in the back which were a bit snug but the overall ambiance was nice.

I love this place! This is a perfect place to go for a casual meal- no frills. I came here a few months ago for lunch with two of my friends and still haven't forgotten about the food. When we went in, there were a lot of tables, so definitely not the type of place that you need a reservation for. Everything on the menu is priced very well- you can easily have a lunch or dinner here for less than $15 and will likely be just as good (if not better!) than a lot of the Thai restaurants near by. I got the Khao Pad Kraprao Moo/Nue, which had a perfectly fried egg and basil. The pad see ew was also well seasoned and had a balance of noodles, shrimp, and vegetables. I had a really nice experience at Somtum Der and definitely will be back!

I came here at the suggestion of reviews since I was curious in trying a new Thai spot. Many of the diners mentioned that the flavors here are unique and different from your typical Thai cuisine and that couldn't be more accurate! *AMBIANCE* While they do take reservations, we came without one and had to wait about 30 minutes. The tables are quite snug to each other but the ambiance felt warm. *FOOD* They have a large ample selection on their menu from rice dishes, noodles, to salads. I was able to try their: -Tamarind chicken wings (monthly special) -Shrimp Pad Thai The chicken wings were so yummy, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Almost if you thought about marinating a Korean fried chicken wing with Thai seasoning. I would absolutely order this again. The pad thai was tasty too and had a sweet sauce to it. Texture wise, they had these tiny red flakes in them which was different and sometimes made it hard to eat. I think would've preferred for there to be less of them. *SERVICE* Service was very good and attentive. Water glasses were constantly filled and we got our dishes in a reasonable amount of time. Overall, recommend trying if you want something different from your usual Thai spot!