Ban SomTum

This place is awesome! My boyfriend and I stopped here on our way home out of town and we were impressed with the food and service! You can tell they used fresh, clean ingredients which we always love! The waiter who served us recommended the Laui Saun to my boyfriend who was going to order Steamed Cod, he said it tastes better if you like Cod! He ordered a 2/5 Star spice and said it was too spicy but otherwise, he loved it! I ordered the chicken pad thai and it was very yummy, i loved the amount of shredded carrots on top! We also ordered Spring rolls (fresh) with peanut sauce and crab rangoons! I recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Thai food!

Phad seew is chewy (in a good way). Beef was large sizes and good portion but very very chewy (in a bad way) Kao mun was flavorful but wouldn’t order again Service is attentive Plenty of parking Probably an easy delivery spot The tip calculation on the bottom is not off of subtotal so off 2% more than you could be paying e.g. 18% is actually 20% tip

Ban SomTum is below average in the local Thai restaurant landscape, with mediocre food and lousy service being their biggest problems. We ordered a seafood tom yum and a prawn pad thai, both having missed the bar on the quality of their ingredients and overall taste. Both of the dishes under-seasoned and lacking in the things that people look to when they go for thai food, especially for the price. The one server that was there came across as condescending, offering us subpar service tossing menus and refilling water like the table was on fire and he was putting it out. The restaurant has also seen better days, sticky floors, sticky tables and chairs that look like they’ve been through a few military conflicts.

Amazing place for Thai food! I ordered to go a Pad See Ew (Vegan) for my wife and a Pad Kee Mao for myself. The food was excellent. The portions are very good for the price compared to other restaurants out there. If you are in Federal Way, WA and want to get some good comfort food, this is the place to go to. I would definitely go here again.

This place is always consistently delicious! The panang curry and ginger chicken fried rice were perfect together! Thank you Sara and Kelsi for the DoorDash gift card!! After a week of moving, it was a treat to have someone else cook!!

Delicious, fast and helpful service, all around great! Standouts include the wide noodles which had the perfect texture, just a little chew, and the massamun curry where the beef was just falling apart. Would definitely get both again.

Since I was in the area, decided to give it a try. First time going there and it didn't disappoint. Had walnut prawns, Pad Thai, pineapple curry and Thai iced tea. They were all great! Staff were friendly and attentive. Easy parking. Will definitely go back when in the area. 10/2024: Still great!!! Have been going regularly. Definitely recommend. 5/24/2025: Same as above.

Loved this place. It's a very unassuming location. I hesitate to call it a hole in the wall but you could drive right past here without realizing how much good food they have to offer! Some of the best crab Rangoon I've had. I also had a ginger chicken dish with jasmine yellow colored rice and it was also really good. Prices are competitive with other restaurants in the area, unfortunately that means about $20 minimum for a decent meal. I don't review many places I eat but this was a great experience. Highly recommend coming in the late afternoon, seemed to be less busy.

Ban SomTum has become our spot for absolutely everything... dinner dates, birthday celebrations, and those nights when we just want incredible Thai food. No matter the occasion, they always take care of us with such warmth and friendliness that it feels like family. The atmosphere is perfect... quaint but welcoming and just the right balance between casual and special. Whether it's a quick dinner or a celebration, it always feels like the right choice. And the food? Simply AMAZING! Every single dish we've tried has been spot-on, but the Krapow Talay is my all-time favorite. Savory, spicy, hearty, and absolutely packed with fresh seafood and veggies and pair it with sticky rice and it's perfection . It's so rare to find a place that consistently delivers on food, service, and experience. Ban SomTum never disappoints! It's the kind of restaurant that keeps you coming back again and again. If you're looking for a go-to Thai spot that makes every meal feel special, this is it!

Our very first time trying this Thai restaurant out today for lunch on Saturday, 6/07/25, at 11:50 AM. Got seated promptly as we walked in the door. The restaurant was empty, as we were the first customers to dine in. The male host was gracious enough to greet us and provide us with the menus. As we were looking over the Appetizers and Entrees on the menu, the server brought us our glasses of water. He came back to take our order after about 10 minutes. We got the Fresh Rolls, Papaya Salad (5 Star Spice Level), Crispy Garlic Chicken (3 Stars), a Chicken Pad Thai (3 Stars) and a Fried Rice (Mild). We first got the Fresh Rolls after 10 Minutes of ordering our food. Then a few minutes later, received the Fried Rice, Noodles, and the Crispy Garlic Chicken. The Papaya Salad came out 15 minutes afterwards. All of the food tasted pretty good. Had the right amount of seasoning, flavor and spice levels that we had requested. Enjoyed eating our food very much! One thing that was missing was the peanut sauce. Otherwise, everything tasted great. It was good to try a new place for a change for us. The environment was quiet since there was nobody else in the restaurant. Saw 4 other customers who came by to pick up their orders, but that was it. We left at exactly 12:50 PM, having spent an hour at this establishment. Total came out to be $90.00. Gave them a $20.00 tip in cash because service was excellent and food overall was very good. Everything came out in a timely manner even if they only had 1 Chef.

Had a late lunch at this spot. They can veganize many things which is great. Would definitely recommend the soft tofu with garlic sauce and fried vermicelli. I wish they add some vegan soup options too. The service was super quick, warm and friendly. The ambience is cozy..Many folks kept coming for a late lunch and that's how I know it's popular. My favorite was the coconut ice cream. Would highly recommend

We used to love this place. Not sure if they got a new cook or what. The quality and taste of the food is no longer there, We were so disappointed, will not be returning.

I eat here an embarrassing number of times each month, and honestly, I have no regrets! This place is that good. The red curry is rich, flavorful, and perfectly spiced. The papaya salad is fresh, tangy, and has just the right amount of kick. And the pad khee mao? Absolutely delicious--savory, spicy, and full of bold flavors. The consistency in quality, friendly service, and fast turnaround make this my go-to lunch spot. If you're looking for incredible Thai food, this is the place to be!

*vegan review* Very good Thai food with the best Pad Thai I've ever had. Affordable, great service, and the food has always been ready quick but is very freshly made. I usually order to go but the ambiance is nice for a date night too. A must-visit for any vegans and/or Thai food lovers in the Federal Way area!

I'm always looking for a good Thai spot and I think I've found another one in the area! So good that we've eaten here twice in a month already, lol. Great service - quick and attentive. I love that they have a mixture of Thai and Laotian dishes. 5 star spicy was a bit mild to me so I would recommend going higher if you can handle the heat. They also have space to cater large parties and a bar with limited beer and liquor. I can't wait to bring family and friends here and try the rest of the menu.

The food is wonderful and fresh though the seating isn't the most comfortable (linger less??) and can be a little chilly in winter with most tables against windows. The staff is very friendly, helpful, and efficient. All that being said it's still one of my very favorite restaurants (just don't try to go on a Monday)!!

I used to love this place but food quality has really gone down. I've tried ordering from this place twice and the food just doesn't taste as good as it used too. Really sad because I loved ordering from this place.

It was meh I've eaten/cooked Thai and mostly Laos food my whole life and this place is very white washed Thai food. The sticky rice was not on point and the lady working was very pushy and dismissive with no patience. The spicy level is very different to me spicy level 4 out of 5 should be pretty hot but no it wasn't spicy enough. When I see Issan Thai I think lots of fresh herbs and jaew and I was super disappointed when I got the jerky and you had to order sticky rice separately and the dipping sauce was like a siracha not authentic at all. The green curry was meh lacked in flavor.

My friend and I stopped by on a road trip, we were sad to have sent the first dish back because the tofu tasted off. Everything else was seemingly delicious until I found a bug head in my soup, yuck! We told who ever was in charge and she simply said "sorry we left the back door open but I can bring you another bowl of the same soup" and we declined, still had to pay for our meal and left hungry. I have literally never found a bug in my food before, it was head with tentacles.

Our server was so friendly. She told us she usually works the night shift, and was covering for her friend during lunch time. Food is still delicious. I highly recommend the lunch specials. We tried Green Chicken Curry (4.5 out of 5) with Eggplant, which came with a fried egg. 5/5 spicy is enjoyable for me. Kao Mok Neur (Southern Style curry rice with beef) was a dish I've not had elsewhere. The beef was tender, but otherwise a bit bland. Phad Kee Mao was decent.

Not as good as it used to be. We have eaten here many times and the last few times the food has changed. The spices and herbs are lacking and there was a total lack of fresh vegetables in the dishes. The fried rice had no flavor at all. The service is very nice and the restaurant is fine but if the food isn't good , why bother?

I have ate here before several times and I keep forgetting to review them. Food is always consistent! Last time we dined in, food was amazing, service was great, and everything came out in a timely manner. This time I did a phone order as I was a little pressed for time. Ordered a pad Thai chicken level 2, crab Rangoons, and a Thai tea. All items super delicious!

Resturant is big and inviting, nice large parking lot as well. Service is friendly and they try to be helpful. We ordered the fried chicken plate (comes with rice) and two dipping sauces and we ordered the pork salad. We were assured that the dishes were spicy- neither were. The fried chicken plate wasn't bad but I found it lacking. The chicken had a perfect fry and it wasn't greasy. The pork salad was ok- the pork tasted old and after one bite I didn't have anymore. The sauce was good on it- not too intense with fish sauce. We ordered the fried banana wrapped in coconut and opted for a side of coconut ice cream. The fried banana was a little too fried but it was full of coconut and the ice cream was made fresh.

Ordered their Phad thai for delivery and it was very good, huge portion. Wish it had more chicken and more of a kick to it! It was a great meal for lunch nonetheless, definitely want to dine in in the future

I'm so sorry to do this. The service was good, the food was tasty, the ladies were so nice. But there were roaches in the food. The lady even explained that they have pest control but it's so hard not for it to get in the food . That means it's a food storage and cleanliness issue as to why they are having a problem. Unless that gets fixed I can't recommend anyone going here.

Service is always friendly, and the food is always delicious. There is a bar area that feels a bit more private, and a restaurant area, so you can get whichever vibe you'd prefer. The only downside is somewhat tight parking, but there's absolutely space, and it's worth it.

We love coming here and we love the ribs and drinks. But last time we came and got the salmon curry and the salmon taste really bad. I didn't even eat it. And when I ask for the bill, the waiter ask if I need any box and I say no. He can see that I haven't even touch the salmon... It would have been nice if he just ask is the food ok? Anyways we will come back for the ribs because itsssss amazing

I went there with my family and we felt rushed to finish our food and leave. Would not recommend if you are planning a family bonding time at a restaurant. Food is great though.

Yelped this place and got lucky this restaurant is so delicious! Especially the price range for the dishes is awesome. I highly recommend anyone to try this Thai place if you're around the area. I highly recommend trying their nam kao, phad kee mao, and the Thai iced tea. The Thai iced tea is made perfectly its not too sweet or too strong. The servers were very friendly. I would def will be coming back!

Great food and quaint. Hand made dumplings and the kimchi is bombdiggity!! Server was very nice.

They had a lot of unique dishes on the menu that I'd never seen before. Stepped out of my comfort zone a bit ordering but I was not disappointed. This place is a must try!

EVERYTHING was DELICIOUS! Clean, vegan, GF, loved it. They have spices from 1 to 5. I had the number two and it was wonderful. My husband said he would go for number three spice but he likes it super spicy.

Overpriced and not great tasting. Currie tasted like it was from a mix. The Thai iced tea was watered down. Not great. This place is hit and miss

This restaurant offers really big portions which is good of course, but I am giving it only four stars because their chicken wings are not seasoned very well and they give you very little sauce. Pad Thai here is some of the best in this area. If you ask for spicy you will get spicy!

Trying lunch menu "Kao mok neur" southern style curry rice curry marinated beef and house salad

We love this place! Good ambiance, the staff is always great, and best Thai in FW. Highly recommend.

Haven't gone in a while and recently went with a friend. And it was still really good! The ladies who greeted and served us were so friendly!

We've been wanting to try this place based on their positive reviews. Sorry to say, it wasn't that great based on what we've ordered & their prices. Spent over $130 w/tip for lunch. We mainly only liked the pineapple fried rice & pad Thai. The service was a little slow but staff was friendly.

MY FAV THAI RESTAURANT IN FED! Tum BST (seafood papaya salad): SO FRESH, great crunch, and love the sauce! Beef phad kee mao: always down for noodz and these hit every time! Sao Isaan hom pha (larb fresh spring rolls): packed with veggies and larb. The sauce paired w/it is sweet & tangy. Larb peek gai (chicken wings): omfg so friggen good! The wings are pretty big too! Every thing is so flavorful, decent spiciness (at 3/5 or 4/5 spice level), fresh, and fair pricing. The staff are friendly and helpful. Small free parking lot about 10-15 spots.

This spot is definitely one of my go-to restaurants for Thai food! The pad Thai was delicious! I appreciated the sauce to noodle ratio and generous amount of toppings (bean sprouts, carrots, lime, peanuts, etc.). The papaya salad was crisp and fresh! The mango sticky rice was the perfect dessert.

We ordered again but all went down 1 star since it was too spicy last time. Now there was no detectable spice. I guess it depends on who is cooking that day. ‍

Quick service, delicious food and beverages. Can't go wrong with the panang curry and Thai iced tea. Waitress was friendly.

Hey hey!!Federal Way!This place is a very good restaurant with alot of different,delicious dishes.It is a nice,quiet place

Live fairly close by and have frequented 4 times thus far. Never disappoints. Consistently good with generous portions and personable staff. Pleasant atmosphere in stand alone location with parking lot.

Ok, Yumm! This place is kind of a hidden gem in Federal Way. It's tucked away in its own little corner and the place itself is quite small, but the food is so tasty. We ordered some Pad Thai, the fried rice with pineapples, and 2 types of curries. (Warning: their curries are made spicy so if you don't like it hot then I don't recommend the curry.) Everything was good and they got pretty busy while I was there and noticed there's quite a bit of regulars that come in by the way the host was greeting them. That's how you know a place is good!

A. Ok. Not the best Thai food I've had. But it wasn't awful, either. Avocado fried rice was probably the most surprising. The avocado offered a different texture to the rice which was nice. So unctuous and creamy! Balance of flavor was delicious as well. Classic Thai balance if sweet, salty, sour with an avocado twist. Some fried garlic and/or onions would have taken this dish up one more notch! The salad we got with noodles and eggplant wasn't my fave. A little too soft in textures overall. I regret not ordering the papaya salad per my usual. Pad Thai was sweet forward. If you like it sweet, you'll like their version. I like mine with a little more smoke, tang, and salt. Not awful. Just not my preference. Naem Khao was great! Had more ginger than I'm used to with other versions. Something about that fried rice crunch with king Thai flavor? Winner. Overall, decent Thai spot. Presentation of each dish was visually appealing. Taste fell a little flat for me. Not my first choice to try again, but wouldn't be against giving this place another shot.

The staff was rude but the the portion of pad see her was generous but the beef salad needed more flavor, but the beef itself was high quality.

I had my eyes on this restaurant for quite some time, so I was happy to finally take my partner to try it for the first time. The restaurant itself is really well decorated and planned. The dining is nice and open with a good view of the kitchen as well as the bar. The bar, even though in full view is sectioned off and feels separate from the rest of the restaurant. The walls, flooring, and accent pieces are all very modern and appealing. The staff were incredibly friendly. They were making jokes with us and clearly enjoyed being around each other as they were engaged in conversation with each other even while completing mundane tasks like sweeping or cleaning tables. We felt paid attention to as customers. They gave good recommendations for the food as well. The restaurant was empty of many customers but they had PLENTY of mobile orders and take out. The menu is one of the best menus I've seen before too. The menu used the actual names of the recipes instead of Americanized names and gave thorough descriptions of the dishes. We ordered the spring rolls to start, which were huge! They came with chicken instead of shrimp, which was a change but it still was fresh and healthy. I ordered a Thai tea and it was perfect! It was still nice and creamy and the ice did not water it down at all. I could tell it was actual brewed tea and not the powder flavoring. Plus I'm a sucker for drinks in mason jars, so extra points there. My boyfriend ordered a rice dish and I ordered Panang Curry. The portions were huge (which the staff did warn us about). The food was light on the seasoning and was not spicy (heat-wise) at all. I would recommend this restaurant to someone who is just starting to try new foods or as a chill place to hang out.

Very chill place, food is so organic and just perfect for your overall health but you still feel cozy and full, and quick and nice staff, definitely hit up this spot whenever you're hungry!

Our favorite tai restaurant at Tacoma area. Green Avocado curry is awesome, they are also serving good ice cream now.

Placed an order to go today- I get there to pick up my order - there is one customer placing an order- a couple walks in with a child. Once the customer ahead of me is finished placing his order the server steps around me and says to the couple with the child three? She comes back after seating them and ask me if I need help? You have an order? Now I'm just a little pissed! I say, I was here first and you seat them? She says I'm sorry. Blatant disrespect right in front of my face. Will I ever go back HELL no, cuz that how they want it. Right in front of my face.

Food is about 3 stars but customer service I received from a male server in a recent visit was a 0. So they get 2 stars. Male server rushed my takeout order for no reason (I wasn't indecisive at all), told me it had to be cash (I said sure), never said thank you, no smile or friendly looks, and barely looked or spoke to me. Next person whose order he messed up was treated with the utmost respect and friendliness with a big smile and he even patted her back. Then he turned around and gave me my takeaway without a word or look of acknowledgment. Just plain weird, and rude. Bothered me enough that I'm writing this review. I've told many people over the years that this place was good. Now I'll be telling people the opposite.

I h load heard about how tasty and wonderful the food was. On my first visit the food and service was great. Also, the servers are all very friendly.

Love their papaya salad. Spice level: very hot. Extra salted crab Lao style but not quite authentic Lao papaya salad. Nice portion and atmosphere. I will come again!

We stopped here on a whim, and we're so glad we did! The food is excellent. Hubby is a pad Thai guy and said it's one of the best he's had. Veggies were cooked to perfection, and sauce delicious. Service was quick and friendly. The restaurant is clean and comfortable. Will definitely be back. Highly recommend!

The food is here is always SO good! It's our favorite Thai food in Federal Way. We order delivery and takeout, but have also eaten at the restaurant.

We ordered krapow chicken with egg on top and sweet chili chicken. They were nice to make krapow chicken off the lunch menu when we showed up after lunch hours. Krapow was good with ground chicken with rice , I asked for mild, i added Thai chili sauce on the side. Sweet chili chicken was flavorful but it was too salty for me, it served with crispy noodle, I think with rice would be better paring. Service was good.