Portland Thai Gem 𼢠Somtum Thai
Thai-Owned, Raw Marinated Salmon Thatâs Fresh to Jump, Papaya Salad Spicy Enough to SweatâCanât Stop! Stumbled upon a "Thai street food" spot in PortlandâSomtum Thai. Walking in, we were greeted in Thai, with all staff being Thai, and even the aroma of spices matching Chiang Mai night markets. The biggest surprise: raw marinated salmon and shrimp! Finding this "Thai-style fresh" in North America feels like suddenly stepping into a Bangkok seafood stallđŚ đŁ Marinated Raw Hits: Salmon and Shrimp, Both Amazingly Fresh Came for the "raw marinated" dishes first, and they didnât disappoint: Raw Marinated Salmon The salmon isnât super fatty, but itâs freshâfirm, slightly springy flesh coated in Thai marinade (the owner said it has fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and a little sugar). Sour-fresh with a hint of spice, no fishiness at all. Each bite tastes like "dancing freshness"; paired with sticky rice, the marinadeâs aroma mixes with rice, so fresh it makes you squint. A friend said itâs better than what she had in Phuketď˝ Raw Marinated Shrimp (Highly Recommended by Friend) Didnât try it this time, but my friend raved: "Different vibe from the salmon!" The shrimp are deveined, with lemongrass shavings in the marinade, adding herbal freshness. Less spicy than the salmon, highlighting the shrimpâs natural sweetness. Itâs already on my "next must-order list"âjust thinking about that springy shrimp makes me hungryď˝ đĽ Papaya Salad: Spicy Enough to Warm You Up, Perfect with Sticky Rice The soul of Thai food, papaya salad here is so authentic: Served bright green, with thin, crispy papaya shreds, peanut crumbs, dried shrimp, and whole birdâs eye chiliesđśď¸ The spiciness is "slow-burn": first bite brings sour-freshness (thanks to fish sauce and lime), then the chili heat creeps up from the back of your tongueâbut it doesnât burn your throat or lips. Itâs a "warm-to-the-bones" spice, making you feel toasty in winter. If you canât handle spice, definitely ask for "baby spicy" or "mild"! We tried medium first, and ended up inhaling sticky riceđ while fanning ourselvesâitâs that addictive. One bowl of rice vanished in no time! đ˛ Pork Soup: Lemongrass Aroma Warms to the Stomach, Better Than Chicken The Tom Sap Kradook On (pork soup) in the set made us vow "to order it again": The soup looks clear but is richâplenty of pork chunks, stewed until fork-tender, even the gristle is soft. Fresh lemongrass adds a bright aroma, no spiceâjust meaty richness mixed with herbal scent. We fished out every last bit. The owner said "many guests come just to take this soup to go"âitâs more memorable than typical Thai chicken soup, warming you from head to toe in winter. â Heads Up: Skip This Set Tried the "Pa Khao Yai set" first, and itâs a miss: Piled with fried pork, lettuce, cucumber, rice noodles⌠too many random things, and the fried pork is greasy. Better to order a la carteâyouâll get exactly what you love, and itâs more worth it. đ Other Nice Touches: ~$30-40 per person, filling enough (2 marinated dishes + 1 salad + 1 soup + sticky rice feeds 2 easily); Located on the second floor (1924 SW Broadway Second floor), with a cute bubble tea shop downstairsâgrab a Thai milk tea after, perfect to balance spice; The owner speaks basic Chinese, patiently recommending spice levels, feeling like "a neighborâs cozy spot." Leaving, my mouth still held the freshness of marinated seafood and the spice of papaya salad, with a Thai milk tea in hand. Suddenly, I thought: finding this "authentic Thai spicy-fresh" in Portland is pure happiness. Next time, either the raw shrimp or Iâone of us will be thereď˝ đ Somtum Thai Kitchenďź1924 SW Broadway Second floor, Portland, OR 97201 #PortlandEats #ThaiFood #RawMarinated #FoodieFind