ZomTum
Thai restaurant · Capitol Hill ·

ZomTum

Thai restaurant · Capitol Hill ·

Lao-Thai bistro with papaya salad, noodles, curries, and sticky rice

papaya salad
drunken noodles
mango sticky rice
fresh noodles
siamese kaprow
friendly service
attentive service
flavorful
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by photo credit: ZomTum
ZomTum by null
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ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
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ZomTum by null
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ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
ZomTum by null
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ZomTum by null
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ZomTum by null

Information

660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003 Get directions

$20–30

Order delivery
See Menu
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Vegetarian options
Comfort food

Information

Static Map

660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003 Get directions

+1 202 682 1111
zomtumdc.com

$20–30 · Menu

Features

•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Good for solo dining
•Vegetarian options
•Comfort food
•Credit card accepted
•Debit card accepted
•Alcohol

Last updated

Jan 29, 2026

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@infatuation
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ZomTum - Review - Capitol Hill - Washington DC - The Infatuation

"Across from Eastern Market Metro on Capitol Hill, ZomTum is serving Lao and Thai dishes like papaya salad, curries, noodles, and wontons. It is, according to their tagline, “where papaya meets paradise.”" - Omnia Saed

https://www.theinfatuation.com/washington-dc/reviews/zomtum
photo credit: ZomTum
ZomTum
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

ZomTum Restaurant Opens on Capitol Hill With Thai and Laotian Food | Eater DC

"Through an under-the-radar opening in early August, this Capitol Hill newcomer transformed the former Joselito space into a destination for Southeast Asian cuisine, serving some of the best Thai and Laotian curries around town. Named as a playful riff on som tom (papaya salad), as you walk in, you’ll spot the papaya salad station next to the bar, where both Thai and Laotian versions are mixed tableside with a mortar-and-pestle; the Laotian version leans on shrimp paste and pickled fish, while the Thai take uses dried shrimp, chiles, peanuts, and palm sugar for sweetness. The menu spans traditional noodle and wok-fried rice dishes (with more Laotian options coming soon), and authenticity is a stated priority. You can taste the contrast in gang ohm curry—Kia’s favorite—fragrant with dill and typically served with juicy pork belly; compared to Thai panang, it’s less about coconut richness and more about herbs and spices. A custom three-wok range anchors the overhauled kitchen, with every dish cooked to order and spice levels accommodated from mild to very spicy. The bar program features craft Thai beers and Mekhong whisky, plus a happy hour offering $4 spring rolls, $5 fried wontons and wings with a spicy jaew dipping sauce, and $5 wine and beer from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Lunch brings a $15.99 prix fixe that includes a soft drink, spring roll, and choice of entree. Kia also claims it’s the first Laotian and Thai restaurant on Capitol Hill and says the neighborhood has warmly embraced the concept." - Tim Ebner

https://dc.eater.com/openings/163338/zomtum-dc-open-laotian-thai-restaurant-capitol-hill
ZomTum

Austin G.

Google
Per a friend's recommendation, I popped into Zom Tum to order takeout on a Wednesday evening around 6 p.m. A kind staff member helped me right away and within 15 minutes, I was out the door with our food. Everything we ordered came in hearty portions and full of flavor. The spicy basil fried rice was excellent. My eight-year-old daughter devoured the fried rice with chicken. My wife loved the drunken noodles with chicken and the larb. The tom yum soup was delicious. For dessert, the mango and sticky rice was excellent. The space itself is the old Joselito space along Pennsylvania Avenue SE near the Eastern Market Metro. There's bar seating and a large dining room with tables.

Rachel B.

Google
During a recent lunch break, we stumbled upon ZomTum, a vibrant new Laos-Thai bistro near Eastern Market, and decided to give it a try. We're so glad we did! The experience was marked by reasonable prices, delicious food, and warm, friendly service. We ordered two dishes to start our exploration of their menu: 5*Pad Thai: This dish was absolutely perfect. The noodles were cooked just right—not too hard nor too soft-and the dish was wonderfully colorful and full of flavor. 3*Papaya Salad: The salad was fresh and authentic, but it was a bit too spicy for our personal preference. Overall, we had a fantastic first visit. The combination of great food and a welcoming atmosphere has us excited to return. We can't wait to go back and try their other offerings, like the fiery drunken noodles or the mango sticky rice!

Olesya N.

Google
Was in DC for the weekend and this gem popped up on yelp when I set the filters to organize my search for lunch by the highest rating. This is a five star spot!!! The service was so friendly and quick. The food was so fresh and full of flavor. I ordered the som tum with sticky rice and it was bursting with flavour. Definitely a must for a delicious and filling lunch!

Olga S.

Google
The food here is truly delicious — I loved it from the very first bite. The flavors are fresh and comforting, and the portions are fair. The atmosphere and cleanliness could be a bit better, but very gently — just small details that would make the experience even nicer. Overall, a tasty spot that’s definitely worth trying.

KE J.

Google
We were staying in the capital hill area on our way back from walking to the Capital and stumbled across Zomtum Thai restaurant. The service was slow going at first but the appetizers and main dishes made up for it all. We enjoyed egg rolls and LI ice teas… my main was the shrimp pad Thai. Everything was hot and good Thai flavors.

Dominique M.

Google
Probably one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve had in years, and definitely my new favorite in DC. The food was amazing. I had the calamari for an appetizer and the Siamese Kaprow (chicken) for an entree. Both were cooked to perfection. This will definitely be my new go to spot in DC. The service was great, management was so nice! Definitely add this place to your list.

Dog Dot C.

Google
Steve made our experience at ZomTums one for the record. We had the mixed veggies/tofu with drunken noodles. Superb flavor and the vegetables are perfectly cooked, crisp -fresh-hot. Thanks guys!

Mayu A.

Google
I had the pleasure of dining at ZomTum, where Thai and Lao cuisine come together in perfect harmony. I ordered the Khao Soi and tried the Lao-style Som Tum( papaya salad) for the first time. The menu offers Thai and Lao versions of Som Tum, and I was truly impressed by the unique flavors of the Lao-style dish- it was absolutely delicious. The interior is stylish, with beautiful marble tables, communal seating, and a charming bar area. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, adding to the restaurant’s unique and vibrant atmosphere-in the best kind of eccentric way. I was genuinely moved by the attention to detail and authenticity in both the Thai and Lao offerings. I can’t wait to go back!!
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Rikin S.

Yelp
Thai food is one of my favorites and I was craving it on a Friday night. My friends and I found Zom Tum in the nearby Eastern Market neighborhood. Street parking is available and at that time of night it was abundant. The restaurant has a charming bistro type of vibe with marble tops and cafe style chair with fresh flowers on each. The menu is plentiful with choices of known favorites and even some unique offerings like Gang Ohm a Laotian style curry. I'm always concerned about getting a true vegetarian option without fish or oyster sauce. Best part the waiter and staff aware of vegetarian and vegan options and they are willing to make nearly any dish with that option. We ordered the springs rolls (3 per order), the Green curry with Tofu and vegetables and the basil fried rice. Everything came out hot, fresh and tasty. Only issue we had was the green curry was clearly missing salt and even some spice. We ordered it medium but it was completely lacking any spice. They provided us with a spice tray so we can make it spicer, even after that it was lacking, so it must have been the salt. Nonetheless the food was good, service was personable, they are accommodating to vegans /vegetarians, and it's nearby! I'm definitely coming here again.
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Rodger S.

Yelp
Last night's meal was disappointing. I started with a flaming volcano. Yes, it flamed, but it didn't have much flavor. Then we had 2 appetizers. The pinky (shrimp spring rolls) were fine, but the chicken wonton consisted of too much crispy wontons. The biggest disappointment was the sweet & sour entree with pork. I'll never get it again because the pork was fatty & it didn't have much flavor. The service was under par as well. We waited way too long to get our check.
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Isaac W.

Yelp
Drunken Noodle is pretty tasty. Service is friendly and attentive. Ambiance is clean and simple. I think there may be some Laotian options as well. I find the place a little pricy, but most of DC is overpriced. The food is great for Capitol Hill.
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Min Z.

Yelp
We stumbled upon this spot near Eastern Market and loved it. The prices are reasonable, and the service is wonderfully friendly. 5*We tried the Pad Thai: it was perfect, with noodles cooked just right. 3*The Papaya Salad: it was a bit too spicy for us, but very fresh. A great find with delicious food. We can't wait to go back and try more dishes!
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Kyle O.

Yelp
Yummy! Very fresh, flavorful, and Thai spicy if you ask. Left very full and satisfied. Great new addition to the neighborhood.

Karen S.

Yelp
This was my first time here. The staff was so welcoming and attentive, but not in a cloying manner. I really enjoyed my Drunken Woon Sen, but my friend the eggplant dish and that was delicious too. I think I'll order that next time. If you like dumplings, the chive dumplings are perfect and vegetarian. We don't usually get dessert but a friend urged us to get the Mango Sticky Rice. It is addictive! The dining rooms are colorful and comfortable.

Nancy L.

Yelp
Zom Tum is nothing short of spectacular! This Laos-Thai bistro is the kind of place you stumble upon once and immediately know you've found something special. The portions are generous, the flavors are electrifying, and the menu brilliantly balances inventive specialties with beloved classics. My family visited for lunch and enjoyed a feast of Chive Dumplings, Siamese Krapow, Pad Z-U, ZT Suki Haeng, Panang Curry, Kana Moo Gron, a specialty sausage, and Mixed Vegetables. Everything arrived quickly and tasted incredible. Each dish was fresh and bursting with flavor. Absolutely delicious! Both the Mango Sticky Rice and Fried Banana with ice cream we shared for dessert were sweet endings to a great meal. Zom Tum is a cozy and inviting place. It has neighborhood family-friendly vibes, but also would be a good fit for a date night, a casual meal with friends, or solo diners. It feels like a place that soon will have a large crowd of repeat visitors and "regulars." The servers were as nice as could be - attentive, helpful, and kind. Zom Tum is a wonderful addition to the Eastern Market neighborhood!

Tartine

Yelp
The server was very lovely and nice. The food not so much tofu was a sappy sponge fish and vegetables were straight out of the freezer. They brought me a cocktail with a glass, literally half full sadly I don't think this place will last there's never anyone in there because the food just isn't good

Marika R.

Yelp
We had a wonderful experience with lively server - and math PhD - Steve! On the food side the spicy eggplant was delicious as well as the coconut ice cream, specially made with imported Thai coconut milk and produced locally. Thank you for the lovely meal and warm welcome.

Kris K.

Yelp
OMG incredible authentic flavors - and such attentive service. I ventured away from my normal favorites and now have new favorites. Bar and dining room eating areas - perfect for any mood. Kris K.
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Alasdair C.

Yelp
We ordered Saturday night takeout which, admittedly, is not the best way to assess a new restaurant, but the food was excellent nevertheless. We had the crispy rice salad, papaya salad, tom yum soup, green curry, and drunken noodles. The latter two dishes are my yardstick for testing new Thai restaurants, and both were very tasty. Great to have a quality Thai/laos spot on the Hill. Will be back soon for the sit-down restaurant experience.

Jm R.

Yelp
Absolutely amazing!!! Everything was spectacularly delicious. Appetizers were fantastic, Main dishes were superb, and the dessert was off the charts!

Christina Y.

Yelp
Just tried Zom Tom! Thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered! Beautifully presented food and very attentive service by the staff (ask for Neon!) Must tries: the Nom khao Todd (uniquely tasty), Pad Z-U (some of the freshest noodles I've ever had), and Siamese kaprow (perfectly seasoned with a smidge of heat). Super enjoyable experience - you won't be disappointed! No pics as we were a little hungry. Next time- also has nice offerings for lunch and happy hour. Give it a go- I'm coming back and I live in NOVA. 'Nuff said!

Evelyn G.

Yelp
We loved the food , esp the Laotian salad and the dumplings. You must try the fried banana dessert, too! The service was attentive and friendly. Parking was easy too.

James M.

Yelp
Visited last eve for the 1st time. Very authentic dishes - different from more Americanized Thai places. Panang curry, Pad Thai and Nam Khoa Todd were our favorites. Staff was great and decor is fun/lively.

G B.

Yelp
Super special experience I think anyone would love. Food was delicious and the staff first class. Can't wait to go back again!

Edward W.

Yelp
Tried restaurant for the first time - carry-out. Food was all fresh, interesting and full of flavor. Nice interior and lots of people eating in. Everyone on staff couldn't have been nicer.

Katherine M.

Yelp
Amazing dinner this week at a this delicious new restaurant! The service was friendly and prompt and there were options for variety of flavors and spice levels. My favorites were the Nam Khao Todd (crispy rice salad) and the panang curry. For dessert the fried banana and coconut ice cream was a perfect ending.

Chris H.

Yelp
We ordered the Kana Moo Grob (crispy pork belly and broccoli) and the Kaprow (spicy basil, pepper, onion) dishes for delivery. Both were excellent. Portions are a bit smaller than other restaurants but those two dishes were enough for two adults. We definitely plan to dine in at the restaurant in the near future. So glad to have this restaurant nearby!

Emily M.

Yelp
We went to Zom Tum on Saturday night and were very happy with the experience! We ordered the Siamese-style Ka Prow - both chicken and beef. Both were delicious. We also had the drunken noodles, spring rolls, and Pinky shrimp - all of it exceeded expectations. Service was excellent and friendly. This is a great addition to the local neighborhood, but we traveled in from Virginia and it was easy to get to with plenty of street parking. Well worth the trip. The mango sticky rice was also very good and the drinks were well made.