Banh Somtum

I would give this place a 3.5/5! I came in on a Saturday night around 7:00 and it was pretty empty at first but later around 7:30, there were people waiting to be seated. This is the list of things I ordered: Thai Ice Tea Definitely on the sweeter side compared to most of the thai teas that I’ve had at other restaurants Lao Sausage I’m usually super picky with anything pork but the seasonings and spices were fantastic! And with the sauce and sticky rice, this is definitely an appetizer worth getting Tum Poo Khem (papaya salad with salted crab) If you’re getting this dish, make sure you really enjoy fishy flavors because I had a hard time finishing my serving. The salted crab was yummy but the sauce they used for the salad was too strong for me. Thai Boat Noodles I love how this gives you an option to choose either light/dark soup and thin/thick noodles. My bf got the dark and thick noodles. The soup was good, the meat was okay, but the noodles were meh Tom Yum Noodles The soup is definitely on the sweeter side which I enjoy but again, it’s personal preference bc my bf favors the broth to be more sour. The chicken and shrimp were good and the noodles were standard. Mango Sticky Rice This was unfortunately a let down. The mango was not ripe and it was on the hard side. The sticky rice’s flavoring was good but the texture was just okay. Overall, there were some hits/misses but I would love to go back and try their other dishes.

Love the food here! I first found this spot on Yelp a few months ago when I was craving authentic Thai Som Tum. At first, I almost didn’t come because it’s a 40-minute drive from where I live, but I’m so glad I did, it’s totally worth it! I’ve tried the Somtum Thai, Ko Lard, and the Thai boat noodles (with thick noodles in a dark, flavorful broth). Everything has been amazing. This is actually my third time back, and honestly, this place has the best Som Tum I’ve had so far. (Trust me, I’ve tried several Thai restaurants around River Oaks, TMC, downtown Houston, they were good, but this place is way better and so much more authentic!)

Discovered new spot! Place was clean service was friendly! Food was great. I got Thia boat noodle beef soup & chicken skin. Can’t wait to go back and try their dishes & salads.

Saw this place while I was exploring google maps. The skin was crispy and not too greasy, it paired well with the sauce and sticky rice. Along with the chicken skin, my favorite has got to be the Nam Kaow. It was crispy, fragrant, and flavorful, as soon as I got home I immediately finished my leftovers! Pad Ka Pao was delicious as well, however the Nam Kaow (top right) stole the show for me. I’d definitely come back to try the other dishes.

The Tom Yum Noodle is my Favorite, especially to nurse a hang over, the staff and chef are amazing. You can definitely tell they know what they are doing back there, every time I have been here the food has been consistent and delicious. p.s. if you're craving for something crispy, the chicken skins hit the spot. **Edited** 7/20/25 After having Tom Yum Noodles almost every week, I went outside my norm and ordered me the Thai Boat Noodles and they did not disappoint me, the only thing I regret, was not ordering it sooner. I like my Tom Yum Noodles, but the flavors incorporated in the Boat Noodles is next level, from Spicy, Umami, and just the right amount of Twang. Plus I love that there is plenty of noodles so I can keep riding the flavor Train! Also as a added benefit, I believe it's B. Y. O. B., or at least I bring my own bottle sometimes....

Very good Laotian restaurant. This is one of the first Laos cuisine places I’ve tried and it did not disappoint. Seems very similar to Thai food! I had their pineapple fried rice and wings and they were great quality and great portions for the price. It’s a smaller spot but there’s a good amount of seating. Wasn’t too busy when we went. Was definitely worth a try!

I would give 5 stars for this place. Little gem in this location. Curry was just perfect and not too salty. The salad was too fishy for me but otherwise everyone was very nice and Vincent was a great waiter.

Stopped in for lunch with a friend. We had the Chicken Pad Thai, Lad Na (Rad Na), and fried spring rolls. The Rad Na was perfectly savory and not too sweet (some places make it very sweet, but I prefer it to just be savory), the chicken was tender, and the noodles were extra wide. They even asked me how spicy I'd like it, which I don't think is typical for Rad Na, and "medium" spicy was just a hint of heat - I'd probably kick it up a notch next time. My friend's Pad Thai was delicious as well, as were the fried spring rolls. The restaurant is small, probably 10 tables or less, but is obviously a popular destination as all the tables were full for lunch. Staff was friendly. A solid choice for Thai food, worth the drive up from my office for lunch.

I was struggling to pick where I wanted to have lunch today and saw this place. I walked in to see it completely packed! With a wait! I instantly got excited. I knew with that many people it had to be good! The staff were as busy as bees and yet incredibly attentive. I ordered the summer rolls and beef salad. The summer rolls are the size of small burritos! Very delicious with the sauce! The yum nur salad was impressive. Subtle sweetness mixed with the heat of the Thai chilis. A refreshing taste to say the least. It was like heaven. Every bite was worth the wait. The menu has lots of items I'm excited to come back for.

This is a staple post-church lunch spot haha. We got the Tom yum, pineapple fried rice, pad kee mao, and pad si ew. We opted for the level 2 spice, which was just right. The Tom yum was the table's favorite. Light yet extremely flavorful. It was more so sweet than sour. Loved the chicken and glass noodles inside. The pineapple fried rice was sweet and savory, with nice chunks of pineapple throughout. The pad si ew and pad kee mao tasted pretty similar to me. Kinda just tasted like regular flat noodles. I'm used to more of a rich and sweet flavor from other restaurants. The pad kee mao seemed to be overloaded with large pieces of vegetable lol. Meats were tender. Although the noodle dishes were not the typical ones I've had in the past, they were still good. The noodles were thick and chewy. Fast and friendly service! The inside is relatively small, so if there are lots of people, it can tend to feel uncomfortably crowded. Thankfully, we did not run into that issue. It can also get a lil toasty in there. Ample parking!

The Thai beef salad was the standout dish for me. The spice was definitely present but it was the addicting kind. Super herby and light which I loved. The onions and cucumber balanced out the tender beef. I thought the pad thai was alright, it was on the sweeter side and could've been more flavorful. My friend said the crab puffs were solid.

Cute restaurant, has maybe 8 tables. Friendly staff and food is delicious. We ordered more than we can eat like always. A Lots of free parking in the front.

Banh Somtum is one of my regular dine-in restaurant in Houston. Not only it is tasty, but the prices are also very reasonable. The dining room is quite small so it can get really busy during peak hours. I've tried a few of their dishes and they were all solid, but I can't help but to order Boat Noodles every time I visit. The broth is deep, rich and tangy. Bits of crunchy pork rinds and gai lan add amazing textures to the noodle dish. If you aren't too daring with spice level, you can request pickled peppers, or dried chilis on the side and adjust your dish to your liking.

We came here on a Saturday for lunch but it was packed and we didn't have time to wait so we decide to come back on Sunday for lunch. The staff is friendly , the restaurant atmosphere is like every regular Asian small ma & pa restaurant . We ordered 3 dishes : 1) the Lao Sausage was tasty and has a kick to it. I would prefer if it was a tad more hotter in serving temperature . It was served with the sticky rice which was good but a tad more moist would of been perfect 4/5 stars 2) we ordered the crispy rice salad , it was tasty but I would like a little more flavor to it . 3/5 stars 3) we ordered the Talapia steam dish , the fish was good . They put fresh lime to it so it taste good but when the lime is cook too long then the rind from the lime make it a tad bitter 4/5. Would prefer if this dish serve with some dipping sauce . Please remove the fresh lime , maybe use lemon and lime leaves only . The rind kill the good taste of the broth you prepared .

You need come to here if you're looking for Thai / viet food. They're pretty quick with service and their food is so good! I came here for the first time after the freeze to get some warm food! My dad recommended it he eats here often- dine in and take out! Support a family owned small business!

This restaurant was very small and quaint. The workers were extremely friendly and courteous. My husband is Hmong so there isn't lots of places that sells papaya salad or lao sausage. He really enjoys this place and we had such an amazing time reminiscing nostalgic palates. Everything we ordered was authentic and delicious. 100% Shye (my husband) approved.

I go here almost every week. As a Thai, I think they have the best pad kra prow, pad see eew and pad Thai. Actually, every dish I have had is excellent. Service is always efficient and courteous. Prices are reasonable.

If you're looking for an explosion of flavors, look no further than Banh Somtum! This place tagged itself as Laos/Thai cuisine aka Isaan (Northeastern) Thai flavor which is known for its spicy kick Somtum.The flavors are bold, spicy, and complex, but the prices are not inflated and the atmosphere is always casual and friendly. I found LaadNaa dish is the nearest to street food in Korat or KhonKaen. Whether you're a foodie or just looking for a quick and delicious meal, Banh Somtum is an experience not to be missed!"

Stranded in Houston due to rainstorm on east coast that canceled our flight home, we searched for a meal to soothe our spirits. When life deals you lemons, go get some LEMONgrass Laotian sausage to start a wonderful meal at this unassuming gem in outer Houston. Great service and terrific food. We, as we do, ordered enough for a second meal later and enjoyed all the offerings at Banh Somtum. The water spinach was crisp and tasty, PA Lad Ma Nao (whole steamed fish in lemon a sauce) was delightful, the shrimp pad see ew was on point. The crispy rice with lettuce wraps had crunch and nice flavor. The papaya salad delivered the perfect balance of coolness and spicy heat. Our airport nightmare turned into a pleasant dream. It's legit, get some!

I absolutely love this little Thai/Lao restaurant. It reminds me of homemade food and eating with family and friends. It's not a big or fancy restaurant, however, the authentic dishes are packed with flavors and I promise you won't be disappointed. I often order to go only because I'm always on the go but today my husband and I opted to dine in. It wasn't packed, time was around 1pm. I always order their famous Thai boat noodles, which is nothing like Pho so get that flavor out of your mind lol the broth has more of a sweet, sour and spicy flavor to it. It comes with bean sprouts, Chinese broccoli, sliced beef and green onions (but I exclude the green onions because I just don't like it). If you've never tried Thai Boat Noodle omg put it on your list but I will warn you, I've tried quite a few a few from different places and even in different cities, and not everyone makes it the same. By far, hands down Bahn Som Tum makes the best! The chicken wings were seasoned and fried to perfection and quite large (as you can see from the pictures) it also comes with sticky rice and tomato sauce dipping. For those of you that don't know, Thai and Lao people eat sticky rice daily and it's eaten with your hands no silverware needed. Hubby got the chicken pad sa ew and it was delicious even with no spiciness. So if you're looking for delicious authentic home style Thai/Lao cuisine and you're around the Northwest part of Houston, or willing to drive this way, check this place out.

Some of the best Thai/Lao food on the North Side of Houston. Definitely support your local business, they got their menu on point.

Love this place! Never disappointed here. I always get level 3 spice which is medium spice. The service is always good. This place gives off hole in the wall vibes but with amazing flavorful food.

We've ordered from this restaurant several times and usually enjoy the food, but this time was really disappointing. I got the stir-fried flat noodles with beef, and the portion size was shockingly small--more like a kid's meal. After just 3 or 4 bites, it was gone. It's frustrating because we've come to expect better from this place. I hope they improve because this was not worth it.

Deserved 0 star . Over price with less food . Used to be good but not anymore . Better find another Thai restaurant.

Authentic and probably the best Thai/Lao restaurant in Houston. Pros - everything. I haven't had a dish from here that's short of good as f&$! Con - location. I wish they were closer either to Chinatown or the loop :')

We've been coming here for years but today was the first time we brought our second child who has a dairy and gluten sensitivities. The server did a great job of communicating what menu items and we ultimately decided that something off the menu would be best since she did not want seafood. The kitchen made her a delicious chicken and rice plate without the restricted ingredients. Such a great place even with food restrictions. Server was knowledgeable and food was delicious! Thank you for the wonderful experience!

Been here a few times but it now deserves a great review. Everything I order is always so delicious. Boat noodles and lao sausages are so flavorful. Very authentic!!! Love it.

Little cute Thai/Lao restaurants situated further north of Houston. Might visit again if it was closer...Everything I had was good but nothing specially unique to have me fixated.

I ordered the Thai boat and the chicken wings with tomato sauce...the chicken wing had no flavor...but with the tomato sauce...it was good...I would have preferred the chicken itself to be well seasoned...the Thai boat was descent...

I haven't been able to eat Laotian food since coming to Texas and I was craving it BADLY. I was relieved to find a place so close to my home. The portion size for the food was great! The food also tastes amazing with the perfect amount of spice. The laos sausage was the star of the show it was incredibly flavorful and it was hard to hold back from finishing the entire dish myself. The lao piek was super warming and exactly what I needed and the jerky was sweet and chewy. Will come back soon!

Everything was so delicious! The wait was a bit long but totally worth it for the food. We were sad that the crab rangoons were out and the Lao sausage was also out. We had the earl boat noodles, d10, and basil clams. All super fresh and delicious!

WOAH! Probably the best Thai food that I've had in Houston! Omg everything was so flavorful and surprisingly so affordable! Got the pad kee mao (stir fried thick rice noodles) and the Thai beef salad (yum nur)! So freaking good! Definitely worth coming back here!

Real asian food for asian customers. You can tell when a a chinese or asian restaurant cook for americans, their food are extremely mediocre, bland and nothing stands out. I give Banh Somtum 5 stars because this restaurant is not one of those. I visited the place with no expectation and boy I was impressed. One of the best papaya salad I've ever had in the United states. My husband ordered Green Curry Fried Rice. it tastes and smells awesome. It felt like I was having a real meal in southeast asia. For desert, We ordered sticky rice. It was okay, not the best, I've had better. Overall I would highly recommend this place. Very authentic. Good chef/cook from the kitchen. Regarding service, they are a small restaurant with only 2 servers and I believe there are less than 3 people in the kitchen. I visited on a Friday night. There were a birthday party with over 20 people, all other tables were full too. Despite the chaos, The two young waiter and waitress was very calm and quick to respond. The atmosphere was good. Friendly and attentive staff I will def come back and try more yummy dishes.

We stopped here while visiting the area per recommendation of several people. Friendly and helpful staff. We were all satisfied with our meals. The spring rolls were delicious too! Good serving size. Very quiet and cozy table seating perfect for small or bigger groups.

Food was delicious. The vibes were very welcoming . Definitely recommend! Nice place to sit down and get some work done on laptop while enjoying a great meal.

Love this place. Literally tastes like home away from home. The laab is my favorite! Food is very fresh. I wish I can eat here everyday. Lol. Omg and the papaya salad. My family and I ordered the wings and Lao sausage also. I have had no bad experience here. Sometimes the wait is long. But it's worth the wait. SAP SAP.

Great place! Very authentic. I loved the boat noodles and the Lao sausages. It was my first time having Lao food and it won't be the last

I absolutely love this place. Would drive over 30 mins just to eat here! Special shout out to the one young waiter who does everything! Bless his heart. It's like a one man band in the front of the house and he does it so well!! Their Tom Yum Noodle soup is my absolute favorite!!!

This is one of my favorite Thai places ! Everything is super spicy and delicious , the staff is nice , the portions are fair , and I have major cravings for this place all the time . A family restaurant but it HITTS EVERYTIME

Wow this place is definitely delicious worth the drive going great variety of Laos the fish over fire was definitely amazing it stayed hot the whole while eating it

Honestly, I give this lovely restaurant a 4.5. One of the best restaurants in Houston for Thai/Laos food that I have yet encountered. Their food was delicious, the papaya salad was amazing and I liked how the fried pork skins added crunchiness to it (don't let them soak in the juices). My only complain is that the sausage had a lot of fat pieces more than actual meat, not sure if it was just my luck. But, I can say that I have never had a Laos sausage with that much fat in it. On the other hand, their soups (come in form a hotpot) look delicious! I will try it next time. (Tip: Try level 1, if you enjoy a little kick, but don't want your mouth going numb.)

This place is as authentic as you will find in Houston. All of their dishes are filled with flavor and I have enjoyed everything I have tried. Boat noodle soup and pad Thai are a must! Pretty small place and it can get really busy but service is solid. I do wish they had more drinks to offer, all they have is Thai tea. Definitely the best Thai food around, I recommend!

I wish I lived closer to this spot - SO GOOD. When you find legit/real Thai or Laos (especially) restaurants in Houston - treasure! Must try items: sausage, jerky (get two orders trust me), and the larb! I've tried chicken beef and pork larb, all are delicious. The boat noodle is also very tasty, my favorite combination is the dark broth with thick noodles. Heads up, everything besides the boat noodle comes with an order of sticky rice and more importantly the sausage and jerky does sell out especially on peak business days (weekends/nights).

A small mom and pop shop that sells delicious, traditional Lao food. I loved the papaya salad tray since it had a lot of meats and noodles to pair with it! I ordered the level 2 spice, but it was spicier than what I expected (still tasty though). Lao sausage was flavorful and the jeow was packed with spice.

So yummy! I got the boat noodle soup and chicken wings. So good. I substituted the meat for beef and chicken only. Which was no upcharge.

For being Laotian and missing comfort food, I was absolutely delighted to get a taste of cuisine from the motherland. Restaurants like these are so rare to find. This is comfort and authentic Laotian cuisine. We ordered :::papaya salad tray::: with 3 pepper spice level and boy did it pack some heat from the Thai chilis. It had everything you want in a traditional thum, dehydrated salted baby shrimp, peanuts, pork skin, hard boiled egg, rice noodles, cured pork and the sauce consisting of hints of fish sauce and lime really brought together this amazing dish!! The :::Lao Sausage::: quite possibly some of the best I've had in a very long time. I wish we got more for the price point of $6.95 but it did come with some traditional Laotian sticky rice. The sausage had everything and the flavors were nice. The kaffir leaves really shined in the sausage and will give patrons an element of surprise like a taste of lime. Hearty, comforting, and a taste of what I love in traditional Lao cuisine. Bravo!!! :::Spring Rolls::: pork could use a touch of salt but the dipping sauce did compensate for the lack of salt. It was fresh overall and the shrimp was clean and deveined which small details like these will make or break a spring roll. Overall I would choose this restaurant over most in any given day. Even my Hispanic partner who's never had Laotian cuisine was shocked on how everything tasted. She mentioned she thought she would get heart burn but did not from eating here. She's now craving some papaya salad but it takes a special person to make the perfect Thum Mak Hoong aka Payaya Salad.

Tasty food, but small quantities of meat and uneven service. We arrived for lunch with a party of six. We all ordered at the same time, but dishes were brought to our table with 10-15 minutes between each entree. I was the last person to receive my food, and my coworker sitting next to me had already finished his Pad Thai. He also ordered a papaya salad, but it was the last thing brought to the table. Not happy at all about the service. I tried some of the sausage and enjoyed the taste. As another Yelper mentioned, the sausage was a bit fatty, but it was good. I ordered the steamed seafood for $10, and received 3 pieces of shrimp, 2 pieces of squid, and 2 mussels. I also had a cup of rice, but the amount of food was very sparse for the price I paid. I had to grab some trail mix when I got back to the office, since I left the restaurant hungry and didn't want to take the chance on waiting another 45 minutes for an order of spring rolls. I did like the dipping sauce, though. My coworkers commented on the low quantity of meat they also received with heir meals. Come with a small party and order vegetarian. I noticed some of the small tables around ours didn't have the same experience.

Came here because I was craving some spicy Laos food. It definitely hit the spot. Don't skip out on the sausage and papaya salad. Restaurant is on smaller side and service takes long but you're coming here for the food not the service. Try as many items as you can. Also everything was very affordable!

I really wanted to like this place because the owners are super nice but the pad Thai was not good. I mean pad Thai is a very simple dish that typically packs a lot of flavor. I had to have my dish remade because the pad Thai that I was served had 0 flavor. It was almost as they forgot to put the sauce in It while making It. They were very nice to remake It but It was still mediocre. Some places just can't make great Thai food also putting cilantro on pad Thai isn't good to me really wasn't a fan. Maybe ill go back during their lunch time but as of right now this is not on my go to spots in nw Houston for Thai food. The owners are really nice though. I can definitely give them two stars for being nice and having great attitudes but the Thai food isn't that good in my opinion. I am used to Thai Gourmet, thai cottage, ano thai. I guess I get super disappointed because I am so accustomed to this gourmet.

This place is an oasis in the desert (legit...nothing fun to do around it). My friends and I come here all the time after church. 1. Pineapple fried Rice 2. Boat noodles (light broth) 3. Three Season Fish (fried) 4. Pad Si Ew Pineapple fried rice is decent. Typical of what you would think it would be. The boat noodles are absolutely my favorite. It comes in light or dark broth, I think the dark broth has added intestines and pork blood as a component if you're into that (tried both light and dark myself...they're honestly both delicious and I'm not even a fan of intestines/pork blood). The three season fish is basked in sauce and tastes astounding. It comes out with a flaming metal container to keep it hot with a fish-shaped pan on top for the dish to lie. You can get it steamed or fried. Getting it fried is good but it can be kind of tough to rip into the fish, especially problematic if you're sharing it with other folks. The Pad Si Ew was typical of what you would think it would be. Be wary of the spice level, medium is pretty hot for the average consumer! Relatively inexpensive! I just wished it was closer to central Houston...

The food was great again today, but the mango sticky rice was undesirable. I got mango that was over rice, brown on one side, and only about a fifth or sixth of a fruit....

Authentic thai/Lao style food! Small but the flavors are delicious! The best place for boat noodle soup

One of the best Thai restaurants in Houston! Super authentic and flavorful food, always go here because it's very consistent. Service is good as well, the place is kind of like a hole in the wall restaurant but the food makes up for it!

I ate there only once, some items were good, but they served us raw shrimp which made us sick. Portions were so measly we paid and left . I'll never go back

This place is so good. I always order the boat noodle soup and pad see eww... this past time I went with my mom and we got the papaya salad and steamed seafood. The green seafood sauce was sooo good... I wanted to drink it.

Kinda hole in the wall place here in Houston but really good! Not a big place, there's about 10-15 tables or so that can fit 4 people per table. They have mentioned the place gets pretty busy on weekends so be sure to go early! It's all family style! We ordered, spring rolls, thai sausage (forgot the actual name) ,pad Thai, papaya salad, steamed fish and yellow curry. Everything was amazing!!! The steamed fish was the winner tho of the night! So it's a must have! They do suggest to call in and have them make it as it takes 30 min, but we didn't and it was okay. I will say the papaya salad was good but really spicy so beware. Overall this is a really good that restaraunt and must have!

I discovered this restaurant on Yelp when I was looking for some Thai food in the NW Houston area. It is located in a building shared with numerous businesses. Parking lot is a private lot. Easy access. There are about 10 tables inside. I've seen the restaurant both nearly empty and nearly full. I didn't know this place served both Laotian and Thai food. There were several items that caught my eye, as I have not seen them at other restaurants. FOOD: Pork Satay (2/5): My friend and I agreed this was overcooked. We ended up eating half of one and left the others alone. Summer Rolls (4/5): These were pretty good. Light and healthy. They were like your typical Vietnamese spring rolls without the peanut sauce. I'm not sure what the sauce was but am a fan! Pad Si Ew (1/5): Disappointing. It was lacking in flavor and not even spicy when I asked the server to make it spicy. I would not order this again. My friend and I barely touched this. Pad Thai (3/5): This was just OK. There is a different taste though. It seemed to have more of a tomato-like taste. Great portion though! Boat Noodles (4/5): I ordered this with dark broth and thin noodles. You have the option to choose between light or dark broth with thin or thick noodles. There is such great, rich flavor in this! It kind of has a beefy taste to it but balanced with the delicious greens! Great portion again. Spice level 3 was not spicy to me. I'd order higher next time. I recommend this! Service is a hit or miss. My first experience was great! The server let us stay longer because my friends and I were catching up. We left a nice tip though. My recent experience was like non-existent service. We sat around for 10 minutes, so I ended up going to the front to get the menus. The server arrived and left midway when my friend was ordering. Her attitude and facial expressions were not appropriate, even if the restaurant was busy. We didn't even get water refills from her. Would I be back? If I am craving the boat noodles! I'd try other items though.