Why Choose This Dish
The Heart of Isan Cuisine
Authentic Som Tam - green papaya shredded fresh with chilli, garlic and lime.
Made Fresh by Hand
Prepared the traditional Isan way, in a mortar and pestle to order.
Genuinely Spicy
A real chilli heat, as Som Tam should be.
Pricing
£11.50 Per Portion
Inside this dish
Authentic Som Tam - green papaya pounded to order with chilli, garlic, tomatoes and peanuts in a sharp, spicy dressing.
Green papaya
Chilli
Garlic
Tomatoes
Green beans
Peanuts
Sharp, spicy dressing
Allergen Information: Contains Fish and peanuts. Please inform us of any allergies or dietary requirements before ordering.
Flavour profile of our Papaya Salad (Som Tam)
Authentic Isan Som Tam, pounded fresh and genuinely spicy.
Crunchy Green Papaya
Shredded green papaya keeps a fresh crunch.
Sharp Lime Dressing
A bright, sour dressing.
Real Chilli
A genuine, punchy heat.
Peanut and Tomato
Peanuts and tomato round it out.
The Authentic Isan Plate
The dish at the heart of Kat's home cooking.
The Story
Som Tam belongs to the Lao-Isan world that Kat grew up in. Long before papaya reached Southeast Asia from the Americas, the people of this region were pounding sour salads in a mortar and pestle; when the new fruit arrived and proved perfect for shredding, the dish we now know was born. Its name means simply 'pounded sour', after the rhythmic pok-pok of the pestle that still rings out from every stall that makes it.
It's considered a national dish of Laos and the very heart of Isan cooking in Northeast Thailand - a region tied to Laos by language, culture and the Mekong. Shredded green papaya is bruised with chilli, garlic, tomatoes, green beans and peanuts, then dressed sharp with lime, and traditionally eaten with sticky rice and grilled chicken.
Kat grew up eating exactly this in Maha Sarakham, in the Isan countryside, where Som Tam isn't a restaurant dish but daily life. She makes hers the authentic way - genuinely spicy, pounded to order - which is why it tastes like the real thing rather than a tourist version. The dish at the very heart of Kat's own cooking, brought to St Albans.
Perfect For
Perfect if you want a sharp, authentic Isan classic.
A great choice alongside sticky rice or grilled meats.
Ideal for genuine chilli heat lovers.
A Closer Look
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Papaya Salad (Som Tam)?
Authentic Isan Som Tam: shredded green papaya pounded with chilli, garlic, tomatoes, green beans and peanuts in a sharp, spicy dressing.
Is Papaya Salad (Som Tam) spicy?
Yes - it's tagged Hot on the menu, with genuine chilli heat.
What is Papaya Salad (Som Tam) served with?
See the description above.
What allergens does Papaya Salad (Som Tam) contain?
Fish and peanuts. Let us know about any allergies when ordering.