When in Thailand Shoreditch…

Dog friendly restaurant review: Som Saa

If you’re looking for a Thai restaurant that tones things down for the western palette, Som Saa could be a ‘nah’ for you…

But if you’re looking for traditional Thai dishes that are packed with flavour, this dog friendly restaurant should be on your list. This place has style and substance. Bowl-fuls of it, in fact.

Environment

Som Saa is located just down the road from Spitalfields Market. Aldgate East is the closest station, but you could also walk over from Shoreditch High Street station or Liverpool Street station. Look out for a restaurant with big picture windows and a sage green exterior. If you’re bringing your pup with you, the staff ask that you book beforehand. Not only is this to make sure you get a spot, it’s also so they can seat you at a table with extra room, since the booths are probably too small for a four-legged friend.

As soon as you walk in, you can smell the fish sauce. A tell-tale sign of authentic Thai food. The decor is warm and inviting, with lots of natural wood and exposed brick. There are three different types of seating; bar stools for cocktails and small plates, booths for smaller groups and sit-down tables at the back of the restaurant for dining. The vibe is relaxed and casual and the dimmed lights create a more intimate atmosphere in the evening, so it’s perfect for a date or dinner with friends.

Price

This restaurant celebrates regional Thai food and the menu is constantly changing. The appetisers average out at £5, while the average price of a main dish is around £16. If you want to splash out though, you can get an entire deep fried seabass for £22. Rice is £4 per portion and you have the option to choose between jasmine rice or sticky rice. I always opt for the sticky rice, because I love the little wicker pot it comes in.

Taste

The menu is pretty short and only covers one side of A4. But don’t let that fool you into thinking they have limited vegan options. They actually have an entire vegan menu. If you’re not vegan or veggie, I’d highly recommend the Grilled Chicken Skewer with Tamarind Jaew Dip to start. This tasty morsel looks like a chicken lollipop and comes with the most delicious sauce for dipping. For the main act, I love the Pad Pak – a vegetarian stir fry of farm greens and asian mushrooms.

Service

But enough about the dishes. What about the dogs? Som Saa is more than happy to welcome you and your dog, as long as they’re quiet and well-behaved. As I mentioned earlier, you just need to let them know when you book that you’ll be bringing a four-legged friend and they’ll set you up at an appropriate table. They normally bring some water over for the pup too, which is a nice touch.

So, what’s the PETS (Price, Environment, Taste and Service) rating for Som Saa?

• Price: 4/5
• Environment: 4.2/5
• Taste: 4.2/5
• Service: 3.7/5

Overall, this dog friendly restaurant scores 4 out of 5. It would be higher if they had more space between tables and a few more options on the menu, but this is one of my favourite Thai restaurants in London.

There’s no ‘Thai’ ways about it, the food at Som Saa is ‘tom yum-my’. 

Check out their website here.