CNN Best Eats: Som Tam Nua in Bangkok

Som Tam Nua, in business for about a decade, serves dozens of unique styles of som tam.

It's tough for a business to survive in Siam Square, a hangout haunt for gaggles of fickle Bangkok students.

Yet this two-floor restaurant has built a solid following on som tam alone -- offering dozens of versions of the famous papaya salad dish.

"Som Tam Nua has got the art of papaya salad nailed, in more varieties than one can imagine. Be prepared to queue up for a table," says Thai 101 publisher Mason Florence.

In business for almost a decade, Som Tam Nua has never lost it charm nor its popularity. With modern décor, the place is always packed full during peak hours.

It is more of an eat-and-run place rather than a chill out spot, serving flavorful Isaan dishes including the popular phad kanomjeen (stir-fried rice noodles) and fried chicken.

Address: 392/14 Soi Siam Square 5, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok +66 (0) 22 51 4880
Source: www.cnngo.com

We met these friendly Thai guys seated at the next table.

L to R: Chok R. Watanakul, Bryan Thongyoo Tantayanondkul, 

Norawit Virunkitkoson and Jimmy Bunprasitphon

Norawit even took charge of ordering for us.