Somtum Thai Kitchen — Restaurant in Portland

The salad rolls were delicious, dark green and red leaf lettuce, I loved the spicy peanut cream sauce...the pad kee mow (the drunken noodle dish) flavor was great, the beef was shit, it was so tough I couldn't chew it, spit most of it out, then I just quit trying and pushed the alleged beef to the side. The red curry, also delicious, but the chicken was so dry it was not edible. Picked it out too...then the rice I added to the curry was so dry it wasn't really edible either. As others mentioned I did notice fruit flies around my food, I thought maybe it was because I was sitting next to the alter where they offer food to the dead...they are lucky they are dead...the server only once asked me how my meal was, a single person ordering 2 entrees and an appetizer, after my second bite of food in my mouth, gave him a nod (it was a bite of the amazing salad roll) he saw me spitting out the beef and chicken and pushing the rest to the side, but quickly looked away like he didn't want any confrontation, I was expecting to take enough home for a second meal (2 entrees and an appetizer) but the little I was able to eat wasn't very filling and there was nothing I wanted to take home, I went up to pay and was finally asked how my meal was, I was honest, said beef was tough, chicken dry and neither edible, he smiled and said "yes" then charged me the full amount. I said no, I wasn't paying the full amount, he said I should have mentiond something to my server, I would have if they had ever been back around, I said "I didn't even eat it all, half of it I had to spit back out onto the plate, it's right there, see?" he said I need to pay the full amount, I said no, I will just leave without paying anything, he said I can't do that, I then said "at least let me pay for part of it then, but I'm not paying the full amount" he finally took off part of the tab, but begrudgingly. So sad, I was excited for a late night thai restaurant with such a great looking menu, but the service was shit and the proteins inedible...I might be back for the salad rolls...or...

I really used to love this Thai place. The food was pretty authentic, but my last few visits were a letdown. The food was way too salty, which was just unbearable. What really got to me, though, was the service getting worse and worse! They automatically add a 18% tip for groups over five, including kids, but they didn't even refill our water or ask if we were enjoying our meal. I noticed the waiter asked all the table expect ours. I'm not saying it's discrimination, but when we left, the waiter at the door just looked at us and didn't even say goodbye. I can't help but think if they're a bit racist against Asians, which is nuts considering they're an Asian restaurant! By the way, when we ordered the non-spicy pineapple rice, but they give us very spicy and we asked the waiter, they insisted it was non-spicy, what else can we say? If it is any other restaurant, I'd just get a new one, anyway it's too bad I...

I agree with other reviewers who say Somtum is one of the most authentic and delicious Thai restaurants in Portland. I've eaten at many Thai restaurants in Portland (including Langbaan, Phuket Cafe, Eem, Paadee, Mee Sen, Farmhouse Thai, Zabpinto), and I've actively sought out Thai cuisine in major cities like NYC and SF, and Somtum is still my favorite Thai restaurant in the US. Please note that what makes Somtum special is that they offer dishes beyond the stereotypical (and sometimes Americanized) egg rolls, pad thai, fried rice, and curries. For the best experience, I strongly recommend trying their Northern Thai / Isan specialties, such as the sausage and soups. I've had every one of their soups and highly recommend all of them -- there is a whole world beyond Tom Yum and Tom Kha. I've also enjoyed the Goong Chae Nam-Pla without any issues with raw shrimp. All of the larbs are...