Thai restaurant Som Saa opened last year in Climpson’s Arch in Hackney as a temporary pop-up. It wasn’t long however before a love affair began between said restaurant and a committed following of fans; for this was no average pop-up. This year, our Thai lover Som Saa has embarked on a new culinary adventure, taking it from part-time lover to permanent feature in its new location in Spitalfields.

Created by ultimate hospitality professionals, Andy Oliver, Mark Dobie and Tom George – with stints at Bo.Lan in Bangkok, Goodman Restaurants and Polpo populating their collective CVs – while the original pop-up menu focused on grilled dishes from Northern Thailand, the new restaurant will serve a wider range of regional Thai dishes inspired by the collective’s passion for simple and authentic Thai cuisine. The menu will focus on a range of native curries, stir fries and many ingredients will be finished and prepared in house, including the coconut milk. Traditional dishes include pad chaa aharn talay (stir fry prawns, clams, limed squid and wild ginger) and pad grapow pbet (stir fried duck with holy basil, chillies and crispy duck egg over rice). Som Saa also offers a short and traditional bar snack menu including homemade Thai sausages, citrus cured fish, and parcels of palm sugar and peanuts wrapped in mustard green leaves.

Primarily a walk-in restaurant, Som Saa has just a few number of large group bookings (booths for groups of 4, 5 and 6).

43A Commercial St, Spitalfields, London E1 6BD